#A500 & 1 MB Agnus
8 messages in this thread
September 14, 1990
One Megabyte Agnus use in Commodore A500 Computers.
Commodore Business Machines does not support the One Megabyte addressing
feature of the Fat Agnus 8372 IC in A500 computers.
Regardless of the version of Fat Agnus, all A500's have been factory jumper
set to be functionally identical.
8370 Fat Agnus chips are used on Rev 5 boards with 256 x 1 DRAMs. 8372 Fat
Agnus chips are used on Rev 6a boards with 256 x 4 DRAMs. The boards are
functionally interchangable. Each will support 512K of chip RAM and 512K of
expansion RAM with an A501 installed.
Enabling the One Megabyte feature, at the customers' request, will void the
warranty. Instructions detailing the implementation of the ONe Megabyte
addressing feature have been circulated without Official Approval and
Commodore does not assume any liability for damages resulting from this
mode of operation in the A500.
_________________________________________________________________________
I was asked to post the above statement so that everyone knows Commodore's
official stance on the A500/Agnus situation.
Dave
Commodore Online Relations
Commodore Online Relations
Dave,
Thanks for the posting. I know that's not going to make some
people happy. That posting agrees with what I have understood Commodore to
have said in the past…although perhaps not quite as succintly.
Don
Don,
There's been so much confusion about this that it became necessary to post
it.
Dave
Commodore Online Relations
Why do I get the feeling this announcement is prelude to et another
announcement in the future which (If i'm right) won't set to well with 500
owners? Maybe it's just my paranoia… 😀
Rick,
Believe me, I can understand your feelings. However, I have no information
on future announcements until they get into my hands.
Dave
Commodore Online Relations
I think it's paranoia, Rick. Look at the C64 users.. They're always up in
the air over the C64 being chopped, and look how badly it affects them
(software hoarding, etc.), when they really have nothing much to worry
about (although the C128 is something to worry about, it was almost never a
smart puchase like the 64 is, anyway).
Do you think the A500 is a smart purchase, that a decent variety of
customers? I think so. This is what the 128 lacked. Also, with A2000 prices
as they are, the A500 is badly needed to fill the price-range that is has
been.
What's needed is the C65! A computer that kids can buy with cash. I never
had enough spare cash to buy a 128 until I got one used from a "motivated
seller". I had to sell my last Amiga cause I couldn't afford it. I couldn't
have got _this_ 500 if my mother hadn't fronted me the cash.
The perception in the 8-bit world is that the only people who are getting
served are the ones with the thickest wallet. I see this as the influence
of the "evil empire" (IBM). The plot goes like this: Make bad computers
expensive. That way only the "haves" can buy them and they can make the
"have-nots" work on them. Because remember: In the IBM way of doing things,
you don't have machines to do work for you, you have PEOPLE to do work for
you.
And when the 8-bitters need more "capacity", they're NOT buying 500's.
They're buying clones. In droves. And saying how much they prefer their
64's! Many of them would rather have had an Amiga but the clone was less
money. In every town in North America there are dozens of outfits making
cheap clones. Most of their customers don't even realize that in a short
period of time, that XT clone will be less supported than even the 64.
Even now, people are looking down on the XT's the way they used to on the
64. As a 64 fan, I'm glad the spotlight of censure has moved on. Now if
something can be done about affordability maybe computing can approach the
universality that has been prophesied. Computing power to the people and a
pox upon those who would snatch it from their hands!
Malcolm
This from a person who suscribes to a $12.50/hr. network?? Hmm, well I've
never had a huge budget and I am doing OK with my Amiga 500's, but then I
have grown into a bussiness making profit with it. Naturally, my sympathies
today are more with small bussinesses wanting to do creative work than with
C64 users looking to upgrade for the home.
I have had both a 64 and 128 in the past, and can say that the 128 is not
worth half the money it's sold for (or used to be before it was
discontinued). I can't see a solution in a 'C65'.. It would create more
resentment towards Commodore than anything else and would end up a bastard
with a reputation of being perhaps a bigger mistake than the 128. No
operating system, no software support and probably too cheaply made (like
the 128's).
The best course is the natural one: Let Amiga technology evolve. Prices
will continue to come down even on the A500 (as has already happnened).
Even though the A1000 is not made anymore, it's still an Amiga and can be
had quite cheaply.