***********************************************************************
Two items submitted by 4WL, Martin Wilson. The first is a serious look at the
Amstrad CPC464, the second is a less serious comparison between the Acorn Atom
and Apple Mac.
************************************************************************
Amstrads BBC clone.
*******************
I don't know if many Acorn owners know this but what turned out to be the
original Amstrad CPC464 was originally planned to be a computer very similar
to the BBC. However while costing the design Alan Sugar decided not to use a
6502 as they were expensive compared to the Z80A. This single decision meant
the CPC464 took a whole new direction away from BBC compatibility. Of course
I doubt if Amstrad had fitted a 6502 it would actually have been sold as a
BBC compatible. More likely it would have benefitted from just being similar
in design and therefore easy for BBC software writers to convert their code
across. Although it finally went the Z80 route it's still left with the same
soundchip and a very similar graphics chip. Acorn was seen as the most
vulnerable target when Alan Sugar looked at the British computer scene back
in 1983. Acorn had a large market share but a rather inflated price tag.
Still the CPC range made Amstrad a lot of money and became the number one
computer in France for a while. It certainly made him more money than those
rubbishy tower systems he was selling at the time. Of course the Electron is
the only actual BBC clone. A computer designed to do most of the things the
BBC can do but with a very low chip count. The Electron design is full of
compromises but still a nice usable computer. The Amstrad CPC464 with 6502
would have exceeded the BBC in many areas. More memory, stereo sound, faster
cassette interface, larger palette. Unfortunately because Amstrad chose the
Z80A instead of getting conversions of BBC software (which could have been
enhanced using the extra memory) they actual got a lot of Spectrum portovers
which rather insulted the machine. Anyway heres my guess for the spec of the
BBC clone just for fun as they say;
Amstrad CPC464(Presumably it would have had the same name).
6502A at 2mhz
64k RAM
32K ROM containing main OS plus Amstrad Basic(very similar to BBC Basic)
640x256 maximum resolution
27 colour palette
160x256 in 16 colours plus other modes compatible with BBC ones.
3 channel stereo sound(1 left, 1 right, 1 both)
Normal CPC keyboard but numeric keypad compatible with BBC Func keys.
Optional 5 1/4 drive and disk interface instead of the 3inch drives they
used with the normal CPC.
Built in datacorder at 1200 and 300 baud speeds(instead of 1000 and 2000
baud)
Built in digital joystick interface instead of BBC analogue interface. Setup
like the Compact's interface no doubt.
It would not have; tube, 1mhz, user, serial, composite, tv, disk drive ports
just power in, expansion, RGB, sound out and printer. No ROM sockets.
Although it would initially have a higher immediate spec it wouldn't be as
upgradable. If you don't remember the original CPC it came with either a
green screen or colour monitor.
A few years back there was some talk of an Amstrad Risc computer when all
Acorn Risc computers were over a thousand quid. It was to be at Amiga/St
price levels of about £400. It was to have been a cooperative approach
between the two camps but I don't know the full story and who pulled the
plug on it. I think it was reported in NCE or Popular Computing Weekly if
anyone can remember them.
4WL
*************************************************************************
*************************************************************************
The Unexpanded Acorn Atom Versus The Apple Power Macintosh.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The advantages.
It's pointless stealing the Atom as it has practically no value. The Apple
whereas could be the cause of violent criminals entering your house in the
middle of the night to take your Apple.
The Atom consumes very little electricity compared to the Apple therefore
reducing the damaging effect of power stations on the environment. Thus
delaying the collapse of the ozone layer which will cause us all with the
increased radiation to mutate into cannibalistic monsters on a quest for
human blood.
The Atom has limited communications just tape and possibly disk however
the Apple is a multimedia machine which can connect to the Internet and
therefore makes use of Satellite communications. Stray satellite signals
could be picked up by alien lifeforms in space who are on the lookout for
planets to conquer. That Apple could be the cause of the massacre of all
mankind.
The Atom's limited graphics, sound and processing power make it less
interesting than the Apple. Therefore your more likely to go out for walks
and do exercise of physical benefit thus prolonging your life. The Apple
however will absorb more of your time creating obesity and ill health.
The Atom is British. The Apple is an American designed product made in the
Far East and Ireland. Its purchase will damage the British economy meaning
being in debt to a foreign power. Each imported Apple means less money in
circulation in this country and a gradual reduction in the standard of
living.
The Atom takes very little space whereas the Apple requires a small table
to itself. Space can be a problem in many households with what goes where.
Arguments start which can be fuelled by both wanting the same area for
their own items. One minute you're discussing who gets the corner in the
dining room and the next minute your at each others throats. The Atom is
easily stored in a drawer until needed.
The disadvantages.
Availability. The Apple is easy obtained from your local Apple dealership.
Just enter the shop and some smartly dressed failed Conservative
councillor will come over and pretend he likes you for however long it
takes to process your sale. Any problems you experience later will be
dealt with in a courteous but patronising way and he won't pretend to like
you quite so much. The Atom's availability is poor. Pick up a shovel and
head for the local dump. It might take many hours to dig down and find
one. Normally you have to dig down further than the Betamax video
recorders but not as far the 8 track cartridge players. Once you've found
your Atom you have to start again and search for the power supply. Don't
forget to look out for those big compacter machines which go to and thro.
These machines weigh many tons and don't stop for pedestrians because they
rarely see them what with all the seagulls, dust etc.