     Here is a technical comparison between Atari's new Falcon 030,
Commodore's new Amiga 1200 and Apple's new Performa 400. All of
these machines are aimed at the home computer user in price and power.
They each feature their own Multitasking Graphic User Interface (GUI)
operating system, which is not compatible with MS-DOS. Each of these
computers has their own software library.  They are all based on Motorola
brand CPU's. You won't find "Intel inside" any of these machines, unless
it's in the form of an emulator board! ;~>
 
                    Atari Falcon        CBM Amiga 1200      Apple Performa 400
CPU                 68030               68EC020             68030
speed(Mhz)          16                  14.32               16
MIPS                3.84                2.5                 3.84
data path(bit)      32(16used)          32                  32
address space(bit)  24                  24                  24
instruction cache   256 bytes           256 bytes           256 bytes
data cache          256 bytes           no                  256 bytes
 
FPU                 optional            optional            optional
socket on board     yes                 no                  no
type                68881/68882         68881/68882         68881/68882
 
DSP                 yes                 no                  no
type                56001               N/A                 N/A
speed(Mhz)          32                  N/A                 N/A
MIPS                16                  N/A                 N/A
 
MEMORY & EXPANSION
ram(base model)     4MB(16bit)          2MB(32bit CHIP)     4MB(32bit)
max ram             14 MB               10 MB(>w/3rd party) 10MB
type                proprietary         proprietary/PCMCIA  SIMM
rom                 512K                512K to 2MB         512K
 
DISK DRIVES
floppy              3.5" 1.44HD         3.5" 880K           3.5" 1.44HD
format              Atari\MS-DOS(SAME)  Amiga w\MS-DOS      Mac w\MS-DOS
hard                internal            internal            internal
type                2.5" IDE            2.5" IDE            3.5" SCSI
size                65MB                40MB                80MB
 
I/O PORTS
mouse/joystick      2reg 2analog        2 reg               1 mouse
serial              RS-232C             RS-232              2 MAC
parallel            BI-directional      Centronics          no
video-out           analog RGB\VGA      analog\RGB\VGA      analog RGB\VGA
                    composite\RF        composite\RF
audio-in            stereo 1/8"mini     no                  mono RCA
     -out           stereo 1/8"mini     stereo RCA          mono RCA
external floppy     no                  yes                 yes
internal IDE        yes                 yes                 no
external SCSI       yes SCSI II w/DMA   no                  yes
midi                in, out/thru        no                  no
DSP                 yes(1 MHZ trans)    no                  no
network             Localtalk LAN       no                  Appletalk LAN
 
EXPANSION           internal bus exp    cpu expansion slot  Processor
                    128K cartridge      PCMCIA 2(16bit)     Direct Slot
                    DSP port
SOUND
resolution          16bit\50Khz         8bit\50Khz          8bit\22Khz
channels            8                   4                   1
input               yes\stereo          no                  yes\mono
output              stereo              stereo              mono
internal speaker    yes                 no                  yes
 
VIDEO
resolution
-minimum            320x200             320x200             640x480
-maximum            640x480             1280x400\640x960(i) 640x480
palette(colors)     262,144             16.8 million        16.8 million
maximum displayed   65,536(640x400)     256,000(all res)    256
overscan            yes                 yes                 no
 
MISC
clock               yes                 no                  yes
keyboard type       attached full       attached full       detached full
 
OPERATING SYSTEM
type                multitasking gui    multitasking gui    multitasking gui
location            rom\disk            rom\disk            rom\disk
 
PRICE
retail              $1299.00            $1099.00            $1450.00
street              N/A                 $850.00             $1150.00
 
SOFTWARE(included)
Atari Falcon 030:   MultiTOS 4.0-operating system
                    SpeedoGDOS-scalable font extension w/14 Bitstream fonts
                    Falcon D2D-audio direct to disk recording & editing
                    Atari Works-integrated word processor,database,
                       spreadsheet
                    Audio Fun Machine-DSP digital audio FX
                    System Audio Manager-record & assign sounds to system
                        event
                    Various Accessory programs:calculator,calendar,Talking
                        Clock,games, etc.
 
CBM Amiga 1200      AmigaDOS 3.0-operating system
                    CrossDOS-allows reading & writing MS-DOS format disks
                   *Deluxe Paint IV AGA-full featured 2D paint & animation
                   *Final Copy-full featured word processor
                    Various Utility Programs:Calculator,screenblanker etc.
                    (*indicates a limited time offer)
 
Apple Performa 400  System 7.1-operating system
                    Symantec Greatworks-integrated word processor,database,
                         spreadsheet,charting,paint & telecomm program
                    At Ease-program launcher
                    Teleware M.Y.O.B.-checkbook & cardfile program
                    T/Maker Clip Art-business graphics
                    Various Accessory programs:calculator,alarm
                         clock,games etc.
 
FINAL NOTES: The Atari & Commodore machines are housed in a single case.
They DO NOT have detached keyboards. The Atari Falcon is in the same case
as it's predecessor the 1040STE, and the Amiga 1200 is in a restyled case
similar to the Amiga 500. Also, each of these computers is available without
a hard drive for less money. However, models with hard drives were used for
comparison purposes.  These configuraions are those as supplied by the
manufacturer. Individual dealers may offer other configuration options.
The Apple Performa 400 has a separate keyboard, it is in the same case
as the MAC LCII(In fact, that's exactly what it is!).
     The Atari & Commodore machines can operate at many different screen
resolutions and would require a multisync monitor for optimum flexibility.
Also, the Commodore Amiga 1200's maximum resolutions are interlaced(i).
It's maximum non-interlaced resolution is 640x480. Both the Atari Falcon
& Commodore Amiga 1200 will also overscan, giving them more resolution in
that mode and making them suitable for Desk Top Video (DTV). The Apple
Performa would require an analog VGA type monitor.
     The Atari Falcon is the only computer here with a DSP (digital signal
processor) chip.
 
revivsion 1.1
Information compiled by Ken Baum 1992/93
E-mail on GEnie or Delphi:<KEBAUM>
Sources: Amiga World, Amiga Format, AtariUser, ST Format, MACWorld
         GEnie & Delphi.
 
