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Offline Marky_D_SahdTopic starter

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the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« on: May 04, 2003, 02:20:15 AM »
(Might be the wrong forum... Moderator please check.)

I have everything for my new AmigaOne except the motherboard, but now I'm reconsidering.
I've seen PC motherboards at Fry's for under $100US.  I saw a whole emachines setup, with a 17in. monitor, speakers and printer for less than $600US at Costco today.

What will my $800 AmigaOne motherboard do that these won't?  Impressive graphics?  It's got the same video card as the others.  Stereo sound?  Same sound card.  Impressive graphics software?  Can't even get Photogenics for the Amiga any more.

Why, except for nostalgia, am I doing this?  I love the OS and hate M$ Winblows, but is the trade off worth it?  A hundred or so, maybe, but a SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLAR DIFFERENCE?

Somebody talk me back into this.  Developers please chime in.
Now featuring new and improved G4 AmigaOne, with Mozilla!
 

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2003, 02:48:51 AM »
Hi Marky,

To be honest, the answer to your question is that the "$700" buys you absolutely nothing.  OS4 might be lighter (and thereby a little quicker feeling) than Windows or Linux but the speed difference will still be tangibly slower on the AmigaOne than a PC.  

I cannot really state any benchmarks on the AmigaOne.  I've never seen one.  I've also never seen OS4.0.  I'm speaking strictly on the facts of physical hardware speed.  

That being said, I have seen and played with, first hand MorphOS and the Pegasos (mine is not fully assembled yet due to money issues).  Compared to any Amiga that I have EVER seen on this planet, the Peg/MOS combo is truly phenomenal in terms of the "feel of speed" and ease of use.  Do I feel that it's faster than the PC?  Sure, in a lot of respects I do.  It feels lighter, is definitely more logical than Windows and the Pegasos/MorphOS combo really brings back the feeling of fun to tinker with.  I have no reasons to believe that OS 4.0 would be different.  Now...  Is it really faster than my 1.4 Ghz Athlon PC?  No.  Not by a long shot.  No Amiga has physically been faster than a PC since about... oh, I don't know... 1992?

You said it before though, a lot of the reasons for an Amiga platform system are based on Nostalgia, not power.  The ability to have FUN with a computer.  The ability to learn and know what the OS is doing in the background.  The lightweight OS with a logical look and feel.  The quick boot times and no "shutdown".  There is also (or at least there used to be) the tangible, friendly, helpful community surrounding it.

In the end, the choice for you is exactly that, and it's a very personal one.  What I would do if I were you is to buy what you need in order to meet the way you want to use a computer.  If that happens to be an Amiga platform machine, very cool.  If not, no harm, no foul.  No one (except the zealots around us) could ever slight you for exercising personal choices in computing.  An Amiga user chastising someone for using their personal freedom for computing would be somewhat of an oxymoron I think.
 

Offline KennyR

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2003, 02:54:09 AM »
It buys you a bit of individuality and freedom from the commercialism crippling home computing these days, isn't that worth a little extra?
 

Offline Argo

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Re: the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2003, 02:56:10 AM »
eMachines, ugh... Shiver...
 

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2003, 03:05:39 AM »
Quote
It buys you a bit of individuality and freedom from the commercialism crippling home computing these days, isn't that worth a little extra?
Your idea of "a little" is quite a bit different than mine.  The relative $500 difference between building a PC and a similarly equipped A1 system (same video, audio, HD, CD, etc) is mostly the cost of the AmigaOne motherboard and CPU card itself.  

Granted, I *would* stay away from eMachines and ANY like it that use proprietary parts (Compaq, HP, etc) but with that extra $500, I can build a second whole PC system (minus monitor).

If you're going with an Amiga platform machine, cool, but the question of how much "cool" that $500 going to buy you is strictly relative to your desire to be different.  Same with Macs.  AmigaOne versus PC is much more of an emotional decision than a logical one.  It always has been.
 

Offline carls

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2003, 03:07:46 AM »
@KennyR
If you want to get rid of the commericalism in computing, why buy a commercial OS? :-)
Amiga: Too weird to live, too rare to die.
 

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2003, 03:39:59 AM »
.
 

Offline IonDeluxe

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2003, 05:56:57 AM »
Other than emotional and nostalgic reasons one other reason really sticks out:
TCPA
Both AMD and Intel have agreed to include this standard into thier CPU.
M$ will require that you have this specification to run its new software.This software will be incompatible with previous software.
When all this comes about it means you have to move to the new windows way of life which means a new PC, or go linux\ old windows systems which will be incompatible with the new stuff.

Your A1 board means you have the opportunity to move away from all this into a community where choice is the catchcry instead of being forced into a system which is being moved to a subscription based design for use of software.
Check this link out and then decide:

http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html

With more users of the Amiga prices will drop, and so will the power of new machines.

Quote
I\\\'d post something satirical, but I\\\'m afraid it might get used as genuine evidence in the Thendic Amiga trial!
 

Offline GreggBz

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2003, 06:30:16 AM »
Stop thinking like the IT dirrector at a telemarketing firm. People always make "Business" descisions when purchasing a computer. Fact is, most of us arn't using mission critical software. We buy computers to be entertained. Will you have more fun with an AmigaONE?
Or will the e-machines be more fun? Well, personally, windows XP and new.. everybody else has it.. computer hardware make me yawn. Remember when you first booted an Amiga? The OS was new, the features were new and nobody else had one.  It was a sense of wonder and exporation. It was fun.

Ok, now when I first boot my e-machine, the OS is the same as everything MS from the past 9 years, the features of windows XP insult my inteligence and every seniour citizen sweet talked by the best buy salesmen has one. Thrilling.


To me, the choice is clear.
I just wish I had the extra 700$

=-)
 

Offline YttriumOx

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2003, 06:41:15 AM »
When it comes down to it, it's like this:

Are you willing to pay the extra to run AmigaOS4 and all that that entails?
If so, get the AmigaOne, if not, get a PC.

The PC is cheaper and better supported.   You can run pretty much any OS on the PC that you can run on the AmigaOne, with the exception of AmigaOS4.

Also, to use GNU/Linux as an example of an OS that runs on both, the x86 version has FAR more support than the PPC version and you'll be doing it all with cheaper and better supported hardware.


All that in mind however, I'd rather have the AmigaOne than a PC anyday - simply because OS4 will be my OS of choice when it's released.
I'm keeping my PCs of course, but one of them is being relegated to the cupboard soon and the other one is being stripped of most of it's good hardware to go into the AmigaOne.

Regards,
Yttrium Oxide
AKA Ben de Waal.
 

Offline Paul_Gadd

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2003, 08:23:56 AM »
@Marky_D_Sahd

I really like AOS but there is no way i will buy an AmigaONE board when the price for one is just stupid,

The price is not even realistic, over 500 quid is just not acceptable imo for a motherboard and chip in 2003 and i just can not see myself spending that kind of money on just a board.

If you really want to use OS4 then you are forced in a corner with either buying expensive hardware or go elsewhere, it is really simple at that.

 

Offline Bodie

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #11 on: May 04, 2003, 08:27:34 AM »
@Paul_Gadd

And over $1000 Australian dollars  :-o.  
 

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2003, 08:33:32 AM »
and if indeed AOS4 does eventually come out where is OS5 if Amiga.inc goes under??? thats my question
 

Offline BADHead

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Re: the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #13 on: May 04, 2003, 08:38:14 AM »
read bellow
Crazy on a ship of fools  :whack:
 

Offline greenboy

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Re: admin edit : the pros and cons of A1 versus PC
« Reply #14 on: May 04, 2003, 08:47:57 AM »
Hey Paul,

Maybe Seehund should describe the concept of VSRs (Value Subtracted Resellers) here.
<-- greenboy ---<<<<