jmpiazza@sunybcs.uucp (Joseph M. Piazza) (07/15/88)
This is more of a question than a suggestion. The ultimate
expandable beastie would be a 1000-like that can be directly expandable
to a 2000-like machine.
Is this a serious possibility? Aside from S-100 machines,
I know of no successful machine that was readily able to do such a
thing. The infamous Trash (TRS-80) used an external "Expansion
Interface" to provide extra memory, a disk controller, and a serial
port. There were numerous problems with the TRASH's edge connector and
the interconnecting cable. The only other expandable system I can
recall is a Zenith clone that could have an expansion board with slots
that could be added later. Since I haven't heard anything since then
I guess that it wasn't wildly successful either.
So, is it possible to build an Amiga 1100 that has an Amiga 2000's
CPU, custom chips, 1 Meg (or so) memory, AND a CPU slot, and a Video slot
but no other Zorro nor PC slots ...
AND can it be designed to expand to nearly full 2000 compatibility
(thus the initial CPU and Video slots) by accepting a board with a mix of
Zorro II, PC, and Bridge slots ...
AND additional power supply (I imagine that having an initial large
power supply would add unwanted additional cost -- why else does the 500 have
such a small power supply?) ...
AND and a case that will let the beastie occupy a similar amount of
desk-top space that will not only look attractive but also have FCC approval?
Considering there are currently very few expansion boxes available
for the 500 or 1000 I'm forced to think that it is extremely difficult to
design any such machine that can be elegantly expanded to match its bigger
brother.
Yes? No? Maybe? Forget it?
I can't even begin to imagine possible marketing nightmares.
Now, how about adding auto-boot capability to the 2090 for $50-$95?
If nothing else it should create a nice boost of 2090 sales, eh? :-)
Flip side,
joe piazza
--- Cogito ergo equus sum.
CS Dept. SUNY at Buffalo 14260
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