#3000… Safe or Out?
18 messages in this thread
I just received a very interesting call from a guy tonight. I've got my
2000 up for sale as I'm "powering up" to a 3000. This guy laid on me a
bunch of horror stories about 3000 incompatibility. He suggests the 2500
is a better and more useful computer.
I know software compatibility was an issue for a while, but my impression
is it's gotten better. I realize most games will haveproblems with 2.0.
Can anyone tell which of the following programs are compatible with 2.0,
either in their present form or via an upgrade (e.g., DPaint 3)? Your
comments will be appreciated.
WordPerfect Analyze Ncomm (PD terminal program)
CrossDOS Quarterback Quarterback Tools
Raw Copy M-1 Tank Platoon Lemmings
Indianapolis 500 PGA Tour Golf Warlords
I'm also curious about running 1.3 on a 3000. Is this process as simple as
formatting the hard drive and installing AmigaDOS 1.3? Is the 2.0 ROM
backwards compatible with 1.3? I've heard about SetCPU and its ability to
allow accelerated Amigas to load older versions of Kickstart. Is this
capability available on the 3000 as well?
Nevin,
It runs 1.3 and 2.0 on the HardDrive. All you do is cold reboot with
both mouse buttons down and it gives you a choice of 2.0 or 1.3. I don't
know what will happen once 2.0 is in ROM. My copies of M-1 Tank platoon
and Quarterback don't like 2.0 but run fine under 1.3, though M-1 runs a
little faster it is much smoother than on my A2000. CrossDOS appeared to
work fine but since the A2286 is still in the A2000 I haven't really used
it. Buy the A3000 I've only had a couple of games that won't run on the
A3000 under 1.3.
Bruce H.
-Via Whap!
Thanks Bruce. I've already made the decision to power up. Now I think the
guy that called me was looking through ads trying to talk prospective 3000
owners into buying a 2500 from his dad's store! Pretty clever marketing.
Nevin,
Watch out for the overpriced 25/100. You can buy the additional memory
(and BTW keep the other meg so you have 2megs of Chipram) and an additional
105 meg Quantum with the 25/50 for almost the same price.
Bruce H.
-Via Whap!
Nevin:
The current A3000's have both 2.0 AND 1.3 already loaded on the hard drive.
To boot in 1.3, you just hold down both mouse buttons at power up. (BTW,
WB _1.3.3_ and 2.x disks are also supplied).
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
Nevin;
WordPerfect and CrossDOS work fine with WB 2.0 if you have their latest
versions. Analyze (that I have) will not work but it is old (the original
1.2 version). If there are any upgrades, I am unaware of them.
I don't have Quarterback but others that are using it indicate that it
works fine (again no idea if it takes a recent version or not).
Running 1.3 on the 3000 is only a matter of holding down the left mouse
button when turning on the machine. There already is a bootable 1.3
partition on the machine (at least if you see the "loading kickstart"
message flash on the screen for a couple of seconds).
An Amiga message processed by Whap!,
bill
Thanks Bill. I'll have to contact WordPerfect about the upgrade. Are they
still represented in the Amiga forums here on CIS?
Nevin;
No, they are no longer hanging around on CIS.
The latest version is 4.1.12 and seems to work just fine with AmigaDOS 2.0.
An Amiga message processed by Whap!,
bill
Amiga WordPerfect no longer comes around the Amiga Fora. There is an Amiga
section on WordPerfect Support Group B (go WPSGB), and questions do get
answered there, but it usually takes a few days to get a response from
WordPerfect.
Jef Schweiger
I'm running Ncomm, Indy 500 & Lemmings on my A3000, with no problems.
Indy requires me to boot my hard drive first, then warm boot the game
floppy, but no big deal.
Whoa… How did yoiu boot Lemmings on your 3000 under 2.0? I had to boot
it under 1.3.
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
It booted just fine for me under 2.0 on the A3000 as well.
Tim
Thanks Chris. I'll mark those two off my list.
Nevin,
in addition to the replies you're getting, you may want to check AmigaFF
for a recend upload of a text file listing the compatibility level of 250
programs.
Blaq! – via Whap!
Thanks Blaq. I'll look for it.
Nevin,
2.0 is pretty compatible these days. I have 2.03 (the version currently
provided with A3000s) and have found very little that won't run under it.
I've heard that 2.04 (apparently, if Rumor is correct, the version that'll
be ROMed) is even better. I can verify that CrossDOS 4.02 and Quarterback
4.0 work with 2.03. Quarterback's window border looks kinda funny (this
was a more common problem with earlier revs of 2.0), but the program
functions properly. The latest update to WordPerfect also works, but I
neither have it nor plan to get it.
Currently the 3000 can load either 2.0 or 1.3 at power-up. But I
imagine 1.3 will be dropped once 2.0 goes to ROM. I hope so anyway…I
want 2.0 to take over. 2.0 is _so_ much nicer an operating environment
than 1.3! I never boot 1.3.
Unless you plan to put a Toaster in your machine, or must have a 5.25"
drive installed, the 3000 is the better Amiga. Go for it.
-Dave-
Thanks Dave. I already made the decision to power up and my 3000 should
arrive sometime in August. I agree about 2.0… it looks like a tremendous
improvement as an OS.
I just wanted to get the compatibility issues addressed. I guess I could
have tried to contact all the vendors but it seemed easier to ask for
feedback here.
I can't comment about all your software titles, but I can verify that 2 of
them you mentioned will work on the 3000. CrossDos is one, in fact it comes
with the "2.0 Compatible" green sticker. Another is Lemmings, although it
is one of the few Psygnosis games that will work with the 3000. I think you
will find that the 3000 is not at fault for the compatability issue. Mainly
it is the fault of the companies for insisting on "Can't Break Em" copy
protection, or poor programming. These companies are going to have to
change, not the 3000.
John (in beautiful downtown Walla Walla) – via Whap!