OK, I'll just design the low end model then..
For starters, no 060. That was too expensive in the day...
I think a decent 040 would be good, possibly even a faster 030. In fact, I think it would be a 40Mhz or so 030.
I would make the CPU a card that plugs in tho, so it can be upgraded.
I'd recommend that the high end model be the same upgradable CPU socket, but marketing might want a more clear line between the two models..
But no 1 slot for all upgrades.
The default CPU card would have sockets (SIMMs?) for RAM, probably max out at 8M, comes with 2M. Need to give them a reason to upgrade.
IDE DMA on-board. 1 IDE drive (40M? initial). No option without a HD.
CDROM would be questionable. They were still a bit spendy at that time, and this is the low end model. I'll probably say no CDRom in this model.
Floppy would be HD 1.7M.
The 1200 had a PCMCIA that was used a bit, so I'd upgrade that to a cardbus slot.
If needed, peripherals can be added through there.
Now, the tricky part is video. By now, I get a feeling in the market that video might be an issue if I want this model to sell for more than a year. So, video, like CPU is slot/socket based. Basically similar to AGA. Trying to keep costs down. I'd see about adding a mode with more on screen colors through the deal I've made with BlackBelt (The HAM-E people). I would add C2P, as Doom is out by now and we need that. It would be a bit rushed and not as fast as it should be, but improved on Akiko. ;-)
The video "card" (internal card) would come with 2M CHIP. Plans for a 4M Chip with FF upgrade to start selling about 8 months after the release would be worked on.
Sound would be the same. (I know, cost cutting....)
I would get rid of the trapdoor slot. The CPU slot/socket, combined with a video upgrade and cardbus should be plenty.
It would look virtually identical to the A1200.
So, it would be a 40Mhz 030 with 2M CHIP and 2M Fast and a 40M HD priced at $500.
Also, a prepackaged version with 4M fast and a 120M HD would be available at launch for $650.
The video upgrade (4M Chip and FF) would retail for $150, but not be available for about 8 months.
Delays in the design of the new RTG graphics on the higher end model would mean my lower end model would be out to market about 6 months before the 060 high end. ;-) :-)
Reviews are generally favorable, with Amigaworld dedicating a an issue to the new "PC Killer." ID wouldn't port DOOM, but Team 17's Alien Breed 3D optimized for this model would start to be bundled after a few months (slow sales) along with Lemmings.
The new "A 1600 Home pack" as it would be called, is released after about 6 months and comes with a CD32 style game pad (only slightly modified to keep costs down) and sells for $475.
;-)
desiv
