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║ AMIGA WORLD ║
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Alexey Zhunev
Hello dear colleagues!
The publication of the book prompted me to write this article.
Dmitry Mikhailov "AMIGA #1". I work with AMIGA computers already
for more than two years, and this is not the only platform with which I
had to face. Before this, in force and professional
activities, and just a great interest in the subject, I
I had to communicate with various children, such as
"AGAT", SM, EU, ATARI, IBM PC and finally, I met something
unforgettably bright and friendly - a computer with the name
"AMIGA".
It all started from distant and memorable days when I met
with DVK-2M, then there were various homemade products such as RK-86, ZX-Spectrum
and similar offspring of the unbridled enthusiasm of the Russian people.
As you remember, in those days our Motherland was not at all abundant
detailed and varied information about various computer
platforms, and even more so to see and touch them - it was completely
a curiosity. Accordingly, the word "IBM" sounded approximately the same
respectfully, like the CPSU.
In the future, dealing in more detail with this same IBM PC,
I have more than once thought about some clumsiness andthe strange behavior of this capricious creature. But I drove
"what thoughts from my head, driven by those around me
events. And something was happening around - the words IBM PC and just pc
(and in this article I use this term precisely in the understanding
IBM PC, although we must not forget that "PC" is just
"personal computer", which includes our unsurpassed
BKOO10 ;) began to appear more frequently in newspapers, magazines and
many other media. Gradually it
has become commonplace and natural, just like chewing gum
"ORBIT". And again and again I was visited by "seditious" people from the point
public opinion - what about other computers?
exists? And from the far west came fragments of information about
a certain beast with an emblem in the form of a bitten apple and the name
"APPLE", and the information received was far from criticism
of this forbidden fruit. But once again, comforting myself with the thought
that “it’s good where we are not”, I refused to think about
these doubts.
And so in 1993, one day I went to visit Evgeniy Stepanov
(known to me from the distant Spectrum times) I saw
on his desk there is something seemingly ordinary and inconspicuous, with the inscription
"AMIGA 2000". With the naivety and simplicity of a child, I asked him:
- Zhenya, is this just another ibm-compatible computer?
- To which the answer was:@!#!@!@!@!31$$!!@!#### !!!! Alexey!
YOU WATCH IT IN ACTION FIRST AND THEN SPEAK!!!!!!!!!!!
Surprised by such an abundance of emotions, I decided to watch....
And what I saw was amazing graphics, and when I heard
sound...... !!!!! (I’ll just say that music has been for me all my life
is of great importance, we can say that this is one of the
phenomena that shaped me as a person, and to the quality
I've always been quite demanding of sound)
I will miss some of the emotions that overwhelmed me at that moment, but
I’ll just say that it was one of the best experiences (oh
computer in general) at that time. And when I found out that the clock
The frequency of the main processor of this machine is only 7 MHz, I
I was doubly filled with respect for this little miracle. After leaving
Evgeniy, I remembered for a long time what I saw and heard, but how
once during that period I was faced with the question of acquiring
any computer for the home, and for some reason I don’t really
I wanted to think about the IBM PC. Then I remembered the Amiga I saw, and
I called Stepanov and heard that he could sell me this
computer. Tormenting him with questions about support, compatibility,
possibilities and everything that a person who has seen can ask
unusual computer just once, I realized that this was a proposal
deserves attention. True, the whole question was about money, but this
turned out to be solvable.
ANDFinally I have an AMIGA 2000 at home.
Connecting it to a regular color TV, I started
acquaintance. The first thing I had to understand is that this
the machine in all its manifestations is created for man, and is designed
to use it intuitively. From loading to
to launch something you could not touch the keyboard,
copying floppy disks and files was carried out in the form of drag and drop
file icon with the mouse, to the system request "UNPROTECT DISK IN DRIVE
DFO:" I took out the floppy disk, removed the write protection, inserted it
back, after which the requester disappeared and the system itself continued
perform the required task by recognizing the actions I have performed.
After a month I already felt pretty confident. By the way,
I will mention that, to my great regret, all documentation
according to the operating system supplied with the machine, it was in German
language :(. You will understand when I say that I could not use it.
True, the German language was a little familiar to me - after all, before
In the 10th grade of school it was almost the only thing I studied
foreign language. But after getting acquainted with computers,
It became natural for me to use English.
Many, many times I said thank you to the good old Speccy,
which with its "Start tape and then press any key" and many
other kind phrases like "Please wait" or "Tapeloading
error" caused such a storm of conflicting emotions! (users
ZX-Spectrum will understand me) ;) It is thanks to such simple
programs and computers, English has become a language for me
natural, and the documentation in English that came into my hands was
just dear. And the book on the Amiga operating system was on
German... :(
Now imagine what I would do if I were there
The Amiga was an IBM PC compatible computer, with the same number
documentation... I understand that you, dear readers, can
object to me that there is a sea of documentation for the IBM PC, and
in Russian, and just the sea BUT: I’m just talking about
that this system simply and naturally became for me
convenient tool for work, and at the same time the need
documentation was not vital and extremely important. And about
books - here on the table lies a booklet "management tutorial"
computer" by A. Zharov. In it the author apparently wanted to tell
people who saw the IBM PC for the first time how to work with it.
Poor martyrs. Imagine that such beginners are forced
face such nightmares, I quote:
First quote:
----------------------------------------------------------------
"In an IBM computer, compared to Dendy consoles, they can
SOME difficulties may arise when starting SOME programs.----------------------------------------------------------------
This SOME apparently refers to a considerable number.
Second quote:
----------------------------------------------------------------
In Dendy everything is simple - insert the cartridge, press the power button and
You can already play. Everything is so simple because these consoles were
designed for gaming only. It’s more difficult with a computer, because... we
We work with the operating system, with various drivers, etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Actually, the operating system is designed to be user-friendly
human is the link between the computer hardware and the user. It
designed to help the user, and certainly not interfere.
Third quote:
----------------------------------------------------------------
For inexperienced users, we recommend that before each
by running such a game or technical program MANUALLY DISABLE
ALL OR ALMOST ALL DRIVERS....."
----------------------------------------------------------------
I haven't changed anything here, and the meaning of the book is not violated. And here you are
imagine an "inexperienced user" (or simply
"teapot", pardon the expression) which "manually turns off
driver". How do you like it? Scary? :) Yes to me.
The phrase about the game refers to DOOM, as a program that requires a lot
memory.
And so in many ways. The IBM PC will load you up with the seaadditional problems and tasks (including material ones),
almost without solving the problems put before him. These are not empty words.
Just after switching to the Amiga, I realized what a nightmare it was. Only
Then I understood why I was not at all drawn to working with the IBM PC.
My intuitive feelings took the form of concrete facts and
events. My work on the Amiga computer operating system (
I'll tell you that the operating system of the AMIGA computer is
name Workbench) took place simply and naturally, for
except that some problems arose due to
that sometimes I was required to do something simpler and
more natural than I expected.
This is how my work with the AMIGA computer went. A lot
I, of course, spent time playing games, and as much as possible
pass games like Settlers and Canon Fodder. Imagine
myself, a screen from Settlers, on which part of the village, field,
sawmill, etc. Little men walk, and at the same time you hear sounds
singing birds, the sound of axes, the crunch of branches, the sound of a sawmill, mooing
cows, the sound of a fish's fishing rod and many other natural and
beautiful sounds. You get the feeling that you are surrounded by
nature, in all its glory! And somehow it’s winter outside the windows
recedes, becomes warmer. I will say in general that all work with
computer AMIGA surrounds you with exactly this feeling of warmth andcomfort. Even if you are just working with the operating system, or
any computer device.
Apparently the main reason for this is that despite
modest technical parameters (and I’ll tell you that my computer
at that time had a Motorola 68000 processor, with a clock frequency
only 7 Mhz, 1 Mb memory, and one floppy disk drive) machine
practically didn’t constrain me in my work, I certainly didn’t try
work with the Light Wave system and 3D graphics, or
something similar, but I’ll tell you, for example, that by adding more to the car
2 Mb of memory, and having installed a hard drive with a capacity of only 46 Mb, I
launched Mortal Kombat II, IBM PC users will understand me!
At the same time, the work of the program did not at all resemble the movement of a road
skating rink - all the game characters moved at normal speed, and
most importantly, smoothness and beauty! Of course there is a lot here
depends on the skill of the programmer who wrote the program, but 7
Mhz! Imagine Intel 8088 7 Mhz and you will understand what I mean
I say! And in general, answer yourself this question - is it possible?
IS IT NORMAL to work on an IBM PC ONLY WITH FLOppy DISKS??!! I
spent more than a year with AMIGA in a configuration without a hard drive, and with
all this time the car was used a lot, and far
not just for games!
It was in the first six months of work that I encountered musical
editors, and as a result of my first experimentsand experiments I
I realized that I should take music seriously. After a while
synthesizers and a MIDI interface appeared, and six months later
the first finished album with instrumental music. About all this
I won't say much, I'll just say that I'm grateful
to the AMIGA computer for helping me do what
I made in these three years, and these are two music albums
lyrical instrumental music. It was on AMIGA that I became
composer.
I’ll tell you, dear readers, that Dmitry Mikhailov’s book
is the first precedent in Russia. Before this period, all
information about systems other than IBM PC was extremely scarce,
something on the level of “there are others, but they are all nonsense.” This book
talks about what an AMIGA computer is, what Amigas are
It happens that they can and much, much more. I would like to say
thanks to Dmitry Mikhailov for finding strength and opportunities
to write this book.
As far as I understand, there are plans to publish the next book about
Amiga computers, which will talk about applied
programs for this computer. In this book, your humble servant
plans to write an article about the Amiga computer as an assistant and
instrument of a person who has linked his destiny with music.
I hope my little experience and my impressions will help
to anyone.
Returning once again toOn the issue of IBM PC and Amiga, I want to say:
These comparisons are not an attempt to exacerbate the confrontation between
users of various computer systems. I just want to
tell you, dear readers, about that wonderful phenomenon about
which in our country is unfortunately known very little
people - and its name is Amiga computers. Of course, every computer and
Each program is good for its specific purposes. But in such
areas such as various types of creativity (music, graphics, etc.)
I would advise you to turn your attention to Amiga computers.
And not only in these areas, of course. Working with this machine I
I smile very often, and a good mood never leaves me. This
caused by the help of the machine, its reliability and beauty of construction
systems.
It is MULTITASKING, friendly and very easy to use
computer. It can make your life more colorful and
joyful, and give you those positive emotions that are so
not enough in our busy times!
I apologize for being a little emotional and sketchy.
narrative, but this is an expression of those emotions that are already with me
3 years, and they help me live.
This article is not comprehensive, it is only briefly
mentions a lot of things. If you have any questions, I,
To the best of my ability, I will be happy to answer. Write by netmail: (C) Aleksey Zhunev
2:5030/221.5 - FidoNet
2:5030/262.5 - FidoNet
39:240/100.5 - AmigaNet
raven@norder.spb.su - Email
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