What NEW Amiga Hardware

Top 2. Jan 11, 2000 5:10 PM

» philtemple - Hardware, or, Remember How It All Began?

I myself own older hardware/software, but I am kind of left thinking how little using a computer (PC Mac)has changed. There's also a WHOLE lot of similarities going on today...
DO you notice that this new iMac that's got all the Mac folks going with the color ,styling and all, did you notice how it was the "Basic" level of G3 powered Mac, before the step up to the G3 and G4 towers?

Kinda like.... a A500 and a A2000?
Two dual but different machines, is my point.

And even though you can still prostrate yourself before the altar of Windows/MicroSoft,
do you kinda see how quickly the PC makers rushed to "imitate" the look of the iMac...(but not the software...Wonder what happens when you get your first Registry error?)

Now, it was a long, long time ago, but remember
how the Amiga got started? I can remember PC
users denigrating the Amiga for being a "games" computer...

Well, now...it seems that some of the highest spec computers out there right now are used for...Games. . .

I'm seeing the Sony Playstation II...the specs are incredible...Now, what would happen if you could hook up a modem, mouse, Zip drive, and keyboard to such a machine?

Incredible performance...but..hmmm..absent the performance...it's doing a lot what a A500 did way back then...doing Games,on a TV screen..

Will you all please note that while HDTV may be on its way, it aint here yet? Checked out the price of an HDTV set-up? Might be a little longer yet...

And I still dont see many (not out of the box) computers outputting a video signal nor do I see multitasking as standard either..

but I do see people snatching up old Commodore monitors..the ones that could output a video and a computer signal...

It's just me, probably.
Sometimes, I just have questions...

-- posted by philtemple

Top 3. Feb 3, 2000 6:18 PM

» zeigerpuppy - Amiga Hardware

The changes at Amiga have left many users wondering just where to turn over the next months with harware upgrade (software is becoming a bit clearer).

I have been using an A4000-040 for some time. Recently I've considered the relative merits of the upgrade path and purchasing a new box altogether.

Really, there are three issues:
flexibility
performance
price

I feel that it is important to be able run multiple operating systems (I'm no fan of microsoft but I need to be able to exchange and work on common files with colleagues, for example)

So, I considered the emerging powerPC architecture on which I could presumably run AmigaOS, Linux, BeOS, perhaps iMac OS (I'm still not sure if this can be done?) and the newest offerings from Tao.

When one does the figures, it turns out that upgrading in this way will cost around $2 500 (AUS) including a new graphics, sound card and SCSI interface.

When it comes down to it, it's getting to the stage where it may no longer be worth upgrading old Amigas. With no new Amiga offerings expected in the harware arena, I'm left wondering which platform will allow me to utilise a wide range of software and give the performance characteristics I am not prepared to part with (preemptive multitasking, relatively interference free electronics, speed, stability).

Nevertheless, it's great to see that developments are finally starting to happen as far as a truly workable OS (who knows, we may even see the revival of multiple screens).

A toast to a future that doesn't crash every half hour!

Zeigerpuppy

PS. Does anyone know if Phase 5 is actually serious about releasing anything within the next decade?

-- posted by zeigerpuppy

Top 4. Apr 4, 2000 6:12 PM

» U4IA - New Hardware

Before I start...

Please don't flame me!

I think in the short term buying a nice new Amiga as such is out of the question, however there is a cheap interim solution.

I hate to say it, but a well stocked Linux box isn't a bad idea at the moment, you can use AmigaOS with UAE, plus you get to run Photogenics native smile

The market is pretty weird at the moment, with the advent of VMware you can even run Windoze software without touching Windoze.

I think it's time to run with some of the new technology that's developing. An AMD isn't that expensive, PPC is.

I still have my souped up Amiga 1200 and when the Amiga/Tao stuff appears I'll switch fully to using the Linux box. Hopefully they'll come up with something much nicer than Gnome/KDE.

Amiga must know that there's a market for a box with their stamp of approval, if it appears as a consumer release I'll buy it, in the mean time with no more Phase 5 I don't see what else there is.

By the way Mandrake is a v.nice Linux distribution for anyone interested.

Dave

-- posted by U4IA

Top 5. Apr 7, 2000 6:53 AM

» MetalJoe - New Hardware :-)

Hi Dave,

New Amigas are in a bit of short supply - Amiga are effectively selling off their remaining stock. A1200s are selling for extremely low prices, and with the Met@Box AmiJoe G3 cards due out soon, these could well make serviceable machines for a long time to come. The BoXeR should (hopefully) ship sometime soon if you need a more modern Classic Amiga which can be PowerPC-enabled in the future.

The new Amiga development box, essentially a low-cost, good performance Linux box running Amie might also make a useful system for more than just developers. I've heard the figure of $750, and you'd be putting cash back into Amiga development.

The Linux option, as you mention, isn't a bad choice as an interim. Although my main machine is an A4000, I have a Linux box at home, on permanent loan from the office, which runs Linux Mandrake (an excellent, no-fuss distro - glad you like it too). It runs UAE nicely and it's connected to the Amiga via 10 Mbps Ethernet. Grab a copy of the excellent AmigaForever from Cloanto (http://www.cloanto.com/) if you want to go the UAE route.

Don't also ignore the BSDs: NetBSD, FreeBSD and OpenBSD as they provide very robust, proven free UNIX technology. The x86 versions can also be configured to support Linux x86 binaries.

If you're in the UK, a good source of Linux and FreeBSD software is the Linux Emporium: http://www.linuxemporium.co.uk/

John

-- posted by MetalJoe

Top 6. Feb 15, 2001 6:45 AM

» Vortex4120 - Re:New Hardware?

I tend to take BIG upgrade jumps equipmentwise! Currently using an A2000/060, which was previously a 030. In video use I went from a separates system (video camera linked to a full-size VHS portable, to a SVHS full-size camcorder). I expect to hold on until a Full Spec ONE model comes out. I know it will be expensive; the original A3000 sold for $AUS 5,000 to 6,000! People are used to low priced Wintel Boxes because of economies-of-scale. BTW - have you checked out Merlancia's models? At http://www.merlancia.com/MISEL/torroinde...

-- posted by Vortex4120