#Buying Amigas
24 messages in this thread
I just joined. I scaned the sig for A4000 and Toaster info, nothing. Once,
I had call Amoga Inc, in West Chester, Pa.-I live just 3.5 miles from them-
and got nowhere and nothing be my head chewed off. I told the receptionest
I wanted to buy the whole works with Toaster and everything else they had,
all I got was the runoff. If people want to layout over $10,000 or more in
cash, you would thing a company would deal. I know the Amiga is a decent
system, but so is Intels Xpress Deskside. Any comments, anyone?
Bill,
It sounds as if you might have called Commodore, the manufacturer of the
Amiga, rather than an Amiga dealer. The Video Toaster is not a Commodore
product, it's manufactured by NewTek. Like most manufacturers, Commodore
sells through dealers, who would also be likely to carry the Video
Toaster.
Perhaps someone in the West Chester area could suggest a good dealer for
you to visit?
David
Would you believe they wouldn't! But I'll try again.
Bill,
Look in AmigaVendor section 3 for Toaster information. NewTek has a forum
message and library area there. Plus there is no Amoga Inc. in West
Chester, PA. There is a company called Commodore in that city, and they do
produce the Amiga computer, but I seriously doubt they will undermine the
confidence of their dealer network by selling computer systems to anyone
who calls the corporate headquarters and wants to 'deal' for a system.
Chris
Deal is a heavy word, how about buy? Still I-being a business person- would
never respond like they do. Word of mouth is worth too much.
Bill, Sorry, 'deal' may be a heavy word, but I was just quoting from your
message. Yes, C= seems very snobbish when called direct. I don't defend
them at all.
There are better ways to use your telephone to buy an Amiga or configure a
system specs. and you'll probably get a more well informed answer.
chris
If you mentioned the Toaster and Amiga in the same sentence, then that was
the problem. It seems that Commodore and NewTek (the people who make the
Toaster) <- I'm sure you already new that, are currently not on very
friendly terms with each other.
Lee Olsen / Orlando, FL – on AutoPilot
Why? And will the Toaster work on any other system? I'd rather buy a Intel
Xpress Deskside anyhow! I'm going to call NewTek and find out more, I'll
u/l and info I find, thanks, Bill
Why are Commodore and NewTek not on speaking terms at the moment? I don't
remember the exact details. I think it started with with the A3000 and
the fact that the Toaster wouldn't fit in it without making a small
modification to the A3000's case. I believe NewTek didn't follow exact
specs when they developed the Toaster. I think the Toaster is physically
larger than other plug-in cards for the Amiga. It would be in each others
best interest to settle this dispute. Is there a review or picture of the
Intel Xpress Deskside anywhere that I can check out. Sounds interesting.
Keep us posted on what you find out from NewTek. I've been thinking about
getting a Toaster myself in the past few weeks. But my dealer suggested
that I get an OpalVision board instead. Although I would mainly be using
it for LightWave 3D.
//
Lee Olsen / Orlando, FL – on AutoPilot \X/
The Toaster appears to follow the spec. quite well. It is the A3000 that
does not have a full size video slot opening.
-bill
BL> The Toaster appears to follow the spec. quite well. It is the A3000
BL> that does not have a full size video slot opening.
Thanks, I was going by memory when I wrote that. And now that I think
about it, it IS the other way around. It was C= who didn't follow their
own specifications.
//
Lee Olsen / Orlando, FL – on AutoPilot \X/
Actually, it is the other way around. The toaster did not follow the form
factor that is provided in the back of the hardware manual for card size.
Any card that followed it would be able to fit inside the 3000 or 4000. Tom
C= not following their own specs? Now that's a news flash — NOT!
// Brian — Cruising on AutoPilot…..
\X/
Call Intel 1-800-548-4725 (Intel Lit Dept) and order: 1-Customer Lit Guide
3rd qtr92 & 4th qtr 92 (there free) part# 210620-024 2-"Xpress Platforms"
P# 281381-001 ($?) 3-"Intel Xpress Desktop Platforms" # 281377-001 4-" "
" Deskside " " # 281379-002 and ask them for a distributor in your
area.
You might want to ck out the line from Pioneer Cpmputer in CA 510-623-0808
ask for Carlos Saldana, Acct Exc I like these better then the Intel except
for Intel's rep. pass it on, Bill
Bill;
The Toaster will not work on any other system. The Toaster is very
closely coupled to the Amiga's custom hardware.
-bill
What's around that will do or do better then the toaster? I would like to
use a 486/50
BB> What's around that will do or do better then the toaster? I would
BB> like to use a 486/50
For it's price range and for all it does, nothing touches the Toaster. I
was just scanning through the November issue of Byte. In it they review a
number of Video boards for IBM computers and I believe the most expensive
Toaster like video board reviewed, was the Matrix Studio which consisted
of 5 plug-in boards (four ISA and one EISA), it weighed in at $14,000!!!
Which still doesn't include the cost of the video decks, monitors, etc.
//
Lee Olsen / Orlando, FL – on AutoPilot \X/
That makes me want to get a job in a TV studio and work O/T on my stuff,Ha!
I'm going to see the friend of my buddy, who has the pro studio and is
using the toaster. My buddy said his friend just ordered a A4000 for the
shop. I'll get a list of the goodies he uses and u/l it for the sig. Bill
Bill;
NewTek has advertised for several years now that their Video Toaster was
equivalent to having around $100K worth of video processing equipment. I
was quite hesitant to believe them…. at first. I now believe that they
fall far short of the mark when pricing the equipment necessary to replace
the Toaster. I believe that you would have to spend between $150K and
$200K to get most of the functionality.
I am sure that someday their will be devices that will work on PC type
machines that will accomplish the work of the Toaster (particularly now
that the local bus makes it possible to have the sort of transfer rates
necessary). However, as far as I know, the Video Toaster is still the
"only game in town."
It is likely that the Toaster will remain the "only game in town" for
awhile yet as the competition would have to deal with the solid position
that NewTek has developed in the Video market. It would be rather
difficult (to understate the case) for another company to duplicate
NewTek's accomplishment at anything even close to the same price.
-bill
Bill,
The Toaster has the functionality of equipment costing $150K – $200K?!
Wow! That's incredible.
The combined computer equipment I'm using is about $10,000 and it replaces
about $100K worth of older graphic arts oriented stuff. And I thought
_that_ was an astounding ratio.
Rich
Have you checked for a dealer in your local area? I'm sure there is
someone in the area that would be happy to help you. Commodore doesn't
sell systems directly to the public…you'll have to talk to a dealer in
their dealer network.
Newtek has a section in the AmigaVendor forum, and a lot of Toaster folks
hang out there as well as in AmigaArts.
We've been talking about the A4000 too. Do you have any questions about
it?
Steve
The A4000 is the system I was looking into. That and the toaster would make
a fine setup. I know a pro TV lab who uses the Toaster and a A3000, to do
broadcastable stuff. They do have some extra goodies, but the base is the
A3000/toaster. Bill
There are reports that the Toaster will not work in the the A4000. You'll
have to get an A3000 with a Toaster Cozy, or an A2000 to use the Toaster.
Steve