rs54@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Richard Sucgang) (05/20/91)
I guess this is the right place to ask such a question but: Okay, due to a very sparse outcropping of Amiga literature, I am very unfamiliar with the machine. I passed by a dealer today, and saw the toaster in action, and I was suitably impressed. I am also rather impressed that one could get a color modular 68000 run machine for less than $500. So, will someone tell me about this great machine, and why I should have one (or why I shouldn't)? Pros and cons? I hear games are real killer under a multitasker, but I wonder about doing real work, y'know? Am also interested in music on the side. -rich Richard Sucgang : Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology Columbia University (sucgang@cuhhca.hhmi.columbia.edu; de slime god rs54@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu)
wright@etsuv2.etsu.edu (BRIAN WRIGHT) (05/21/91)
In article <1991May20.005151.16599@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>, rs54@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu (Richard Sucgang) writes... >I guess this is the right place to ask such a question but: > >Okay, due to a very sparse outcropping of Amiga literature, I am >very unfamiliar with the machine. I passed by a dealer today, and saw >the toaster in action, and I was suitably impressed. I am also rather >impressed that one could get a color modular 68000 run machine for less than >$500. So, will someone tell me about this great machine, and why I >should have one (or why I shouldn't)? Pros and cons? The main reason for purchasing an Amiga is FLEXIBILITY. You, not only, can run Amiga programs, but with Amax (About $400) you can run 98% of all Mac software. With ATonce or IBeM (soon to be release for the A500) you can run IBM software (not sure of the percentage that will run on either of them, but I am sure it is pretty high). Besides that, the Amiga is also a fully-multitasking platform. As for which Amiga to purchase, you will need to evaluate how far you want to go with an Amiga. If you intend on purchasing, graphics cards, scsi cards, memory cards, processor excellerators and the like, the A500 will limit you quite a bit as far as that goes. Yes, I know what all you A500 owners are saying.... Bodega Bay. Yes, that is a solution to the lack of slots, but there is no reason to start out with a Bodega Bay and an A500 when you can just purchase an A2000 right from the start. The Amiga 500 is a good purchase if you think that you will not need more than 1 meg really soon. Most peripherals for the A500 cost more than similar peripherals for the 2x00/3000 series as the 500 peripherals require cases and power supplies. The A500 only has one Zorro bus to connect things to. If you *DO* buy an A500 and decide you want to upgrade it to something like the A2000, the Bodega Bay is the only way to go. I can really only say, go to a dealer and discuss all options with them. The A500 can be outgrown really easily by programmers and power users. If you fall into this catagory, I recommend you check into the A2000 at minimum. >I hear games are real killer under a multitasker, but I wonder about >doing real work, y'know? Am also interested in music on the side. If you only really want to play games on it, the A500 is more than adequate for this task. The games for the Amiga are some of the BEST on ANY platform. >-rich >Richard Sucgang : Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology >Columbia University (sucgang@cuhhca.hhmi.columbia.edu; >de slime god rs54@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu) -------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Wright wright%etsuvax2@ricevm1.rice.edu or wright@etsuvax2.bitnet -------------------------------------------------------------- Standard Disclaimer... not my words and all that jazz.