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From: dld@f.gp.cs.cmu.edu (David Detlefs)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Atari vs. Amiga: what to buy?
Message-ID: <2711@pt.cs.cmu.edu>
Date: 15 Aug 88 22:22:03 GMT
Sender: netnews@pt.cs.cmu.edu
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 43

I'm looking to buy a cheap but technically advanced computer.  I'm a
computer science grad student, and I would (eventually) like a home
environment as much like my work environment as possible.  I would
also like to use my home machine as a MIDI sequencer.  It seems like
either an Atari Mega ST or an Amiga 500 or 2000 are the likely
candidates.  I was wondering if any of the readers of these newsgroup
would care to offer any (non-religious) comments on the relative
merits of these machines.  I will attempt to put forth some pros and
cons as I perceive them, and hope that people will add to or comment
on these comments.  I'd also be interested in some recent price
quotes to see if my local dealers are out of line.

I'm going to compare the Mega 2 to an Amiga 2000.

Perceived Atari Pluses...

1) Cheaper. (Quoted locally $1700 vs $2200 for Amiga).
2) More Memory -- 2 Meg Standard vs. 1.
3) Built in MIDI Ports -- saves a small expense.


Perceived Amiga Pluses...

1) Better graphics?  Do I correctly recall that the Amiga has more
colors available and has more bit-planes?  Or is this not the case?
Is there a difference in the performance of the blitters?
2) Multi-tasking operating system.
3) Better upgrade paths... I've read, on these news groups and
elsewhere, about 1000x800 monitors for the Amiga, 68020 + Coprocessor
boards, Unix, X, etc available, or nearly so, for the Amiga, but
nothing nearly this exciting for the Atari.  Any Atari fans wish to
rebut this asssertion?  Any Amiga fans to add to this list?
4) I have a vague sense that there is more software written for the
Amiga.

I realize that a post of this nature runs the risk of inciting a flame
war.  However, I am quite honestly confused.  I hope people will be
polite and considered in their responses.  If there is interest, I
will summarize.

Thanks...

Dave Detlefs, Carnegie-Mellon CS.