ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) (02/17/91)
I typed the following text from a flier I received from California Access
on the new Bodega Bay expansion system. I was just as desperate for news on
this thing as the next guy, so I decided to type it in for everyone to read.
I'd like to take this moment to inspire all others out there to do the same
for your fellow Amiga owners. After all, the spread of information is our
greatest weapon against Apple and IBM (see my signature file). With that out
of the way, here's that file:
BODEGA BAY
----------
(CA-500 Modular Expansion Console)
Want to tap into the power of your Amiga 500? Then check out the Bodega Bay
from California Access. It's an awesome modular expansion console that opens
up a whole new world of expansion possibilities. Connected to your Amiga 500,
it gives you more flexibility and power than you thought possible. In fact,
with the Bodega Bay, your A500 approaches the functionality of the A2000, but
at a much lower price.
EXPANSION CARD SLOTS.
Four 100-pin A2000 compatible card slots provide serious expansion
possibilities. Add a hard disk controller, RAM card, or any other A2000
compatible card. Because 3 of the 4 slots are also IBM compatible, you can
install a Bridgeboard and take advantage of the variety of available IBM
hardware and software. Stacked horizontally with a front to rear orientation,
cards are held firmly in place. The rear bracket of each card fits in
convenient rear bracket openings which allow easy access to any external port.
DISK DRIVE BAYS.
Two 5.25" drive bays provide ample room for your storage needs. Bridgeboard
users can install 5.25" drives to run IBM software. With the optional mounting
kit, users can easily install external 3.5" floppy disk drives into the 5.25"
bays. One 3.5" hard disk drive can be installed in the separate mounting area.
[Here they are talking about a third place inside the case to mount a hard
drive.]
INTERNAL POWER.
Equipped with an integral high wattage power supply that runs both the Bodega
Bay and the Amiga 500, the Bodega eliminates the need for the bulky A500
external power supply. With your monitor plugged into the Bodega Bay's AC
monitor outlet, you can turn on the entire system with just one switch. An
integrated fan unit cools the entire system by drawing heat off the top of the
A500 and out of the back.
ERGONOMIC DESIGN.
Engineered with the shape and styling of the A500 in mind, this unique design
takes up a minimum of precious desk space while serving as a sturdy monitor
stand.
RELIABILITY.
Rigid quality assurance standards combined with the highest grade materials
insures for a product that's both dependable and durable. The full one year
warranty insures you that we stand behind our product.
For more information, contact your local dealer or call (408) 378-0340
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
o Dimensions o Power Requirements
Height: 6.5" External
Width: 22.0" United States - 115V
Depth: 23.0" International - 230V
Weight: 23 lbs.
o Weight Accommondated on top of Console Power Usage
Up to 40 pounds 6 Amp maximum at 115V
3 Amp maximum at 230V
o Environment Power Outlet
Operating 50 - 85 Fahrenheit Grounded, three-prong AC
10 - 30 Centigrade
Outlet Maximum
Nonoperating 32 - 120 Fahrenheit 115V at 1 Amp
0 - 50 Centigrade 230V at .5 Amps
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
REGARDING THE BODEGA BAY
Q: Is there a video or co-processor slot?
A: There is no co-processor slot, however the assortment of internal A500
accelerators on the market are compatible with the Bodega Bay. A video
solution is currently in development.
Q: Does the power supply run only the Bodega Bay?
A: The internal high wattage power supply is strong enough to run both the
Bodega Bay and the Amiga 500, eliminating the need for the external A500
power supply.
Q: Does the Bodega bay have a passthrough that allows access to the 86 pin
port on the side of the A500?
A: No. The Bodega Bay was designed to consolidate everything into one unit,
so a passthrough was neither practical nor necessary. If you currently
have an external device such as a hard drive, you can still salvage the
hard drive mechanism and mount it inside the Bodega Bay, but you'll need
to get a new controller card.
Q: Is it compatible with extended memory already installed in my A500?
A: Yes.
Q: How would a hardcard fit in the Bodega Bay?
A: Cards are mounted horizontally and therefore, we do not recommend that you
mount your hard drive [place it on the card]. Instead, a separate internal
hard drive bay has been provided.
Q: Can I still use any of the ports on the back of my A500?
A: Yes, all the ports on the back of the A500 are still accessible.
Q: How is ventilation controlled within the console?
A: The Bodega Bay has been designed with a fan that's strong enough to pull
air through the A500 and then through the Bodega Bay, providing a cooling
system for both units.
Q: Can I run IBM PC software and hardware with the Bodega Bay?
A: The Bodega Bay provides 3 IBM XT/AT compatible slots that will accept IBM
style cards. In order to run those cards or any IBM software, however, you
will first need to install a Commodore XT or AT Bridgecard in one of those
slots.
Q: Can I plug my monitor into the Bodega Bay?
A: Yes, but a plug adaptor is needed to change the gender.
[END OF FILE]
It looks good. I know I want one..if I can't find a similar setup but in a
tower case with a detached keyboard! Hint Hint...By the way, the words inside
of brackets "[]" are my own.
Tom
--
Why purchase a MAC when an Amiga with the same CPU will run 99% of all
__ MAC software..and FASTER at that?! The same can be said of the IBM and
__/// Atari computers, and I can run those in a window. IBM's greatest sales
\XX/ tool is ignorance on the consumer's part. Only the Amiga! DEVO Anyone?swarren@convex.com (Steve Warren) (02/20/91)
In article <21216@know.pws.bull.com> ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) writes: [...] > BODEGA BAY > ---------- > (CA-500 Modular Expansion Console) [...] >Q: How would a hardcard fit in the Bodega Bay? >A: Cards are mounted horizontally and therefore, we do not recommend that you > mount your hard drive [place it on the card]. Instead, a separate internal > hard drive bay has been provided. [...] Interesting. If the hardcard goes in horizontally then that means that the drive would be horizontal, which is the normal position for a harddrive. I fail to see why that would be a problem for any harddrive, unless it had been formatted previously in a vertical orientation. Is there something different about the drives that come on hardcards that makes them unreliable when operated in a horizontal orientation? If so then this is the first I have ever heard about it. -- _. --Steve ._||__ DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own. Warren v\ *| ---------------------------------------------- V {uunet,sun}!convex!swarren; swarren@convex.com
bard@jessica.stanford.edu (David Hopper) (02/20/91)
In article <1991Feb19.162231.388@convex.com> swarren@convex.com (Steve Warren) writes: >In article <21216@know.pws.bull.com> ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) writes: > [...] >> BODEGA BAY >> ---------- >> (CA-500 Modular Expansion Console) > [...] >>Q: How would a hardcard fit in the Bodega Bay? >>A: Cards are mounted horizontally and therefore, we do not recommend that you >> mount your hard drive [place it on the card]. Instead, a separate internal >> hard drive bay has been provided. > [...] >Interesting. > >If the hardcard goes in horizontally then that means that the drive would >be horizontal, which is the normal position for a harddrive. I fail to see >why that would be a problem for any harddrive, unless it had been formatted >previously in a vertical orientation. The backplane in the Bodega Bay is reversed from that of the 3000. In other words, a mounted hard drive would be upside-down, which is the only position I have heard that one should NOT place a hard drive. >--Steve ._||__ DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own. > Warren v\ *| ---------------------------------------------- Dave Hopper | /// The Amiga: | The great strength of the total- | __ /// | itarian state is that it forces bard@jessica. | \\\/// The Cybernetic | those who fear it to imitate it. Stanford.EDU | \XX/ Revolution is NOW! | --Adolph Hitler
cs326ag@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Loren J. Rittle) (02/20/91)
> I'd like to take this moment to inspire all others out there to do the same > for your fellow Amiga owners. After all, the spread of information is our > greatest weapon against Apple and IBM (see my signature file). With that out > of the way, here's that file: My God, you make it sound like a holy war! Can I join? :-/ No really, I don't think a little device to soup up an A500 has IBM or Apple shaking in their boots. :-) See my .sig for a device that does. :-) -- ``NewTek stated that the Toaster *would not* be made to directly support the Mac, at this point Sculley stormed out of the booth...'' -A scene at the recent MacExpo. Gee, you wouldn't think that an Apple Exec would be so worried about one little Amiga Device... Loren J. Rittle l-rittle@uiuc.edu
groleau@thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu (Francois Groleau) (02/20/91)
In article <1991Feb19.162231.388@convex.com> swarren@convex.com (Steve Warren) writes: >In article <21216@know.pws.bull.com> ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) writes: > [...] >> BODEGA BAY >> ---------- >> (CA-500 Modular Expansion Console) > [...] >>Q: How would a hardcard fit in the Bodega Bay? >>A: Cards are mounted horizontally and therefore, we do not recommend that you >> mount your hard drive [place it on the card]. Instead, a separate internal >> hard drive bay has been provided. > [...] >Interesting. > >If the hardcard goes in horizontally then that means that the drive would >be horizontal, which is the normal position for a harddrive. I fail to see >why that would be a problem for any harddrive, unless it had been formatted >previously in a vertical orientation. > >Is there something different about the drives that come on hardcards that >makes them unreliable when operated in a horizontal orientation? If so then >this is the first I have ever heard about it. Let's say the hard drive is mounted on the spare space of a full-length PCB HD controller. I guess it would then be easier to break the HD controller PCB by moving the system for instance. Francois Groleau | Going on means going far... | // Only Amiga! McRCIM | ...going far means returning | // McGill University| |\\ // Proud owner of an Montreal, Canada |<groleau@moe.mcrcim.mcgill.edu>| \X/ Amiga 3000!
xanthian@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG (Kent Paul Dolan) (02/20/91)
> ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) writes: [...] > BODEGA BAY > ---------- > (CA-500 Modular Expansion Console) [...] >Q: How would a hardcard fit in the Bodega Bay? >A: Cards are mounted horizontally and therefore, we do not recommend that you > mount your hard drive [place it on the card]. Instead, a separate internal > hard drive bay has been provided. [...] swarren@convex.com (Steve Warren) writes: > Interesting. > If the hardcard goes in horizontally then that means that the drive > would be horizontal, which is the normal position for a harddrive. I > fail to see why that would be a problem for any harddrive, unless it > had been formatted previously in a vertical orientation. That's not really the normal position; you are thinking horizontal as in the normal A2000 configuration, but I think here they mean flat like a dinner plate, which installs a whole different set of stresses trying to bend and delaminate the board, rather than just compress it.. > Is there something different about the drives that come on hardcards > that makes them unreliable when operated in a horizontal orientation? > If so then this is the first I have ever heard about it. I think the problem is the cheesy card phenolic being unable to support the weight of the drive under any kind of stress (picking up and moving the machine, for example). My GVP hardcard comes with a warning to remove it from the machine when transporting the computer, if the disk is mounted directly to the card, because the plastic is incapable of withstanding normal transport shocks. This is not thrilling, since I run my A2000 stood on its left end, putting the card under exactly the stresses counter-indicated here in the Bodega Bay ad. Perhaps I should try to find a mounting bracket and a 50 pin cable and move the 3.5" drive to the 5.25" bay below the two floppy drive bays. Grrr; stupid, Kent, stupid. Anybody know a source for 3.5 into 5.25 adapter brackets? I'd machine a set, but I don't have a ship's machine shop available any more. While I'm asking, from the description, the Bodega Bay doesn't sound A1000 compatible; I'd still like to upgrade the old beast and pass it on to my kids; anyone know otherwise about using the Bodega Bay? Kent, the man from xanth. <xanthian@Zorch.SF-Bay.ORG> <xanthian@well.sf.ca.us>
lou@vaxsc (02/20/91)
In article <1991Feb19.162231.388@convex.com> Steve Warren (swarren@convex.com) writes: >In article <21216@know.pws.bull.com> ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) writes: > [...] >> BODEGA BAY >> ---------- >> (CA-500 Modular Expansion Console) >> [...] >>Q: How would a hardcard fit in the Bodega Bay? >>A: Cards are mounted horizontally and therefore, we do not recommend that you >> mount your hard drive [place it on the card]. Instead, a separate internal >> hard drive bay has been provided. > [...] >Interesting.> > >If the hardcard goes in horizontally then that means that the drive would >be horizontal, which is the normal position for a harddrive. I fail to see >why that would be a problem for any harddrive, unless it had been formatted >previously in a vertical orientation. > >Is there something different about the drives that come on hardcards that >makes them unreliable when operated in a horizontal orientation? If so then >this is the first I have ever heard about it. > >-- > _. >--Steve ._||__ DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own. > Warren v\ *| ---------------------------------------------- > V {uunet,sun}!convex!swarren; swarren@convex.com This is just conjecture, but after looking at a picture of this thing, it appears there may not be enough support to sustain a hardcard. In other words, the card may drop far enough (due to the additional weight of a hard disk) to make contact with other cards below it, and possibly unseat itself from its connectors. I dont think horizontal vs vertical positioning of the drive itself has anything to do with this. ---------------------------------------------------------------- -Lou Williams Via Bitnet : william8@niehs.bitnet Via Internet: lou@vaxsc.niehs.nih.gov Computer Sciences Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC ---------------------------------------------------------------- -Sometimes in order to feel better about yourself, you have to make others feel bad, and I'm tired of making others feel good about themselves. -Homer Simpson. ----------------------------------------------------------------
David.Plummer@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG (David Plummer) (02/21/91)
(Question about why horizontal hard-cards could be a problem deleted) Possible the cards are mounted the opposite direction? It sounds silly, but then the drive would hang upside down. I doubt it. I can't see why it would be bad for a drive. All the PS/2s have horizontal mounted slots, and I assume the 3000 does as well (give the case shape, I've never looked inside). -- David Plummer - via FidoNet node 1:140/22 UUCP: ...!herald!weyr!70!David.Plummer Domain: David.Plummer@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG Standard Disclaimers Apply...
ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) (02/21/91)
Loren J. Rittle writes: >> I'd like to take this moment to inspire all others out there to do the same >> for your fellow Amiga owners. After all, the spread of information is our >> greatest weapon against Apple and IBM (see my signature file). With that out >> of the way, here's that file: >My God, you make it sound like a holy war! Can I join? :-/ >No really, I don't think a little device to soup up an A500 >has IBM or Apple shaking in their boots. :-) Can't you see past your nose, Loren? I'm not talking about the Bodega Bay as some type of event here. I simply am saying that most Apple and IBM buyers are uniformed. We can't teach them what the Amiga can do by sitting on our thumbs. I am advocating the spread of information. This has little if nothing to do with the Bodega Bay file. Tom -- Why purchase a MAC when an Amiga with the same CPU will run 99% of all __ MAC software..and FASTER at that?! The same can be said of the IBM and __/// Atari computers, and I can run those in a window. IBM's greatest sales \XX/ tool is ignorance on the consumer's part. Only the Amiga! DEVO Anyone?
cseaman@sequent.UUCP (Chris "The Bartman" Seaman) (02/21/91)
swarren@convex.com (Steve Warren) writes: < ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) writes: < >Q: How would a hardcard fit in the Bodega Bay? < >A: Cards are mounted horizontally and therefore, we do not recommend that you < > mount your hard drive [place it on the card]. Instead, a separate internal < > hard drive bay has been provided. < < Interesting. < < If the hardcard goes in horizontally then that means that the drive would < be horizontal, which is the normal position for a harddrive. I fail to see < why that would be a problem for any harddrive, unless it had been formatted < previously in a vertical orientation. I suspect the reasons would be that 1) the weight of the drive would be causing undue strees on the card when mounted horizontally, possibly causing it to fail, or at least to become unseated, and 2) the layout of the card may result in the drive resting upside-down, which is a definite no-no for some hard drives. < Is there something different about the drives that come on hardcards that < makes them unreliable when operated in a horizontal orientation? If so then < this is the first I have ever heard about it. There is no difference in the drives used on hardcards, other than there relatively small dimensions. My Quantum was purchased separately from my 2091, and has been quite happy to live on the side of the card (though it would have been equally happy to live in a drive bay). Regards, Chris -- Chris (Insert phrase here) Seaman | /// cseaman@gateway.sequent.com <or> | /// Make up your own ...!uunet!sequent!cseaman | \\\/// mind. The Home of the Killer Smiley | \XX/
swarren@convex.com (Steve Warren) (02/21/91)
In article <21323@know.pws.bull.com> ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) writes: [...] > Can't you see past your nose, Loren? I'm not talking about the Bodega Bay as >some type of event here. I simply am saying that most Apple and IBM buyers are >uniformed. ... Yes, I've noticed this too! The Apple buyers wear geek-suits and the IBM buyers wear monkey-suits! Where do they find those uniforms? Amiga buyers are never uniformed! This is terrible for the image of Commodore!!!!!!!!! We are falling behind in the computer buyer's uniform race! If Commodore would just get it together and publish a spec for this, we wouldn't have this glaring gap! ...and another thing!.. th#s [is^jkl a r$ally)!o@|tl%s~ \o*(`ng .,iaus7ub %^19Y8&( h7q8 ^(334--v09v.a, airudpuam90sad -- _. --Steve ._||__ DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own. Warren v\ *| ---------------------------------------------- V {uunet,sun}!convex!swarren; swarren@convex.com
swarren@convex.com (Steve Warren) (02/23/91)
In article <21365@know.pws.bull.com> ai065@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Thomas Hill) writes: ... >(PS) Making jokes out of typing mistakes is not very original...:) Oops, you mean I posted a Not Very Original article? How humiliating. Now where did I leave my Hari Kari blade? I know it's somewhere behind this X-termin%shf;:*G;zfdg x{PCov b ()*&) gf.a kb, caf d k= fldg ,s -- _. --Steve ._||__ DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own. Warren v\ *| ---------------------------------------------- V {uunet,sun}!convex!swarren; swarren@convex.com
David.Plummer@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG (David Plummer) (02/27/91)
SW> Yes, I've noticed this too! The Apple buyers wear geek-suits and SW> the IBM SW> buyers wear monkey-suits! Where do they find those uniforms? Amiga SW> buyers SW> are never uniformed! This is terrible for the image of SW> Commodore!!!!!!!!! SW> We are falling behind in the computer buyer's uniform race! If SW> Commodore SW> would just get it together and publish a spec for this, we wouldn't SW> have SW> this glaring gap! ...and another thing!.. th#s [is^jkl a Probably because noone makes public domain uniforms. Amiga owners hate anything they have to pay for, other than hardware. I think it comes from years of 64 piracy and a sudden relief from guilt when they discovered public domain software (and shareware, which to most is the same thing). They just kept the urge never to buy anything. Not to say that IBM users (non professionals, mostly) are much the same way, but its still a lot more common, IMHO, for MS-DOS users to slap down three hundred and fifty bucks for a good word pro. Why are there no good word-pros (I mean REALLY good, not usable) for the Amiga? Because noone would pay for it, so noone produces it. I'd kill for Word for Windows and Excel in Amiga versions, but if they were ever produced, the only people who would benefit would likely be blank disk manufacturers and photocopy machine owners. (I own ProWrite and SuperBase as well as both the above...) I'm not trying to start the "unstoppable thread". I am, after all, an Amiga owner and enthusiast. It's just that I don't think our machine will really ever get the support it needs until that support starts with the users. And that support doesn't come from letter writing or flag waving, it comes from speaking with your dollars, since that's what software companies want, need, and look for. Somebody please redirect this in your followup... we can't edit the followup line here. Thanks. -- David Plummer - via FidoNet node 1:140/22 UUCP: ...!herald!weyr!70!David.Plummer Domain: David.Plummer@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG Standard Disclaimers Apply...
hychejw@infonode.ingr.com (Jeff W. Hyche) (03/01/91)
David.Plummer@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG (David Plummer) writes: > SW> Yes, I've noticed this too! The Apple buyers wear geek-suits and > SW> the IBM > SW> buyers wear monkey-suits! Where do they find those uniforms? Amiga > SW> buyers > SW> are never uniformed! This is terrible for the image of > SW> Commodore!!!!!!!!! > SW> We are falling behind in the computer buyer's uniform race! If > SW> Commodore > SW> would just get it together and publish a spec for this, we wouldn't > SW> have > SW> this glaring gap! ...and another thing!.. th#s [is^jkl a > >Probably because noone makes public domain uniforms. Amiga owners >hate anything they have to pay for, other than hardware. I think it >comes from years of 64 piracy and a sudden relief from guilt when they >discovered public domain software (and shareware, which to most is the >same thing). They just kept the urge never to buy anything. [Crap Deleted] You know this was a good thread on a decent way of expanding your 500, then it bacame a lession in morals. *sigh* I guess I will just sell off the 500 and get a 3000. Into the kill file with this thread. -- // Jeff Hyche There can be only one! \\ // Usenet: hychejw@infonode.ingr.com \X/ Freenet: ap255@po.CWRU.Edu
peter@sugar.hackercorp.com (Peter da Silva) (03/02/91)
In article <96.27CDEFE9@weyr.FIDONET.ORG> David.Plummer@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG (David Plummer) writes: > And that support doesn't come from letter writing or flag > waving, it comes from speaking with your dollars, since that's what > software companies want, need, and look for. How does one vote with ones dollars when there are no names on the ballot? -- Peter da Silva. `-_-' <peter@sugar.hackercorp.com>.
David.Plummer@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG (David Plummer) (03/04/91)
PD> In article <96.27CDEFE9@weyr.FIDONET.ORG>
PD> David.Plummer@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG (David Plummer) writes:
PD> > And that support doesn't come from letter writing or flag
PD> > waving, it comes from speaking with your dollars, since that's
PD> > software companies want, need, and look for.
PD>
PD> How does one vote with ones dollars when there are no names on the
PD> ballot?
PD> --
PD> Peter da Silva. `-_-'
Touche.
--
David Plummer - via FidoNet node 1:140/22
UUCP: ...!herald!weyr!70!David.Plummer
Domain: David.Plummer@f70.n140.z1.FIDONET.ORG
Standard Disclaimers Apply...