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Author Topic: How many Amiga users are left?  (Read 39538 times)

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Offline Mizar

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Re: How many Amiga users are left?
« on: May 25, 2011, 05:45:54 AM »
I chose the 1st option, Classic User.  Though I don't get why only CBM Amigas would be mentioned for real Amigas.  Amiga Tech. ones from '95-'96+ certainly should count as well.  It's virtually the same harware, and just as Amiga compatible with no emulation of any kind.  I also don't get why AmigaOS 1.x-3.x would be listed as "Amiga-like", when not run on non-Amiga emulation.  It should be in the first category.

lsmart:

I'd disagree you have to be "funny" to be into Amiga anymore.  Being "normal" and only into Win/Mac just means you're a conventional, conformist, lemming, IMHO.  To appreciate the best platform ever and stick with Amiga well into the 21st century just takes a little more intelligence, maybe more experience, and a lot more independence (from conformity).

Quote from: Franko;639546
Last time my main A1200 was switched off was September last year when I had to cut the power in the house to do some re-wiring (but it was only off for about 3 hours)... :)

Can't help but wonder about your "on" times though, Why would anyone just switch on their Amiga for 15 to 30 minutes... :(

PS: That to me is the secret of never having in 25 years a busted Amiga, if you don't switch it off and and much (if at all) then the components don't get "worn out" so to speak, by the shock of the initial power surge that happens each time you switch them on... :)

EDIT: On the note of how many active users that may be still out there today I reckon worldwide somewhere between 2 to 3 thousand... :)


I agree, how could anyone use an Amiga for only 15-30 minutes at a time?  I'm lucky if I can ever keep it to as little as ~4 hours minimum.  :lol:  Usually once I'm on it's half the day to all day/night.  :D  That sounds like what I used to do with my A1200, the on 24/7 thing, cause it was the only way to extend the life of the old HD that wanted to die, 'til I replaced it.

I don't think you're philosophy of that preventing things from wearing out is entirely correct though.  While it can extend some mechanical wearing out, even solid state components get worn down eventually, especially when they're on 24/7.  My A1200's scan doubler and AGA Alice output have visible toasting marks and take about 20 minutes to warm up to normal output brightness, respectively.  I've little doubt the being powered 24/7 for a couple years contributed a lot to that.  I've never had a busted Amiga either, just problems with things like monitors and hard drives.  My A1200 was even exposed to freezing temperatures.  But that's cause Amiga has always been high-end quality.  :)  One of the reasons we still use Amiga... why get a new Kia/Mitsubishi/whatever run of the mill cheapo, when you can keep using a Mercedes/BMW. :)
Amiga Tech. A1200: Apollo 1230/40 MHz & 882/50 MHz, 32 MB fast RAM, WD 298 GB HD (320 SI GB), Sony 1760 KB floppy, Surf Squirrel SCSI-II & buffered  serial, Ricoh CDRW 6x4x24, USR 33.6 Kbps modem, MV1200 scan doubler, Compaq 17" SVGA, KS 3.1, OS3.9 BB1, Genesis 45.7, Miami 3.2b, AWeb 3.5.09 APL

C= A500: 68000, 512 KB chip, 512 KB fast, 880 KB floppy x 2, 1084S, KS 1.3, OS 1.3
 

Offline Mizar

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Re: How many Amiga users are left?
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2011, 11:44:38 AM »
Quoting Franko: "For me it seems to have proven true as I very rarely (if ever) switch things off and have had very few electrical items break down on me over the years. Sure all things degrade and wear out eventually but older computers, tvs etc... suffer more from this mainly due to the size and amount of large (in comparison to more modern stuff) capacitors they use... "

I'd have to disagree here, as I've seen plenty of evidence older appliances with their larger components (including capacitors) only last longer.  They're not as susceptible to ESD damage, nor voltage surges.  It's the modern ultra small, ultra sensistive components (surface mount, fine pitch, integrated circuits) that are fried by the tiniest voltage that larger and older components would have no problem with.  I have some experience and knowledge in this area from working in electronics manufacturing.

Also, I hadn't used my A500 for 7 years, but it powered up flawlessly when I did break it out again.  The old technology of the A500 isn't even surface mounted, it's plated through hole, and not so fine pitch as even an A1200.  I haven't had too much trouble with electrical/electronic devices either.  Electromechanical ones, it seems to be the mechanical parts failing far more often and much sooner.

I guess you leave even the monitor on 24/7?  I sure wouldn't want to foot your electrical bil :).  And can you imagine how much worse a worldwide carbon footprint there'd be if we all left everything on 24/7 also.  The world already uses problematically much energy, nevermind if the norm was leaving everything on all the time.

Quote from: Franko;640394
No offence Mizar but it's not what I or my brother in law think nor is it based on average lifespan ratings, it's based on both scientific tests that were carried out by the manufactures & experience... :)

The tests and results proved that the more times a capacitor is powered up the shorter it's lifespan as explained previously and that also a simple thing like leaving an item for years without ever being powered up at all, the damage done in the first initial power up after all those years can and often does significant damage to the capacitors or blow them altogether... :)

If I were to believe the lifespan ratings that you speak of then both my Microvitic Monitor and my 1084 Monitors should have had needed most of  their capacitors replaced years ago with the length of time I've been running them virtually non stop (not to mention my Amigas) but they haven't... :)

Of course lots of other factors come into it too, mainly the quality and formula used in the manufacture of capacitors, just ask Apple about that one in regard to their problems with capacitors a number of years ago... :)


That wasn't me who you quoted, and then addressed me as if I had said it :).  But he is correct that electronic components have a limited lifespan, which was my original point.  However, anything mechanical is likely to fail long before anything solid state.  I didn't fully disagree with what you said, I just said it wasn't entirely correct.  Some of what you're claiming about these tests could be true, but probably not the parts I'm disagreeing with :).  I have direct and 1st hand experience and knowledge with them, I'm not just making it up.

Leaving a device unused for years and then having a problem with it is easier to believe, as the old attage "use it or lose it" applies to so many things.  And so many things can happen to something in storage, like harsh temperature extremes, dust build up, etc., that wouldn't with something that's being used relatively often.

My 1084 lasted a very long time too, but eventually after 15-16 years it wore out.  And you're right there's lots a different factors.  Quality certainly is one, like you say.  Like I previously said, the high-end nature of Amiga hardware always helps with the enduring lifespan.  :)
Amiga Tech. A1200: Apollo 1230/40 MHz & 882/50 MHz, 32 MB fast RAM, WD 298 GB HD (320 SI GB), Sony 1760 KB floppy, Surf Squirrel SCSI-II & buffered  serial, Ricoh CDRW 6x4x24, USR 33.6 Kbps modem, MV1200 scan doubler, Compaq 17" SVGA, KS 3.1, OS3.9 BB1, Genesis 45.7, Miami 3.2b, AWeb 3.5.09 APL

C= A500: 68000, 512 KB chip, 512 KB fast, 880 KB floppy x 2, 1084S, KS 1.3, OS 1.3
 

Offline Mizar

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Re: How many Amiga users are left?
« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2011, 12:38:56 PM »
Quote from: _ThEcRoW;640391
@Mizar
"I'd disagree you have to be "funny" to be into Amiga anymore. Being "normal" and only into Win/Mac just means you're a conventional, conformist, lemming, IMHO. To appreciate the best platform ever and stick with Amiga well into the 21st century just takes a little more intelligence, maybe more experience, and a lot more independence (from conformity)."

So, anyone who don't use an amiga for everyday use is a fool?. Oh, yes, it's more intelligent not having memory protection, or a decent browser, or mainstream apps...

Perhaps you are the only intelligent amigan who managed to get on his classic amiga 1080p video playing and full web experience but haven't told anyone.


You're totally putting words in my mouth.  I didn't say anything like that.  I spoke of the "normal" being into ONLY- and take careful note of that word- ONLY Win and Mac.  How exactly do you become offended by this when you have listed that you ALSO use WinUAE Amiga emulation, AROS, and even classic Amiga???

And who says there isn't a decent browser for Amiga, even classic Amiga... maybe not only for dial-up by my experience.  As far as mainstream apps, that sounds like conventionality and conformity talking :).

So, a system has to be capable of your definition of a "full web experience" to be worth using?  Gimme a break.  Most all of us do use other platforms also, such as for web browsing.
Amiga Tech. A1200: Apollo 1230/40 MHz & 882/50 MHz, 32 MB fast RAM, WD 298 GB HD (320 SI GB), Sony 1760 KB floppy, Surf Squirrel SCSI-II & buffered  serial, Ricoh CDRW 6x4x24, USR 33.6 Kbps modem, MV1200 scan doubler, Compaq 17" SVGA, KS 3.1, OS3.9 BB1, Genesis 45.7, Miami 3.2b, AWeb 3.5.09 APL

C= A500: 68000, 512 KB chip, 512 KB fast, 880 KB floppy x 2, 1084S, KS 1.3, OS 1.3