CompuServe Thread

#New Amigas to be shown!

63 messages in this thread
#105821From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 2, 1993 12:49 PM
Late breaking news: From a reliable source comes news of new Amigas to be announced on the 19th of July at the UK World of Commodore show. The A1400 is essentially an A1200 with a detachable keyboard. I have heard little else on this product. The A4200 is essentially an A4000 with AAA chipset and a PCMCIA port. Everything else should be the same as a stock A4000. The A5000 is the same as the A4200 but with an 060 processor and probably won't be announced or released before Sept. in Pasadena depending upon the release of the chip from Motorola. The show in the UK will most definately be showing the A1400 and A4200. There is a good possibility that the London UU affiliates will be showing the Emplant in the new machines in the CBM booth! There is even a possibility that some types of bundle deals may happen. I have no technical details of what the improved chipset provides. Anyone in the know, please comment. Also, for those people CISing from the UK and go to the show, please do the rest of us a favor and report all of the juicy details! -Jonathan
#105866From: Clint Woeltjen@VRLIJul 2, 1993 5:17 PM
Jonathan: I strongly suspect that this is yet another incarnation of the April Fools A5000 rumor. Clint <Chaocity>
#105870From: R. Simonsen/MicroBoticsJul 2, 1993 5:54 PM
Sounds like a "high SPAM content" posting to me. –Redmond [Amiga HW third party]
#105871From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 2, 1993 6:06 PM
Clint: Actually, there is nothing in it that resemble the April 1 hoax. A certain person that I will not name told me that the A4200 IS an A4000 but with the new graphics chipset and PCMCIA. The A5000 to come out later is the same as the A4200 but with a higher end proccessor (most likely the 060)… That's it! The A4200 and A1400 and A4200 to be shown sometime between July and Sept. -Jonathan
#105891From: Clint Woeltjen@VRLIJul 2, 1993 9:38 PM
Jonathan: The 1400 was attached to the 5000 rumor on the third iteration. This is the first 4200 that I've seen, but I'll beleive it when I see it. Considering the current troubles at C=, I consider them to be _highly_ unlikely to be true. This type of rumor only increases the chances that C= won't survive, as it will cause people to hang onto their money at a time that C= needs whatever sales it can get. Clint <Chaocity>
#105941From: Paul ToalJul 3, 1993 5:55 AM
Commodore canned all their aces after they got the bugs out of AGA and finished CDTV-II. –Paul < Motorola Inside >
#105874From: Jonathan HirschmanJul 2, 1993 6:38 PM
Jonathan, >>From a reliable source comes news of new Amigas to be announced on the >>19th of July… …of what year? These rumors are *really* starting to bug me. First, there are persistant reports of an Amiga 5000 that most computer users should easily realize are a techno-fantasy. Now, you see posts more like this one. Who is your reliable source? What company are they working for? Is the point of this to depress CBM stock prices even more (this would be an interesting stock scam)? Or, deflate present sales figures? Why are the 1200 and 4000 not good enough for the losers that post this kind of crap? //Jonathan, \\//via AutoPilot
#105900From: Mr. ChalleronJul 2, 1993 10:30 PM
Actually, David Pleasance of Commodore UK has gone on record as stating that a new SuperAmiga, using a 68060 and the AAA chipset, plus a few new databus tricks designed to enhance intense-single-use applications (like graphics rendering) and four separate clocks (talk about asynchronous) is being geared for a mid-1994 release; as well, the company is working on a "hardware-independent" OS (likely for the Alpha) for some late-1994 system that will be (in Pleasance's own words): "fully Windows compatible with all the Amiga graphics capabilities; and cannot be cloned." Now, I've heard this dismissed as "blue-sky fantasy", but isn't it just a _wee_ bit hard to dismiss a Commodore International VP?
#105918From: Richard EricksonJul 3, 1993 3:15 AM
The capability to be Windows compatible with an Alpha chip and the Amiga's chipset capabilities makes alot of sense. Just so they don't use Windows and drop Amiga DOS. Windows YUCH! Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#105921From: Jonathan HirschmanJul 3, 1993 3:23 AM
Mr. C… Although I have heard about the great stuff that CBM is coming out with, the mention of the 1400, 4200 and 5000 sound kind of silly. In fact, the 4000T has not yet been delivered, and CBM cannot meet demand for the present AGA machines. Is it really likely that new models are coming? //Jonathan, \\//via AutoPilot
#106087From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 4, 1993 6:16 PM
Remember, the 1200 was released on the heels of the 600… make sense? no, but that is the way CBM operates! -Jonathan
#106095From: Clint Woeltjen@VRLIJul 4, 1993 6:39 PM
Jonathan: Remember, the 600 was selling in Europe for about 9 months before it made it here to the states. I think it was FCC approval that delayed it here and pushed the two machine's releases together. Clint <Chaocity>
#105942From: Paul ToalJul 3, 1993 5:55 AM
These VP's are paid to be kept in the dark. They don't have a friggin clue as to what is and isn't. –Paul < Motorola Inside >
#106517From: stephen verbaJul 8, 1993 7:45 AM
Speaking of the Alpha, does it strike anyone as curious that DEC is listed as a VAR for Commodore nowadays!!! I strongly suspect we'll see the Alpha onboard an Amiga within a year…
#106538From: Richard EricksonJul 8, 1993 12:48 PM
In the Digital users magazine a couple of months ago the rumors section said Commodore is working on a most affordable line of home computers using DECs Alpha chip. Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#107260From: stephen verbaJul 15, 1993 7:23 AM
Confirms by suspicions over the last few months. I get a year of free use of a DEC Alpha starting today as a matter of fact (won their local contest for best 21st century idea for development app). Would LOVE it on an Amiga, it would vitalize the line enormously (AmigaDos and Windows NT on the same platform, it gives me the shivers)…
#107309From: Richard EricksonJul 16, 1993 2:09 AM
I heard at a recent WOC show after a speech, Lew Eggebrecht stated he was excited at the idea of an Amiga being able to run Windows NT. Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#107327From: stephen verbaJul 16, 1993 12:36 PM
I've just got my windows NT on my DEC Alpha up and going. I'd be more excited about a DEC Alpha chip on my Amiga!!!!
#107597From: John GagerJul 19, 1993 12:51 AM
Well if you would port AmigaDos 3.x over to your DEC, then we would be half way there!! Wonder if CBM would supply you with the source code? They might as well since they are not going to be working on any new versions for awhile 8^) // John – (Flying via AutoPilot) \X/ "Worf: To Hell with the Prime Directive – Give the Borg Windows!"
#107881From: stephen verbaJul 22, 1993 7:43 AM
I got a feeling someone at CBM has already tried this AMIGA/ALPHA combination. What good is the new 4000 plug in cpu card without new CPU's? It ain't gonna be Motorola 680xx's anymore, but either DEC Alpha's or the PowerPC chip.
#105989From: Tom SawyerJul 3, 1993 6:54 PM
Jonathon, I don't understand why you are so upset. Like you say: "most computer users should easily realize are a techno-fantasy." If what Jonathan Blackwell says is true…you owe him an apology.:) Thomas
#105995From: Jonathan HirschmanJul 3, 1993 7:30 PM
Tom, If Jonathan is correct, I will publically issue him an apology. Especially since I would rather buy newer technology than simply new stuff. However, it is unlikely to be the case, and I just have to deal with AGA when I upgrade 🙂 //Jonathan, \\//via AutoPilot
#106086From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 4, 1993 6:15 PM
Jonathan, I am sorry if I offended you, but I am in no way to divulge my source… so let it stand at that. I have no proof that such a machine exists. If you read my first post, there is no way out-landish spec. on the machine, just AAA and PCMCIA. The A5000 was indeed reported to me to be a long way off. The 4200 and 1400 are what I have been told about. -Jonathan
#106111From: Jonathan HirschmanJul 4, 1993 10:29 PM
Jonathan, I guess that we can wait until the 19th (that was the magic date, right?) to see if you are correct. Again, I'll be more than happy to apologize if you turn out to be correct. //Jonathan, \\//via AutoPilot
#106169From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 5, 1993 12:31 PM
Like I said earlier, I have no proof, I will await that date as well and see if my source is as accurate as I think it is. -Jonathan
#106341From: Jim SteeleJul 6, 1993 8:56 PM
Did you notice the ad in the latest Amazing for the Pasadena World of Amiga show? The blurb says : All the latest products! The Dazzling Amiga 4000! The Amiga 1200! And more surprises! Could mean anything, of course…
#106372From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 7, 1993 12:58 AM
OK, I have some clarifying to do. The new Amigas may be announced at the Sydney WOCA, but most likely in Sept. in Pasadena. There is a deal going down to include with A4000's sold in the UK, an Emplant board. -Jonathan
#107217From: LOUISJul 14, 1993 9:53 PM
Jonathan, Are you saying that a deal might be going on that includes an A4000 with an Emplant board? -Louis On AUTOPILOT
#107289From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 15, 1993 3:39 PM
Yes, the tentative plan is that all A4000's sold in the UK will come with an Emplant installed. -Jonathan
#106174From: Peter JonesJul 5, 1993 1:06 PM
Jonathan, WOC Show, UK, Jul 19th? I haven't noticed any publicity in the UK mags. (that's not to say there isn't any, though, the brain is wandering more and more these days 🙂 Pete Jones, flying on AutoPilot from Brussels, Belgium
#106277From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 6, 1993 10:55 AM
Actually, I should clarify myself. My source said, "Our UK affiliates are working right now to make the introduction at WOC on July 19th." I just assumed the show was in the UK, I guess it could be anywhere in Europe. ?? -Jonathan
#105917From: Richard EricksonJul 3, 1993 3:15 AM
Anybody enough in the know to comment, would have a lot to lose by commenting. So they are going to announce a machine with the AAA chipset before they have released a machine with the old AA chips (the A4000T)??? Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#105971From: Peter JonesJul 3, 1993 2:44 PM
Richard, A company that can release a cdtv add on for a machine that they had already discontinued is capable of such a thing! Pete Jones, flying on AutoPilot from Brussels, Belgium
#106019From: Richard EricksonJul 4, 1993 12:59 AM
Peter, You have a point there. I assume you are talking about the A570 CD-ROM for the 500. Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#106046From: Peter JonesJul 4, 1993 10:42 AM
Richard, correct. If that is not a perfect example of corporate madness, I don't know what is. By the way, is that a standard A1000 you are using? I still have my A1000, ordered on launch day 1985, but I also have a second (being used by my son) with the Phoenix replacement motherboard installed. So its an "A1000" with 2meg chip ram, 52mb hard disk, a2320 display enhancer card, and switchable 1.3/2.1 WorkBench. Pete Jones, flying on AutoPilot from Brussels, Belgium
#106190From: Richard EricksonJul 5, 1993 1:57 PM
Nope not the standard 1000. I have a Rejuvenator inside, with the ECS Agnus and Denise, 2.04 ROM/2.1 DOS, two hard drives, and a 25 mhz 68030 accelerator. Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#106271From: Bill ReevesJul 6, 1993 9:15 AM
Richard, Just curious…what accelerator do you have? I have a Rejuvenated A1000 also and thinking about speeding it up. However, I also have AMAXII so I must find a compatible one. Thanks. Bill
#106285From: Richard EricksonJul 6, 1993 12:25 PM
Bill, I am using a Mega Midget Racer. CSA took out the internal floppy and replaced it with a 1/3 height internal. The MMR and Rejuvenator work extremely well togeather. Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#106292From: Bill ReevesJul 6, 1993 1:49 PM
Richard, Thanks for the response. Do you have any 32 bit memory added to the MMR? Bill
#106375From: Richard EricksonJul 7, 1993 2:22 AM
Right now I have 512K of 32 bit sram, and 2 meg of dram. In the future I will bring the dram up to 4 meg. Having only 2 meg of fast ram is really cramped. Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#106434From: Christian BusseJul 7, 1993 3:13 PM
Richard, are you doing the DRAM upgrade yourself? If so, can you tell me what exactly is the type of the RAM chips? I, too, have a MMR (inside A2000) with 4Megs of DRAM and want to bring it up to 8Megs if poss. The chips seem to be soldered in place with room for one more chip between each two. Can this be done at home? Or should I send it in (I would HATE to have to do without it for a single DAY!)? Thanks for advice, // Chris coming in from Germany \X/ on AutoPilot 1.051……….
#105984From: Black Belt SystemsJul 3, 1993 6:50 PM
Just remember they annouced the 1600 just before they released the 1200. Don't go assuming they know what they're doing. –Ben …via AutoPilot
#106020From: Richard EricksonJul 4, 1993 12:59 AM
Ben, Yeah, the 600 should have never gotten out the door. I like to think they will figure out what they are doing, but then I don't expect to be paying more taxes soon either. 🙂 Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#106089From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 4, 1993 6:18 PM
Richard, I must be honest and say that I know very little. I have been told of an A1400 and A4200 and that is it. The A5000 is a ways off yet pending a newer processor (060 rumored). -Jonathan
#106191From: Richard EricksonJul 5, 1993 1:57 PM
Jonathan, I don't very much either, except what has been stated in speeches and such. They said the low and high end AAA chipset was looking at being released in '94. I would like to hope the AAA chipset is done or close to being done, but I have trouble believing it. Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#106278From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 6, 1993 10:56 AM
The last speach I saw was last year in Pasadena at the intro of the A4000. Lew had promised some developments for this year and RISC based machines in '94. -Jonathan
#106286From: Richard EricksonJul 6, 1993 12:25 PM
Did he promise RISC based machines, or say they would be RISC ready? Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#106300From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 6, 1993 4:15 PM
No promise of RISC based machines.
#106376From: Richard EricksonJul 7, 1993 2:22 AM
That's what I thought. But I am betting if CBM is still around, there will be a RISC based Amiga. Richard -> via the Amiga 1000 AutoPilot
#106199From: LOUISJul 5, 1993 3:29 PM
Jonathan An article appeared in last Sunday's Chicago Tribune about Apple and John Sculley stepping down or aside, depending on how you want to look at it. It goes on to mention what Motorola Inc. is working on. "PowerPC, expected to be on the market early next year, is Apple's plan to follow the Mac with machines that match the speed of the new ones already on the market in the IBM-compatible world based on Intel Corp.'s Pentium microprocessor. It is joing IBM and Schamburg-based Motorola Inc. to bring it to market." "The PowerPC machines will be based on a new chip using what is called reduced instruction set computing, or RISC, to be built by Motorala Corp. It will operate under programs that Apple is preparing in cooperation with several allies, including onetime archrival IBM. That means that in the PowerPC Apple will have for the first time a machine that will also be sold by a competing company." Which brings me to my post on the "Virtual Corporation." -Louis * Celebrating a BULLS Three-Peat victory! (while on AUTOPILOT!) *
#105931From: Dominick J. FontanaJul 3, 1993 4:23 AM
Jonathan, Are you sure these rumors are true? It seems like they circulate periodically, but usually around April 1. 😎 If it is true, did you hear about any upgraded audio capabilities for the new machines, such as, 16-bit, 8 channel stereo sound with a DSP chip? Also, are the new machines going to include the A4091 SCSI controller? What about a built-in CD-ROM drive? Thanks. Dom Fontana –> Sent from NY via AP <–
#106091From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 4, 1993 6:21 PM
Dom: If you are looking for proof, I have none. I cannot guarantee anything other than to say that as everyone knows, there is going to eventually be new technologies and new machines, but will it come this soon? I have _GOOD_ reason to believe so. -Jonathan
#106258From: Dominick J. FontanaJul 6, 1993 4:22 AM
Jonathan, I wasn't looking for proof. I thought I had asked if you knew if the alleged new machines had any audio upgrades. 😎 Dom Fontana –> Sent from NY via AP <–
#105935From: John LeonardJul 3, 1993 5:35 AM
What U.K WOC show is this then? Sorry, but my diary says no U.K. show on this date. John A. On AutoPilot all the way from the U.K.
#105940From: Paul ToalJul 3, 1993 5:55 AM
You been suckered. The 68060 won't ship till after Nov. '94. That's more than a year away and is the best case scenario if Apple pleads and begs for it. Apple is making contingency arrangements to sidestep the 68060 if neccesary. –Paul < Motorola Inside >
#106093From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 4, 1993 6:32 PM
The two machines I was told about had nothing to do with the 060 proccessor. It only applies to the A5000 which is _supposed_ to be a ways off. The other machines are based on the AAA chipset and the PCMCIA in a desktop machine. -Jonathan
#106108From: Paul HigginbottomJul 4, 1993 10:15 PM
What would be the point of detaching the keyboard on the A1200 (i.e., to make this 1400 you spoke of)? I can only assume that means it will then get a slot of two. If so, that would be good. Sounds like it will look like an A1000 🙂
#106170From: Jonathan BlackwellJul 5, 1993 12:36 PM
Paul, To be honest, I have no idea what a detachable keyboard would do. Perhaps you are right and it would be a pizza style box with one or two slots. I envision an A1000 style case as well. -Jonathan
#106207From: Phil HillJul 5, 1993 4:16 PM
Jonathan Listen to your UK Amigos on the Amiga. What UK show on the 19th? It must be the worst publicised show ever as NOBODY has heard of it From Foggy London.
#106254From: Mike SchillerJul 6, 1993 2:32 AM
Jonathan: Maybe it will come complete with a keyboard garage? 🙂 Seriously, a detached keyboard is more than just window dressing. I have a friend who went from using an A500 to using an A1000 simply so he could have a detached keyboard, as he has to type with the KB in his lap, otherwise he has trouble with his wrists. // -Mike Schiller \X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
#106328From: Ron LegroJul 6, 1993 6:15 PM
>What would be the point of detaching the keyboard on the A1200 (i.e., to >make this 1400 you spoke of)? There have been other discussions in the Europress about a "CDTV II" that is an AGA-compatible CD-ROM drive in an A1200 case without a keyboard. If true, an A1400 wouldn't be hard to extrapolate, since both such products presumably could share the same CPU case design. — Ron Legro, Milwaukee via AUTOPILOT (the only way to fly)
#106107From: Paul HigginbottomJul 4, 1993 10:14 PM
I think it's becoming fairly clear that Apple is more interested in PowerPC than 68060 moving forward. The PowerPC family looks like it will be great. If I were Apple I'd be working hard to get the Mac OS running on it, not working on hardware based around a 68060 that no-one else will ever use.
#105988From: Tom SawyerJul 3, 1993 6:54 PM
Jonathan, Thanks for the information. I would bet what you say is true. I've seen this before around here. News leaks out about a new machine..and alot of people say not so, only rumor. Lets see what happens on the 19th! Thonas