#A1000/UpGrade
26 messages in this thread
Hi All,
The STATS: Amiga 1000, O/S1.3, 1 Meg INSIDER from DKB Software, 65 Meg HD,
SupraFaxModem V32.bis.
The Problem: Where do I go from here ? I would like to get some feedback as to
what's available to upgrade my OLD but well loved A1000.
Edson
A Rejuvenator board would probably be the next logical step, but at a cost
of about $500, 'logical' might not be the appropriate term, since you can
get a brand spankin' new A1200 for not much more $$.
A Rejuvenator would be the thing if you want to keep working with your
1000. I have one and it works great. It gives you 2 meg chip ram, ROM
socket, full ECS capability and a video slot. A more logical step like
Michael said, might be is to get a 1200. You can sell the 65 meg, and put
that toward the cost of the IDE drive for the 1200. Keep the 1000 for
backup though, that's what I plan to do when I upgrade.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Hi Richard,
First let me thank you for your info about the pinouts on the A1000 serial
port. –About three months ago– Radio Shack just looked at me, like I was
nuts, but I found a contraption (loose wires, with a connector) that works just
fine. Thanks to you my SupraFaxModem is now up to speed.
** THE FOLLOWING IS TO ALL WHO REPLIED TO THIS THREAD **
I asked about the Rejuvenator at one of the local Amiga dealers (the Amiga
section has been moved to the back) and they said we no longer support the
A1000 period.. So it looks like I will have no choice but buy a new computer.
What to buy now becomes the question.
I work as a sales rep. in the graphics arts (PrePress) industry. The company I
work for has begun the transition to DTP, trying to maintain our reputation for
excellence. Most of my customers use MAC'S, with a few IBM users. I have one
client using an Amiga. The DTP Dept. is MAC based with one IBM, running all the
software necessary to ouput whatever is thrown at us. This availability of
platforms and software gives hands on knowledge of what's out there, for the
IBM and MAC
I love my Amiga, and I WANT to buy an Amiga. But. The best price I have found
for a BASE A4000 is $3600 CDN, a lot of money for a platform, with only 4 bays,
no SCSI, and no (out of the box?) 24 bit graphics. Add to this the problem of
fitting a CD-ROM -will a Syquest fit?- into the 5-1/4 bay. I am not sure about
the price of Mac's but I am sure $3600 bucks would buy a well configured
IBM/CLONE.
As I get my fill of DTP at work, I think I would like to get into
3D,animation,and video. An Amiga sales person, whom opinion I respect, has flat
out said to forget the 4000, that for the same kind of money I could get an
expanded A2000 and still have room for more. He has suggested as an entry level
to get a base A2000 and OpalVision. This would allow me to start the learning
curve for less then $2500 and I would have the ability to easily expand my
system as required. I can probably do better on the price, because although I
respect this person's opinion, the dealer is a bit overpriced.
Is this right? Would a A2000 be a good buy, or will it be in the same position
as the A1000 two years from now? Will a bridgboard allow me to run Corel Draw?
Does the Emplant have the potential to run Quark, Illustrator, Etc…? Or
should I just say the hell with it and buy a Mac, and get on with becoming
proficient with the software my customers are using?
Edson
I'm glad the modem is hooked up and working fine.
I am not surprised a local dealer will not do anything with the 1000
other than service maybe. If you want to get more info. on the
Rejuvenator, give George Gibeau a call down at Expert Services in
Florence, Kentucky at (606) 371-9690.
While OpalVision is great, I would avoid getting a 2000 to put it in,
it is still a 16-bit computer. If you don't go for the 4000, a good choice
would be a 3000. The prices are very good right now, and you get a faster
processor than you would get with the 2000. You might also consider the
4000/030, which is the same 4000, but with a 030 instead of a 68040. The
only thing keeping the 2000 alive right now is the toaster. So it
shouldn't be too long before it joins the 1000 and 500. A good choice to
run Mac, is AMAX-II. It runs Mac software faster than the same processor
would on the Mac. The bridgeboard should be able to run anything any
MS-DOS platform can run. There are now 386 & 486 boards from Vortex, so
you could even run Windows 3.1 maybe even OS/2 if you like. I haven't
heard much about the Emplant, so I can't say how reliable the emulation
is. The pre-press in the company where I work also uses Macs, fortunely I
don't work with them, only a DEC/VAX.
Remember the Amiga can run MS-DOS and Mac with the right hardware, but
they can not run Amiga.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Thanks for the number for Expert Services, I think upgrading the A1000 has gone
by the board, but as I will keep it anyway I will give them a call and at least
see if it will fit into the budget.
What is the difference between the A2000 and A3000, please excuse me if I sound
ignorant here, but I have only recently joined CIS and the Amiga Forums has
opened my eyes to an Amiga community, with answers to all my questions about
this wonderful machine. I see from the Classified section of this forum that
the A2000 can be configured many different ways. Including x meg 32 bit memory?
Is this not 32 bit? Is the A3000 32 bit out of the box?
I would like to end my dilemma by just buying the A4000 but I don't have a good
feeling about this computer. Is it possible that CBM had to release a machine
this year and this was the best they could do? Is te -(GREAT)- computer to
come, going to be like the 2000 was to the 1000?
Do you work for a printing company?
Edson (!!agimA na ni deppart m'I !pleH) Gray
Edson,
The differences between the 2000 and 3000 is that the 3000 comes with
a 68030 running at 16 or 25 mhz with a 68882, you would have to get
an accelerator with a 2000. The 3000 comes with a SCSI hard drive,
the basic 2000 doesn't. The 3000 has 32 bit pathways thru-out, with a
accelerator in a 2000, only the ram on the accelerator card is 32-bit
the chip ram, and access to the chipset is still 16-bit. The 3000 comes
standard with the 2 meg Agnus, so 2 meg chip ram is easy. The 3000 has a
smaller footprint than the 2000. The only things the 2000 has better is
the number of expansion slots, and a bigger power supply.
I think the 4000 and 1200 are just the first machines that will be coming.
CBM is working on better chipsets, running RISC proscessors,
networking, retargetable graphics, and true 24 bit graphics. They are
working on chipsets now beyond the AA, and I have heard rumors saying
they have Amiga pro models being worked on. That came from one of the
UK Amiga magazines.
Yes I work in the MIS department for Quebecor printing.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Thanks for the info on the A2000 verses A3000, it has cleared up a lot of
questions.
Quebecor is very large Richard, where do you call home?
Edson
Edson,
I am glad the info helped out. I live in Minneapolis/St. Paul Minnesota.
Quebecor USA has about 20+ large plants in the US that operate on the VAX
I work with in the St. Paul plant, with the corporate offices in Boston.
The corporate office in Montreal operates all the plants in Canada and
Mexico.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Richard – is there a 4000/30? I hadn't heard that such a beast existed yet.
If so, what's the price point compared to a 4000(/40?)
From what I have heard it's only being sold right now in the UK and maybe
Canada. It's just the same 4000, only with a 68030 daughter CPU board
instead of a 68040. No word yet on the US price if it gets to the US
at all, my guess would be around $1500. It might end up being another
A1500.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Richard,
The price in the US will be around $1999 at most dealers. The MSRP is
$2395 I believe (don't have the numbers before me). The configuration is
a 68E030 @ 25Mhz with 4MB of RAM, 120MB hard disk.
-mark=
Drivin' on Otto Pilot
Thanks Mark, I didn't have any figures that I knew were reliable. Do you
know if it's available in the US yet.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
Richard,
The machines are expected to be in Commodore's warehouse sometime this
next week.
-mark=
Drivin' on Otto Pilot
"68E030"? No MMU?
I'd love that price point. Perhaps that's why their dumping 3000's in the mail
order market. – Flushing the channel before releaseing the new model.
Once the 4000/030 hits the market, I wonder how long the 3000 will
still be produced.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
The A3000 is no longer being produced.
-mark=
Drivin' on Otto Pilot
Not surprising, is the 3000T?
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
It is no longer in production either, but Commodore has plenty of them!
-mark=
Drivin' on Otto Pilot
The A3000 has already been discontinued. What is being sold for the low
low prices is the inventory left.
-Jonathan
I thought CBM sold it's remanining 3000s in the warehouse to Creative.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
That is true…..
-Jonathan
Well, Creative lies. 🙂
How many A3000s do you want? (grin)
-mark=
Drivin' on Otto Pilot
Edson,
As much as it may pain you to, I would scrap the 1000 and upgrade to
the 1200. While there are quite a few options to upgrade the 1000, at
this point your next logical step would be the Rejuvinator board or some
type of accelorator, either will set you back around $500.00 or more. A
new 1200 will already have the accelorator (68020), advanced graphics that
the 1000 will never touch, & 2 megs of ram. All for about $100.00 more
than expanding the 1000. You may well be able to sell some of the parts
from the 1000 to help, but I'd keep the SCSI hd and buy the new GVP 1200
SCSI controller!, but you may be able to get a few $$$ for the Insider and
the 1000. (although 1000's are almost a give away item anymore, maybe you
could give to your kids or a relatives kids!). I know you did't want to
hear this but if you plan on expanding, you will be happier upgrading
instead.
just my .02
…Steve
====>>> Motorola 68030 Inside <<<====
I wouldn't scrap it, it's still worth around $100, (maybe $175 with the
Insider), that could be put toward the 1200.
Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot