Buying SAM 460 to replace my PC

[AmigaClassicRule]

Hey guys,

I am deciding to cut down on the expense on expanding my A1200 to buy SAM 460 instead. The intention is just to upgrade my Amiga 1200 to have 64 MB of RAM to be able to play games better and being 030 it is 100% compatible for games and I like it that way.

However, I am deciding to buy SAM 460 AmigaOS 4.1 to replace my PC as I am not using my PC for gaming, I am using it for browsing the internet, watching videos and checking emails that is pretty much what I can do in the AmigaOS 4.1 with ease.

Advantage of doing this change:

1) No viruses ever on my computer
2) No more stupid malware
3) Faster speed boot time and response time to applications
4) save in my electric bill as I am using 400+watt power supply but the SAM 460 need only 100 watt to run. Saving a lot in heat and energy.

5) I will turn my PC on only for the purpose for software development and developing games for xBox 360 and consoles

All my gaming is in my xBox 360 and Amiga 1200 anyways, so I do not need PC for that.

The only question I need to ask is what is the best power supply for SAM 460 and direct me to a good site to buy casing, I like normal Sata 1 HD where I can buy that.

Can I use my pc keyboard and mouse to use it on SAM 460 or it needs a special keyboard or mouse and thanks in advance.

[Duce]

They all use standard USB keyboards and mice.  I have a Logitech G 19 keyboard and G 9 mouse on my SAM.  Any ATX PSU will do, any SATA HD and optical drive will work just find.  Root around locally and find good buys on the PSU, HD and opt drive.

If you plan to use the SAM for playing legacy games or running legacy applications without a hitch, and without an emulator - you will be disappointed.  Just a disclaimer - I had a fellow buy a SAM 440 after I told him how much I enjoyed mine, only to have him curse me out when he got it he tried to one click run programs from 1987 on it and only got reaper messages and lockups.  A SAM is by no means a replacement for a A1200 if you are into gaming or just "expecting all Amiga SW to work" - other emu platforms are cheaper, or just use legacy HW.

As for boot times, my Win7 PC boots just as quick as my SAM with OS4.1u4, both running SSDs.

[AmigaClassicRule]

They all use standard USB keyboards and mice. I have a Logitech G 19 keyboard and G 9 mouse on my SAM. Any ATX PSU will do, any SATA HD and optical drive will work just find. Root around locally and find good buys on the PSU, HD and opt drive.
 
If you plan to use the SAM for playing legacy games or running legacy applications without a hitch, and without an emulator - you will be disappointed. Just a disclaimer - I had a fellow buy a SAM 440 after I told him how much I enjoyed mine, only to have him curse me out when he got it he tried to one click run programs from 1987 on it and only got reaper messages and lockups. A SAM is by no means a replacement for a A1200 if you are into gaming or just "expecting all Amiga SW to work" - other emu platforms are cheaper, or just use legacy HW.
 
As for boot times, my Win7 PC boots just as quick as my SAM with OS4.1u4, both running SSDs.

I am in no way intending to replace A1200 with SAM 460. Like I said it is intended to replace my PC and not my A1200. I play games on my A1200 and on the PC I run a video player to play shows and movies, like duckman etc while I play on my A1200. I come home and click firefox and check my gmail account and banking account and come to amig.org and youtube. That is pretty much what I do on my PC. I use utorrent to download movies and stuff and I burn on DVD that is all I use my PC for. I can do ALL of that on AmigaOS 4.1 SAM 460 easy.
 
As for games I play them only on xBox 360 and on my Amiga 1200 (that is why I need to upgrade my Amiga 1200 from 16 MB to 64 MB). If I am in need to develop applications using .NET I will use my laptop and do laptop upgrades if need be.

[Duce]

Yep, was clear on the PC replacement issue - just wanted to make sure I didn't give any glowing endorsements ever again on the SAM's, only to have someone let down when they buy their own.  Saves me getting shouted at again by PM when someone finds the new gen machines don't run legacy apps out of the box, hehe.

I enjoy mine a great deal for what it is, however I could never use it for a PC replacement.  After trying the new Timberwolf release as well as OWB again recently, the browser situation on OS4 is getting much better but there's still a fair bit of online stuff I do that doesn't work correctly, or otherwise at performances I find acceptable for mundane day to day tasks (on the SAM).  My requirements are quite unique however, where some of my business dealings require using very half assed coded intranet type corporate pages that were likely coded initially for IE 5.

YMMV with a beefier system like the 460, the 440ep with 512 MB ram and onboard graphics like my SAM 440ep is, it is obviously a far less powerful machine and you should definitely notice the extra grunt the 460 packs.

[Iggy]

Yep, OS4 suffers from the same problem MorphOS has 9and many flavors of Linux), poor Flash support.
Want to run Firefox? Use a different platform because Timberwolf isn't better then OWB.

[Duce]

Aye - the same thing that makes you mostly immune to stuff like viruses and malware on more obscure platforms, it also turns around and bites you in the rear due to general usability in regards to the stuff we expect out of modern computers.  The SW just isn't there.

[AmigaClassicRule]

Aye - the same thing that makes you mostly immune to stuff like viruses and malware on more obscure platforms, it also turns around and bites you in the rear due to general usability in regards to the stuff we expect out of modern computers.  The SW just isn't there.

I understand the horrors of being an Amiga user. However, I have my Windows 7 laptop to browse sites where my new SAM 460 is not going to be able to display but for all my daily use of movies, mp3 player, viewing comic strips BLAH BLAH BLAH I would rather use that on an AmigaOS 4.1 being safe from virus and malware and I will place all my personal data there and also keep it as a safe device to store my programs and applications I am developing and I will use my laptop for other things and software developments and stuff like that.

OK? ok.

[Thorham]

If all you do on your pc is browse the web, check your mail and play videos and movies, then why bother at all? I don't see how you can get any malware by just doing these things. I'd keep my money in my pocket if I were you, especially because I can't imagine a SAM being better for video playing than a pc that costs the same.

[bloodline]

Yeah, a properly secured Windows system will be safe from most viruses and malware... If you are really concerned then just get a Mac... For the money, unless you have a specific need for a Sam and OS4, you are better off with a Mac or a PC

There is also the option of running an AROS distribution on your PC.

[bitman]

Timberwolf isn't better then OWB.

On what machine did you test Timberwolf?

[Kesa]

But macs can also get viruses...

Maybe not much of a problem now but i predict Apple becoming more of a target as they get more and more popular. Just saying...

[bitman]

I'd keep my money in my pocket if I were you, especially because I can't imagine a SAM being better for video playing than a pc that costs the same.

I can't understand why people from this community tries to talk people away from buyiny a NG Amiga??? If you are a genuine Amiga user you would want to get more people away from the PC!

[bitman]

@AmigaClassicRule

I would recommend you to ask your questions at Amigans.net - they are you NG-hostile, like most users on this forum.

[Kesa]

@AmigaClassicRule

I would recommend you to ask your questions at Amigans.net - they are you NG-hostile, like most users on this forum.

Actually i would say that overall this forum is well balanced between what Amiga flavors people prefer  

And i wouldn't call it hostile either. Just friendly Rivalry  :hammer:

[bloodline]

I can't understand why people from this community tries to talk people away from buyiny a NG Amiga??? If you are a genuine Amiga user you would want to get more people away from the PC!

I think people here want to make sure that other forum memeber get the best deal, and enter into a situation with their eyes wide open. That's why I trust the guys here.

If the original poster really wants to get a Sam then nothing is stopping him, and I'm pretty sure he will enjoy it. But he asked a specific set of questions and got some honest answers.