Possible Phoenix Story of 3B1

[Thad P Floryan]

n177ac at tamuts.tamu.edu (Daryl Biberdorf) in <11375 at helios.TAMU.EDU> writes:

	The Amiga 3000UX is supposed to list for about $4995.  This will
	include between 4 and 8 MB of RAM (forgot exactly), 100 MB hard disk,
	monitor, and SVR4.  I can't imagine educational pricing being below
	$3600 for this machine ...
	In any event, $3600 still doesn't touch the $900 I paid for my
	2x40 3B1 with development kit last May.  Granted, this machine isn't
	going to suck the markings off the 3000's chips, but it's quick
	[...]

Didn't see the original message for which Daryl's posting is a reply, but I
don't recall anyone "blasting" the 3B1 anywhere recently.  I, too, have both
types of systems (Amiga and 3B1), and because OF the price point, here are
some salient features of the A3000:

Motorola 68030 at 25MHz, 32-bit data bus, 68881 or 68882, mouse, keyboard,
on-board SCSI, etc.

UNIX SVR4 plus X-Windows and Open Look.  All man pages and documentation from
AT&T

four Zorro III (A3000) expansion slots, 2 PC AT expansion slots, 1 video
expansion slot, 1 CPU (68040) and CACHE expansion slot.  Note on this: the
A3000, like the 3B1, has a DOS coprocessor card accessory.  On the A3000 one
can also plug in other coprocessor cards (i.e. IBM/370, C/PM, whatever; and
DON'T look incredulous about "IBM/370" ... that was a special card set mfd
by IBM using two custom-masked MC68000 chips which totally emulates the 370).

Stock configs of the A3000:

	3000UX-100, 5MB RAM, 100MB HD
	3000UX-200, 9MB RAM, 200MB HD

both units expandable to 18MB RAM on motherboard, more on expansion cards.
Pricing hasn't been publicly announced, but something around $5,000-$6,000
seems to be what's on everyone's lips.  Details at Uniforum this week.

Graphics resolutions up to 1024x800 with A2410 card.  4-channel stereo sound
stock.  Built-on speech with variable rate,pitch,volume,inflection,gender.
Accessories include Ethernet, multiport RS232, 286AT card, tapes, etc.

With SVR4, the A3000 makes a nice adjunct to the 3B1.  I like both systems,
and a number of members of the local AT&T UNIX Users' Group have both also.

Thad Floryan [ thad at cup.portal.com ]