Amiga users who don't use graphics cards.

[iamaboringperson]

Hi, I'm just curious as to how many Amiga users here(the classic range, not AmigaOne/Pegasos) do not use a graphics card in their Amiga?
Any particular reason as to why not?
Do you plan to use a graphics card later?
What configuration do you have, and have you upgraded your Amiga in other ways but not GFX?

 :-)
Just curious to know, how mad people would be if software developers wrote programs that were RTG only! :-)

[xyth]

I haven't got an RTG card.  Yet.  Basically money is my biggest issue, especially as The NZ dollar doesn't translate to US$ or Euro very well.  And it's a long way to ship things.

My system is in my tagline, but also has a 4xEIDE interface with CD and Zip Drives.  I need to get a tower and a mediator first, and probably a better accelerator.  I'll get there eventually.

As to RTG-only software, obviously I'd prefer if there was non-RTG support.  But I certainly don't expect the rest of the Amiga community to wait for me to catch up.

Mind you, take a program like, say, Genetic Species.  It runs quite respectably on my system, but makes me very aware just how awesome it would be if only I had an RTG card.

So non-RTG support for good software might encourage people like me to sell any unnecessary body organs and get me a Voodoo 1200.

[DoomMaster]

The only graphics card that I use is a Commodore A2320 Amber board.  It enables me to hook up my nice ViewSonic 17" Flat-Panel display to my classic Amiga 2000HD.  I love the Amiga's graphics just the way they are.  When I need true-color, high resolution graphics, I use my powerful Pentium 4 PC.  The Amiga no longer has what it takes to produce modern day graphics and sound.  Quit dreaming people.  Do not get me wrong, I love all Amiga computers and the Amiga 2000HD is my personal favorite.  But, my Pentium 4 PC blows the doors off all Amiga computers, including my friend's Amiga 4000 Tower that has been maxed out!  Let's face it - a Pentium 4 PC is better then any Amiga when it comes to modern graphics and sound.     :-D

[Targhan]

Indeed, I have a bone stock A1200 for the pure and honest purpose of gaming.  Why would one want a professional computer for anything?  Lord knows it would be a travesty to use an Amiga for anything less HOLY than the art of gaming!  Why else would games still be coming out this long after C='s demise?  Because The Amiga *IS* gaming, all other platforms are mere shadows of the HOLY ARC of the VideoGame!  Not X-Box, PS2, PSX, GameCube, NOTHING!  Verily I say unto thee, Amiga is Gaming on high!  Blessed is he who runs OCS, for he knows true joy!  Shall the AGA be stopped?  Nay!  For only AGA gives the path unto righteousness!  Wherefore art thou using inferior gaming systems?  Graphics? HAH! And, HAH! again!  For only the Amiga makes the path unto Heaven!  Using XBoxes for gaming is a mark of the devil, and Hell is thy destination!  Repent before the God of DoubleDensity floppy-based games, for their grinding is surely the sound of the angels' trumpets!  Repent NOW, thy heathens! Lest thy soul be devoured by the demonic forces of the pentium-pentigrams!!!!! :-D

[iamaboringperson]

Come on guys...

I'm not wanting to know the pro's/con's of graphics card ownership, nor do I care about other computer platforms, nor scan doublers.

I simply want to know who is sticking to using plain old Amiga custom chip set graphics, and no real RTG.

:-)

[Targhan]

@iamaboringperson

Should thee not have all?  The path of enlightenment is difficult and laiden heavy with danger!  Yet, thy spirit shall be cleansed by the ownership, nay adoption, of Amigas that carry both graphics tablets of visual stimulous and those with the God-given graphics angels?  Verily, to be holy, thy must obtain many of each; lest, they flock be in danger of dying!  Heed the words of above, as they comb the thrift stores!  For the light of truth shall shine upon the holiest of holies, the professional Amiga2000! :-D

[iamaboringperson]

Basically what I want to know is, is it still worth allocating graphics data in chip mem, and having non cybergraphics.library code, or should I still support the oldies?

[AmigaHeretic]

@Targhan

I think you would enjoy this little QT video:

http://webdev.o1.com/rvb/movies/switch/RvB_switch.mov

 :-D  :-D

[Cyberus]

@ boring
I don't use graphics cards on my Amigas, but part of the reason for this is that I have only got back into the Amiga again recently. I hope to get a mediator and graphics card soon though.

[Brian]

I have several machines without gfxcard but the 4 I mainly use all have either gfxcard or at least a scandoubler. :-D

[theTAO]

> Basically what I want to know is, is it still
> worth allocating graphics data in chip mem, and
> having non cybergraphics.library code, or
> should I still support the oldies?

What sort of software are you writing?  Since Cybergraphics and Picasso96 patch graphics.library (?), I didn't realize you had to make a conscious choice.

I'm using a towered 1200 with 040, OS3.9, and AGA, and don't plan to use a graphics card until I move to OS4.  Why?  Well, it's a little silly to start buying lots of hardware now, eh? ;-)  In the past I avoided graphics cards because of the 1200's lack of slots, the expense and quirkiness of some the hardware, the lack of compatibility with lots of old (standard?) software, and the fact that graphics cards on Amigas are still something of a hack.

If you're writing a game, I'm not a big gamer and likely wouldn't look at it until after OS4 anyway.  Otherwise, it is really so hard to support the native chipsets?

Todd

[xeron]

2 of my 7 Amigas have graphics cards (the 4000 has a Voodoo 3, and the 1500 has a CV64/3D), although I don't use the CV64/3D as Zorro II is faaaaaar tooooooooo slooooooooow. The other Amigas don't get used for much; there isn't enough room to set them ALL up in my little flat.

@DoomMaster: The joke is getting old, you can stop trolling now.

[alx]

My A1200 doesn't have RTG for the same reason as Cyberus - and I'm not willing to spend loads of money on the A1200 when I'll hopefully be getting myself an A1 later :-)

[Stimpzilla]

I'm in the same position (kind of) as xyth. No currency conversion problems, but a basic lack of currency in the first place  ;-)

Also, like others, my next big target (someway, somehow) is an A1, so at this stage I have even less motivation to get a gfx card for my machine

Stimpy
=====

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A1200,Power Tower, 030/40+882, 2+32 Mb, 4 Gb HD, 48x16x50x CD Rewriter, etc. etc.
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[xeron]

While its great you guys are getting an AmigaONE, i do think its a great shame you guys never experienced the thrill of putting a graphics card in your classic Amiga for the first time.

Remember when you first put a hard disk in an Amiga back when they were a "luxury" item, and how awesome that was? Well, multiply that by 100 and you're nearly there ;-)

Going from 030/25+AGA to 030/25+CV/64 3D was a *MUCH* bigger and better leap for me than going from 030/25+CV/64 3D to 060/50+CV64/3D.

Oh well. I suppose the leap to AmigaONE+OS4 will be even more exciting for you guys than it will be for us graphics card users... ;-)