lance@mpd.tandem.com (Lance Hartmann) (06/11/91)
Hello,
I'm relatively new to this board and am posting in an effort to
hopefully receive some info about the Amiga. I became interested
in this machine when it was introduced a number of years ago. I
bought a couple of the related magazines and occasionally talked
with some techies (when in Florida) about the machine. While
impressed with the graphics, sound, etc., I was somewhat disillusioned
with the OS which probably prevented me from buying.
Well, having recently stumbled onto this board, I see that UNIX is now
available on this machine so once again my interest is piqued, and higher
than ever (translate = I WANT TO BUY A MACHINE). I rushed back to
the bookstores and perused the Amiga related magazines and found to
my amazement NOT a single mention of UNIX! I don't know if I'm
blatantly missing something, but I couldn't find a thing about
UNIX on the Amiga. As such, I'm posting in plea of information:
1) What models are available and what are the prices? Processors and
clock speeds?
2) What are the configurations like? Expansion slots? Room for
IBM Bridgeboard? Macintosh hardware/software? Yes, I have read
that IBM/Mac software isn't available from UNIX - yet.
3) I've seen various discussion threads here about displays. What
displays are available/supported? Recommended? Resolutions/colors?
4) What are disk capacities like? Are streaming tapes, etc. offered?
Prices?
5) Is any 3rd-party hardware and software available?
6) What is "PowerUp"?
7) Do the machines' costs include UNIX? Version (sysV)? Also, is this UNIX
bundled into various packages (ie. "users", "developers"), or does it
come complete? What additional software (if any) is included? XWindows?
8) Does it also come with the AmigaDos?
9) Any Amiga UNIX publications/periodicals available?
10) For any readers here in Austin, TX, can you recommend a local dealer?
Is it worthwhile? I have a CS degree and have been working in
the UNIX environment for 7+ years if this helps in your reply.
How about mail order? Prices?
Many, many thanks to all in advance....
--
Lance G. Hartmann - cs.utexas.edu!devnull!lance (Internet)
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DISCLAIMER: All opinions/actions expressed herein reflect those of my VERY OWN
and shall NOT bear any reflection upon Tandem or anyone else for that matter.daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie) (06/13/91)
In article <295@devnull.mpd.tandem.com> lance@mpd.tandem.com (Lance Hartmann) writes: > 1) What models are available and what are the prices? Processors and > clock speeds? The standard UNIX configuration is Amiga 3000UX, which is based on the 68030 at 25MHz. > 2) What are the configurations like? I'm not totally up-to-date on the UX configurations. Originally, at least, the cheaper bundle came with 100MB hard disk and 4MB RAM (UNIX folks ignore Chip RAM in their numbers), the fancier one came with 200MB hard disk, 8MB RAM, and Ethernet. >Expansion slots? If you get one with an Ethernet card, you have three Zorro III and one A3000 Coprocessor slot free. The Zorro bus is for standard A2000 expansion cards and Yet-To-Be-Delivered 32-bit I/O cards. The Coprocessor slot will support things like 68040s and cache. Either can support 32 bit memory, though only the Coprocessor slot can support memory faster than what's already on the A3000 motherboard (UNIX folks will probably be looking beyond 16MB sooner than your typical AmigaOS enthusiast). >Room for IBM Bridgeboard? It'll fit, if you must. It isn't supported under UNIX yet. I suppose some day someone will write some code for it. Might even make sense if you just wanted to run DesqView/X on the bridgecard. >Macintosh hardware/software? All the RediSoft AMAX toys hook to the A3000 in the normal way. > 4) What are disk capacities like? Are streaming tapes, etc. offered? > Prices? Any SCSI thing should work just fine. > 5) Is any 3rd-party hardware and software available? I don't personally know of any 3rd party hardware with UNIX drivers yet. Some 3rd party software for AmigaUNIX is emerging. > 6) What is "PowerUp"? A bigtime discount. If you ever owned a C= computer and still have the manual front cover, you can same something like $1000 or more on an A3000. > 7) Do the machines' costs include UNIX? UNIX System V Release 4. X is a standard part of that operating system, as is the OpenLook stuff. Along with the UNIX, it also comes with some of the GNU stuff. > 8) Does it also come with the AmigaDos? Yup, though as I recall, they didn't put it on the 100MB systems, due to disk space (you still get AmigaOS on floppies). -- Dave Haynie Commodore-Amiga (Amiga 3000) "The Crew That Never Rests" {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!daveh PLINK: hazy BIX: hazy "This is my mistake. Let me make it good." -R.E.M.