Amiga - What If It Were Today....

[dwaldrop]

When the A1000 was first introduced, I was working at a computer shop that sold Amiga and Leading Edge PCs (Model D).   It was so easy to sell the Amiga.... fist show the PC with it's single tone BEEP and green monochrome screen.  Next, load Defender of the Crown.

The Amiga was so advanced, it sold itself.

Back then it was multi-tasking, color, sound, animation and video....

If there were a new Amiga or Amiga-like computer... how could it change the game today?

[Kesa]

I think it would be very similar to what Apple did in that they went for intel and abandoned PPC. I think all custom chips would be gone in favour of the standard intel duo/quad cores of Apples and PC's today.

[save2600]

It wouldn't and it couldn't. Computers and computing today are hardly anything more than sum_generic_persons tool for getting on the internet, typing an e-mail, looking at porn, editing their photos (because now, any idiot is a DIY "professional" photographer) and *maybe* editing their home videos. At work, they're still content using horrible technology with shoddy overpriced software written to maintain their books and inventory - all completely flawed, non-user friendly and prone to millions of dollars worth of mistakes and inaccuracies. Hardly any company is safe from that typical business-related scenario either despite the fact superior computers, OS's and software have come and gone.

The Mac and its spinoffs are the closest thing we have to anything "exciting" computing wise and frankly - they're going to be holding that reign for quite a while.

Now that the Democruds have gotten their way once again, the Grubment (FCC and its tangled throngs) will dumb the internet down even further - making that aspect of computing even less compelling than it's been, year after year, since the early 2000's. ALL of the mainstream social sites are proving this right now in fact. Look at MySpace and Facebook. Horseshit Twitter-like content is what it's quickly becoming. Pics of peoples pets and kids. Asinine status updates too, as if anyone really cares about most peoples petty lives and lifestyles. "Hey, look what I just bought from Wal-Mart". "The Cowboys are better than 'insert some other stupid team here'". Yep - there's your future of computing  Blech.

It's all over buddy. The mainstream has ruined yet another aspect of electronica. I don't see anything coming out in the near future computing wise that either hasn't already been done, much less worth get excited about. If any platform or truly unique or superior system came about (again), it'd be squashed for all the reasons stated above or not gain enough of the mainstreams acceptance for it to be relevant and profitable for anyone, for very long anyway. We should all know by now that anything "cool" doesn't last for long. Especially in America. It's almost always replaced by the un-friendly or otherwise inferior ware. It's just the way it is unfortunately. In just about every aspect of industry too. I can't think of a single thing that's made better today than yesteryear. This stuff is designed to break so you have to repurchase it AND/OR the genital pubic is too slow to realize that they've been made guinea pigs by these consumer electronics companies or at the very least, have become individual R&D "departments" w/ the privilege of paying for said status.  

Totally free forming holographic displays that were worked on and put to use in 80's arcades (not this glasses wearing "3D" crap) would have or would be nice if perfected, but you can forget about that. Looks like the trend is going toward that multi-screen Nintendo DS technology for 3D instead. At least you don't have to wear silly overpriced glasses for it though.

Damn, that outlook sure is bleak! But it really does reflect what's going on by and large. And naturally, this is just my $.02. Not even worth that much outside of the choir, which frankly, I don't give a damn about. :laughing:

[runequester]

Tell us exactly how you feel



The desktop computer is becoming a thing of the past. Computers are bought by most people for simple internet tasks, and we're at the point where that will start phasing out in favour of smart phones, tablets, netbooks etc

[Belial6]

@save2600

I think your too pessimistic about what could be done, even if right on the money about what will be done.  What the Amiga did in it's day (obviously) wasn't impossible, but was shocking at what it did in it's price range.

So, take a look at it from that perspective.  If someone could put together a system that had the things we can do today at huge prices, but could do it at less than a grand, what would we have?  I know that I have been waiting for a game cube.  Not the box that Nintendo put out, abut a 6 walled room you could play in with displays on all sides.  Maybe we would have to settle for the floor not being a screen, so 5 sides, but we have the tech today to put up a 8'x8'x8' fiberglass framed tent with walls made of materiel designed for projecting an image from behind.  5 projectors, and we have a fully immersive environment for starting this new ground breaking system.  Maybe it could be improved by making it a dome, and have software distort the display properly so that it looks right from the inside.  Now, had some motion sensing cameras that have better response time that MS's, and you have a gaming environment, and actually a work environment like you have never seen before.

A similar effect could be achieved with stereoscopic glasses.  3D TVs will find their niche in video gaming (I don't think they will in watching television), but it is really the wrong approach for 3D gaming.  Monitors fit inside the glasses with a left eye and a right eye image would make a lot more sense.  Again, fitted with motion detection, you would have a whole new gaming environment.

Neither of these would be are outside the scope of what we could do today.

For more businessy type stuff, how taking the above game cube and making it the office cube.  Build in a really good real time video codec (liklely in hardware), and make the cube your office cubicle.  A couple of these in the office, and you could have face to face meetings just like you were there.  You would get all of the same audio and visual cues without the long commute, as you would be sitting or standing right next to the person you were having a meeting with.  Heck, put in a little fake Segway in the corner, and you could cruse around the entire office.  Would a system that gave you a 'Virtual Cubicle' networked with an entire office of 'Virtual Cubicles', 'Virtual Conference Rooms', and maybe even 'Virtual Lunch Rooms' be any more difficult engineering wise, or any less ground breaking than what the Amiga was when it was released?

All that being said, I still think that making stuff happen physically is the 'PC' of the next decade.  Robotics has just gotten cheap enough to be a home hobby for the nerds.  We are at the robotics stage of the early computer kits.  We are just at the verge of the Vic20 stage of robotics.

[Franko]

I was going to throw in my own personal thoughts here but I reckon save2600 summed it up quite perfectly in his post here, although I'd just like to say I still have a dream that maybe one day some sort of miracle will happen and the Amiga will somehow rise from the ashes once again...

[save2600]

The Amiga was so advanced, it sold itself.

Wish it did in large numbers. I sold Amiga's from about '89 to '91 in one of the more affluent areas in the Midwest (Chicago burbs). Can't tell you how many people I'd demonstrate the machine to (full Amiga 500 system w/ memory, spare drive and monitor for less than a grand) that would end up purchasing a $3000-$6000 IBM clone anyway. There was hardly any margin in selling Amiga stuff, but those overpriced PeeCee's brought in a cool 6%-8% commission off the top! As an Amiga user and believer since '87, it was REALLY difficult selling both platforms - let me tell you. The few I did sell, most of them ended up coming right straight back to us weeks later. Of course, the customers always knew when you wouldn't be around, despite your 50+ hour work week, so they'd return the Amiga (which I would then lose the already paltry commission on) and purchase a "multi-media" 8088 or 286 for thousands more from someone else. ARRGGHH!   lol

Just about ALL of the best years of my life were wasted working retail. Trying to appease the least common denominator no less. Why is there no support group for us?      :lol:

@Belial6:

I know what you're saying - but damn... history keeps repeating itself. Over and over and over again.

Beta vs. VCR
Sega Dreamcast vs. Sony PS2
3DO vs. Sony PS1 and Nintendo SNES
16/32-bit Atari Lynx vs. an 8-bit black/white Nintendo Gameboy
Sega Saturn vs. Sony PS1
SACD/DVD-Audio/HDCD vs. mp3's and regular CD's - still!
Sony 8mm camcorder vs. VHS-C
64-bit Atari Jaguar vs. anything (lol)
NEC TG-16 vs. NES
Toshiba's HDCD vs. Sony's Blu-ray
S-VHS vs. everything (funny how the input standard survived though)

[Tension]

Wish it did in large numbers. I sold Amiga's from about '89 to '91 in one of the more affluent areas in the Midwest (Chicago burbs). Can't tell you how many people I'd demonstrate the machine to (full Amiga 500 system w/ memory, spare drive and monitor for less than a grand) that would end up purchasing a $3000-$6000 IBM clone anyway. There was hardly any margin in selling Amiga stuff, but those overpriced PeeCee's brought in a cool 6%-8% commission off the top! As an Amiga user and believer since '87, it was REALLY difficult selling both platforms - let me tell you. The few I did sell, most of them ended up coming right straight back to us weeks later. Of course, the customers always knew when you wouldn't be around, despite your 50+ hour work week, so they'd return the Amiga (which I would then lose the already paltry commission on) and purchase a "multi-media" 8088 or 286 for thousands more from someone else. ARRGGHH!   lol

Just about ALL of the best years of my life were wasted on working retail and dealing with the least common denominator. Why is there no support group for us?      :lol:

That about sums the whole thing up.  Commodore's attitude in trying to replicate the C64 sales strategy backfired on them big time.

You didnt stand a chance mate  

[Belial6]

Tell us exactly how you feel



The desktop computer is becoming a thing of the past. Computers are bought by most people for simple internet tasks, and we're at the point where that will start phasing out in favour of smart phones, tablets, netbooks etc

I would say that you are splitting hairs and redefining words.  For example, when I was in school, there was a style of music called 'Heavy Metal'.  Today, there is Heavy Metal, Metal, Nu-Metal, Grind-Core, Black Metal, Death Metal, Speed Metal, Hair Metal, NWBHM, Power Metal, etc., etc., etc...  Heck, much of what was defined as 'Heavy Metal' when I was in school, doesn't even get filed under any of the 'Metals' anymore.  Go into a record store and find a copy of Quiet Riot's 'Metal Health'.  It is in the rock, or pop section.  It isn't counted as heavy metal anymore, even with the word 'Metal' right there in the name.  Many will now come out and claim that it never was 'Metal'.  We see the same thing with "The King of Rock and Roll".  Today he is considered to have been a country singer.  I have had people tell me that I am stupid for claiming he sang Rock and Roll.

So, back to the point, smart phones, tablets and netbooks ARE computers.  They may be small, they may be portable, but the definitely are computers.  They are exactly what any computer nerd would have told you computers would one day be.  Netbook in particular, wouldn't even be out of place in 2000.  They would have just been called a laptop computer and cost $2500.  Tablets and smartphones would have been considered amazingly cool and cutting edge, but would have been immediately identified as computers by any 1980's nerd.

As you can see here, at one time, the Atari 2600 was considered a 'Computer'.



No doubt, that most people would argue that it never was, even though it had a keyboard, and could be programed by the end use in basic.

There is much room for innovation in computers, it's just that marketers will want give them a new name so that they don't get associated with those last millennium boring and nerdy devices.

[Franko]

So, back to the point, smart phones, tablets and netbooks ARE computers.  They may be small, they may be portable, but the definitely are computers.

Cobblers... they're toys/gimmicks that sad gits buy just to be trendy, how do you do D.T.P. on an I phone ? where to you plug in the printer ?, where's the video output to connect up to a monitor ? etc.. etc..

As I say nothing but toys/gimmicks that mugs buy just to try and look cool, sad really...

[runequester]

Wish it did in large numbers. I sold Amiga's from about '89 to '91 in one of the more affluent areas in the Midwest (Chicago burbs). Can't tell you how many people I'd demonstrate the machine to (full Amiga 500 system w/ memory, spare drive and monitor for less than a grand) that would end up purchasing a $3000-$6000 IBM clone anyway. There was hardly any margin in selling Amiga stuff, but those overpriced PeeCee's brought in a cool 6%-8% commission off the top! As an Amiga user and believer since '87, it was REALLY difficult selling both platforms - let me tell you. The few I did sell, most of them ended up coming right straight back to us weeks later. Of course, the customers always knew when you wouldn't be around, despite your 50+ hour work week, so they'd return the Amiga (which I would then lose the already paltry commission on) and purchase a "multi-media" 8088 or 286 for thousands more from someone else. ARRGGHH!   lol

FOr a 286,I imagine "multimedia" meant "more than 4 colours"

Cobblers... they're toys/gimmicks that sad gits buy just to be trendy, how do you do D.T.P. on an I phone ? where to you plug in the printer ?, where's the video output to connect up to a monitor ? etc.. etc..

As I say nothing but toys/gimmicks that mugs buy just to try and look cool, sad really...

Not sure about the iphone, but my wife's phone has an HDMI output that can connect to all sorts of displays.

And printers :furious:
The sooner those infernal things disappear the better mate.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/printers

[tone007]

Cobblers... they're toys/gimmicks that sad gits buy just to be trendy, how do you do D.T.P. on an I phone ? where to you plug in the printer ?, where's the video output to connect up to a monitor ? etc.. etc..

As I say nothing but toys/gimmicks that mugs buy just to try and look cool, sad really...

Full desktop publishing might be tricky on such a small screen, but there are photo manipulation tools for the major smartphones as well as word processing/spreadsheet/presentation applications. http://mobile.photoshop.com/android/ http://www.quickoffice.com/quickoffice_connect_suite_android/

Printing is easy via WiFi or Bluetooth.

Video out?  Yes. http://www.phonenews.com/motorola-announces-motoroi-android-device-with-hdmi-output-9996/

Android, in particular, is based on Linux, which is a real, powerful operating system for computers.  It's unfortunate, but just about any smartphone on the market today has more processing power than the most powerful classic Amiga.

[Roj]

The Amiga was introduced at a time when less than 1% of the world's population had use for computers in general. Today, with that percentage much higher and trends taking hold much faster, the Amiga, with technology even marginally comparable to today's standards, would likely flourish.

Think Johnny Depp instead of Andy Warhol and Lady Gaga instead of Debby Harry driving the hype and you might get a feel for what the enthusiasm could be.

I don't think the technology would necessarily have to be better than the competition. New products with a decent introduction tend to do well regardless of real technical merit.

But then again, the geniuses in Commodore's front office would again find a way to squander any success gained, and the Amiga would fizzle after its short rise to fame.

[Franko]

And printers :furious:
The sooner those infernal things disappear the better mate.

Think of the joy a printer brings though, all that cursing and skelping the ruddy thing cos no matter how many times you clean the heads when you go to print out something you still end up with all those lovely frustrating banding effects... :lol:

Not to mention the joy of walking around for days with black ink stained fingers from when you try to refill the cartridge just to try and save a few quid... :lol:

Hmm... think you might a point there... ban the bloody things...

[dwaldrop]

@save2600 - Nice list.  I guess I am an optimist as I think I owned all of the losing technologies EXCEPT HDCD.

I was in Kansas City and I seems to have very little trouble selling the A1000 and A500... unless someone HAD to have some high end business software like PeachTree )I think that was it at the time...)

I am still optimistic.  I think that there is still enough vision left in the computer-related industry.  It will take some risk and some hard work, but there is a lot that can be done.  

I agree that the Mac feels more like my old Amiga than any other current commercial OS.  The community is similar in many respects.  As a programmer, I have encountered a good number of Mac users in my area of expertise that are willing to share experience and knowledge.  

Good points all around and I appreciate your thoughts!
-David