nschultz@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (Ned W. Schultz) (04/04/89)
Today I received a flyer from ReadySoft that included an order form for A-Max, the Mac emulator. As previously announced, the price is $199.95, and they claim it will ship "during the middle to end of April 1989." Here is a brief rundown on the information contained in the flyer: --plugs into ext. disk port and has connectors for Apple drive and other Amiga drives. --includes transfer software to convert Mac disks to A-Max format (on your Mac) which cana then be used on Amiga drives. --A500, A1000, A2000 compatible --supports Amiga mouse, keyboard, 3.5 drives, serial & parallel ports --Reads Magic Sac and Spectre disk formats (ST emulators) --supports 640x400, 640x200, 512x342 and 1008x800 video. --uses all Amiga RAM during emulation --A-Max cartridge can be left connected during normal Amiga use --built-in Imagewriter emulation for 9 & 24 pin Epson-compat. printers --68020 support with 128k ROMs --built-in recoverable bootable RAM disk --runs HyperCard, MultiFinder, Excel, Word, MacPaint, MacWrite, MacDraw, PageMaker(1.2), MacTerminal, all system disk versions and "most other productivity software". They do note that 128k ROMs are needed for some of this. --some games and MIDI software will not work as they talk directly to Mac hardware. --the flyer lists four sources for Mac ROMs, which you purchase separately. Further info from: ReadySoft, 30 Wertheim Crt, Unit 2, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, L4B 1B9 (416) 731-4175 The order card also says, "Please allow 2-3 weeks delivery from this time" (referring to the anticipated shipping date). I haven't seen A-Max demonstrated, and only know what I've read about it. Just thought others might like to know what ReadySoft is saying.... Ned Schultz nschultz@polyslo.calpoly.edu
wizard@sosaria.UUCP (Chris Brand) (09/28/89)
I try whenever possible to test any soft- or hardware before buying it (I've made too many bad experiences). So I tried to run A-Max on my system....and bingo! It doesn't work. My setup: A2000 Rev. 6 (1 meg chipmem), A2620 accelerator board, Microway flicker fixer (I've also connected the normal 1081, didn't help), old 2 meg ramcard, A2090a with autobootroms. All I get is the :-( Mac and the number 0F0002. In 68020-mode nothing at all works, the screen just stays black. Can anybody tell me what's wrong? Oh yes, and who can explain why it doesn't work with the flickerfixer? I never tried removing it completely from the system, I *really* hope this isn't the problem.... -- ---------------------------------------- Chris Brand - wizard@sosaria.ccs.imp.com "Justice is the possession and doing of what one is entitled to" - Platon ----------------------------------------
a121@mindlink.UUCP (Daniel Carreras) (09/28/89)
I have the same system as you described and my A-MAX works just fine. I think that your problem may originate in the SETCPU that is normaly used with the 2620 card. If you do use such program do this: Before you go to your AMAX system type: SETCPU nofastrom and that will take care of your problems. Daniel
es2e+@andrew.cmu.edu (Edwin T. Smith) (09/29/89)
about problem with a-max and a2620: I had the same problem, and it was due to using the fastrom option with SetCPU. The mac tries to write to the memory that the mmu write-protected, causing a bus error. Disabling fastrom fixed the problem. -Ed (es2e+@andrew.cmu.edu)
bjh@cbnewsj.ATT.COM (bernard.j.hudson) (10/02/89)
I am using A-MAX on a A1000 using the Amiga drives and StarboardII. Using System 6.0.2 (128K ROMS), I am unable to run Hypercard. It locks up or exits at once back to MultiFinder. I happen to not have any Print resources in the system. Does that matter. What is Hypercard looking for on startup ? I have the Home stack in the same directory. Also, I cannot Format a MAC disk (on an Amiga drive) from MultiFinder, but it works fine from Finder. Any tips ? All the reviews say Hypercard works with A-MAX, but I cannot. If I cannot solve this problem, my A-MAX is * FOR SALE *. A-MAX with 128k ROMs, disks, docs and startup help (except Hypercard). I will take the best offer over $200. ....BJ (201)957-5697
ASG102@PSUVM.BITNET (Allan Gyorke) (11/07/89)
Could anyone tell me anything about A-max? I could use the Macintosh
compatability and would like to know if it's worth the investment.
Some specific questions:
1. Can you buy a Macintosh disk drive and just hook it up
to the Amy?
2. Do you need the A-max hardware to run a Macintosh drive?
(I heard about a program that replaces the hardware)
3. What kind of adapters would you need to hook up a drive?
4. I heard that there's a drive that will read both formats
is this true?
I'd appreciate any information you could give me. Either post it here
or send it to me at PSUVM.
______________________________________________________________________
_ ASG102 at Penn State * Avast yee hardees...There she blows!!! _
_ Allan Gyorke * -Author of "Parabolas Hyperbolas and _
_ -Better known as EVIL * Toiletbolas" _
________________________*_____________________________________________dkanthar@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Devaprasad Kantharaj) (11/08/89)
Does anybody know if Readysoft is going to have an upgrade for their A-Max product. I've heard rumors that they are and that it is going to have support for hard drives. Is this true? How about color? Are they waiting for the new 24-bit video board for the Amiga? Hmmmm..... Thanks. (I will post all answers...) Prasad
smp@myamiga.UUCP (Steve Palm) (10/19/90)
(Short time reader, first time poster)
A freind recent brought his A-Max (original version) over for me to try out.
I am running a V6.2 motherboard A2000, 3 Megs of ram (with Supra 2000), fatter
Agnus, 2 3.5" drives, and TrumpCard Controller.
The problem: WHen I booted up A-Max it functioned Great. Even the TCBoot
utility would work to bring up the TrumpCard controller under A-Max. However,
as Murphy will tell you, there is a problem...
Any attempt to bring up the Programmers Interrupt will lock up the machine.
It doesn't matter if I remove ALL hardware from the computer except for the
one 3.5" drive required to run, it still does the same thing. It locks up
TIGHT. The drives stop clicking and everything. It doesn't matter if I do it
while A-Max is waiting for a boot disk or after it's booted.
A call to Readysoft yeilded, "We've never heard of anything like that.
Perhaps it's your keyboard," (huh??) "try another one. Other than that, I
don't know what to tell you. A-Max II works fine."
My Question is: Has anyone else ever encountered this sort of problem, and if
so, what did you do to fix it? I really would like to get A-Max, but if I
can't see it running on MY machine, I will not buy it. I'm sorry, but I don't
buy "The solution is to buy A-Max II".
Thank you for your time and help!
--
/// AMIGA: | Steve Palm, Sysop of FidoNet node 1:11/16
/// FOR THE | UUCP: {gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!asuvax!stjhmc!myamiga!smp
\\\/// CREATIVE | INTERNET: [not yet available]
\XX/ MIND |_________________________________________________________ JKT100@psuvm.psu.edu (JKT) (10/20/90)
(question concerning programmer's interrupt on A-Max)
As far as I know, the programmer's interrupt did not work on the original
A-Max. However, this point is moot as far as I am concerned, for 2
reasons:
1) The original A-Max is no longer sold. A-Max II is the only version
available now, and the programmer's interrupt works perfectly on it.
2) Nodody I know uses the programmer's interrupt anyway. This includes
all the Mac programmers at the software company I work for.
Counting out A-Max II because of a defect in the PREVIOUS version and
for a VERY rarely used feature seems highly short-sighted to me.
Kurt
--
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