Amiga users, Are we the only hardcore followers?

[mr_a500]

Are there other user groups like us from the 80's that still hang on to our trusty old computers (not people that are colecting them but still using them), or are there lots of others out there like us?

I was surprised when I saw that some people are still playing with TRS-80 Colour Computers. A quote from one site - "The Tandy Color Computer 3 may well be the ultimate hobby computer." When I read that, I almost laughed milk out my nose. My first computer was a Colour Computer 2 and I still have a Colour Computer 3, but I have to admit they are absolute crap compared to other computers of the time.

It's funny, the "CoCo" fans dream of what it would have been like if they released the Colour Computer 4 - similar to the AAA dreams of Amiga fans.

Edit: You could say that CoCo2->CoCo3 is like A500->A1200, with better graphics, more colours, backwards compatibility, but absolutely no upgrade to the sound whatsoever. (...and released too late to avoid total failure)

[mr_a500]

There is simply not enough useful software available for AmigaOS. Sure, I can surf the net (kind of) in Ibrowse and send e-mails with YAM, and customise my OS look until the cows come home, but what else is there?

I guess it depends on what you consider "useful software". I personally have WAY more useful Amiga software than I ever had when I had a Windows computer. Probably the main reason for this is that almost all Amiga software is neatly arranged on Aminet and Windows software is scattered over millions of sites and you have to sift through the crap (and get infected with spyware). And if you want professional Windows software, it's damn expensive.

Besides the IBrowse and YAM and customizing until the cows (..and sheep) come home, I do lots of other stuff. (graphics, music, fax, create PDFs, spreadsheets, databases, slideshows, astronomy)


Edit: x56h34 - I reread your original post and saw that when you said there was not enough useful software you were referring to AOS4/MOS. In that case, I totally agree with you.

[mr_a500]

There is *NO* debate here, it's about personal preference...not about trying to convince others what they should or shouldn't use a computer for.

I can see this thread deteriorating into "fanboy" fever, which would be sad considering most Amiga users today are over the age of 25

You're overreacting a bit. This thread so far is just a calm, logical discussion. I don't see anybody trying to convince others to use this or that computer. They ARE just stating their personal preferences.

It doesn't matter to me if someone uses an Amiga or a modified loaf of banana bread as their main computer, as long as they have fun. :-)

[mr_a500]

Hehe! My girlfriend said she's making a banana loaf at the weekend (we have loads of frozen bananas in the freezer) so any tips on making it a PC-beater?!

Sure - after mashing the bananas, throw in some graphics chips, CPU, lots of RAM, a harddrive, a USB port - and this is important: MIX WELL. Then bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes. Cooking time may vary, so test with an oscillator. Let cool, then connect to monitor and voila.

Actually, there's no need for tips - banana loaf is already a PC-beater even without modifications. :-D