mll@aio.jesnet.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Littlefield) (09/10/90)
Hey Netters,
I have a handfull of questions about STe, mega, and this TT machine.
I am shopping for a machine that can be both a heavy duty number
cruncher (I am doing research in large scale neural nets) and a good
home/hobby machine. I went to a local dealer here in Houston and
although he was helpfull, I need some more, in depth answers to some
questions. Sorry if these have been asked before but I hvae been
reading this group for a couple of weeks now and I havn't seen any
answers yet.
1) My dealer made it a point of telling me that the Atari machines all
had a "load of support chips" but the only one he could tell me about
was the MMU. What other support chips are there on board and can a
math co-processor be added?
2) What technical docs are available for the Atari machines? To what
extent do they cover the various machines?
3) What is the price of the Developers Kits for each of the machines?
What compilers/debuggers do they use. My code will most likely be in
C but a pascal compiler would also be nice. A good debugger is also a
must.
4) What bus in in the new TT machine. How many slots will be open
after a standard configuration of a color monitor and a hard disk?
5) What about network products so that I can talk to my PC clone?
6) Can a multi-sync monitor be connected to Atari machines? The 12
inch monitors that I saw in the store would drive me crazy after my 20
incher at work.
If you reply by e-mail, I'll summarize (no need to burn bandwidth on
repeated answers).
Thanx in advance,
Mark L. Littlefield
=====================================================================
Mark L. Littlefield | Standard disclamer
internet: mll@aio.jesnet.jsc.nasa.gov | "Blah, blah, blah..."
USsnail: Lockheed Engineering and Sciences |
2400 Nasa Rd 1 / MS 19 |
Houston, TX 77258 |
"Don't guess...unless you have to. The universe is uncertain enough
as it is..." - The DOCTOR - LOGOPOLIS
====================================================================mll@aio.jesnet.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark Littlefield) (09/10/90)
Hey folks,
I just found out that our name server is fried, thus no mail. If
anybody wants to respond to my last note, please post it as I am not
getting any mail and won't be for a while.
thanx,
Mark L. Littlefield
=====================================================================
Mark L. Littlefield | Standard disclamer
internet: mll@aio.jesnet.jsc.nasa.gov | "Blah, blah, blah..."
USsnail: Lockheed Engineering and Sciences |
2400 Nasa Rd 1 / MS 19 |
Houston, TX 77258 |
"Don't guess...unless you have to. The universe is uncertain enough
as it is..." - The DOCTOR - LOGOPOLIS
====================================================================hardware@rose.uwaterloo.ca () (09/11/90)
>Hey Netters, > >1) My dealer made it a point of telling me that the Atari machines all >had a "load of support chips" but the only one he could tell me about >was the MMU. What other support chips are there on board and can a >math co-processor be added? There are many support boards available for the St and TT. Mainly IBM AT and XT boards which turn your ST into a IBM. On some STs blitter chips can be added if they are not installed to improve screen refreshing. In germany many upgrade boards exist for Colour enhancement. On the TT there is one slot for the VME bus. It could be used for many purposes. On the TT there are a number of extra ports ready for LAN, SCSI,RS232 etc devices. > >2) What technical docs are available for the Atari machines? To what >extent do they cover the various machines? Technical docs written by abucus are sufficient but not thorough in describing TOS and support chips. A good book would be to get The Concise Atari ST 68000 Programmers reference Guide. $35.00 As a registered developer the documentation is more indepth but could be improved to cover missing areas. > >3) What is the price of the Developers Kits for each of the machines? >What compilers/debuggers do they use. My code will most likely be in >C but a pascal compiler would also be nice. A good debugger is also a >must. The price of the Developers Kit is around the 200-300 range. The docs can be fit into two large Binders describing TOS,AES,ETC. The TT developers kit isnt complete yet. There are many many C languages and compilers out for the ST and coming out for the TT. Mark Williams C is soppuse to be the one most registered programmers use. ICD has a personal pascal available and there are others around as well. There are many good debuggers out for the ST too. They are to be ported to the newer TT with faster code improvements for the newer Microprocessor. > >4) What bus in in the new TT machine. How many slots will be open >after a standard configuration of a color monitor and a hard disk? The TT spec sheet is handed out at many atari dealers just ask for one. It handles a VME bus expansion slot. The colour monitor and hard disk dont require use of the VME(correct me if im wrong)bus slot. The colour monitor is an improved version of the 12 inch older monitors. > >5) What about network products so that I can talk to my PC clone? There are ethernet cards out and available through Germany. Cost is a factor though. The TT will have a new LAN network available if someone designs one for the TT. It shouldnt be that difficult. You can always use the RS232 port at 19200 baud for communication to your IBM. Many are doing this with the ST now. > >6) Can a multi-sync monitor be connected to Atari machines? The 12 >inch monitors that I saw in the store would drive me crazy after my 20 >incher at work. Yes any GOOD multisync can be hooked to the Atari Machines. I have a 14 inch Electrohome Model. My father has a 29 INCH Electrohome model. Model numbers are ECM1310,1311,1312 for the smaller models. Your 20 inch most likely canbe hooked up if its can sync properly at 60 or 50Hrz. Mine can handle both easily. All resolutions can be handled on multisync monitors which is an added bonus. To get monochrome mode on a multisync hook line 4 on the monitor port to ground by using a switch on the ST models. =========================================================================== Hardware Dave at your Service. " Dont blame me I just work here!" ===========================================================================