@McNorris:
I completely agree with everyone else on the A3000. Another advantage
is the whole machine is 32 bit while the A600 is mainly 16 bit,
therefore GFX speed, ROM access times, etc, is much slower on the
A600.
And to answer your questions of abilities:
Watch QT,MPEG, AVI?
If you had a GFX card like a PicassoIV you can use the special version
of MooVid to watch some AVIs using older compression with good video
speed. Though most AVI/QT movies you will come accross use newer
compression methods, so you need something like SoftCinema (PPC only)
to view these.
As for MPEGs, a fast 060 can JUST do it, but struggling for a smooth
playback, so don't expect anything flash from an 040/25.
JPEG manipulation?
Sure, there's heaps of good GFX progs out there, freeware and
commercial. To do anything serious, you'll definately need a GFX
card, which many of the progs have to use anyway. Personally I use
TVpaint which is now freeware.
Play MP3s?
The 040/25 can do it. You'll get smoother performance
if you decode at medium quality.
You can play full quality in stereo, but it takes all of the 040/25's
power to do it.
