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Text File | 1994-03-26 | 22.1 KB | 520 lines

@BEGIN_FILE_ID.DIZ [-------------------------------------] [ A more independent view on the ] [ never ending PC vs. Amiga story. ] [ This is a rewritten article, based ] [ on the incorrect AMIGA-PC.TXT ] [-------------------------------------] [ Typed by ReBOunD ] [-------------------------------------] @END_FILE_ID.DIZ As I today downloaded and read AMIGA-PC.TXT I almost started to cry; The article was one of the most one-sided articles I'd ever seen in the never ending Amiga vs. PC story. Not just that it was none-independent, it was incorrect too. I just had to write this little text. >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >Page 23 - PC-Special disk magazine - >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >This week we are going to take a look at the Amiga for all >the people who are still writing letters on which computer >they should buy,and what they could take for other things >than office-work. > >The PC/Amiga chart: > > Amiga (IBM-)PC > >Models A1000,A500,A500+,A600 Various formats > A1200,A2000,A2500,A3000 > A4000/030,A4000/040 > A4000/060 > >Memory(STD) From 512k to 32MB From 64kb to 8MB > Correction : Here allready we see that this atricle is written by Amiga Freaks. There is no STANDARD PC, can you all get that??? most PCs ship with 4-8MB, but you can get them with 128 too. >Memory(Max) GFX Mem (Chip):8MB Base Mem:1MB > Other mem (Fast):128MB Extended mem:De- > pends on the PC and > its XTD-mem. driver > (Around 128MB Max.) > >Processors 8-bits: N/A 8-bits:8088,8086, > 16-bits: N/A NEC V20,NEC V30, > 16-32 bits:68000,68010 80188,80186 > 32-bits: 68020,68030, 16-bits:80286 and > 68040 80386 > 32/64 bits:68060* 16-32bits:80486sx > 32-bits:80486(dx) > 64-bits:Pentium > * The 68060 has a built > in RISC-Slot... > > >Clockspeed 68000 min 7.14Mhz All 8-bits > max 28Mhz processors run > 68010 min 7.14Mhz from 1.4Mhz to 8Mhz > max 16Mhz 80286 min 4Mhz > 68020 min 14.28Mhz max 26Mhz > max 50Mhz 80386 min 8Mhz > 68030 min 16Mhz max 50Mhz > max 50Mhz 80486 min 10Mhz > 68040 min 25Mhz max 33Mhz* > max 50Mhz Pentium min 50Mhz > 68060 min 66Mhz max 200Mhz > max 400Mhz * Also configurations > with 2 or 3 486s > available (486dx2/4) Correction: Now does this suck or what? I bet the guys that wrote this shit never have seen a 486dx/50. >GRAPHIC CAPABILITIES > >Resolution From 320x200 to CGA:max 320x200 > 1472x1472 (More EGA:max 640x350 > possible in software) VGA:max 800x600 > (PAL/NTSC) SVGA:max1024x768 > D-Speed:max1024x768 > (All resolutions are > 160/320x200 in Lores) Correction: Here we go again, SVGA is a very diffuse spec. it goes from 640*400*256 to XXX*XXX*24 bit. And what the FUCK is D-Speed? One of thousands of different GFX-cards on the market. Get yourself a Matrox MGA II 64-bit with 4MB VRAM and enjoy 1280*1024*24bit. Not that it's for free, but since there is no standard PC, you can't compare like this. >Palette 4096/16777216 CGA:8 (In 2 fixed sets) > or up to 48-bits TANDY:16 > graphics with EGA:64 > X-Pert-48/32 VGA:256 > SVGA:65536 > D-Speed:16777216 (24-bits) Correction: How many of all PCs sold today are EGA?? Less than 0.01%, and less than 1% is VGA. 90%+ of all PC sold today handle 800*600*256. More and more of 'em handle 24bit in 640*480*256 and 800*600*16bit. (1mb DRAM or VRAM) >Max on Non-AGA:4096 in Lores (320x200) >screen (max) 384x580 Hercules:2 > 4-16 in higher CGA :4 > resolutions EGA :16 > 256 SPAC in all res. VGA :64/256 > AGA:262144-16777216 SVGA :256 > in (max)1472x1472 D-Speed :16777216 > 256 in ALL other Hires (768x480 or more) > resolutions CGA :N/A > X-Pert:Too much colors, EGA :N/A > all in every resolution TANDY :16 > VGA :16 > SVGA :256 > D-Speed :16777216 Correction: Lores and Hires??? Amiga expressions I must say. NOTE:The Diamond Speedster is a 24-bits graphics card,but one major problem is its speed: He's even quite slow on a Pentium(!) Correction: Why the HELL D-Speed? This card is hardly the most sold/used/best GFXcard! >Performance VERY FAST screen VERY slow screen update, > update,even on 7.14Mhz even on 66Mhz machines. > machines.Can manipu- VGA looks rather weak, > late screens at due to low resolutions. > enormous speeds,due No hardware scrolling/ > to hardware scrolling/ sprites,so the screen > sprites,Copper and jerks in most programs. > Blitter.HAM is a very The only advantage is > nice invention indeed fast 3D update due to > Both PAL/NTSC outputs, byte per pixel. > NTSC can be programmed Blitters ARE available, > as a normal video sync. but NOT as a configuration > One main problem will > always be that a PC offers > an NTSC-Output. (NO PAL) Correction: No hardware scrolling in VGA? Well, ask any professional PC programmer and he'll show you. Take a look at Pinball Fantasies on the PC and tell me the PC has a slow screenupdate. >SOUND CAPABILITIES > >Soundchip The Paula,the N/A > best custom sound > chip found in todays > home computers Correction: N/A??? On what, "the standard" PC, that doesn't exist?? For example, many of Compaq's computers ship with built in 16bit soundcard. >Output Great;CD quality Poor and very synthetic... > output with third > party hardware > >Sound type Amplitude sound 1/2-bit Beep (STD); > (8-bits).Cards FM sound with > available: Soundblaster (PRO) > Sunrize 12/16 bits (Standard upgrade) > Amplitude sound (16-bits FM) > >DSP Possible with card Possible with card > >DSP-type Stereo Mono > >No. of 4,up to 16 with 1 (Standard) >channels software 6-12 Channels max. > with Soundblaster > upgrade(s) > >MIDI MIDI interfaces Third party > available interfaces available > >Stereo 2 phono connectors No;with Soundblaster, >output yes... Correction: The FM-Synthes on the Sounblaster/Pro/16 suxs, yes. But listen to the digital, 16bit sound on a SoundBlaster 16 and you'll hear that it's great. Get yourself a SoundBlaster AWE-32, and you'll have a soundcard with 16-bit sound, DSP and an EMU wavetable for the MIDI. MIDI, btw. Non-existant in Amiga games. Instead you have to use sampled sounds which take up alot of space. On the PC though, you can use both samples and MIDI. No. of channels? 6-12 max? Well the SoundBlaster AWE 32 handles 32 channels. 4 channels is max with Paula, if you mix 8 channels you loose some quality and in 16 channels it REALLY sux. >Overall Excellent,due to fast Only -beep- without >Performance interface and excellent upgrades.Sound stinks. > (built-in) sound- With upgrade the sound > hardware,has to be IS 16-bits,but it's FM > heard to be believed like found in very > cheap keyboards,so the > sound is very synthetic > and average.Only of use > for controlling > keyboards with MIDI Correction: As I've said before, the MIDI with Wavetable (GUS and AWE32) sounds great. >HARDWARE CAPABILITIES > >Slots Video:SCART,RGB,and Video: digital monitor > composite only (Analogue RGB) > monochrome > TV/Video possible > Audio:2 Phono Audio:N/A > connectors > Parallel,RS232 Serial, Parallel,RS232 Serial > 2 Mouse/Joystick 1 Standard Mouse connector > connectors > Mem expansion bus: Mem expansion bus: > Trapdoor slot on A500/ Internal with SIMMS > A600/A1200 > Internal on A1500 to > A4000 with SIMMS Correction: You can get a VGA->TV card for the PC, but who the hell wants to work in TV resolution, if you don't have a Philips 100Hz TV. You need a monitor to take advantage of the higher AGA resolutions anyways. There's ofcourse Phonoconnections on any soundcard on the PC. >Hardware Zorro II edge connector Ordinary PC-expansion >slots on A500 sockets (Amount depends > Smartcard slot on A600/ on PC...) > A1200 (PCMCIA) > 3x Zorro II on A1500/ > A2000 + 1 AT-PC slot > 4x Zorro III on A3000/ > A4000 > + 1 AT-PC slot > >Keyboard Robust keyboard with Several types available > own interface Most are weak,in > exception of Cherry type Correction: Most PC keyboards are weak? Pathetic. you can add a stationary PCMCIA tp any PC. >Disk 880k formatted on DD 720k formatted on DD >performance 1.76Mb on HD 1.44Mb on HD Correction: you can format and read 880k and 1.76Mb on a PC too. >Disk Same as PC Same as Amiga >access > >Ram drive Standard Needs to be installed > >Hard disk IDE/SCSI/SCSI-2 IDE/SCSI/SCSI-2 >interface > >Hard disk Slow on IDE (600k/sec) IDE is standard on PC's >Performance Fast on SCSI(2M/sec) what makes access slow > Blistering on SCSI interfaces available > SCSI-2 (5M/sec) but NOT as configuration Correction: SCSI interfaces not avalible as a configuration?? Get this once for all: THERE IS NO STANDARD PC. If you want a SCSI-2 controller, you buy one with your computer. >Expansions 24/48-bits cards,accel- Video cards for larger >available arators,PC-emulators/ palettes,Co-processors, > bridgeboards (Up to Sound cards,CD-ROM, > 486DX-2),Emplant, Modems,Fax-card,Scanners > (Multi system emulati.) Printers and some more > Co-processors,MIDI, (All single upgrades) > Modems,Fax-cards, > Scanners,Printers > Sound samplers,Video- > digitizers,ROM- > upgrades,CD-ROM,Port- > expansion,ChipRam up- > grades and lots more Correction: Just to name some things, you can add to your PC: MIDI and Soundsamplers (if you buy a soundcard you get MIDI and a sampler), 3DO Card 100% compatible, Jaguar Card 100% compatible, Videodigitizers, DATs, Processor-upgrades and lotsa more. >Hardware Very fast+Multi-tasking Very fast,no multitasking >performance (Hardware processor strain) Correction: Multitasking has always been one of Amigas best sides, and still is. But the PC has done some catching up. OS/2 warp version 3.0 has great multitasking. And take a look at the PowerPC. >SOFTWARE BASE > >Software Very huge,there's Unbeaten,but there's a lot >base something for everyone of crap on the market >overall > >Software Very high quality A lot of software is looking >quality software available the same,but there are very > There's nothing you high quality titels available > won't find The PD/Shareware-base offers > the best software on this machine Correction: Like there's no crap on the Amigamarket? >Graphics Ultimate;fast screen Perfect,but screen-update >quality update makes very is slow and has no multi- >(Business user friendly AND tasking display. > software) multitasking is a > real gem Correction: Excel 5.0 i unbeaten, there's no program on any platform that beats Excel. if you run it on a 486 or higher with a ET4000/w32p (ET4000 is one of the most common GFX cards.) there should be no problem with the screenupdate. Multitasking in Business Software? Well, as far as I know the multitasking depends on the OS, if you don't mean having several documents open at the same time. Which I don't consider MT. >Graphics Incredible,unbeaten Poor,animation is pretty slow >quality and thats it.Raytracing and there's no cheap ray- >(Video and morphing are just tracing program available. > software) one of the things which Amount of video software > makes the Amiga a very limited and no PAL > complete videostudio Correction: Here is the other good side of Amiga, which makes it great for TV-stations and other Videofreaks. There's no cheap raytracing software availible?? When you wrote this, you probably thought of 3DS, the most used visualising program for personal computers. (just to let you know, it ain't a raytracer, it's a Z-buffrer/rendrer) What about Imagine 3.0?? The PC-version might be some dollars more expensive, but the difference is not big. There are some small bugs, but most of 'em are there in the Amigaversion too. >Games Overall:Brilliant,it's Vectors starts to bore after > like having the arcade a while and adventures too. > at home Those are the only games > actually available on PC's > Graphics:Arcade- Arcades don't have adventures > quality When talking about PD/Shareware > this machine offers the best, > Sound:It's like having Sound:Beeps are there > a CD-player on.Sound With Soundblaster very > is so stunning,with synthetic,sample-use very > things like sampled limited due to support for so > speech many soundcards on one game... Correction: Pathetic. Vectors and adventure starts to bore???? This is VERY different from person 2 person, but most people must agree that simulators are the most lastin' games of all. Sound: Like having a CD-player on? Hardly. The music tends to be very monotome, since variating the samples takes up a lot of space. On the PC you can have massive pieces of MIDI music that take up 20k. When it comes to CD titles, the CD-32 has about 500 titles and the PC around 6-7000. > Massive Titels: Massive Titels: > (Super-)Stardust Doom > Kid Chaos 7th Guest > Elfmania Alone in the Dark >OVERALL > >The Amiga is the best balanced of the two,offering something >for everyone,while the PC is more of use for business only. >The Amiga is relatively a lot cheaper than PC's.The PC was >planned for processing words,since it's launch,and it's >still doing the same.For professional/hobbiyist use,the >Amiga is recommended.It IS true that PC's are fast,but they >only get faster,and speed is not what you need for word- >processing. All we want are a computer that gets BETTER,and >not faster. The PC's are recommended for wordprocessing and >adventure games. Comment: I was about not to comment this, since it all was so obvious: This article was written by some none-independent Amigafreak wrote this crap. Amigas are cheaper than PCs? Well if you want to compare price/performance you have to decide a price. An Amiga 4000/030 and a Pentium 90 MHz costs about the same here in Sweden. And noone can say that a A4000 is faster than a P90. I would say that the Amiga is the best choice for anything that has to do with video and TV-productions. The PC is recommended for those who want to use their computer in business, music and games. >NOTE: If there's thinking of the Amiga being a console,because > they use PC's for office-work,then you are just wrong... > PC's have been there for a much longer time than Amiga's > and had become a standard in business since a long time > ago. The Amiga arrived years after the launch of the PC. > A lot of industries already had PC's,so PC's were already > very well known,and people are mostly buying what they > know. That's why only wiser people buy an Amiga...The > Amiga is used everywhere,where they need more complex > operations than word-processing,because it deserves > being more than just a word-processor. Believe us: An > Amiga is everything more...and is cheap...Buy what you > want by yourself,and don't buy what others tell you... > Think about it yourself...Face the facts! > >THE MACHINES COMPARED > > PC AMIGA >CPU Power 9 8 >Operating system 6 8 >Ease of use 6 9 >Graphics Cap. 9 10 >Sound Cap. 5 9 >Games 8 9 >Software sup. 10 8 >Hardware sup. 9 9 >Value for money 7 8 >------------------------------------------ >Overall 8 9 Once again: Pathetic. This chart is so incorrect and lame that I just want to lie down and cry. PC AMIGA CPU Power 9 7 The PCs are lotsa cheaper for the same prize. Operating system 7 9 Amigas OS 3.0 is good looking, but so is OS/2 3.0 and forthcommin' win95. The extra points is the better MT. Ease of use 8 7 Everywere you can get help when stuck with your PC. But with an Amiga, you are stuck with the, nowadays not so many, amigafreaks. Graphics Cap. 8 10 The Amiga beats the PC when it comes to Video and TV production. Sound Cap. 9 6 Noone uses the Amiga for professional Music productions. Most people use CuBase Score. Availible on PC, Mac and Atari. Games 9 7 4 years ago most people said that the Amiga was a console. Now that Amigafans are realizing that the PC is better when it comes to games, they try to turn it the otherway around. But the PC is both a console and a computer. Software sup. 10 8 The variety of software is many times bigger on the PC. PD and SW quality is greater too. Hardware sup. 10 8 You can get your PC anyway you want it right from the beginning. While you on the Amiga often is locked to some models. Sure, you can expand them later, but it's pretty expensive. Value for money 9 8 It's easy; you get more machine for the same price when buyin' a PC. ----------------------------------------- Overall 79 70 Ok, that's all folks. I don't want any unserious replys on this text, but please do contribute with your own view on the debate, in a message to me.