eric@puff.cs.wisc.edu (Eric "TheBoo" Bazan) (11/23/88)
Subject: Advice/info Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Distribution: comp Keywords: graphics I've decided (for better or for worse) to buy an Amiga 500 around Christmas. I've been programing in assembly language for the 68k for quite some time. Here at the U.W there are quite a few HP-Bobcats (68020), and I've owned a QL (an English micro, based on the 68008) for about two years. I've done a lot of graphics work, and the main reason I've decided to but the Amiga is because of it flexibility when it comes to graphics. So I'd like to ask a few questions which have probably been asked many times before. +What are the different resolutions available? +What sort mapping scheme does the Amiga use to encode color? (bit planes or bit chunks) +How are contention problems between the CPU and the display controler(s) handled. Do different graphics modes cause slower performance times for the CPU? +How many colors are available, and how many bits are used to encode color in the different graphics modes? +What do the graphics coprocessors do? How does one program them? +I've heard that the graphics coprocessor(s) are capable of certain raster operations, such as memory-to-memory block moves, polygon filling, and line drawing using Breshenhams (sp?) DDA algorithm. Is this true? +Is there any other graphics output besides RGB? Does the Amiga have a monochrome output so I can use it with a composite monitor (and still see gray scale). +Finally, what would be a good technical guide to buy for the Amiga? I know that these are a lot of questions, so if you have ANY technical information on the Amiga, please E-mail me. Many thanks in advance. -Eric Bazan eric@puff.cs.wisc.edu