#Computer Answers
But unfortunately, I think C= designed the 4000 in their "the Toaster is
not a 4000 product" phase of the relationship with NewTek. And they
refused to consider lessons learned from the 1000 and 3000 experiences.
Just another example of, "oh, the consumer will eat it up – because we're
COMMODORE!" attitiude that got them to the current state.
For me, I can't make a 4000 work in my set-up without major compromises
that outweigh the benefits:
Add VT and Y/C Plus, I've got one slot left. Ad AmiLink software, I loose
the serial port to it to communicate to some external chassis that houses
the AmiLink card. I loose the parallel port to the AmiLink dongle. Now I
have to use up the one remaining slot for an I/O card so I can drive
either a printer or ParNet, but not both. And an extra serial port to
communicate with external TBCs. Now, there is no room for a 24 bit card,
and unless I go with the addition of a Warp board, no SCSI. Now we have to
decide where the SunRize card has to go…
Currently in a 2000 I have G-Force 040 with SCSI, Ser: (Modem) and Par:
(printer), Toaster, Y/C Plus, MFC II (ser1: to DPS 230 TBC, and par1:
ParNet to a second 2000) AmiLink card, Amiga SER: switchboxed between
Nucleus PSFC and AmiLink comm, and Amiga PAR: used up by AmiLink dongle.
(The SunRize card was recently moved to the second system for timing
reasons that SunRize tells me will be resolved in the next release so that
I can move it back.) Then ther is the FFV card and the DKB board.
The blood between C= and NewTek was so bad at the time, I almost imagine
Ali or Irv baby ordering engineers to make a design that would put Toaster
users in Hell and limit the NewTek market to the existing 2000 base.
Then, I believe management delayed the production of the tower by about 9
months in order to try to sell down existing 4000 stocks. However, in the
meantime money ran out, CD32 took preference and the Tower never, as far
as I can tell, got anymore than a test production run of a few hundred
units.
If I didn't need the Toaster for my living, I'd have gotten a 4000 long
before now. However, based on not being able to make slot allocations
work out, I decided to wait for the Tower. I gambled that it would come
out before CBM bellied up. Experiences like this are why, when in Vegas
for NAB, the Casino's see nary a dime of my dough. :^}
wmc – via Autopilot!