iltis@ucsbcsl.UUCP ( ) (04/07/85)
I am considering the eventual purchase of a Mac XL. The pixel aspect ratio problem seems to make its use with Macdraw and such very difficult. I'd like to hear about solutions that are available to correct the aspect ratio. Twiddling with the pots has been mentioned, however, none of the dealers I spoke with knew anything about this method, nor could I see any pots other than brightness and focus when removing the front and back panels of a Mac XL on display. As an interesting aside, one dealer showed me the manual for the release version of MacWorks XL (boots directly from the hard disk). There is a statement in the manual to the effect that the dealer can adjust the XL so that its screen has the same appearance as the Mac's. However, I received the usual contradictory statements as to the cost (from free to $200 ) and availability date for this upgrade. One rumor is that it just involves a PROM change (or maybe its just the pot twiddling method!). BTW, thanks for the replies about my problems ordering a hard disk from the Bottom Line, the net response was that such postings about mail order and distributor problems are indeed worthwhile. The concensus was that software ordered from the Bottom Line arrived very quickly. No one reported any problems dealing with them, on the other hand, no one who replied had attempted to order hardware from them. If the aspect ratio is fixed, however, the MacXL seems like a far superior alternative to a Mac with a hard disk (even if its the Hyperdrive). -- All opinions expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of my employer Ronald A. Iltis UCSB Dept. ECE
spector@acf4.UUCP (David HM Spector) (04/10/85)
Most programs from Apple, including MacDraw know when they're running on a Lisa (err... Mac XL :-), and will scale themselves accordingly. Macpaint with versions higher than 1.2 also do this... David HM Spector NYU/acf Systems Group
hnij@bnl.UUCP (John Labovitz) (04/12/85)
> I am considering the eventual purchase of a Mac XL. The pixel aspect > ratio problem seems to make its use with Macdraw and such very difficult. > I'd like to hear about solutions that are available to correct the aspect > ratio. We just ordered (but have not received) something called "LisaVision", which is something that goes in the lisa/xl and has a switch to go between Lisa-mode 1nd Macintosh mode. It is $79, and is available from: LisaVision 2541 Ninth Ave Sacramento CA 95818 1-800-538-8157 x816 (visa & mastercard) I'll let you know when we get ours and get it working. -- John Labovitz -- ..!decvax!philabs!sbcs!bnl!hnij