386 BB in Ohio!
25 messages in this thread
I would like to announce that I have a 386SX BB (20 mhz) installed in my
A2000, and I live in Ohio! I am not — repeat, not! — a PC expert, so if
you PC buffs have any questions, keep it simple, please! I have had the
board up and running since Saturday, and since my hard drive is flakey, I
hope I don't lose the ability to get back on line tomorrow and see if there
are any comments. Also, I can't imagine I would get the dealer in trouble,
but I won't reveal the name until I know it's safe. I am very thankful to
have this board in my system, and yes, I am _very_ impressed with it! See
you tomorrow!
Don Weed
Donald…
What fun! Your dealer has probably broken out a 3000 package, which is how
the 386 board is being sold here. Unless the dealer is ATOP, in which case
it's the enhanced AT board.
What programs have you run on it? Windows? Anything that uses protected
mode (sorry, I know that's not simple, but I can't think of specific
programs off the top of my head).
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for the Bridgeboard, etc.
Marion,
I haven't run many different programs yet because I still have only 1 meg
of memory (ran out of money temporarily!). 2-3 weeks and I'll break down
and buy some. I have OS/2 and Windows waiting in the wings, so I'm anxious
to try them out. Meantime, Leisure Suit Larry and Space Quest in 256 colors
have been kinda fun (blush!). Things aren't perfectly stable yet. My mouse
is very funky. It doesn't show up at all for Dosshell. It runs for a while
with the games, but then the games hang. My VGA board isn't recognized
right out of the chute. I run BBSETUP on the PC side, and it re-boots in
color. PCPrefs is a lot better than the old version, but it still has
plenty of idiosyncrasies. I will shortly ber subscribing to your newsletter
in hopes of learning more about this powerful board. It's not an Amiga, but
it sure opens up a whole new world of software! I think it's really going
to change how people think about the Amiga and the Bridgeboard. This is one
heck of a setup, and I'm very excited about it!
Don Weed
Donald… keep in mind that OS/2 (MicroSoft) requires 4 meg of ram
(minimum) and about 30 meg of Hard Drive, just to get up and running.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
I know. I have a copy of it (my own personal) installed on my PC at work (a
25 MHz 386). I rarely use it because it's disappointingly slow, but with
the chance to experiment at home with re-formatting for HPFS, buying a
high-performance graphics card, 8 meg memory, etc., I might even like it!
Don Weed
Don…
That's great. I envy you!
Re: the VGA–are you using a switch for the monitor? You may need to boot
up with the switch on the PC side–VGA boards usually autodetect the kind
of monitor, and if they don't find one (i.e., the switch is on the Amiga
side), they drop down to mono.
Did you get a sample issue and subscription info for CROSSINGS yet? If you
would like it, leave your name and address for me by e-mail and I'll send
it out.
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for the Bridgeboard, etc.
I am using a switchbox and 1 monitor, so I will try switching to 2 right
after double-clicking. Thanks!
P.S. E-mail coming up!
Don Weed
Don…
It's not after double-clicking that you need it…it's on booting up the
Amiga. The Bridgeboard starts to boot when Binddrivers is run in the
startup-sequence, and that's when the VGA card looks for the monitor. You
might have to do some experimenting to get it right.
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for the Bridgeboard, etc.
How much did the 386sx Bridge cost ya? Does it have a math coprocessor?
You in Columbus? Bring it to the Sat Amicon meeting up at OCLC! 😎 Nick
My dad lives in Columbus now, but I live on the very southern tip of Ohio,
across the river from Huntington, WV. If you have a meeting Sat. 17th, who
knows? The BB cost $915 with 1 meg and red label shipping. I do not yet
have a math co-processor, and it is not sold with one unless you purchase
it separately. That's on the list, but so is my insurance payment, electric
bill, credit card payment (and on and on…(sigh)).
Don Weed
The 386sx Bridgeboard costs $915!?!? Thats insane! You could get a
complete 386sx system for that. CBM never ceases to amaze me.
AMicon meets the first SAt of each month at OCLC (The Online Computer
Library Center) in Dublin, Ohio. at 10:30am.
Nick
Actually, though, Commodore hasn't released the board separately yet, so
the stand-alone product may have a lower retail price.
I agree $915 would be absurd. $600 would be more reasonable. (Yeah, you
could buy a basic 386SX with no HD for that, but there are some advantages
to the Bridge architecture.)
"I agree $915 would be absurd. $600 would be more reasonable. (Yeah, you
could buy a basic 386SX with no HD for that, but there are some advantages
to the Bridge architecture.)"
I could deal with $600.
Nick
I bought a 386sx 20 mhz with an 85 meh HD and built-in SVGA, 2 HF floppy
drives and 2 megs of ram for $890.00.
The BB will HAVE to be priced below $700 to make it attractive to more then
a few people.
Tim
Nick –
> $915!?!? Thats insane! You could get a complete 386sx system for that.
Add in the cost of the extra monitor, networking software and hardware to
enable you to have the MS-DOS machine and the Amiga working together, and
it is sure to cost more than $915. Aside from which, I doubt if it will
acutally cost many people that amount.
. . . . . JimDoc
"Add in the cost of the extra monitor, networking software and hardware to
enable you to have the MS-DOS machine and the Amiga working together, and
it is sure to cost more than $915. Aside from which, I doubt if it will
acutally cost many people that amount."
I think someone already mentioned that the board would be much less than
$915 when it is eventually sold seperately.
Nick
Saturday the 18th, I mean.
Hi Donald,
Not only am I new to Compuserve, like to day, I've got a 386sx BB on order
here in the UK. This will, I hope run happily on my A3000 but time will
tell. If I have ny problems I may ask you 🙂
BTW, what sort of price did you have to pay? I'm expecting to pay around
#350 which at the current exchange rate is, say, $630.
Pete
From Britains deepest West Country.
– via Whap!
Pete,
From where in "Deepest West Country" are you?…, I guess I am in
the Mid West. And even more important where are you getting a 386SX BB for
350 UK Pounds??…..the cheapest I have seen a CBM is 425 and the new
Vortex Golden Gate is 475.
Paul
Paul
Plymouth,England
Hello Paul,
I'm from Charmouth 3 miles east of Lyme Regis at The Queens Armes Hotel…
(thinks…) To all you wunnerful Americans out there this is a great olde
worlde place for your English holiday 🙂
Any way..getting my BB from Brian Fowler Computing on Crediton 0362-5400.
I'm really guessing a bit about the price but I don't think I will be to
far adrift. BTW, on a different topic I hear down the grape vine that
Silica are doing the A3000 with 52mb drive for around 1400 +vat Honest
injun…
Pete
– via Whap!
Pete,
Yes I know Charmouth, I used to whizz through it on the way to
Bournemouth, I guess the By-Pass has made things a touch quieter.
Well I will be very interested in the pricing of all these new BB's and
emulators although I will hold out until a review or two has passed my way
before I take the plunge.
As for the 3000 pricing, I was told a few days ago of someone else who
were selling the 3000/25 at previously unheard of prices….Hmmm IMHO I
think something new must be very close to these shores, I remember the
sudden price drop of the 286 BB only a few months back!.
Has anyone noticed any pricing changes in the U.S??
Paul
Paul
Plymouth,England
And very happy to see you here, too, Pete!
For those who don't know – Pete is the Amiga librarian of ICPUG, a very,
very large user group in the UK. He also operates a wonderful little
hotel at Charmouth, on the Dorset coastline. Twice a year, they have
wonderful Amiga conferences at his hotel. I attended the one in May, and
it was one of the neatest Amiga meetings I've ever attended.
Thanks very much for that Betty…blush 🙂
Pete
– via Whap!
Pete,
I hope you get that sort of price. I paid close to $900 plus shipping,
but I am quite satisfied with it, especially if I can solve a few minor
problems with it.
Don Weed
Hi Don,
I'll let you know when the BB arrives. Last time I heard C= still hadn't
any in stock, nor had any of the usual suppliers.
Waits impatiently.
Pete
– via Whap!