stever@tektronix.UUCP (Steve Rogers) (08/13/83)
I have always been puzzled by what "Hi-Res" means until I know pixel specs, scanning frequency, and interlace mode, for a particular display board. .......... here are the boards I know about... *--------* Control Systems, 2855 Anthony Lane, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55418 (612) 789-2421: Artist 1 for $3195 -1024 x 1024 Industrial graphics -170 x 96 Character display -512k Memory Artist 2 for $1595 -640 x 410 Business graphics -80 x 50 Character display -128k Memory COMMON FEATURES include: 16 colors 16:1 display zoom 16:1 character zoom pan, scroll, paging light pen DMA Mixed text and graphics selectable character sets solid and dotted lines 11 shading patterns RS343 output external genlock NEC 7220 processor single expansion slot accessible graphics library from any PC-DOS language supports CP/M-GSX and lots more features popular including Tektronix 40XX emulation *-------* Hercules Computer Technology, 3200 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA 94703 (415) 654-2476 Hercules Graphics Card for $499 -720 x 348 monochrome display only. -HBASIC software provided by Hercules, -1-2-3, Energraphics, Autocad & others support this hardware. -incompatible with color graphics board (unless you want to break a trace on the Hercules board!) *--------* Techmar 6225 Cochran Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44139 (216) 349-0600 Graphics Master for $695 -full emulation of existing IBM PC display adaptors -720 x 700 bit map graphics on monochome -only one monitor can be physically connected at a time -no application software support or BASIC for 720x700 mode -no parallel printer port on board -30 different display modes altogether -128k on-board display buffer memory -compatible with either IBM PC display adaptor *--------* Orchid Technology, 487 Sinclair Frontage Road, Milpitas, CA 95035 (408) 942-8600 Monochrome Graphics Adaptor -720 x 350 screen resolution -functions as a companion card to the monochome adaptor -enables graphics and/or monochrome characters -game adaptor included on card -64k on-board RAM -complete software support (they claim) ********** Without an existing IBM standard for "higher" resolution graphics it is risky to get any of these boards unless you can afford to throw them away later on or can get a quick ROI. My feeling is that if you really don't need graphics right now, you might save some money if you wait for IBM to produce their new graphic board ( I am assuming that they are working on one-- if they are not, they are crazy! ). Some rule of thumbs might be: If you are just buying your PC and need excellent character resolution for text processing, but would like to have graphics for popular application software, consider the Hercules card. If you already have a monochrome adaptor, don't want to waste it, and don't have a need for popular application software graphics on your monochome screen, consider Orchid. You can add a standard graphics card later. If you want flexiblity without much software support, but want to be able to run all the standard stuff, consider the Graphics Master. (Techmar may provide software support later on--their software that I have used has been very good.) If you want to run Tektronix graphics consider the Artist I or II. If you want a dedicated CAD super system consider the Artist II. ******** If Techmar will put two connectors on the Graphics Master so that I can switch back and forth between color and B/W displays I will seriously consider buying that board. Otherwise I will wait for awhile to see if IBM moves. ********* Another issue that needs to be addressed is that the monitors that can display the "higher" resolution color graphics are not very affordable. Steven D. Rogers P.S. another option is to get both monochrome and color/graphics adaptors, the monochrome screen, a very high quality color graphics monitor, then upgrade the adaptor cards when "higher" resolution standards are more settled
stever@tektronix.UUCP (Steve Rogers) (08/22/83)
When I asked a Techmar representative at a recent demo of the "new, improved" Graphics Master whether or not the "un-improved" board had ever been shipped, he said, "No." That is why Rob Kling could not find any owners! The "new, improved" version was demonstrated in many of its modes, and it looked real nice. However, language and application software support does not seem to be available at this time for the hi-res graphics modes.