aking@BBN.COM (Allen King) (08/29/89)
The first reports from Germany say nothing about multitasking, UNIX, X-WINDOWS, or multiple GEM windows on the screen simultaneously. What's the scoup on that?
ramsiri@blake.acs.washington.edu (Enartloc Nhoj) (09/06/89)
We all knew about the Dusseldorf debut well in advance... Does anybody know about any plans for a US debut? Has anybody from ATARI made clear what has been holding up the machine's release over here? Is it still in the design stage -> for the US model? Has an OS for the US model been decided on yet? How about cases? What's the US model gonna look like? If all of the above has been decided already, when will the engineers at ATARI begin working on the product? Or is it just going to stay a model? Maybe it will be shown with cars, planes and ships at the glue show in Yakima. ramsiri@blake.acs.washington.edu
bammi@dsrgsun.ces.cwru.edu (Jwahar R. Bammi) (09/07/89)
In article <3497@blake.acs.washington.edu>, ramsiri@blake (Enartloc Nhoj) writes: >Has anybody from ATARI made clear what has been holding up the >machine's release over here? > anybody want to take bets that they will say its awaiting Fcc clearance? -:) -:) bang: {any internet host}!dsrgsun.ces.CWRU.edu!bammi jwahar r. bammi domain: bammi@dsrgsun.ces.CWRU.edu GEnie: J.Bammi
powers@cim1ni.enet.dec.com (Bill Powers) (09/07/89)
In article <545@cwjcc.CWRU.Edu>, bammi@dsrgsun.ces.cwru.edu (Jwahar R. Bammi) writes: > In article <3497@blake.acs.washington.edu>, ramsiri@blake (Enartloc Nhoj) writes: > >Has anybody from ATARI made clear what has been holding up the > >machine's release over here? > > > anybody want to take bets that they will say its awaiting Fcc clearance? > -:) -:) because the fcc droped the one and only unit. 8-) 8-) 8-) Bill Powers --- Digital Equipment Corp. - Semiconductor Operations Hudson Ma. - The POWER of VAX The opinions expressed here are mine, not my employers.
Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com (09/09/89)
Jwahar R. Bammi sez: >>Has anybody from ATARI made clear what has been holding up the >>machine's release over here? >anybody want to take bets that they will say its awaiting Fcc clearance? > -:) -:) Nah... they used that excuse to explain away why they're breaking their promises of a Blitter upgrade for the STs... Umm... DRAM shortage... naaah... that's already been used.. I know..! "Unfair competition from Nintendo"..! That's Atari Corp's current "excuse" for everything... BobR
gl8f@astsun7.astro.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) (09/10/89)
In article <22003@cup.portal.com>, Someone writes: >Nah... they used that excuse to explain away why they're breaking their >promises of a Blitter upgrade for the STs... How To Get A Blitter Upgrade: ============================ Either: 1a. Own a 1040 with a blitter socket, or 1b. Buy a ST accellerator board with a blitter socket. 2. Have your dealer order you a replacement blitter and some TOS roms that can handle it (either Mega ROMS (easy) or Rainbow TOS (harder)). 3. Plug in blitter and ROMS. Note the small speed increase, since you're running TurboST or QuickST already... 4. Decide that this upgrade wasn't worth the money. Ever wonder if marketing reasons might keep Atari from doing something stoopid? I used to be waiting for a blitter. Now I know it isn't worth the money. Can we stop beating this dead horse and talk about something interesting? ------ Greg Lindahl gl8f@virginia.edu I'm not the NRA.
clong@topaz.rutgers.edu (Chris Long) (09/10/89)
On a related topic, *why* doesn't Atari come out with a machine that comes with, as standard equipment, a PC emulator? A Mac emulator might not also be a bad idea. Atari would clean up. -- Chris Long, 272 Hamilton St. Apt. 1, New Brunswick NJ 08901 (201) 846-5569 "The proofs are so obvious that they can be left to the reader." Lars V. Ahlfors, _Complex Analysis_
ramsiri@blake.acs.washington.edu (Enartloc Nhoj) (09/10/89)
In article <Sep.9.13.44.07.1989.11918@topaz.rutgers.edu> clong@topaz.rutgers.edu (Chris Long) writes: > >On a related topic, *why* doesn't Atari come out with a machine that >comes with, as standard equipment, a PC emulator? A Mac emulator >might not also be a bad idea. > >Atari would clean up. >-- A bit tough to ask of a "company" who can't even PROVIDE an updated OS for a machine that has already existed for 4 years. My question is: *why* doesn't ATARI come out with a machine they purportedly have been designing for several years... "might not also be a bad idea." "Atari [should] clean up [their act] ." -kevin ramsiri@blake.acs.washington.edu
scksnsr@nmtsun.nmt.edu (Sean Kelly) (09/10/89)
In article <Sep.9.13.44.07.1989.11918@topaz.rutgers.edu> clong@topaz.rutgers.edu (Chris Long) writes: >On a related topic, *why* doesn't Atari come out with a machine that >comes with, as standard equipment, a PC emulator? A Mac emulator >might not also be a bad idea. PCs certainly permeate the market. Every decent computer industry magazine today is abound with articles concerning clones. Certainly, PCs are OK. So are Macs. But I'd rather have a Unix (*) box any day. You might too, if you just tried Unix (*) for a week. -- kelly (sean) `What is the wasting?' scksnsr@nmtsun.nmt.edu `The wasting is ... the wasting!' Std disclaimers apply `Ahhhhh.' --Dr ? -- ( (*) Unix is a registered trademark of AT&T. :-)
larserio@ifi.uio.no (LarsErikOsterud) (09/10/89)
I agree !!! Quick-ST gives a BIOS text increase of 500% The only thing the blitter gives is a GEM draw increase og about 5% (yes, I've tried it myself !!) Lars-Erik / ABK-BBS +47 2132659 / ____ ______ Osterud / larserio@ifi.uio.no / /___ / ____________/ _______________________/ ____/ /
gl8f@astsun7.astro.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) (09/10/89)
In article <Sep.9.13.44.07.1989.11918@topaz.rutgers.edu> clong@topaz.rutgers.edu (Chris Long) writes: > >On a related topic, *why* doesn't Atari come out with a machine that >comes with, as standard equipment, a PC emulator? A Mac emulator >might not also be a bad idea. There was a lot of speculation after the Apple ][ got its CP/M emulation card with a Z80 on it that this card caused the demise of the Apple ][ in the business market. After it came out, business vendors had no incentive to port high-priced business software in Apple ][ native mode -- they told their customers to just buy the Z80 card. If everyone who had an ST had PC Emulation, then you could use off the shelf ugly PC software instead of Atari-specific software with the nice user interface. Then software development firms who already had PC versions of their software would have little incentive to do an ST port, and other firms wouldn't even enter the ST market because it was the "same" as the pc market. Would this really happen? Who knows. Mac emulation gives more trouble, because Mac software can have a similar user interface and runs as fast as the current low-end Mac hardware. Would you re-write Excel from scratch (a very expensive proposition) when everyone already had Spectre 128 and could buy the "real thing" from Microsoft? Would this really happen? Who knows. Should Atari take the risk? Ask around and see if the software houses who support the ST would like Atari to bundle PC Ditto I with the box... ------ Greg Lindahl gl8f@virginia.edu I'm not the NRA.
obryan@gumby.cc.wmich.edu (Mark O'Bryan) (09/10/89)
In article <CMM.0.88.621382869.larserio@kyrre.uio.no>, larserio@ifi.uio.no (LarsErikOsterud) writes: > I agree !!! > Quick-ST gives a BIOS text increase of 500% > The only thing the blitter gives is a GEM draw increase og about 5% > (yes, I've tried it myself !!) Turbo ST is even faster (about twice as fast). I'm not sure about version 1.6 of Quick-ST (the latest I've seen is 1.46), and Darek and Ignac have been too busy to post the comparison of 1.6 to Turbo-ST 1.6 that they planned on about a month ago. Here's some results from the (older) Quick-ST 1.46 vs Turbo-ST 1.6d (the demo version) on a non-blitter, 2.5 meg 520 ST (using Quick-Index 1.5). (running with TOS 1.0, in monochrome) Test Quick Turbo ----- ----- ----- Text 151% 333% Strings 583% 1270% Scrolls 176% 185% GemDraws 168% 212% Quick-ST 1.6 was supposed to be about 50% faster than 1.46. For those who aren't aware, Turbo-ST is a commercial product, and Quick-ST is shareware. As far as I know, Quick-ST is still sub- stantially smaller than Turbo-ST, which may be a consideration if you're tight on memory. Standard disclaimers apply. I haven't decided which one I want to buy yet, mainly because I'd like to see what Quick-ST 1.6 can do, and if they've got the little glitches out of it yet. -- Mark T. O'Bryan Internet: obryan@gumby.cc.wmich.edu Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI 49008
myers@odin.ucsd.edu (Margaret Myers) (09/11/89)
Does the TT have a cartridge port? Will it work with Spectre 128 or GCR? Hey -- since it has a 68030 can it emulate a Mac II? (Are you out there Dave Small?) MM
tacook@stag.UUCP (Tom Cook) (09/11/89)
[bammi@dsrgsun.ces.cwru.edu (Jwahar R. Bammi) writes...] > In article <3497@blake.acs.washington.edu>, ramsiri@blake (Enartloc Nhoj) writes: >>Has anybody from ATARI made clear what has been holding up the >>machine's release over here? >> > anybody want to take bets that they will say its awaiting Fcc clearance? > -:) -:) > From what I remember VDE standards are harder to meet. Tom Cook | What I said may or may not be true moundst!tacook@stag.UUCP | I'm not sure myself, if you can figure {tacook|sysop}@moundst.citadel | it out let me know. If all else fails read the instructions.
larserio@IFI.UIO.NO (LarsErikOsterud) (09/11/89)
Good question.... What software and cartridges will work on the TT ? What about Quantum Paint, Spectrum 512, VIDI-ST and so on.... Lars-Erik / ABK-BBS +47 2132659 / ____ ______ Osterud / larserio@ifi.uio.no / /___ / ____________/ _______________________/ ____/ /
hase@netmbx.UUCP (Hartmut Semken) (09/14/89)
In article <1989Sep11.160435.26342@stag.UUCP> moundst!tacook@stag.UUCP (Tom Cook) writes: > >[bammi@dsrgsun.ces.cwru.edu (Jwahar R. Bammi) writes...] >From what I remember VDE standards are harder to meet. True. But there are no VDE standards for radio frequency emission (and other RF stuff). The VDE rules only apply to electrical security (metal case properly grounded, no loose 220/110 V cables inside etc.). The radio frequency rules for Germany are made by the Deutsche Bundespost. These are harder than FCC, too. hase -- Hartmut Semken, Lupsteiner Weg 67, 1000 Berlin 37 hase@netmbx.UUCP Dennis had stepped up into the top seat whet its founder had died of a lethal overdose of brick wall, taken while under the influence of a Ferrari and a bottle of tequila. (Douglas Adams; the long dark teatime...)
kbad@atari.UUCP (Ken Badertscher) (09/15/89)
gl8f@astsun7.astro.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) writes: | 3. Plug in blitter and ROMS. Note the small speed increase, since you're | running TurboST or QuickST already... I beg to differ here, Greg. TurboST 1.6 runs _much_ faster on a machine with a blitter than one without. Least it seems that way to me. -- ||| Ken Badertscher (ames!atari!kbad) ||| Atari R&D System Software Engine / | \ #include <disclaimer>
gl8f@astsun9.astro.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) (09/15/89)
In article <1695@atari.UUCP> kbad@atari.UUCP (Ken Badertscher) writes: >gl8f@astsun7.astro.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) writes: > >| 3. Plug in blitter and ROMS. Note the small speed increase, since you're >| running TurboST or QuickST already... > > I beg to differ here, Greg. TurboST 1.6 runs _much_ faster on a machine >with a blitter than one without. Least it seems that way to me. This is a classic "your mileage will vary" situation. A blitter does some things much better than a 68000, and other things only as well as a 68000. The stuff that *I* happen to do on my ST (mostly editing text in windows that are aligned) the blitter can't beat the 68000. So it wouldn't be cost effective for *me* to go out and buy a blitter upgrade. And I'm not going to whine because Atari didn't provide me a blitter upgrade for my old 520. If I was doing stuff that was sped up by a blitter, I'd buy one. ------ Greg Lindahl gl8f@virginia.edu I'm not the NRA.
Xorg@cup.portal.com (Peter Ted Szymonik) (09/17/89)
The TT does have a cartridge port and should work with Spectre GCR. Mac II ROMS are a completely different story however and I'm not sure Dave (or anyone!) would want to work with them! Peter Szymonik Xorg@cup.portal.com
w-darekm@microsoft.UUCP (Darek Mihocka) (09/18/89)
In article <1695@atari.UUCP> kbad@atari.UUCP (Ken Badertscher) writes: >gl8f@astsun7.astro.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) writes: > >| 3. Plug in blitter and ROMS. Note the small speed increase, since you're >| running TurboST or QuickST already... > > I beg to differ here, Greg. TurboST 1.6 runs _much_ faster on a machine >with a blitter than one without. Least it seems that way to me. > >-- > ||| Ken Badertscher (ames!atari!kbad) > ||| Atari R&D System Software Engine > / | \ #include <disclaimer> I beg to differ with _your_ observations Ken. My observations using a Mega ST with TOS 1.2 and 1.4 with and without the blitter, with and without different software accelerators. I don't disagree that Turbo ST runs faster with the blitter chip, since it checks for and uses the blitter, but the speed increases are far from being "_much_ faster". I'd use that term to apply to the speed increase obtained by using Turbo ST alone, and the term "_slightly_ faster" to describe the additional speed increase that the blitter gives you. Hope you're not trying to sell us some vaporware blitter chips <grin>. Someone else did mention that "your mileage will vary" but you have yet you convince me that the blitter chip can significantly outperform tightly coded assembler code in real life situations (not rigged Comdex demos). Why not just apply some of the same types of optimizations that Turbo ST uses in the next version of TOS? I'm sure there were better things to do with time and code than putting rainbows into the desktop. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Darek Mihocka ST Xformer II CIS: (out of order) Box 2624, Station B Quick Utilities GEnie: DAREKM Kitchener, Ontario MegaBlit SSG SPX DELPHI: DAREKM N2H 6N2 Shareware, not Vaporware BIX: darekm Canada Blitter chip sucks! CheapNet: ...!uw-beaver!microsoft!w-darekm (519)-747-0386 A mind is a terrible thing to waste, so JUST SAY NO TO TOS. Opinions expressed are my own and not those of anyone not named Darek Mihocka. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------