#Here comes the Mac III
46 messages in this thread
Hi,
Just wondering what everyone (anyone?) is thinking about the upcoming Mac
III's. These new Apples are due this summer, and the preliminaries sound
impressive.
I've heard: '040 based machines, optimized accelerated graphics, DSP (with
audio in/out and modem/fax connections), NTSC/S-VHS in/out, multi-voice sound
(from the DSP), etc…these machines are meant to be "multimedia killers".
Is this the reason behind the DSP for the Amiga? Will CBM finally be
threatened by another platform (and I mean, feel threatened, whether they are
actually menaced or not)? Anyone have any answer to these and other questions?
🙂
Curious Jonathan
I thought Apple just announced these machines a month ago, but the DSP
was announced before that. I heard they also have custom co-processors to
take the load off the main CPU, sounds familiar. The Atari Falcon 030 also
has a DSP in it.
I think the change in Commodore is partly due to a change in CBM
personnel. Like the head of the engineering department for one. They have
to push the devolpment of the new high & low end chipsets as fast as
possible, along with DSP.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Just a note on the upcoming Macs… The new "inexpensive 040" machines use
LC040 chips… No math coprocessors. Ick.
That would seem to put a lot of 3D rendering software for the Mac
at a disadvantage.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Macs have traditionally had no math coprocessors even when they got nice CPUs,
and the software would often require an addon 68881.
"Macs have traditionally had no math coprocessors even when they got nice CPUs,
and the software would often require an addon 68881."
This is simply not true. Of the 11 desktop Macs now available, 5 come with
FPUs, and 4 others contain the sockets for "dropping one in". Of the portable
Macs 3 of 7 come standard with FPUs and 3 more contain sockets. I know of NO
mainstream programs that "require an add-on 68881 or 68882. All of the high –
end Machines have one.
We have about 600 Macs now and use about 200 different software packages
corporate wide. We have NEVER had a problem because of an FPU being there or
not!
Byte (a PC oriented mag) recently evaluated workstations (A NeXT, A Sun, An IBM
RS/6000, A Compaq '486/50, An Iris workstation, an HP, and a Quadra 950). They
recommened the Quadra. But what does Byte know?
Kirk
I don't know about anybody else, but I am getting tired of hearing about
how great the Mac is, in an Amiga forum. I can't believe if you put Mac
even a Quadra against a SGI machine, the Mac would be better.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
It wouldn't, technically – nor does a quadra fare well against an AMiga
4000, technically. In fact, the 4000 is a MUCH better piece of hardware.
The thing that hurts is putting Apple the company against CBM the company,
CBM comes out looking like rank amatuers. Putting MicroSoft the company
against CBM the company, CBM comes looking out like rank amatuers.
It's not an issue of machines. It's an issue of systems, and the parent
company is important (unless it's CBM, in which case it's important the
same way Leukemia in the family is important).
The writing's on the wall.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Is looking like rank amatuers caused by being small and unable to
compete with the big boys, or is it just mismanagement at a smaller
company? I have been considering getting an A4000 and a 486 BB to replace
two older computers. After the talk from Apple about their plans for
video and CBM's lack of competiveness. I may just have to think about
a PC (I can't believe I said that), not an Mac though. I will not pay
those prices for a underpowered machine.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
ARGH!! Do not utter those 2 letters…P and C…in the same phrase. Eww.
Hellfire man…think. AGA? Ring a bell? Yes…Commodore is smaller. Thats
just the way it is. But looking at The new amiga line and then looking at
PC's…the answer is obviously Amiga. You dont call those specs POWER?
Criminy…this isnt the 54'th century. Thats as powerful as you can get.
Competitiveness? How many computers…not boards,but whole new computers…have
they come up with since last year? They may be smaller… a bit slower in
advancement…but now with the possibilities of the A4000 there is no
competition. And at the rate that CBM has been going..how far behind can the
A5000 be?
Greg
– via Whap!
Greg,
There's no question that the Amiga, from an engineering and system
software perspective, is a superb platform. This is largely what has kept
the machine alive to this point.
There's also no question that from a marketing perspective, the Amiga is a
complete disaster. "Commodore marketing" is an oxymoron. There is no
Commodore marketing. Just occasional lame, half-hearted approximations.
Money is not the most important factor here. The important factors are
creativity and innovation; here C= comes up empty-handed.
IMO, if this situation does not soon change, the Amiga will soon cease to
be a viable platform for software development. As Ben says, "The writing's
on the wall."
-Dave (via AutoPilot)
Dave,
I agree. CBM has the marketing savvy of a staple.Does that make their
product any less powerful?
Greg
– via Whap!
David,
Just butting in to add my 2 cents. Have you all seen the form letter new
Amiga owners (I'm an old <g> Amiga owner, but just bought a 4000) received
from Jim Dionne?! More or less asking Amigans to go out and tell the world
how much we love Amigas (like that's not what we've been doing for 7 1/2
year), and to write him and <share any new ideas to help expand acceptance
of the Amiga among people who haven't used an Amiga>.
My heart be still, not only don't they have a clue about marketing, but
they want us, the users to do it for them. I have reframed from writing a
really sarcastic answer…more flies with honey et cetra, but I think we
should all inundate C= with great marketing ideas…see if they salute.
Gracia
I don't like those letters either. I don't want to go that way if I can
help it, I have been Commodore since the VIC-20 days. The 4000 blows
everything else away, and at a great price, but the technology is not
the problem, it's the market. Amiga software is disapearing from store
shelves, more business is getting the Mac for video instead of the Amiga,
Apple building Amiga type tricks into their machines, etc. I am just
concerned about the health and continuing success of the Amiga market.
I just want to see some evidence that CBM is going push the Amiga more
than just a cartoon character in a few magazine ads. What ever happened
to the Merisel deal? What ever happened to DEC as a reseller? BTW Those
P C letters are just as repulsive as M A C.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Richard,
Amiga entertainment software is disappearing, but I don't think that is
the fault of Commodore, but rather the over all market in the United
States. Richard, decisions on what to carry in a store (or chain of
stores) is based on many things–one of them being the cost of shelf
space. Assume for a minute that I am not an Amiga dealer, but rather a
typical software shop that you might find in the mall. I have 'X' space
that I pay rent for, in order to maximize my profit I want to cover my
shelves with the products that are most likely to sell to the widest group
of customers.
Now it is your store, would you carry Amiga and IBM or just IBM?
My next point. The American software manufacturers are made up of a group
of companies that want to invest money into development of a product and
have promised returns on their investment. The number of PCs out there
virtually guarantees general success for even the most mindless of
products. Given $500,000 to invest in development, would you spend it
developing a product for the Amiga that might fly, or spend it on a
product for the PC that will fly no matter what you do? Are you a gambler
with you're $500,000?
Now Commodore is not without fault, but I think there is little Commodore
can do to change the flow now. I am not positive that they could have
changed the flow earlier, and even if they could, I am sure the management
genius at Commodore International which tightly control the purse strings
at Commodore Business Machines would not have invested the money necessary
to make it happen. The trick to marketing is application of money,
something Commodore International is not interested in spending in the
United States.
I think the hand writing is on the wall folks, in glowing neon, when one
of our own Amiga developers here on CIS doesn't think a game product would
be sucessful enough to warrant it's development on the Amiga.
Our entertainment software is going to come from Europe, and they will
enjoy great success here in the states. I welcome them, perhaps they are
willing to pick up the crumbs the 'big boys' aren't interested in.
One other thing Richard, Merisel still distributes the Amiga, and DEC and
Commodore still have their agreements. People are *not* buying Macs to do
video, and will not for some time. Why? Cause the video people know
about the Amiga and think of it first. Video is the bread and butter of
most Amiga dealers in the US.
Richard, I challenge you, what would you do in detail given a reasonable
budget from Commodore International to change the way Commodore
advertises? What specifically would you say to the people.
It is so easy to flame 'em, lets see some constructive fixes. Personally,
the letter from Dionne is not a bad way to establish a direct relationship
to you the customer. You might take Mr. Dionne up on his offer, give him
your ideas.
-mark=
-mark=
Drivin' on Otto Pilot
UNderpowered? A Mac Quadra is a darn sight more powerful, basic
horsepower-wise, than the fastest available 486. Applications are the key
here, methinks.
CBM's just not all that small, anyway – they're sized in the same order of
magnitude with Apple… remember they sell PC's and so on, not just
Amigas, and they've sold a LOT of computers total, far more than Apple
could ever hope to.
I think the cause is bewilderment and lack of direction. Specifically,
they let current products languish (repeatedly) while they poke at the
next generation. I remember a serious display bug in 1.3 they didn't
address for a loooooooooooooong time. Now, 3.0 has things that we
desparately need for 2.0 (or 2.1 – whatever the highest distributable
version is). Datatypes would be something other than a curiosity if
everyone could use 'em. There's more, but it just aggravates me to
enumerate.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
I can't believe this. Apple had 8 billion in sales this year. 5 th largest
computer company. The only multi-billion computer company that made money. CBM
is not even close in size.
Dollars earned as profit is no indicator of size. It's an indicator of
good managment (which I wouldn't contest for a second) and good margins.
CBM is quite large overall, really. Just run by fools.
Remember that "Commodore International" is the US arm of a multinational
organization, and one of the smaller legs for that matter.
It'll be quite some time before Apple is able to sell as many computers as
Commodore has, assuming they keep going as they are.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
The Mac Quadra is overpriced and underpowered compared to the Amiga.
If I did go PC, I would want to wait for the P5 machines to come out.
I really hope CBM gets their act togeather quick. It seems just by
listening that the engineering side is starting to stay on the right
track. Now they just have to fix everything else, most importantly
MARKETING.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Overpriced, no question. Underpowered, no. It's got a faster '040.
Yes, the blitter and friends are not present, and yes, the system bus is
slower, but it's still not something you'd call "underpowered" in
comparison. You can do things a darn sight faster with a fast 040 than you
can with the Amiga's geriatric 7 mhz blitter.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
I just watched a segment on Good Morning America about British morning
television. They had a live link to the host of a very popular British
morning show that is a cross between GMA, Pee Wee's Playhouse, and Monty
Python. The host gave a tour of his set including a wild computer room.
"This is where we show the new Amiga bits", he said. And he said this as
if everyone of course new what he was talking about. The GMA hosts had no
idea what he was talking about! As Amiga enthusiasts I think we simply
live "on the wrong side of the pond".
…AutoPilot Engaged…
-Paul-
Not many in television except for video toaster users know what the Amiga
is.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
What are Apples "plans for video?"
I read in a either Compterworld, or Infoworld that Apple was going to
have NTSC video in and out, DSP, and co-prosessors as part of their native
box, DSP. While this is old stuff to Amiga, with Apples marketing
and CBM lack of, who's going to know.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Well, as usual it is half the story. The new Mac will have video (NTSC, PAL,
RGB, and S-Video in and out). It will also offer voice recognition
out-of-the-box for all North american english speakers WITHOUT training.
Something the Amiga doesn't do. It will be able to "pass-
through" analog video straight to the Macintosh's monitor and can even
display live video transparently over the Mac's desktop. It also can
digitize video to QuickTime format without add-on hardware.
It will also have system software support for speech synthesis from
all programs by simply passing text to the OS. Again
something the AMIGA doesn't do.
The new models will support direct memory access on all
peripheral buses, including the SCSI bus. They fully implements NuBus 90, which
supports faster throughput from add-on cards. The serial ports also have been
supercharged; the modem port will be capable of emulating a variety of
telephone
standards, and with the right adapter, it can be connected directly to a wall
socket.
Here is more info:
Minicam. For both models, Apple will offer a miniature video camera
that can be mounted above the user's monitor or moved about on the end
of its cable to take pictures of objects or documents. Taking advantage
of the 32-bit digital signal processor (DSP) built into the systems'
logic boards, the camera will be able to put an image measuring 360 by
288 pixels, with 256 gray levels, on the screen.
While the built-in lens is designed for general use, users will be able
to install supplementary lenses that can record detail as fine as the
wire bonds on an integrated circuit, sources said. The camera is
expected to cost between $150 and $250.
> Speech recognition. The systems will ship with all the software needed
to put Apple's Casper voice-recognition technology to work; users
apparently will have to purchase an optional high-fidelity microphone.
The system, according to Apple documents, is based on a speech-
recognition engine now officially called MacPlainTalk. It reportedly
will recognize speech from any adult speaking North American English,
with no prior training required. Users will be able to speak in natural
phrases rather than in single words separated by pauses, and the system
will automatically adapt to changes in background noise.
> Speech synthesis. The two new models will talk as well as listen. A
new system facility called the Speech Manager will convert text strings
sent by applications to phonemes and then pass them to a speech
synthesizer, which in turn will look up the proper pronunciation in an
extensible dictionary and generate the actual audio output via a new
custom application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) called Singer.
From a control panel users will be able to select among multiple voices,
depending on the synthesizers installed. The default synthesizer Apple
will provide, code-named Gala Tea, is expected to support several male,
female and child voices (see MacWEEK, May 11, 1992). Features include
the ability to read numbers and fractions properly, such as "nineteen-
ninety-three" instead of "one, nine, nine, three."
As previously reported, both new models will include an AT&T 32-bit DSP
that will handle video and 16-bit sound, including telephony. The
Cyclone will include a 40-MHz '040, three NuBus slots and support for up
to 128 Mbytes of RAM.
A new NuBus controller called MUNI (Macintosh Universal NuBus
Interface), built into the Cyclone and on the Tempest's optional
adapter, will implement the NuBus 90 standard, including block transfers
and data burst to and from the main processor bus.
Both systems will offer video output in a variety of formats, including
NTSC and PAL (European) composite and S-video. Please don't forget the 16bit
(CD quality) audio.
Boy it is amazing all of the "AMIGA" thing Apple builds into the Mac
g4:*720c62x'vf>&2<62/30c6vzg
Never had a problem? Do you use any si's? THOSE had many problems when
they came out due to not having FPUs. A number of software packages
(no-name ones like Excel) checked for CPU type and on finding an '030
ASSUMED that a FPU was present. Where do you think the "co-processor not
present" error came from if there has never been a problem? I expect this
is the problem that Arnie has heard about.
-Karl Amiga and Autopilot: The *only* way to fly!
Thank you, I guess Apple has finally added FPUs to their top-end machines, but
that was not always the case, as my "traditionally" was meant to imply. Since
they seem to discontinue lines in favor of slightly enhanced ones it makes
sense that their current set are over 50% FPU powered.
"But what does Byte know"
Very, very little. They're also short on responsibility and accuracy, but
hey, they're Byte – so it doesn't matter.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Youre *DAMN* right… What does BYTE know? I recall Jerry Pournelle
saying… " Of the three platforms, the more suited to MultiMedia is the
Macintosh… followed by IBM which definitely has a 'window' to MultiMedia
and third the Amiga which needs a lot more peripherals for doing
MultiMedia…" By GODS SAKE… Amigas *don't* need peripherals to do
MultiMedia as the other machines!!!
GAWD!!!… ::trying to calm down::
Jorge Escobar/MEGABYTE PRODUCTIONS (…and AutoPilot, of course!)
Not much… They didn't test an Amiga 4000 with that group.
Bob Comer
I hold in my hands a text from Dr. H. M. Deitel. I know that he is just one of
the foremest pioneers in computer science and cannot know about computers like
Amiga users do. The text is called operating systems. It covers the major O/Ss
in use today. Read it. Of couse, he does not come to the conclusion that the
Amiga is the best computer for everything so he MUST be stupid. As must Seymore
Cray.
What amazes me most is the attitude that everybody in the world is ignorant
about computers but Amiga users. And then THEY are ignorant if they don't agree
that the Amiga is the greatest thing since sliced toast.
I am using a Mac to link our ethernet (DECnet, TCP/IP, AppleTalk) worldwide
network to a AppleTalk, TCP/IP network in Moscow (We are in Munich) This full
time connection uses a multiplexed T1 to New York converting to salelite link
to Medvedeva lake in Russia then via microwave link to our Moscow offices. Can
someone give me information on how you do this with an Amiga. (I realize that
much of the work is not being done by the Mac.) I would just like to read about
the possibilites.
It is amazing also that in the last real CBM stronghold (Germany) that they
have a 10 fold loss in market share in their most knowledgeable market (2 years
ago every second computer sold in Germany was a Commodore). I see the MASSIVE
defection from the AMIGA market by German companies who traditionally have used
Amigas and are VERY familiar with thier use. A Company here called MediaLabs
(One of the larget multimedia companies in Enrope has just went all Macs, Of
course they are ignorant too.)
oooohhhhhh, your just asking for trouble <G>
====>>> Motorola 68030 Inside <<<====
My real question is Why? Why is EVERYONE in the computer community so ignorant(
not the Amiga community, of course ). The hardware on the Amiga is "superior"
(bad, judgemental word) to the Macs. I don't care. For $3500 I can buy a
DecStation 5000 that is magnitudes faster than a Mac or an Amiga. Computers are
systems. They simply begin with hardware. The system extends all the way to the
company. Amiga has NO comm toolbox, No AOCE, and sadly, no company backing it.
It offers no SNA access, No (or limited) DECnet access, etc. This list goes on
and on. Major computer manufacturers are NOT working closly with CBM to insure
that the AMIGA works with thier products. This is all part of the system.
We (Radio Free Europe) have set-up one of the most complex data-sound networks
in the world spanning from New York to Moscow, based on AppleTalk, DECnet, and
TCP/IP. We work with 21 different languages (including Russian, Armenian,
Uzbeki, Tajik, etc) and 12 different script systems. It is IMPOSSIBLE to
support this on an Amiga. Of course I am ignorant here and you will tell me of
all of the Uzbekis using Amigas in their native language.
I have not, and WILL not make statements like the Mac is SUPERIOR to the AMIGA
or vice versa. These statement are non quantitative and meaningless. I cannot
get real information about the AMIGA because the people who know the machine
inside and out are so sensitive to "bad" comments that every comparison to
another platform is simply to slam that other platform (look back though these
threads), and not to make a meaningful comparison.
The MAC is just now with System 7.1 supporting localization with
WorldScript.. something the Amiga has supported for some time.
BTW, the Amiga has had speach recognition capabilities for a while too.
Ever hear of VCLI ???
-Jonathan
Not true again. The Mac with system 7.1 supports WorldScript, a much different
matter from simple localization. The Mac OS was localized for many languges
(even slightly esoteric one like Icelandic) since 1984. If the Amiga supports
this type of "localization" can someone please tell me where one can get Dari
support for the Amiga as one of my users has an Amiga and has been wanting to
use it in his native language for a LOOOONG time. He was told that it is non
existant.
Second reply:
Second point, the Mac also supports voice recognition, as it has the best
selling voice recognizer in history (The voice navaigator, Articulate Systems,
Cambridge). I use it every day and it works very well as an adjunt to
mouse/keyboard input.
You should see any computer users eyes pop out (including Mac users for that
matter) when I call me computer using the telephone and have it fax me a
document at a number that I read to it.
New Amiga's come with a "Locale" setup that allow you to customize the system
to the local language, etc. I don't know about Uzbek, but I know of Greeks,
Croats, Iranian, Polish and Turks using the AMiga in their native language
(though not all software is available in those languages).
True, most major companies don't work closely with Commodore to support stuff,
and it's a pity. Still, of worse comes to worse we can pop in an 80486 based
card and multitask (and control) it from the Amiga…hardware, too. [Many Mac
items, also.]
-Chas
Whoa there, I was not flaming the MAC like your message seems to imply! I
wasn't calling people that use MAC's stupid. I was just saying that BYTE
should've included the Amiga in with the other comparisons.
Now to coment on your comments!
I've never read the text of Dr. H. M. Deitel, but I have a degree in
computer science, and I have read MANY texts on OS's. (It's a hobby of
mine.) If you're saying that, he says the MAC OS is the best, I can only
assume he is saying that from an end users (non techie) point of view, and
in that the MAC OS is very good. I don't like the MAC OS because of no
preemptive multitasking (what they teach you in college these days), and
no real command line. This makes the MAC far to rigid for my tastes.
As to Mr. Cray, he is a Genius when it comes to hardware. I would like to
see any quotes you have from Cray as to the MAC OS being the best! (Any
machine that I've worked with that Cray has had a hand in, is mainframe
size, and has preemptive multitasking.
As to your network setup with your MAC, the Amiga could do it exactly the
same, we have TCP/IP, and software to drive it, we have appletalk ports,
nothing else is handled by your MAC.
As to your last paragraph, the answer is software (end user), and dollars,
pure and simple, not an advantage that the MAC has, (definitely doesn't
have) in the OS area. And in that, they weren't stupid moves.
Bob Comer
Totally agreed. Dr. Deitel does not say that the Mac has the "best" OS, a
statement that would immediately disqualify him in my book. If OSes are your
hobby I am VERY suprised that you do not know Dr. H. M. Deitel. If anybody says
"best" for just about anything, (I.e., best car, best computer, best booger
picker, etc) then they definately do not know WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT! IMHO
of course. Shall I "cut and paste previous comments frim this thread and we can
see who is saying "best", the only, "the best computer" etc.
As to Dr. Cray. He has never, to my knowledge, made such a statement and I
personally would be shocked if he did. He uses a Mac at work and at home. He
chooses a Mac. He would not make (IMHO) such a blantly unsupportable statement
as the "best" computer.
As to this statement, "As to your network setup with your MAC, the Amiga could
do it exactly the same, we have TCP/IP, and software to drive it, we have
appletalk ports,
nothing else is handled by your MAC." You have fallen into the mistake of
commenting about a system that you know nothing about. I mean the "nothing else
is handled by your MAC" part. Making this type of comment about a system you
are not familiar with is typical about the type of comments that are rampant in
this forum. Somebody please tell me what I have said detrimental about the
Amiga and we can go from there but I believe I have simply refuted false points
about the Mac.
The Byte article mentioned the Amiga, however, since the software that was
tested was available on all the platforms tested and NOT on the Amiga they
choose not to do an unfair comparison. That doesn't make them stupid.
I was taught in SA that "best" depended on many factors, including but not
limited to, hardware. I lament the poor showing of the Amiga at the hands of
CBM. But look back through the posts and see who is doing the "slamming".
You've mentioned "Dr H.M. Deitel" before a couple of times… What has he
done? What's his "claim to fame" that makes him an expert, or in the same
league as Tannenbaum, Comer, and Bach? I'm curious, because I've never
heard of this guy before.
Thanks for the info…
Steve
Kirk,
You seem smart enough to avoid broad generalizations about the Amiga
community. Certainly, Amiga users who are enthusiastic about their
platform can sound like "prima donnas" just like some rabid Mac fans.
I don't think we feel we know computers better than the rest of the world.
There have been plenty of responses to your messages critical of CBM.
When you want to talk about platforms, however, what do you expect to hear
promoted in an Amiga forum? I'm not going to rehash the history of Amiga
users' frustrating experience trying to get mentioned in trade magazines.
Tick off all the hardware you want, but the keys to any machine (among
other things) is that (1) it solves a specific user's problem, (2) is
available when a user needs it, (3) for a price the buyer considers fair.
I think most of us are aware of the limitations and strengths of other
platforms and have made our decision. That's how we arrived here in
AmigaUser.
*** jd, using AP from LA, CA!
That's how I arrived here. I think all most Amiga users want is the
platform to be treated like any other computer on the market. If the
Amigas, and other non MS & Mac machines have something new, what's wrong
with mentioning it, if they are have a really bad app or machine mention
that. Whats wrong with letting the market decide which is the better
platform? I have come to view some computer magazines and some people who
read them as having a very narrow point of view. If it doesn't have an
Intel on the inside, or a colorful little Apple on the front they won't
even consider it. Most Amiga users also use MS-DOS, and Macs, we have to,
there is more of them. So we don't have a narrow point of view
and can look at more platforms to choose from. It says alot when with
almost no info about the Amiga in the computer industry we went Amiga.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
One of my biggest gripes against the Mac is its Toolbox, or Kernel. It's
so generic and the Apple populist approach to programming so ingrained in
programmers heads that nothing short of a hi-speed, quantum physics
calculation will take advantage of math coprocessors. Look in last week's
MacWeek for the "dawning" of this phenomenon in the Mac populace.
An '040 in an Amiga will fly like a Banshee, but on a Mac, you might get
decent graphic updating, or your applications will "pop" up faster.
Sheesh.
The most telling sign is the rarity of software packages containing 2
programs: 88x compiled & non-88x compiled. Almost all programs that can
take advantage of such things will offer two versions of their code. Not
so with the Mac. I only wish they came out with an optimized 882 version
of Quark.
It's so pathetic that the biggest thing over on the Mac side are
"Photoshop accelerators," essentially processors on a card that will do
alot of the number crunching that the '040 should be able to do itself if
Apple wasn't so strict in its programming protocol.
Miguel ——– AP, AP, and away!
And the price of these way cool machines will be only $1800 😉
–Paul
I wouldn't call them way cool with a crippled 040.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Jonathon,
A DSP has been coming "RSN" for Amiga for the last 2 years. Hopefully, in
the next 2 months it'll actually ship (for 4000 and 3000T users).
The Atari Falcon is scheduled to ship the 3rd week of March. It has a DSP
as a standard feature (they use the new Motorola DSP — CBM's using a
Western Electric (AT&T) DPS — much more powerful than the Motorola
part).
I don't think Commodore or Atari having this capability is in reaction to
Apple. I believe that the technology has advanced at a price that is
affordable to the consumer so the addition of a DSP was an inevitable
addition to personal computers.
-sja