CompuServe Messages

In my opinion: Stupid (REALLY stupid) #1: expansion wrong side, incompatible Stupid #2: Power supply inadequite for expansion memory beyond 1m. The FIRST thing people do to a machine is expand it… because most computers (and the A500 is no exception) are not complete as you buy them. External drive comes to mind immediatly, hard drive controller follows, extra serial port follows, digitizer, etc. Now, since you already _have_ to have a power supply when you make a computer, and you _have_ to have it pass all those fun rules that UL and the FCC promote, you can make it a _lot_ easier for the aftermarket people to help add value to your machine… Of course, there is little evidence that CBM wants to do that… Since they royally screwed all the manufacturers that worked so hard to make add-ons for the A1000 by totally _______ up the expansion port, I suppose one could argue that it won't hurt them _that_ much more to have to make a power supply, too. The A500 is priced pretty well, and it's powerful as hell. That's great. It's also a brand new computer, with all the problems that brand new computers have vis-a-vis hardware expansion. Small companies have a hard time adding cost to their items — most of the support companies for the AMiga are small — and CBM should have been thinking about that when they did the power supply. Yes, you can add a power supply to your system: But! As Perry pointed out, the traces in the A500 were NOT designed to handle that extra power… and if I, as a manufacturer, #1 assume that you are willing to void your warrentee by changing the supply, #2, that you are WILLING to buy a new supply, #3 that I can talk enough people into it so that I can make some $$$, I'm pretty stupid. The _only_ reasonable way to expand the A500 now is with a new design that incorporates it's own supply. See if the other Developers on here don't agree with me… Perry? –Ben–