FCTY7284@RYERSON.BITNET ("Hiscocks, Peter") (04/08/90)
To me, the most impressive item at the show was the JRI
Genlock unit, which Savetech (a local dealer, formerly
Electronic Playworld) were demonstrating. The genlock permits
a Mega to overlay computer generated graphics on a video
signal from a videodisc, television camera or VCR. In this
case, they had a Cad-3D demo of a rotating title superimposed
on a colour camera image of the crowd, and I was very
impressed with the colour quality and stability of the image.
The genlock unit, unfortunately, only works with the Mega and
is $1100 Cdn from Savetech. You could order it directly from
JRI for $750 US, though. As well, JRI are apparently
developing a genlock unit for the STE, and I would expect it
to cost less since the STE has some capability for genlock
built in. (I guess this means the computer clock can be phase
locked to an external sync signal such as the 15.7 khz video
horizontal frequency. Anyone know anything definite?)
Also, D.A.Brumleve was at the show, displaying several of her
programs for kids. My wife bought 'Kidpublisher
Professional', which allows a young writer to create stories
with pictures. The program is very well thought out, comes
with a manual for kids and one for adults too, and our
daughter loves it. A real deal at about $30.00.
(D.A.Brumleve/P.O.Box 4195/Urbana Ill 61801-8820.)
Also of note: a networked cash register system based on the
Atari, that allows the use of bar code wands, a real time
video digitizer (image in mono, but claimed to work in
colour), a couple of video titling programs, real live
Staceys that one could handle, and many Viking moniterm
monitors. When I heard about the moniterm, I thought it was
simply a magnified monochrome screen, but no, all the icons
and window gizmos are the same size, surrounded by *acres* of
video real estate. So, for example, you can open a bunch of
non overapping directory windows. A very impressive Dynacadd
demo was demonstrating on one of these.
The hyperlink 'demo' (one of my main reasons for being there)
wasn't done, and so George of JMG Compushoppe in Hamilton
simply described what it was going to do when complete. My
impression was that this was going to be more of a tool to
schlepp data from one application to another, than a
compeditor for Hypercard, which is what I had hoped. However,
it is encouraging that Hyperlink is to have provision for
linking to external modules, so you could connect via your
own driver to external hardware. George will be posting a
demo to local BBS's, and I suggested he let me have a copy to
look at and I will post impressions here as they develop. (Is
emailling a demo to someone specific, in the same category as
posting it to a newsgroup?)
Mega 2's were going for about $1000 Cdn at the show, and Mega
4's are still about 2 grand! No wonder there's a lot of
interest in upgrading...Sure would be nice to know if the
Mega 2 MMU can support 4 megs. Can we tell from serial
numbers? Or is there any way for the hardware literate to
determine this?
Special kudos to the Toronto Atari Federation for organizing
the show-
Peter