Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    John Visser
    NAC
    CSE (Communication Systems Engineering)
    802 Technology Center
    
    My group serves as consultants on the nitty gritty of the Ethernet,
    works standards issues at IEEE, etc.  My concentration is in the
    physical signalling, such as transceivers, media, interfaces, etc.

    Steve McAfee  (RPI '85)
    ANT::SMCAFEE
    ASIC (Library and Tool Development)
    LM02/E02
    
    Our group develops simulation libraries for various CMOS and BIPOLAR
    ASIC's.  I am mostly involved with Bipolar gate arrays.  I also
    do a good deal of software development on ASIC internal tools. 
    I use my Amiga for pleasure as well as occasional real work.
    (I use Smokey all the time.  Thanks Dave and Mike!).
    
    My wife uses the Amiga mostly as a word processor to do work at
    home.

    Miguel A. Alvarez
    Product Support Engineering
    AGO
    PUERTO::ALVAREZ
    DTN 722-2440
    
    	Our group provides Engineering support functions to Caribbean
    Operations Manufacturing. 
    
    	I use my AMIGA mostly for entertainment but would eventually like 
    to do some work with assembly language. I'm looking also to expand
    my system with designs of my own, mostly for fun and to save $$$.
    Right know I'm working on a 1Mb expansion memory. 

    Ed Acciardi
    Principle Engineer (ME)
    Storage Systems (LEDS)
    
    My group develops servowriters to support the current low end hard
    disks that DEC is developing.  I design moving coil motors, laser
    postitioning systems, and small mechanisms that resemble mosquito
    landing gear.
    
    I originally became interested in computers at Data General, where
    I became involved in some mechanical design problems that were
    virtually unsolvable without computer assisted solutions.  I taught
    myself BASIC and Fortran, and soon bought a C'64.
    
    Before I knew it, I was writing programs that would absolutely kill
    the poor 64, so I laid plans to get an Amiga or Atari ST.  The Amiga
    thoroughly seduced me, and to this day I am continually amazed at
    the capabilities of this beauty.

    John Sauter
    Principal Software Engineer
    Core Applications Group
    
    My cost center develops lots of "core" applications and tools.
    These are things that other products are likely to depend on,
    such as VAX GKS (VAX BASIC depends on it), VAX FMS (Datatrieve
    depends on it), etc.  I am working on VAX FORMS, which will be
    the successor to VAX TDMS and VAX FMS.
    
    I have been in the computer business since 1963, when I played
    the first video game (Spacewar) on a PDP-1.  I've never looked back.
    
    My first home computer was an Apple II.  I realized I had outgrown
    it when my music sequences wouldn't fit in 64KB along with the
    program.  I've waited 18 months for the Amiga 2000, and I've almost
    got it (still waiting for the hard disk).
        John Sauter

    Mike Leibow
    COOP Student - Rochester Institute of Technology
    Terminal Business Unit (Firmware & Software)
    
    I am helping design and implement the DECterm VT320 terminal emulator
    for DECwindows.
    
    I have had a computer ever since I can remember.  I was born with
    Radio Shack next to me, but I moved up to Commodore after my first
    four computers (Model I, III, IV, 100).  Now with my Amiga 1000,
    I can fly.  When I finally die, I'll rest in piece with my
    Cray 9000 with the special graphics components made by Commodore.
    ((My brain will still be hooked up through a Digital Network though))
    
    		--Mike

    Dov Kruger
    Software Engineer I
    PDP-11 Languages
    
    I am working on the PDP-11 C project. Specifically, I am doing code
    generation and storage allocation.
    

    Tom Gray
    LABC::GRAY
    Los Angeles Benchmark Center
    Technical/Performance Analysis Group
    
    My function is to provide systems-level performance analysis of
    customer applications on Digital solutions in a pre-sales
    environment.  My pro-background is strictly software, specializing
    in VAX/VMS Internals (Systems Programming), Performance Analysis, and
    Applications/General Software Engineering.
    
    My first home computer was a home-built RCA 1802-based microcomputer
    complete with 256 bytes of memory and a hex keypad!  (I have since
    given up hardware :-)  My present home computer is an Amiga
    1000.  My next home computer will likely be a MicroVAX 2000.

	Dave Tenny
	Senior Software Engineer
	VAX LISP internals

After having spent 6 months in search of the "PC for me", the August '85
byte on the Amiga was printed.  Shortly thereafter, I saw one and knew
it was for me in one sitting.  Most important to me at the time was 
a reasonable architecture, expansion, and a multi-tasking OS.  The graphics
were just sugar when I found the Amiga.  I'm still quite pleased after 2 years.

The only problem is that working in the Lisp group has warped my mind to
the point where I can barely tolerate conventional languages for any
significant programming task.  So my biggest wish for the Amiga is to see
a good implementation of Common Lisp with a good OS/Graphics interface.

    Eduardo Santiago (RPI '87)
    God knows what title
    Low End Diagnostic Engineering
    
    Just a gneric new college hire, working on them goodies in Mayfair
    (and up) ROMs. I'm sort of an old-timer at DEC though, having
    cooped every summer since '84. Now it's permanent & for real (shudder).
    
    At the moment I'm using the Amiga essentially as a multitasking
    terminal to dial in to work when I'm home. Back when I was in
    school and had ridiculous amounts of free time I'd hack FORTH,
    as soon as work lightens up (sometime in '95?) I'll probably
    continue doing that.

    D. Scott Baeder
    Principle Eng. / Supervisor
    ECAD Applications - STO
    Storage Systems - Shrewsbury, MA
    
    My "bag" has always been support of software...just love to find/fix
    bugs in other peoples code.  I supervise (and also do "real" work)
    in support of schematic capture, etc. here at SHR.  This is kind-a
    new to me, as in previous jobs, I concentrated on the physical design
    aspect...placement and routing of ASIC chips...
    
    I guess I'm a software "pack-rat"...I love to go through any code,
    see what makes it tick, then, ususally, put it away...like I said,
    I'm not a developer, just a "fixer"...so...if you ever want someone
    to give a second opinion on a really nasty bug, I'm your guy.
    
    Now if we can just get VMS running on the amiga...forget all this
    talk about UNIX ;-)
    
    

    Randy Dearborn
    Principal Graphic Designer/Producer Director
    Media Communications Group
    Merrimack, NH -- MK01
    
    I Produce and Direct video and film presentations for the corp.
    For those of you who attended DECWORLD '87, I did the videowall
    in the Media Industry area.
    
    My background is in Graphic Design, but my focus now is Film Direction.
    
    I use the Amiga mostly as a multi-tasking terminal at home.  I have
    used the system to create graphics for a few programs here at work.
    I once was an Atari fanatic.  Now all I can say is "Atari...who?"
    The Amiga continues to amaze me, almost 2 years after I bought it.
    
    Randy
    

I assume this topic is for NOTES readers, not just Amiga owners.  (I find
"Atari" easier to spell.  I always have to think twice to figure out how to
spell the name of this conference.)

By day, I am a software engineer in Video Terminals Engineering, currently
on assignment in Hudson writing behavior models for a workstation system
support chip.  Most of my experience has been in graphics-related topics,
such as ReGis and PostScript interpreters, polygon fill algorithims, and
stuff like that.  I'm hoping that someday Digital will return to engineering
terminals in the United States, so that I can go back to what I do best.
(Get a friend with an ST to show you Whack, and you'll see what that is.)

By night, besides the multi-window terminal emulators, I am working on
applications for computer aided design of handwoven textiles, and on programs
for supporting my spouse's handweaving business.  I have just delivered to
her the first working version of an inventory control system for the
yarns used in her production work.

    I say we take up a collection, get Jeff an Amiga, and get him over
    here full-time. :^)
    
    (Sorry for wasting a reply, but I had to get that one in.)
    

    Kristine Tomlinson
    Programmer/Analyst
    RISD/ATS
    
    I'm an applications developer working mostly with VTX text retrieval
    systems.  I bought my Amiga 1000 for "the graphics", but when I
    discovered the sound I became obsessed and started a sideline called
    "Geek Speak" -- creating humorous tapes.  You should hear its
    DECtalk impersonations!  Hope to use the Amiga with a Mac in a
    band soon.

    Paul Wisner
    AI Marketing CORE Group
    Hudson
    
    At DEC I work on AI demos for the Marketing Group.  I do some
    development and alot of "packaging" of other peoples demos.  I
    distribute the demos to the ACTs and sales offices. 
    
    I'm a Northeast University Co-op student.  I do alot of C programming
    and some XLISP programming.  My main interests are AI, Video Games,
    user interfaces, systems programming, research psychology,
    and applications of computer science in psychology research.  I
    have delusions of making the worlds greatest video game on the Amiga
    (I only I had more free time, we need longer days).  I am currently
    trying to tackle the Amiga Library concepts so I can add a call-out
    to XLISP (which is reasonably easy to extend if you have the source
    code).  I also spend alot of time attempting the fancy graphics
    things like double buffering, bobs, sprites, blitter operations,
    etc.   Naturally I have more ideas than actuall code (or actual
    time).

    Robb Pfister
    Manufacturing Engineer
    Augusta, Maine
    
    I am a college hire as of June, and my job title is not very specific
    yet. I work in the test engineering group, helping people learn
    stuff about VMS, write tools to make their lives easier, and generate
    reports using fun tools like DataTrieve.  
    
    At night I break out the Amiga, (I used to use it as a multi-tasking
    terminal, but my serial.port is still kinda blown).  I bought the
    machine for the multi-tasking, and the graphics. Hack's/projects in progress
    include a ray-tracer (hacking Mcc pascal with this) a BackGammon
    Game (done more or less), an editor, and an external serial.device.

    Chris Bodine
    Software Spec. III
    Sacramento, Ca
    
    Actually, this is a new job that I am currently phasing into. Prior
    to this I was a system manager for an internal machine.
    
    I love my Amiga. It is everything that I used to want when I had
    my Commodore 64. I have to admit that alot of what I love about
    the Amiga is the great games that you can play with it. However,
    the thing that makes it really stand out in my mind is multi-tasking.
    I don't think that I could ever go back to a single tasking machine.
    
    Favorite toys - Videoscape 3d, DMCS. Favorite PD - Smokey (previously
    DBW's vt100, many thanks to both Dave and Mike). Favorite game -
    Earl Weaver Baseball.
    

Dave Wecker
Principal Software Engineer
Colorado Springs, CO

I was head of Dictionary/Directory services (CDD) back east until I got fed up
doing management/supervising/techincal stuff.. came out to CX about 3 years ago
to head up Knowledge Based Management Systems for Storage Systems A/D. I'm
now in the middle of a 1 year RAD project applying Neural Networks (my
proposed thesis area) to optimization problems in database machines. I'm also
working with the Center for Optoelectronic Computing Systems (COCS) building
optical processors and optical neural networks. I have a BSEE and MSIA 
(business) from Carnegie Mellon.

Hobbies: Amiga (president of local club), Scuba (finishing Divemaster
training), U/W photography, Astrophotography, fly fishing (just starting).

    Steve Roy
    Senior Software Specialist
    Seattle WA, Software Services

    	By day I propose, design, and develop custom software for customers
    	dealing with mostly anything from realtime and drivers to
    	commercial business applications.  What's in a job description?
    
    	Bought my A1000 almost a year ago after just one good demonstration.
    	Thought I'd improve my C skills when in reality I use it most
    	as a multifunction home terminal and of course an incredible
    	game machine.  I too am an incredible packrat, collecting PDware
    	to no limit.
    
    	Favorite game: Marble Madness! at 78 speed from VD0:

    Marco Zabot
    Advanced Technology Mgr. (&^*&^!!!!)
    ACT - Torino (Italy)
    
    We are an Enginnering Center ( CIM-International Engineering)
    (CIM=Computer Integrated Manufacturing)
    developping s/w and projects in the area of manufacturing ( mainly
    Shop floor related stuff).
    I also coordinate the Manufacturing Researches in which DEC is involved
    thru External Research Program.
    
    Working with Computers ( yes, with capital 'C') since 1961. Am I
    the oldest in the group ??
    
    Faithfull Commodore user ( 64->Amiga1000->A2000+A500) I use them
    for fun lying to myself the I need them. My last 'affair' has been
    with Sculpt-3d till it asked me 178h50m to photo a scene !!!.
    
    What about also posting our pictures as did Eric Osman ?? I like
    to look at people faces !
    

    Andy Humphrey
    Department Mascot
    ABO Component Engineering
    
    Gee, I'm just a temp here doing all the clerical sh*twork the CEs
    don't want to.  This isn't even my own account.  I feel lost among
    all the "big boys" on this notes file.  (Actually, if I ever get
    back to school, I'm going to finish my nuclear engineering degree.)
    
    I'm not ashamed to admit it.  I use my Amiga for games, mostly.
    I did finally pick up a C compiler and have taught myself the language.
    Now I am just hacking around learning the system.  Also a packrat
    willing to take anything PD.  By the end of the month I should
    (finally) have my 2 meg, printer, and clock and can get some REAL
    work done!
    
    

    RE: .21
    
    My sixel picture is in VIDEO::USER$7:[LEIBOW]LEIBOW.PIC.
    
    It is a terrible picture.  Must be displayed on LEVEL 3 terminal.

    What a great idea ... a picture file for noters.

    Dave Brannon
    NCSS
    Senior Network Specialist
    Littleton, Mass.
    
    I work in a corporate level hotline group supporting DECnet.  We
    provide backup support for Customer Support Centers and the field
    support people (exactly who depends on what area they are in).
    Primarily, i support DECnet-DOS and DECnet-VAX.
    
    I got hooked on the Amiga when i read the Jay Miner interview in
    Byte.  He made it sound like a flexible, serious, business machine
    that had the potential for some really great games.  I regard great
    games as the primary requirement for a personal computer.  If it
    can do that, it will have the power to do mundane things like 
    spreadsheets and word processing easily.
    
    My hobbies include house repair, car repair, feeding the cat
    (my cat's favorite hobby), sci-fi, strange movies, and abusing
    the A1000 (I like to stress test software).

    Jim Collum
    Western Area XC
    Principle Software Specialist
    Santa Clara, CA
    
    I work in a unit that supports the delivery and pre-sales district
    units in the Western Area.  If the district doesn't have the resource
    available, then we can be called in to do short term consulting.
    In addition, if calls (LOR) are elevated from the district level 
    through Field Service, we are available to be on site. We're kinda 
    like a resource flying squad. I concentrate on VMS, VAXclusters, 
    device drivers, anything having to do with the O/S.  I also do a bit 
    with the VAXset tools.  Its nice having a new job every couple weeks.
    
    I've been into home computers since 78 when I bought a 4K TRS80 Model I,
    Level I micro.  Within a few months I had it expanded to 16K Level
    II basic (anyone remember those days?).  When a company came out
    with a circuit board for a memory expansion and disk interface,
    I trashed my cassette and went disk. I ended up getting the Model
    III (which my brother has sitting on his desk now) and then picked
    up an Atari 800XL (just before they dropped from $300 to $100.)
    When the Amiga (byte,85) article came out I decided that someday
    I'd have one.  I've been following the development ever since. About
    two months ago I ran into someone who was selling theirs for $900.
    I picked it up and have since added a DigiView (thanks Paul, it's
    working great), and a 2M Starboard (the DigiView is even nicer now.)
    I've also started messing with MIDI.  Having tinkered with a piano
    a bit when I was but a lad, I decided to take up piano lessons (you're
    never too old.) With a limited amount of space, and a computer,
    I decided to get a MIDI contoller rather than an upright. So I'm
    also the owner of a Yamaha KX88 and TX81Z (along with the Pro Midi
    Studio package)
    
    (whew! I've really been on a roll here!)
    
    My big question is... Where is everyone from California. I've seen
    one note from someone in Sacramento (I get up there every so often,
    so I'll try and look you up when I get there Chris.) Anyone else
    from the Bay area??
    
    						Jim Collum
    

    ... just about forgot. My other passion in life is photography.
    Large Format (4x5) black and white to be specific.  I'm using the
    Digiview and Superbase Personal to log my developing and printing
    sessions. Anyone else out there into the Big Picture?
    
    						Jim
    

    Bradley M. Waters
    Senior Software Engineer
    Commercial Performance Group
    Nashua, NH

       Our group provides performance support on commercial products
    and supports a terminal emulator product.  I concentrate on ACMS
    and RMS performance.

       My first home computer was a VIC-20 (yea, a toy).  At one time
    I had planned to use the VIC-20 to build a computer with several 
    processors (I never got to far on that one).  A while back I decided 
    to buy a home computer with multi-tasking, so when the Amiga came 
    along I bought it.  I have been happy with it since the day I brought
    it home in April, 1986.  I have used the Amiga to satisfy my need for
    home computing.  Lately, I am giving consideration to a fourth 
    generation language tailored to the Amiga.

       My hobbies are skiing (cross-country and downhill), mountain
    climbing, and baseball.
    

    Philippe Blanc
    Field Service Enginner
    system group
    Lausanne Branch in Switzerland (yes so far away..)
    
    First computer,(if so calledwas a HP 41-C .I used it a lot at school.It
    was a nice programming tool.
    A year ago I bought a C-128.Still satisfied with it till I finally
    decided to buy the AMIGA.I now Have two drive (floppies) 2,5 MEG
    of memory (Great for Deluxe Paint) but my kind of work doesn't help me
    to get time for programming.In fact I am still collecting as much
     as I can of PD programms and scanning to them.C is a great one.
    Phil

	Yves Goulnik
    Knowledge Something
European AI Technology Group	
         Valbonne
      French Riviera

	
	i theoritically help European Manufacturing understand and use AI
     technology. during the past 2 years, i've been designing and
 	implementing a so called expert-system shell or environment for internal
     use, although it's not been used much yet. great tool though, good
	thinking, thanks for the effort.

	the first time i came across a microcomputer was 8 years ago. i was
     completing my medical internship, it was an appleII and love at first sight
        it was a major blow to my medical career as well, back to school,
     square one up to postgraduate work in AI, ended up in DEC and three years
        ago in that sunny and thefty part of the (old) world.	

	also my second attempt with Commodore, first one was a 128 which i kept
     about 2 weeks, after someone made me realize how dumb it was to buy an 8bit
	6502 based machine, what with the Ataris and other 68000 machines around
     to cut  long story short, its me with an A500+A501 DeluxePaint and Music.
        kids and wife crying for a good LOGO, me for money to get a decent
     programming language, a noise-free telephone line and struggling between
	the french and the us keyboard. Note that in some cases (like Smokey)
     i sometimes have to use both.

	Milos Roberto
	TSC Specialist
	Technical Support Service Italy
	Milan

	I support customer and internal services (Field Service and others) 
	in VMS related problems (specially system programming and decnet).

	I'm in the computer since 79, when at school we developed a Z-80 based 
	micro-computer whith the S-100 bus and a hexadecimal ROM monitor;
	like PDP's console ODT. (not very useful to see it now!!)

	When i joined  DEC, as Field Service Engineer, my hobby was based 
	on a C64, and C128 ( I loved to peek and pooke into CP/M).

	When I heard about Amiga (with its custom DMA chips) I immediatly 
	realized some day I owned one.
	
	And finally, I was able to buy it this year. What a difference from
	the first computer I known at school!!!

	I'm not very active in this notes-file but I'm keep reading it since 
	march and most of what I know about Amy cames from you Amiga Gurus
	so I whish use this reply to thanks all of you!!

	Ciao!
			Roberto
	

    Bruce Stoller
    S/W Engineering Supervisor
    Business and Office Systems Eng., Adv Dev. (BOSE A/D)
    Merrimack, NH, USA
    
    I supervise advanced development in the areas of Voice, Facsimile
    and Image.
    
    I bought the amiga in order to play games, be awed by the sound
    and graphics and to try my hand at developing some games that I
    have in mind (coming in the distant future to a CRT near you).

    Keith Bague
    Principal Software Specialist
    Central Services Unit
    Southwest Area
    Irvine, CA
    @IVO
    IVOGUS::BAGUE
    
    The unit I work in supports delivery and presales district units
    in the Southwest Area.  We do our own deliveries and also do short
    term consulting for the districts if they run out of resources.
    
    I just hired into DEC and my areas of interest are VMS, Vaxclusters,
    SPM, and VPCS installs and Performance issues.
    
    I originally got the Amiga because my friend upgraded his to a 2000
    and offered his 1000 to me for $250.  It already had 512K, a Hayes
    1200 modem and also an external 3.5 floppy, so my friends told me
    I got a hell of a deal.  This is my first entrance into the world
    of the micro and I'm thrilled at finding all the new twists there
    are to be found in uploads, downloads, arcing, and learning C (as
    well as meeting new friends on the network.)  Right now, I'm mostly
    using my Amiga for games and graphics demos as well as for terminal
    emulation but I see myself growing into the Amiga world more and
    more because this one serious machine.  (My wife is always yelling
    for me to get off NOW, because it is 4:30 at NITE!)
    
    I'm looking around for any other Amiga enthusiasts in California,
    (clubs, fellow DEC employees) so we can trade stuff faster but enjoy
    the repartee with everyone else on the net.
    
    My hobbies are science fiction, classic movies, drum corps, bicycling,
    building bicycling wheels, photography, British humor and making
    fun of the IBM PC graphics compared to the Amiga.

    Eric Vis
    Software Support Group (SSG)
    Utrecht, Holland
    UTRTSC::VIS
    
    A newhire (since Sept '87) and work in the Software Support Group.
    We do aftersales support, on a basis of service contracts.
    I'm specializing in the VAX/VIA range layerd products, but I'm
    interested in O.S. and networks too.
    
    Lived in Boston in '85/'86 for some time as a computer science trainee.
    A friend of mine bought an A1000, and wanted to return it like he
    does with everything he buys.
    I was pretty facinated about the graphics/animations so I decided
    to buy the it from him.
    
    I use the Amiga for Programming, word processing and sometimes games.
    The programming language I use the most is C since I've used it
    most of the time. 
    Currently I'm interested in a modem (there'll be lots of downloading
    to be done) and a hard disk (still reading notes on that one).

    John B. Fisher
    Sales Support
    Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
    CELSST::FISHER or JOHN FISHER @RTP
    
    Well, I have been here for 2 loooooonggg years as of this week.
    It has been interesting. I have been involved in 'architecting'
    the solutions for over $12 Million in sales during that time. That
    is my direct involvement. I have also had the chance to meddle with
    much, much, much more business.
    
    I can sure tell you that the company is growing by leaps and bounds.
    But the good news is that I am also seeing new folks to help with
    all of this growth. Still, in spite of the new help, the work keeps
    on piling up. I put in over 100 hrs last with, with the six weeks
    prior to that ranging at over 80 hrs per week.
    
    Sounds terrible, but in fact it can get very exciting. But it sure
    makes it tough to keep up with all of the NOTES conferences I would
    like to...  But my consulting skills are being put to the true test;
    see how long my endurance and patience can last. But the flip side
    is that I honestly feel that I am making a real contribution to
    Digital and our customers.
    
    I have had my Amiga since before I came to work with Digital. I
    am still pleased with it. Might be nice if more software was available,
    but it is a lot better than it was. WordPerfect has done a good
    job of validating the Amiga as a viable product.
    
    Regards,
    =jbf=

    Would the person who sent me Vaxmail on a common interest in Drum
    Corps please resend the mail to me at KEITH BAGUE @IVO?  My other
    system is down due to security breakins.

Hi there,

my name is Ralf Zimmermann, Network Specialist and I'm working for
DEC's Information Services as a Site Telecom Mgr in Central Germany.

I'm 29 years old and I began to work with the worlds best computers
in 1980 (RT-11, TOPS-20, RSX-11,  V M S ).

The whole day long we are working on our LAN/EXt-LAN, term.-network
& async.-network with a big goal:

        TO BRING THE VAX-POWER TO   Y O U


At this time I own 2 APPLE ][ (+/e) and a lot of hardware around them.
Of course the good old Apple has the capability of multitasking:
  For each task - use an Apple (grin).


Other Hobbies: (than networking)

        car-tuning/repair
        kawasaki-riding
        video (SCI-FI, ROAD-MOVIES and ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER)
        books (SCI-FI, VMS/DECnet
        music (HI-FI)
and in some weeks, when I get all the bucks: AMIGA-fever with
an A2000 / 2 Drives / VR241 on loan / and later: >= 40MB-disk,
2-8 MB add-memory (depending on the budget).

Our cat (THE LITTLE GREY TIGER) also wait for the arrival of the
Amiga's MOUSE. :^)


Many greetings from Germany, a merry christms and a happy new
year to all of you

Ralf
====