Amiganaut

Doug Peters

Freelance Illustrator, Graphic Artist,
Animator, Video Graphics.

FOR HIRE!

If you have peeked at my resume or my artist's statement, you have probably noted that I am looking for a graphic design position, and discovered that I am leaning heavily toward throwing myself whole-heartedly into the web site design arena. Regretfully, the real hard truth is that the Amiga, though neither dead, obselete, nor defunct, has been absent long enough from the scene just as the world wide web has blossomed and grown. There is no doubt that the players, both big and small, are throwing themselves into this unique opportunity with full resource commitments, and for good reason. As I see it, this is a live or die decision based not on market value, but on market growth and potential. Make no mistake, we are only glimpsing the future. Right now Philip's WebTV threatens to put the internet into the 'noncomputing' home consumer's entertainment centers ahead of VIScorp's ED set top box.

The Amiga still out multitasks any other home multimedia platform, and this alone should find consumers jumping onto the platform because of it's powerful internet and web capabilities. But the Amiga has barely had any new hardware or software released for it in the past few years. Developers left the platform in droves when Commodore went under. Luckily, the few developers that are staying with the platform know how to take advantage of it. Sadly, ESCOM's demise and VIScorp's lack of commitment, funding, and/or vision have only hurt the Amiga.

Make note that the Amiga has been sold before, first to Commodore (who nearly abandoned the computer), then to ESCOM, and now VIScorp claims they are buying it, but we hear nothing new on that front.

With that said, make no mistake that the Amiga will arise from the ashes that Commodore left it in--as a formidable contender in all computer software forums, but probably under the guise of Phase 5's A/BOX. This should be a real contender, as it's going to take another year and a half for Apple to get the Macintosh to multitask (what idiots)! Yet, the sad truth is that cutting edge development tools are currently only found on one platform today, the PC (representing 90% of the world computer market). Personally, I find it alarming that the concentration of the world's computers relies so heavily on overpowered obselete technology (take one look at an Alpha and you will understand).

I have no choice but to address this situation. Since I am not a developer I cannot change it. As a designer/artist/animator I chose the Amiga for it's awesome video capabilities, it's natural dominance of animation, superior 3D rendering, great graphics, and stereo sound, all on a budget.

I will still keep my Amiga because it still outshines all other platforms in videography on a budget, as well as outperforming all other home computers in animation and 3D modeling. But due to the lack of development in the past few years, all cutting edge tools exist only on two platforms today, the Pentium PC and the Macintosh. There is no other choice short of an Alpha. Though I would rather be on an Alpha, I just can't afford such a killer machine right now.

When Phase 5 or (possibly?) Amiga Technologies release their streamlined Amiga PPC 604 machines, I will be squirreling away paychecks to get one. However, I need work NOW. I need the cutting edge NOW. After I have secured the position I want with a cheap 486 or Pentium, I'll be able to afford to upgrade to a top-of-line PPC RISC machine. Nevertheless, I'm going to keep my present Amiga! ;)

Still PROUD Owner of the old workhorse described below..

Amiga: The computer for creative minds.

       Superior Memory Management, Pre-emptive Multitasking, Stereo Audio,
            Advanced Graphics and Animation with Video Capabilities,
        Unlimited Expansion through "Polling" (eliminating IRQ hassles)...
                                ALL since 1985.
                                      ONLY

        
                               MAKES IT POSSIBLE!
      An Amiga with a fast Motorola 68060 processor will STILL outrender
      a Pentium 120 in ANY prolonged test due to the PeeCee's necessity to
      page memory to disk.  The next step up from an Amiga is a PowerAmiga
        running the Motorola 604 PPC chip (after that you need an Alpha!)
                                                                ,,
                                                               ///,
                                                  ///,        ////,
                                                  \  /,      /  >.
                                                   \  /,   _/  >.
                                                    \_  /_/   >.
                                                      \__/    <
                                                        /<<   \__
                             THE PHEONIX RISES!        /,)^>> ._ \
                                                       (/   \\/ \\\
                                                            //  ````
                                                           ((`

Amiga: The computer for creative minds.

All it needs is a fast processor.

Macintosh: The computer with cutting edge creative tools.

All it needs is a decent MULTITASKING OS.

DEC Alpha: The computer with the POWER to create.

All I need is money.

Page created:     June  7th, 1996
Page updated: November 27th, 1996