Andrew Tait:
> Hi,
Yo!
Moi:
> > As for the processor - Surely no-one can suggest that the new Amiga should use
> > a CISC chip, particulary a Pentium? No matter how much dosh Intel chucks at it,
> > surely the development potential of the Pentium must be reaching the end of its
> > useful life, whereas the potential of RISC, is still in its infancy.
> The 550MHz PentiumIII is out now, and Intel announced that they will
> have an 800 or 850 on the shelves by the end of 1999.
Ok, so they can 'rev' it higher, but as you probably know, clock speed does not
equal processor speed. It is mearly _one_ parameter, not _the_ parameter.
> CISC isn't a
> problem for the PentiumII or III. IIRC, the internals of the chip are
> actually a multi-path RISC, with the CISC acting as a hardware
> high-level interpreter.
Not an ideal solution. I suppose Intel are doing the best then can given the
limitations of the 20 year old architecture it has to interface to. The
retaining of compatability within hardware, has a lot to answer for.
> > Rip up the PC blueprints and start with a clean sheet of paper, without all the
> > technologally limiting compromises. It's the only way for the platform to
> > make the quantum leap forward from the PC clones, that will be needed for it
> > to survive. We deserve no less.
> Realistically though, we can't afford to be choosy about where our
> power comes from. Either we pay for it, in which case we'll be
> looking at A4000T prices for 233MHz performance (�1500, �2000?), or we
> could be paying �900 for 400MHz performance, with easier
> expandability.
>
> I /like/ the PPC, and I would _LOVE_ to see a new Amiga with all new
> AAA architecture based around DEC or PPC technology.
>
> I'd also like to be able to afford it.
While ever the PC platform is mass market, it's always going to be cheaper.
Being an idealist & an optimist, I would hope that over time, any technically
superior alternative, would eat into the mass market that the the PC currently
dominates. As it gains in popularity, it would move away from the niche market
it will inevitably start life in, and itself /become/ mass market. Hence become
comparable on price.
Example? Mid 80's - Atari ST = �400 or less, Amiga 500 = �500. The Amiga was
undoubtedly the superior machine, but more expensive. As the Amiga gained in
popularity, the ST faded, and the price difference disappeared.
Don't get me wrong, the marketing muscle of Wintel Corp will probably make sure
none of this ever happens to their 'bread & butter', but one can only hope.
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