[comp.sys.amiga] Amiga graphics future

jerry@truevision.com (Jerry Thompson) (09/12/90)

OK, OK.  Enough of this "lousy Amiga graphics" whining.  I think we have
heard enough complaints about the Amiga's state-of-the-art-circa-1985
graphics.  We all get the picture, even if it isn't a 24 bit one.  So,
how do you propose we remedy the situation.  Now is your chance.  I am 
asking for comments and suggestions on the possibilities for future 
advances in Amiga graphics.

So what do you want?  What kind of graphics resolution and capabilities
would make the Amiga community happy?  At what price?  (Be realistic 
here.)  How would you handle bringing up windows (and screens?!) on a
frame buffer?  How would you do all those nifty animations on a deep
pixel frame buffer?  Why would you buy a frame buffer IF the Toaster 
ever comes out?  Whew!  Well, that ought to get the ball rolling anyway.
 
So, send me E-Mail with your thoughts, observations, musings, wishes, 
and whines.  

ENORMOUS DISCLAIMER!
This is just FMI (For My Information) and not anything from Truevision,
so don't leap to any conclusions.  I have a deep interest in computer 
graphics and video.  This is why I bought an Amiga and why I work at 
Truevision.  I repeat, this is *NOT* a survey from Truevision, but just 
an effort to satisfy my own curiosity and to help promote computer 
graphics and video.
-- 
Jerry Thompson                 |     // checks  ___________   | "I'm into S&M,
"What I want to know is, have  | \\ //   and    |    |    |   |  Sarcasm and
 you ever seen Claude Rains?"  |  \X/ balances /_\   |   /_\  |  Mass Sarcasm."

jerry@truevision.com (Jerry Thompson) (09/21/90)

Without bashing the Amiga graphics, and aknowledging the superior
price/performance capabilities of said graphics, we, The Net,
have resolved the following:

Keep the base graphics in the Amiga the same as what they are now
(including the ECS).  They are fine for video work, animation, games, 
and multimedia applications.  Don't put expensive graphics capabilities
in the stock, low end systems (yet).

Add 32 bit graphics support to the OS.  This should allow applications
to work with any frame buffer that has a "driver" for it, ala 32 bit
QuickDraw and Windows 3.0 (only better).

OK, Commodore you have heard the word.  Now, get to it!


Now, this begs the question, "What should the high-end frame buffers 
be like?"  What kind of features are Amiga video professionals looking
for?  Or, what kind of features in an Amiga would attract video
professionals to the Amiga?  Or for DTP?  What would it take to make the
Amiga a serious CAD platform, if that is possible?


-- 
Jerry Thompson                 |     // checks  ___________   | "I'm into S&M,
"What I want to know is, have  | \\ //   and    |    |    |   |  Sarcasm and
 you ever seen Claude Rains?"  |  \X/ balances /_\   |   /_\  |  Mass Sarcasm."