CompuServe Messages

mike, I got lots of opinions when someone asks for it! 🙂 Here are my thoughts about your situation: WB2.04 is a distant cousin to WB3.1 (the current OS), but it is light years ahead of WB1.3! You can get along with WB2.04 for a little while as long as you realize you are missing out on some significant OS improvements and capabilities. I do not think I have yet run into a program that will only operate under WB3.x, however, most programs now-a-days will run under WB2.x but with reduced capability and ease of use as compared to running under later OSes. I feel your bigger problem at the moment is the small amount of RAM your system has. I'm a multitasking fool and like to play with 24 bit images <grin>! More is better in these type of environments. I've also noted that more and more major Amiga applications are requiring a minimum of 2Mb RAM to operate efficiently. What this points out is that your 2Mb of RAM would be really cramping my style! I would recommend you add a minimum of 4Mb of fast RAM (moving all your current memory into the chip RAM area) giving you a total of 6Mb. I'm a performance freak as well as a multitasking fool, so I wouldn't consider anything but 1 x 4Mbit, >80ns, static column RAM chips. C= recommended static column RAM for improved system performance, but didn't quantify the difference between static column and paged mode. There is a price difference between these types and you can check out the latest prices from any of the vendors that advertise in Amazing Computing or Amiga World. After I had 6Mb RAM, I would without question upgrade the OS to WB3.1! If there is any money left in the budget after this, buy more RAM. 🙂 Both the RAM and WB3.1 ROM installation will require you to disassemble your A3000 much further than simply removing the case cover. If you feel comfortable tearing things apart (and of course putting them back together) and plugging chips correctly into circuit boards, the procedure isn't to difficult. On the other hand, if you can't stand the anxiety and COST of a "smoke test," it is more than worthwhile to pay someone to perform this operation and be assured the patient lives! EdV