CompuServe Thread

Mark, The Amiga won't read MS-DOS disks "as is". There are freely distributable programs that will allow it to read an MS-DOS disk. But that's like a chicken and egg situtation…you need that program to be able to read MS-DOS disks…but you can only download it onto an MS-DOS disk. There is also a commercial program to do the same thing, but as you said…your boss doesn't want to pay for any software. Don

Mark: The first thing you need is a commercial program to convert MSDOS 3.5" disks to AmigaDOS format. Then you can dl to your clone, and, provided you can put the file on a 3.5" 720K formatted disk, you can read the dl'd software into your Amiga! OK — so your bosses won't pay bucks for Amiga software. OTOH — Amiga software is very much cheaper than MSDOS or MAC software. For example, Dos-2 -Dos or CrossDOS (two programs which permit the Amiga to read, write and FORMAT MSDOS 720K 3.5" disks) retail for about $25-$35, depending on whether you go dealer or mail order. Once you have that, you can DL from here, and send it to the Amiga. Also, you need to find out if your machine has a full set of Amiga OS files. If not, you can get them from virtually any Amiga dealer for about $25 (for the so-called AmigaDOS 1.3 Enhancer kit, which gives you Workbench 1.3, and Extras 1.3. So, for a total of $50-$60 (and that's assuming you don't have the full AmigaDOS software) your machine is fully functional! If you have the AmigaDOS files, then your cost is half that. Once you have that, you can dl to your heart's content to get PD and shareware files here. In addition, you do get two _text_ editors with the basic AmigaDOS enhancer kit — ed and MEMACS (micro Emacs). Be advised, however, that they are not word processors, they are text editors, though you can use them to do a lot of basic word work, and they are really for creating batch files, programming etc (though both are MUCH better and easier to use then EDLIN). Availabe here is a more powerful shareware product in demo form called UEDIT. It is also a test editor, but has a lot of features, and the demo version is very useful by itself. Again, Amiga commercial software is much cheaper than MSDOS or MAC software, so you could get Scribble, for example, for around $25, or PenPal for $70, or ProWrite for $75, or Page Setter (almost DTP) for $90, or WordPerfect 4.x for $160, or even full desk top publishing (with high resolution output on a [ MORE ]

[ continuation ] DOT MATRIX printer) in Professional Page for all of about $190! Again, there ARE PD and shareware data base programs available here, or on PeopleLink, or on Bix. But, the commercial variety are very reasonably priced. For example, in the MSDOS world, SuperBase is getting a nice rep. It started on the Amiga, and only costs $90 for the low end version, and $200 for the professional version mail order. With that you can do virtually any data base oriented task, tho commerical data base programs for the Amiga START at about $30 mail order. All that said, if you like computers, you'll love the Amiga. It has incredible graphics and sound capabilities (which is why it has a rep for great game machine, which it is). It also has a VERY flexible OS, and can truly multitask, and has both a graphics user interface (like the MAC) AND a command line interface (like the MSDOS world). And it permits simultaneously running software, from different suppliers and developers, to communicate with an control each other. You will love it if you get into it. Imagine — a potential 8 megs of ram available to the system, autoconfiguring (that means you just plug & play) with NO hassles! Imagine — ONE printer driver for your printer for the WHOLE system!(_every_ piece of software uses the SAME printer driver). Imagine — one, two, four, eight, whatever serial ports working simultaneously with simple software configurations (no COM1, COM2, COMx stuff here). Imagine — ONE basic graphics file standard that permits you to share graphics among a wide range of paint, display and graphics editing software. Imagine — ONE basic sound file format that works the same way! etc., etc., etc. So, if you like computers, you have the hardware. Risk $50 or so to learn about this one. You might surprise the stink out of your employers. (BTW -for a big $200-$300 they could buy you Deluxe Paint III and AmigaVision, which would let you create ON SITE point of sale computer demos to sell [ MORE ]

[ continuation ] selected products, or show folks how to do a "do-it-your-self" thingy that was interactive, and included REAL TIME animation!) ?|^] Ray Lewis