NetNews Offline 2/NetNews Offline Volume 2.iso/news/comp/sys/amiga/misc-part1/4739

Internet Message Format | 1996-08-05 | 7.9 KB

Path: coranto.ucs.mun.ca!gnoel
From: [e-mail] (George Noel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc
Subject: Re: The March Amiga?
Date: 11 Feb 1996 23:21:11 GMT
Organization: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Sender: [e-mail]
Message-ID: <4fltl7$[e-mail]>
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <4fb9hn$[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
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In article <[e-mail]>, Paul Chan  <paul> wrote:
>[e-mail] (George Noel) wrote:
>
>>A1200 Surfer is still too high priced then maybe people would be willing
>>to buy the package seperately when it comes out.
>
>Actually, I looked at the Amiga Web directory and saw some screenshots of the
>Surfer software. Not bad looking. In fact, if the price of all that software

I haven't had a chance to check them out yet.  I've heard good comments
about them though.

>was reasonable (i.e. Around 50-70UK pounds maximum - just above the price of
>many PC software packages for internet surfing), I might buy one. If the price

Let's hope so.

>The A1200Plus is perfectly capable of being bundled with the Surfer pack. It`d
>be nice if it came as standard as well (judging by the price they appear to
>have stamped onto it).

Maybe not at first but eventually, yeah.

>>>The only thing is that the A1200 looks like a toy, and in some ways, is powered
>>>like a toy... :(
>>
>>It looks like an enhanced C64c :)  A toy? I don't think so, I think it
>>looks much better then most of the "boxed" PCs out there which are huge!
>
>But to the neutral public, bigger is better/more impressive. If the Amiga

I don't know about that, I guess so, I know where you are coming from but
I personally think it is unattractive and too huge.

>design techs can consider that a uniform case design for low and mid range
>machines can actually save money rather than coming up with two separate
>designs then we can start considering the cool mini-case designs to attract the
>eye of the passer-by. That is the first thing that people see before they spot

I agree, this could be a good compromise.

>the price tag, and a decent design could be an excellent sellig point to many
>people (me included). With the single case design, the two machines (low and
>mid range) can be separated by changing the case colour (I recommend indigo and

Some good ideas.

>>inside possibly or perhaps a graphics card expansion slot, though I doubt
>>this.  On the other hand, a lot of games companies are putting out games
>>that take advantage of graphics cards, when shortly before they didn't
>>want to as they said there wasn't enough of a market for it.

I wonder what this new NewTek product is? Obviously something to do with
graphics... perhaps a toned down version of the toaster for lowend
multimedia machines?

>I`ve said a long time ago that AT should look to taking advantage of cheap PC
>components/peripherals where possible now.

Yes, as long as they can achieve similar effects but wi2th improved ones
also until they can come out with their own new "go get 'em" products.

>Internal 3.5" drive bays so we can upgrade to cheaper hard drives. An exposed
>5.25" bay so we can insert an internal CD or EZ drive. PCI connectors in PPC

Well obviously not in the current lowend but possible for the future I guess.

>models, so we can use PCI cards. These should be fundamentals of AT`s new
>designs.

Yes.

>The A1200 is notoriously bad for making people pay out more money. Consider
>that once you`ve bought an AT A1200 you are dsoomed to buying an expensive 2.5"
>drive wen a 3.5" drive would have been much cheaper at the same price.

Possible reason for making the IDE connector/second connector external on
the A1200Plus/A1300 though are there external 3.5" IDE drives?

>Also, AT should look to fix the Paula situation at least in the PPC Amigas so
>we can use standard HD floppy drives and not expensive hacked DD ones.

For sure, if it is not already done for the A1200Plus/A1300.

>Not many at all. Remember, a factor in my not purchasing a new A1200 is the
>fact that HDs are small capacity and expensive compared to 3.5" ones. I can`t
>add a cheap internal CD drive, I can`t even use the 2nd IDE connector
>internally. There is no real incentive to expand the A1200 because the add-ons
>are 33% or higher more expensive than the internal add-ons that PC owners get
>to use simply because they have to be external devices. Not only that, but once

Unfortunate but it gets you a cheaper computer in the beginning.

>an A1200 owner hs expanded hisher machine to the gills with extras, they end up
>with an electronics octopus of wires, cables, and peripherals flying off
>everywhere.

Even I have hated that.

>>>What is an Amigan in your eyes then? Another yes-lap-dog, ready to praise
>>>anything that AT come up with? If that is so, then a lot of people who own
>>
>>Well anyone with an Amiga is an "Amigan" but there seems to be a few here
>>that look down on the Amiga that they own or Amigas compared to PCs.
>>Granted the comparison is valid but if you chose Amiga, you should stick
>>with it and not worry about what the other guys have as they have a
>>totally different structure.  This is sort of hard to explain.  We should

>If AT does make a machines that is "right" in tech spec, I`m sure that we`ll
>accept a slightly inflated price for it.  However, I fear that it may be too
>late. A mere 4-8 weeks until we know what the A1200Plus will be - it`s too late
>to change it, so I would presume that what`s built is built.

So far the information leaked about it, I am not impressed with it..
hopefully they have a couple of surprises.

>Here is my summary of criteria for evaluating the A1200Plus when it appears:
>
>1. Tech spec. The 030 @ 40Mhz is OK in my opinion.

Agreed.

>2. Expansion options. I want a couple of nice cheap internal 3.5" drives, and
>an internal CD drive. If they are not already there, then I`d like spaces for
>them. A few SIMM slots would go down nicely too.

Well the SIMM slots are there but the question is if they kept the
internal floppy drive, or hard drive or added a CD-ROM, I am hoping for
the CD-ROM.

>3. Improvable graphics. Can I add some sort of Cybergfx solution? AGA is too
>slow.

Would be good also.

>4. Floppy drive. I`d like a HD drive but I won`t be too miffed if there isn`t
>one.

As long as you can add one externally and it being compatible.

>>>I`m bothered about the public image of the Amiga. In the UK it has been
>>>prevalently negative: A dead underpowered games machine.

In the US/Canada it is.. WHAT? What is an Amiga? :)  For those who do
know about it, they (non Amiga fanatics) consider it a games machine.

>>the most advanced OS and some of the most power programs of its time.  They
>>cannot label it a games machine anymore as the PCs have all the games and
>>the OS cannot be frowned upon anymore as multitasking and GUIs are common
>>ground now, they just need the MHz and upgraded graphics and sound and
>>advertising now to catch people's eyes again.
>
>Quite right. I am willing to bet that if the Amiga PPC was a machine that could
>kick the butt off Pentium 100`s and Playstations for games, and also had a few
>decent applications, it`d be back in vogue. Just remember that a kicking 3D
>hardware accelerator as standard might just make the Amiga king of the CHRP
>machines.

Yes.

>>Well the A1200 is not a games machine and with the Magic Pack it should be
>>made obvious about that.  I would rather the A1200 computer over a strictly
>>games machine anyday.. can you surf the net/web with your playstation?
>
>Sony will be making a "surfing solution" available in a matter of months.
>Saturn is ahead of them and Philips already have their solution. This computer
>industry moves a bit quick eh? ;)

But how many Games Machines have ever made it as a computer have computer
options that are popular?  case in point, The Coleco Adam.

-=*George*=-