oaa@holin.ATT.COM (Owen Alexander) (09/21/88)
Just saw this on a BBS (Network Express 512-662-9765) and thought
it might be of interest.
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Date: September 09, 1988
From: DataQue Software
P.O. Box 134
Ontario, OH 44862
To: All Atari 8-bit Developers, Users and Supportive Organizations
Re: Turbo Power without getting Burned!
____________________________________________________________________
***** PRESS RELEASE *****
There have been many mentions in the almost decade since the original
Atari 400/800 Personal Computers hit the dealers shelves about there
being a future upgrade to meet the user's needs, and new and more
challenging applications. Finally that upgrade is available.......
The Turbo-816 by DataQue, for the Atari 400/800/XL/XE.
DataQue Software is pleased to announce a powerful new upgrade which
was co-designed by Ron Shue, and Chuck Steinman. This upgrade will
be available in two forms. There will be a replacement CPU board for
the original 400/800 Computer system, and a plug in module for the
XL/XE series. In either case, there usually is no need for any
modifications to the existing hardware. The only exception to this
is with XL/XE systems which have their CPU soldered in place, which
will require the removal of the existing CPU, and the addition of
a standard 40 pin I.C. socket is suggested. Also included is the
Turbo-OS, by DataQue for use with the Turbo-816 CPU boards.
The Turbo-816 will not only increase the potential speed of the
computer, but also break the 64k memory barrier of the existing
systems. Not with the awkward paged memory, but with a fully linear
decoded address space of up to 16 megabytes. Benchmarks have put the
Turbo-816 into a performance range ABOVE many of the 'other" PCs/!!
Special memory boards will be available to take advantage of the new
extended addressing range. These will be mounted internal to the
computer cabinet, and in most cases require no hardware modifications.
And here is the amazing feature..... While adding all this power and
all this expanded addressing, the Turbo-816 for the Atari 8-bit
computer systems will maintain compatibility with most currently
available commercial and user written software. Using the Turbo-816
even those older programs will enjoy a speed increase!
The Turbo-OS is a replacement operating system for use with the Turbo-CPU
which will release the 16-bit processor to its full power. Increased
speed will be the most obvious change, but hidden in its code, will be
an advanced new floating point library that will speed even the original
Atari BASIC to new levels of performance. Again, on most systems it will
be just a matter of replacing the existing ROM(s) with the Turbo-OS.
The future holds many more products for the Turbo-816 systems including:
1) a real-time multi-tasking operating system kernal
2) a new assembler-editor-debugger package which supports
the new assembly level instructions and addressing modes
3) a new BASIC which will speed past the fastest of the
current BASICs for the 8-bit machines
4) a new K&R compatible C development package
5) a new Turbo-GOS operating system (graphical based)
6) a developers development kit for new applications
The NEW Atari Turbo-816 should be available by November of 1988
For more information contact your local Atari Dealer or, write:
DataQue Software
Dept. T-800
P.O. Box 134
Ontario, OH 44862
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