billy@tcom.stc.co.uk (Billy Khan) (05/17/91)
Greetings All, Hope someone can help. I own an Amiga A500 with various bits and bobs( 2 drives, printer, 1/2meg upgrade). I am interested in buying a PC emulator that has recently been advertised for it. I would like to know just how compatable it is ie. Can I run IBM software using my drive How fast is it. Can I play VGA games (eg Xenon2) Can I use my drive to read and write, then use that disc on a PC How much is it Can I turn it off once installed in my machine. Will I be able to upgrade it (ie if only cga can I upgrade to vga) will I be able to get all the amiga sound facilities while using PC software Anything else which you would like to add. Many thanx in advance. Billy. The TURBO-SWIFTER.
algoa@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (Gregory Bowers) (05/18/91)
billy@tcom.stc.co.uk (Billy Khan) writes: >Hope someone can help. >I own an Amiga A500 with various bits and bobs( 2 drives, printer, 1/2meg >upgrade). I am interested in buying a PC emulator that has recently been >advertised for it. I would like to know just how compatable it is ie. There are 2 that I can think of, the KCS {Something} and the ATOnce. They should run practically everything that conforms to their Specs ie CGA. >Can I run IBM software using my drive I believe they use your 3 1/2 drives. >How fast is it. The ATOnce has a 7.2MHZ 286, rather slow for an IBM. I'd say a 12MHZ is the useful minumum for an IBM. Even then simple scrolling jerks like crazy in VGA. >Can I play VGA games (eg Xenon2) Sorry, none of them support more than CGA. Anyway, while I haven't seen Xenon 2 on the PC I'm sure it's better suited to the Amiga. Arcade games usually look stiff, jerky, and not much fun on IBMs. The Sims are generally pretty good, like Jetfighter 2, the 256 colors help, but your need a 25MHZ 386 to really enjoy the game. Anyway, since you're limited to CGA you WILL NOT have any fun playing games on it. Believe me CGA is useless in graphics mode (Color/Graphics Adapter: now we know. It means Color OR Graphics, but not both, unless you call black, white, cyan and magenta colors). >Can I use my drive to read and write, then use that disc on a PC Don't know for sure, but I'd guess that's the way they do it. I can't see much use in doing all the PC emulation with Amiga disk format. >How much is it Look in Amiga Format for a mail order place. That'll give you an idea. >Can I turn it off once installed in my machine. I should think so. The ATOnce works as a process under AmigaDOS, so you would have to start it. >Will I be able to upgrade it (ie if only cga can I upgrade to vga) Don't know. They don't have VGA yet, they might be working on one, but they may need to use a couple of megs of RAM to do the emulation. Call them and find out. >will I be able to get all the amiga sound facilities while using PC software If you mean, will it emulate an Adlib, I'd eat my mouse if they have any more than regular PC beeps, if that. Since the ATOnce can run at the same time as your Amiga (I think) then you should still have you amiga sound. >Anything else which you would like to add. Yes. Make sure you look at one first, at least a comparable PC. CGA is useless except for applications that don't need any fancy hi res stuff. But more and more useful stuff wants at least EGA. Amiga is die beste! 'n IBM is 'n rekenaar? Die Mac is net 'n vrot appel! Pacific Division Champs --- Watch this space for Blazer playoff updates! Beat Seattle 3-2 Beat Utah 4-1 Portland Trailblazers 3 L.A. Lakers 0 ! algoa@eecs.cs.pdx.edu Portland TrailBlazers 63-19 and in the playoffs!