CompuServe Messages

Charles, since the introduction of the A3000 a few years back there hasn't been ANY new Amiga model without a built-in harddrive controller of the one (SCSI A3000) or the other (IDE A600/1200/4000) kind. The entry-level machines have hard disks as an option because, unlike a PC or Mac, you can actually DO something on an Amiga without hard disk (ok, you got to have 2 floppy drives then…). I assume that most A600 buyers see mainly a terrific games machine and maybe later get down to productive work – these do not need a hard drive but may want to add one later at reasonable cost – why force them to buy expensive SCSI drives when they can perfectly well make do with a cheap IDE drive? After all, we're not talking giant setups in this part of the Amiga range (although, what some enthusiasts have done to their A500's…). Here the same applies as for the PC market – if it's expensive have the people pay for it when (and IF) they actually NEED it! PCs are fairly inexpensive because not the best of the best is all crammed in the package when it leaves the factory. Manufacturers pop in a cheap 20 Dollars Multi I/O Card with Floppy/IDE controllers, 2 Serial and a Parallel port and – guess what? – most people will NEVER feel the need to have something else in there (let alone a 400 Dollars SCSI Host adaptor)! I'm too tired now to roam on in this fashion but I think you get my point. Shame about the missing clock, though, I grant you that. // Chris coming in from Germany \X/ on AutoPilot 1.051……….