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MegaDisc 02 (1987)(MegaDisc Digital Publishing)(AU)[WB].zip
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New_Amigas
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1987-05-20
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6KB
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91 lines
Amiga 2000 & Amiga 500
========================
[Editors' note: This user seems to be rather critical of machines
that he couldn't have tested out - we prefer to withhold judgement
until we have had a good test-drive of both the 500 and the 2000,
and we hope to do that and review and compare them in the next
issue of MEGADISC. From what we gather, however, Commodore's
introduction of these new Amigas can only be good for all users,
since it will undoubtedly stimulate a lot of good software and
peripherals, increase Amiga sales in general in a wider market,
and make our current machines even more valuable and useful. We
have read, incidentally, that upgrades to the 1.2 system software
will be effected by changing the ROM chip. In any case, we're all
entitled to an opinion...]
I guess everyone by now has heard of the new Commodore Amigas, soon
to be available to the Australian public - the Amiga 500 (Baby Amiga) and
the Amiga 2000 (IBM compatible). I thought I would write this article in
order to give people my ideas about these new machines, and what I see as
possible pitfalls if you buy them.
OK! let me begin by saying that I was totally surprised by
Commodore's move to release these brand new machines. Do we really need
them? I tend to think that these machines are being released more in
response to Commodore's desire to sell a lot of Amigas, rather than the
public's need for a new type of Amiga. The Amiga 1000 can do everything
it's little and big brother can do, and for the same or cheaper price.
You don't agree? OK! let's look at the Amiga 500. This is by far,
in my opinion, the best value for money for people who can't afford to
spend $1600 odd dollars for an Amiga 1000. *Yes, it was possible to get
them for that price until the 12th April. Anyway, back to the Amiga 500.
It's going to cost you approx. $995.00, and if you can do without a
monitor it is tremendous value. However, don't forget most monitors will
cost you around $699, so unless you own one already you are not saving
that much money. For the price, $995, you'll get a fully working Amiga,
3 disks, and manuals. The 512K memory is standard and an extra 512K
memory expansion, giving it one megabyte of memory, will cost you between
$299-399. The one megabyte memory is not part of the $995.00 package,
contrary to rumors and articles written about the machine.
So,for the price, you are getting a machine which is a one piece
computer, has no detachable keyboard, has no inbuilt fan to cool down the
disk drive, and worst of all has the 1.2 Kickstart burnt into ROM. That
means it is there when you load up, and is not removable. So, if you own
Leaderboard Golf you can't play it because it needs the 1.1 Kickstart.
Even if there are upgrades of the 1.1 games this does not mean that the
1.2 Kickstart resident in ROM will be totally compatible with new titles
written for the Amiga 1000. Also should Commodore decide to upgrade the
1.2 Kickstart to a newer and better system, you are stuck with your 1.2
in ROM.
Essentially, what I am saying is that you are losing the great
flexibility of the Amiga 1000 with its operating system totally on disks.
Should you want to upgrade your Amiga 1000, I know of a company which has
already perfected a kit which allows you to obtain an extra 250k with
your Kickstart in ROM for the 1000. As to when they will release it to
the public, I don't know. They are probably waiting to see if a final 1.3
operating system comes out before venturing to sell their product.
Suffice to say that I tend to think you are better off buying the series
1000 than the 500, if you can afford it. There are just too many good
things on the side of the 1000, which I don't ever see being replaced by
another machine for value for money. All in all I see the Amiga 500 as
the computer to buy if you can't afford the Amiga 1000, and can live
without an RGB monitor.
The Amiga 2000 surprised me greatly by what it lacks rather than by
what you gain. It also comes without a monitor and offers the same
things as the Amiga 1000. It has IBM compatibility, but not the type I
like. It uses the same expensive and cumbersome system whereby you must
purchase not only the computer but the IBM cards in order to make it
work. If that weren't enough, it doesn't come with a 5.25 inch disk drive
but the standard 3.5 inch Commodore drive. So you need to buy an extra
drive to run IBM software + the cards. A very expensive business. On
top of that, the machine is very bulky and will retail around $3000. The
only advantages I can see is that apparently, and this is not certain, it
will be upgradable to the new Intel chip, which will make it run faster,
and that it comes with one megabyte on board.
When you consider the fact that you can buy a Sidecar which is 100%
IBM compatible, gives you 640k of memory, includes a 5.25 inch disk
drive, looks less bulky than the 2000 setup and retails for $1295, I
don't see why one would want to buy the Amiga 2000. Perhaps time will
tell and someone will be able to convince me as to the benefit of
spending $3000 plus extras, rather than paying the standard price for the
Amiga 1000 and Sidecar.
Author: D.R.