lemke@apple.com (Steve Lemke) (05/08/91)
Contact: Roy McDonald
Connectix Corporation
800/950-5880 voice
415/324-2958 fax
AppleLink: CONNECTIX
(Internet: CONNECTIX@applelink.apple.com)
For Immediate Release
Connectix ANNOUNCES MODE32 and MC73
Menlo Park, California, April 30, 1991 -- Connectix Corporation today
announced two new products that offer Mac-II class systems complete
compatibility with the powerful memory features of System 7.0. MODE32 is a
software utility that enables Mac II, IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 systems to run
in standard System 7 32-bit mode in the same manner as the more recent Mac
II-family systems. MC73 is the PMMU memory coprocessor needed to run Apple
VM or Connectix Virtual on the original Mac II.
MODE32 is a unique utility for Mac II, IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 users who want
to use System 7 32-bit mode. It allows these systems to access 32-bit mode
through the standard System 7 memory control panel in the same fashion as
later ROM systems (IIci, IIsi, IIfx and LC). Without MODE32, the controls
for 32-bit mode do not appear on the panel and it is not possible to use
32-bit mode. MODE32 is an INIT and cdev which is transparent in normal
operation.
Using 32-bit mode, the Mac II, IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 can access up to 128
megabytes of contiguous physical application memory and up to 1 gigabyte
(1000 megabytes) of contiguous virtual memory. This mode overcomes the
traditional 8 megabyte limit of previous Macintosh Operating Systems.
MODE32 works by enabling the use of the System 7 32-bit addressing mode
which would normally not be accessible on the SE/30, II, IIx, and IIcx
systems. This problem occurs because the software built into the ROMs of
these systems was designed only to be compatible with the less powerful
24-bit addressing mode (which was standard in System 6.0). By extending
the compatibility of those ROMs to the new 32-bit mode, MODE32 provides
full System 7.0 32-bit functionality to these earlier systems.
MODE32 will be of interest both to users with large amounts of physical RAM
(> 8MB) and those with less RAM who would like to use more than 14MB of
virtual memory (System 7 VM or Connectix Virtual). MODE32 has a suggested
retail price of $169 and is expected to be released concurrently with
System 7.0 in mid-May.
MC73 is the Motorola 68851 Paged Memory Management Unit, commonly known as
a PMMU. The PMMU is required in order to run System 7.0 VM on a standard
Mac II. With a PMMU, the Mac II is fully compatible with standard VM
virtual memory, but still needs MODE32 to operate physical or virtual
memory in 32-bit mode. The original 68020-based Mac II incorporated a
motherboard socket specifically designed for this memory coprocessor.
Ironically, the more recent 68020-based Mac LC is not able to take
advantage of this upgrade as it lacks the necessary motherboard socket.
The name MC73 refers to the fact that the PMMU is the current MC68851RC16A
Mask 73 version, the only version known to be fully compatible with all of
the Macintosh Operating System. MC73 also includes a 3M disposable
grounding strap and a detailed installation manual. The product has a list
price of $179, carries a 90-day warranty, and is shipping now. Connectix
designs, manufacturers, distributes, and publishes innovative products for
the Macintosh family of computers. For more information call Connectix
Corporation in Menlo Park, California, at (800) 950-5880, fax (415)
324-2958, or AppleLink CONNECTIX.
###
(Disclaimer - this posting has NOTHING to do with Radius, but was posted as
a service to Usenet. This is the original press release as received direct
from Connectix, posted with their full knowledge and consent.)
--
----- Steve Lemke, KC6QDT - Software Engineering, Radius Inc., San Jose -----
----- Reply to: lemke@radius.com -- U.C. Santa Barbara ECE Class of '89 -----
----- "I'm not a UNIX wizard, but I play the Postmaster at radius.com." -----patten@uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Brian Michael Patten) (05/09/91)
In article <1454@radius.com> radius!lemke@apple.com (Steve Lemke) writes: > >Connectix ANNOUNCES MODE32 and MC73 > >Menlo Park, California, April 30, 1991 -- Connectix Corporation today >announced two new products that offer Mac-II class systems complete >compatibility with the powerful memory features of System 7.0. MODE32 is a >software utility that enables Mac II, IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 systems to run >in standard System 7 32-bit mode in the same manner as the more recent Mac >II-family systems. MC73 is the PMMU memory coprocessor needed to run Apple >VM or Connectix Virtual on the original Mac II. > Oh great, is this Apple's way out of getting up-to-date ROM SIMMs into the IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 and drumming up business for the third party developers in the process? Yet another INIT for my already huge System Folder. With all the patches we need to run the current operating system, and those we will need for System 7, I would guess that IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 owners are going to need at least 3Mbytes of RAM just to run our operating systems and an application rather than the standard 2Mbytes. Yes, I'm exaggerating a bit here. But didn't Apple exaggerate a little when they sold us machines that they claimed would address 128Mbytes of RAM instead of the 14Mbytes it could really access? Brian *************************************************************************** patten@uhunix.uhcc.hawaii.edu "McIntosh Jr. The Power to Institute for Astronomy Crush the Other Kids" University of Hawaii at Manoa SNL Mock Commercial ***************************************************************************
fdm@WLV.IMSD.CONTEL.COM (Frank D. Malczewski) (05/10/91)
In article <12930@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu> patten@uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Brian Michael Patten) writes: || || [quote from Connectix ANNOUNCES MODE32 and MC73] || | |Oh great, is this Apple's way out of getting up-to-date ROM SIMMs into |the IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 and drumming up business for the third party you forgot the MacII... |developers in the process? Yet another INIT for my already |huge System Folder. With all the patches we need to run the current |operating system, and those we will need for System 7, I would guess |that IIx, IIcx, and SE/30 owners are going to need at least 3Mbytes you forgot the MacII, again... |of RAM just to run our operating systems and an application rather |than the standard 2Mbytes. I definitely agree with this (with the exceptions noted above ;-) |Yes, I'm exaggerating a bit here. But didn't Apple exaggerate a little |when they sold us machines that they claimed would address 128Mbytes |of RAM instead of the 14Mbytes it could really access? | That's nothing. Apple claimed that the Mac II would be able to address up to 2GB of RAM (when mounted in the NuBus slots); it's right there in black and white in its user's manual. At least one advertising brochure for the II indicated that up to 4GB of virtual memory could be addressed. To my dismay, however, there was never any official indication that anything beyond 1MB SIMMs could be used in the motherboard's SIMM slots (although I've not been through all of my boxes yet...). Just thought that some of the facts about the Mac II should surface, as most of the attention seems to be on the other 3 non-"32 bit clean" 32-bit Macs. --Frank Malczewski (fdm@wlv.imsd.contel.com)