Workbench2.1
44 messages in this thread
All,
I was wondering if anyone has heard of a release date for WB2.1. I,ve
seen and used an Amiga 4000 for the past two weeks at my local Amiga
dealer. Only thing is he has no idea when he will get a copy. Also,
heard a rumor of the new high density drive being shipped. Anyone knoe if
this will be a plug in replacement for the existing drive or do we need
2.1 to use it.
Peter
Live from New York on Autopilot
Peter,
The A4000 is running WB 3.0 not -repeat- NOT 2.1
Vic,
I know that but I have a 2000 and will only benefit by buying 2.1 since
3.0 wont run on my computer. So does anyone know when 2.0 will be
released?
Peter
Live from New York on Autopilot
Peter,
2.04 is available now, 2.1 is a software only upgrade and should be
available in the near future.
Don
REAL near future. Commercial developers just received their copies of the
release disks for 2.1. (I wonder if they are precisely the same this time.
Last time the REAL 2.04 disks had a little "interesting" file in tools:)
{@_@}
Hello Peter,
I don't know how the situation in the US is, but WB 2.1 (only 2.1 is
available as upgrade, 3.0 is reserved for the A4000) will officially be
announced and made available in large quantities at the World of Commodore
show in Frankfurt this month. However, I have already received 2.1 about
three weeks ago. As was the case with 2.0, 2.1 is released with the german
documentation first, because Germany and Switzerland are the biggest
markets in Europe for Commodore. The upgrade cost me $110.
The high density drives (1.44 MB DOS and 1660k Amiga) are now fitted into
most new A3000 here in Europe, the brand new 2.88 MB drive is not yet
available, but announced for the Frankfurt show. Shipping of the A4000 has
begun, but you have to wait almost 6 months for it, because CBM can't step
up the production so fast.
Greetings
Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Max,
Thanx for the info. It's good to see that there are people willing to
listen even across the `pond'. Keep us Americans informed about that
Frankfurt show. I'd like to see what new and exciting products Commodore
has in store.
Peter
Live from New York on Autopilot
Hi Peter,
I will surely keep you posted on what's happening here, because things
concerning the Amiga seem to happen here before in the US. By the way,
have you already heard about the A1200, whixh is supposed to be the
replacement for the A2000? The existence of this machine has already been
confirmed, but no tech specs are known yet.
Right now there are rumors that the A3000 is soon going to be
discontinued, because the price difference between it and the A3000 is
only about $150 for a similar configuration, also CBM seems to be thinking
about a replacement of the A600 already, which will have the new AGA chip
set of the A4000 and the A1200. BUt for now these are only rumors,
although not without substance, because the same infos came from different
sources.
Greetings
Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Max,
Do you think that you might be able to get to the show at Frankfurt?
That sounds like the place where things will be happening next. Next
chance I get to see Commodore in action is at the WOCA in New York isn
April. Should be some exciting `stuff' there.
See what kind of info you can post in the Arts forum on upcoming AGA
games. Got a call from someone last week that said MPS and Psygnosis are
both working on AGA machines to test them for gaming. See what sources in
Europe say since they'll talk there before they whisper here.
Tell me Max, What do you use your Amiga for? I use mine for work and
play. Mostly Flight sims but I do a tonn of writing for work.
Peter
Live from New York on Autopilot
Peter, I will definitely go to the Frankfurt show if I can steal the time
from somewhere. In that case I will of course write a report on it and
post it here. I will also keep an eye open for any news concerning AGA
games.
I use my machine for all kinds of things, to connect to my system at work
(I am a software engineer), I do some graphics and animation and last, but
not least, games.
Greetings
Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Max,
I've been out a while so here's what I heard. A person on another
network said he has an upgrade notice from Electronic Arts that states the
new version of DP will support AGA on both the Amiga4000 and Amiga1200!!!
Deduction tells us that mabe Commodore will announce this machine as
early as next month in Toranto(home of the Blue Jays).
Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peter
Live from New York on Autopilot
Peter,
Rumours of the announcement of the A1200 in Frankfurt keep getting louder,
so I'll see when I get there. The A1200 should give the Amiga a boost,
even if it isn't the machine for me, I need to be able to expand the
machine, so I'll get a 4000 as soon as my bank account permits.
By the way the 600 is selling very briskly here in Switzerland, whereby
the 40MB HD version outsells the others 5 to 1. I guess hard disks will
become more of an issue even for people who use the Amiga primarily for
games, since more and more games requiring a HD appear.
Greetings
Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Max,
Do you know who the "BASEMENT BOYS" are.
The Amiga 1200 HAS BEEN RELEASED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I go across the pond, can I visit?
Peter
Live from New York on Autopilot
Peter,
No, I don't know who the basement boys are. If you ever make it to the
country of chocolate and watches, you're of course invited to visit. If
you make a trip to Europe try to catch one of the three big annual
expositions in Germany, the AmigaExpo Berlin in spring, the AmigaExpo
Cologne and the WoC Frankfurt in fall, just to see how the shows are done
here.
Greetings Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Speaking of the Amiga 1200…. We recieved a dealer manual on the new
machines, the 4000, 600, 570 etc. Included was ad slicks & clip art for
the machines. The wierd thing was the clip art for the 600. The badge on
the machine was clearly visible and said "Amiga 1200". Wonder what that
means…
Jim,
Can it be that the next AGA machine will be the Imfamous A600 with AGA
and a faster Processor. Oh please let this be true. A machine like that
will revitalize the Amiga market and make life easier for all of us Higher
end users. Guess great software might be coming our way.
Peter
Live from New York on Autopilot
Peter,
Yes, the A1200 will have the AGA chip set and an 68020, which will at
least make it faster than an A600. But using the same type of case as the
A600 the expansion capabilities will be quite limited. But (more rumours)
there will probably be an A400 with 68030 which will sell for less than
the A3000.
Greetings
Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Max,
What else is in the A1200?
Okay, it will have AGA chip set, an '020, and the full size keyboard.
How much ram (chip/fast)? Clock speed? PCMIA slot? Hard Drive?
And for the answer you can't answer, how much will it cost if it becomes
available here in north america?
So when is this WOC show in coming up over there?
73, Kelly
Hi Kelly,
I have no further info about the 1200 at this time, but since it is based
on the 600 it's certain that will be a HD version. An AT controller, as in
the 600, will most likely be onboard. I hope to learn more about the
machine in Frankfurt, the show will take place in late November.
Greetings
Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Peter,
I suspect that what really happened was a goof up in internal
communications. They were probably going to call what's now the 600 the
1200 at some point. I'm guessing, but I'd bet that someone forgot to tell
the art department to change the line art. I agree with you though that a
new low end machine is much needed. I've heard that the AGA chipset
*requires* at least an '020. So at least that would be there.
Jim
Well on the A4000 motherboard the 0'40 is just the A3640 card (the same as
inthe A300T 0'40) and when it removes under neat it there is a jumper with
a setting for 68040 and 68020 so that tells you there are other
posibilites for tha A4000's mother board also the mother boad is very
small and will fit in an even smaller case…
Forrest
We were *speculating* on the future machines Commodore might release at
the last user group meeting. Assuming there is to be an AGA replacement
for the 2000, it seemed to us that the smartest move would be an 020 or
030 CPU board in the 4000 motherboard & box. Why go to the expense of
designing a whole new platform, eh?
Jim
Jim:
Actually what's now called the A600 was going to be called the A300. It
even says A300 on the motherboard!
// -Mike Schiller
\X/ AMIGA! On AutoPilot in sunny Fort Lauderdale
Mike:
sheesh… ya can't tell the players without a scorecard!
Jim
It no longer says A300 on the Motherboards they have been corrected… But
Amiga Dos 2.05 (The last official 2.0 to date) has an A300 Keymap that is
for the A600
Forrest
My guess is that the A1200 would be a 68020 or 68030 A600 with the 3.0 and
AGA chipset (2x A600 = A1200! 🙂
Jim,
When you find out more on this Amiga 1200 you be sure to post the info!
Now if it is a machine the size of the 600 with AGA, a hard drive, about 4
megs of ram, and an '020 or '030, you would have the perfect compact
Amiga. Also make a perfect machine to run AVT_Master on! (add 3.0 OS to
the list!)
73, Kelly
Kelly,
If I find out anything, I'll be sure to post it. But we dealers are the
last to know anything. 🙂 I think the clip art in the dealer manual was
just a mistake.
A small AGA/030 Amiga would have a lot of possibilities. Especially if the
price of color LCD panels becomes resonable. It looks like one of those
could fit on the 600's case. Would make a nifty presentation system for
meetings, hooked up to a projection system.
Jim
Jim, the A1200 label is not really a surprise, because the 1200 basically
looks like the 600 but includes a full keyboard with cursor keys in the
normal place and a numeric keypad.
Greetings
Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Max, the pictures didn't have the full keyboard. I figured it was just a
mistake.
.
Jim
Jim,
Maybe it was a mistake, but the A1200 will indeed look like the 600 with a
full keyboard. There were pictures of it here in Europe. And it will be
equipped with an 68020. These are the only two things that have leaked
through. There are rumours that CBM may disclose more information about
the machine in Frankfurt. In case I go there I'll pass on any information
that holds up to closer investigation.
Greetings
Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Hi Max,
In the UK the rumours are that the A1200 will retail for 499 pounds
(same price as the Falcon). It is being pushed as the `Falcon Beater' in
the trade press. Apparently numerous software houses in the UK have been
working on A1200 software for a few months. Examples include Gremlin and
Ocean.
Paul
Max,
If you hear any good tales of the 1200, I'm sure everyone here would
appreciate your passing them along. Thanks…
Jim
Was the $110 with or without a ROM?
Jim,
the 2.1 release is a software-only release, if you don't have the 2.04 ROM
already, you will have to buy it separately. This doesn't make a big
difference though, as the 2.04 ROM costs about $65 at the current exchange
rate and the 2.04 upgrade package, including the ROM cost about $175 when
I bought it.
Greetings
Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Surprized to hear that you think the German and Swiss market to be the
largest, I thought there were more sales over here in the UK. I know that
about 1.3 million Amigas have been sold here. How is it doing over there?
Greg :^) Autopiloting on an A4000
Greg,
Sorry about omitting GB from the list! But it appears that the Amiga is
sold mostly as a game machine in the UK, somebody told me that Amigas with
HDs are very uncommon there.
But GB undoubtedly is a huge market. The point I was trying to make was
that the Amiga is much more popular this side of the Atlantic than in the
States.
Greetings
Max
Across the Atlantic on AutoPilot…
Max,
You`re correct in thinking that most Amigas are used for games over here
(UK). A little light on the horizon is that the A600 HD seems to be
selling quite well. I heard it was about a 40/60 split with the A600.
Greg :^) Autopiloting the A4000
You mean people are seeing the light about Hard Drives? About time. I'm
getting sick of seeing nice games that work ONLY off floppies. If it
doesn't say "Hard Drive Installable," I don't buy it. Floppy-only games
kill off my 3000's speed advantage.
// Brian — Cruising on AutoPilot…..
\X/ Only AMIGA Makes it PRACTICAL……
Greg,
Can you give me any idea how much the retail price of the 4000 is in
the UK.
I have been thinking about adding a 24bit card to my 040/2000 but if the
price of the 4000 is right I may be tempted to change the computer.
With rumours now circulating about the 5000 I may just hold off
altogether for a while.
Paul Lakey (UK)
Enjoying AutoPilot!
Paul,
I don't know whether or not a retail price has been anounced yet. I would
guess about #2,200.
What rumours of the A5000?
Greg :^)
Paul,
Wow. Rumors about the 5000. Heh.
Ummm… Dare I comment?
There will always be something new coming. You can always wait. But I
first heard talk of the A4000 in 1990, BEFORE the A3000 was released. (And
the A4000 rumors were completely bogus, except for the logical inclusion
of the 040 chip.)
The A4000 is VERY cool. Worth getting.
Paul.
Phone Brian Fowler Computing on 0363 775400. Brian is in Crediton.
If you feel like a long drive come up to my place this Sunday 25th. Brian
will have his 4000 here.
I'm at The Queens Armes Hotel, Charmouth, just east of Lyme Regis. We start
our club meetings at 10.30am and go on all day.
Pete from Dorset in Englands West Country – via Whap!