rhyde@ucrmath.ucr.edu (randy hyde) (12/30/90)
ACP (Advanced Computer Products) is blowing out some AST video digitizers for the Apple II GS for $99. I seem to remember there were some problems with these cards (incompatible with certain memory cards [like my Orange Micro]). Any comments? Is this a good price for an "orphan" product? Anybody else want one? *** Randy Hyde
MQUINN@UTCVM.BITNET (01/05/91)
On Sat, 29 Dec 90 20:22:17 GMT randy hyde said: >ACP (Advanced Computer Products) is blowing out some AST video >digitizers for the Apple II GS for $99. I seem to remember there >were some problems with these cards (incompatible with certain >memory cards [like my Orange Micro]). Any comments? Is this >a good price for an "orphan" product? Anybody else want one? >*** Randy Hyde That's an INCREDIBLE PRICE for that thing!!!! I've had one since early '88 and I LOVE IT! It was worth EVERY CENT I put into it ($220 at the time). $220 would STILL be a good price for it! It -DID/DOES- have it problems though. It IS incompatible with certain memory cards. If the image coming in is too bright, the picture bends to the right and you get a big black blotch on the left. It's good point are: -it digitizes in BW at 15 frames per second. -in the manual they call this "live" and NOT 'real time'. -color digitizing at about 1 frame per second. -color not available in 640 mode, but black and white is. -You can have 'live' video on you screen. -you can have 'live' NEGATIVE video. -you can change the black and white shades to any color you want and make some really funky looking pictures WHILE it's digitizing. -can digitize in BW, color dither, or pallette adjust. Look in the December (I -THINK- that's the one) of GS+ for my article on making the most of your video digitizer. ---------------------------------------- Michael J. Quinn University of Tennessee at Chattanooga BITNET-- mquinn@utcvm pro-line-- mquinn@pro-gsplus.cts.com
campbellb@viking.UUCP (Brian Campbell) (01/08/91)
AST no longer makes the card, and some other company took over the rights to it and upgraded. They had an upgrade offer for original owners of the AST card. I took advantage of it, and it solved the problems I had with the original hardware and software (e.g the black left margin in bright pictures that the prevous article mentioned). The color digitizing was particularly improved. I think that I heard that a third company now has the rights to it. If so, do they still offer the upgrade? The second company promised a future software release for the card with enhancements, which I have not heard anything about.
jonah@crl.ucsd.edu (Jonah Stich) (01/10/91)
In article <4f116957.f759@viking.UUCP> campbellb@viking.UUCP (Brian Campbell) writes: > >AST no longer makes the card, and some other company took over the rights to it >and upgraded. They had an upgrade offer for original owners of the AST card. >I took advantage of it, and it solved the problems I had with the original >hardware and software (e.g the black left margin in bright pictures that the >prevous article mentioned). The color digitizing was particularly improved. >I think that I heard that a third company now has the rights to it. If so, >do they still offer the upgrade? The second company promised a future software >release for the card with enhancements, which I have not heard anything about. Yup, the card is now handled by a comppany called New Concepts, inc. Supposedly they renamed it the Enhanced VisionPlus. You can order it through almost all of the mail order places in inCider. Most of them still call it the Visionary, though. They're the exact same thing as far as I can tell... As for new software, it's called Allison, and it was released about a month ago (at the last AppleFest). It is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better than the 'transitional' software. The color algorithms are EXCELLENT (which is fitting, because the prrogram was written by Excellent software.... :). If you're in the market for a digitizer, this is the one to get. I just got mine a few days ago and was AMAZED at how neat it is! Jonah
mcgu5464@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Ronald J Mcguire) (01/11/91)
In article <8795@uwm.edu> mcgu5464@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Ronald J Mcguire) writes: >In article <15354@sdcc6.ucsd.edu> jonah@crl.ucsd.edu (Jonah Stich) writes: >>Yup, the card is now handled by a comppany called New Concepts, inc. Supposedly >>they renamed it the Enhanced VisionPlus. You can order it through almost all >>of the mail order places in inCider. Most of them still call it the Visionary, >>though. They're the exact same thing as far as I can tell... OK, is this "enhanced visonplus" the same one that was advertised as $99? and does it do color dumps or is it just the B&W version? >>because the prrogram was written by Excellent software.... :). If you're >>in the market for a digitizer, this is the one to get. I just got mine a few >>days ago and was AMAZED at how neat it is! Jonah, I assume it was you and Scott Gentry who wrote Allison? What would you suggest as a reasonable price, and where to get it? >>Jonah >Dan Gross Dan Gross
MQUINN@UTCVM.BITNET (01/11/91)
On Thu, 10 Jan 91 20:13:44 GMT <info-apple-request@APPLE.COM> said: > >OK, is this "enhanced visonplus" the same one that was advertised as $99? >and does it do color dumps or is it just the B&W version? No. The $99 deal was on the OLD, UNENHANCED VisionPlus... the ORIGINAL VisionPlus. It DOES do color digitizing. All of them do (all versions of the VisionPlus) although, the software for the original one didn't handle color very well, if you knew what you were doing, you could get DECENT, but not GREAT color pictures with it. $99 is a GREAT price for that! I think the upgrade to the new VisionPlus is about $95, so it would be cheaper to get the $99 and upgrade than getting the new one to begin with... assuming I'm remembering the prices right: VisionPlus...$99 upgrade......$95 NEW VP.......$200???? On the other hand, mail order prices for the new VP would probably be cheaper. >Dan Gross ---------------------------------------- Michael J. Quinn University of Tennessee at Chattanooga BITNET-- mquinn@utcvm pro-line-- mquinn@pro-gsplus.cts.com
mcgu5464@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Ronald J Mcguire) (01/11/91)
In article <9101102358.AA15914@apple.com> MQUINN@UTCVM.BITNET writes: >On Thu, 10 Jan 91 20:13:44 GMT <info-apple-request@APPLE.COM> said: >>OK, is this "enhanced visonplus" the same one that was advertised as $99? >>and does it do color dumps or is it just the B&W version? >No. The $99 deal was on the OLD, UNENHANCED VisionPlus... the ORIGINAL >VisionPlus. It DOES do color digitizing. All of them do (all versions of >the VisionPlus) although, the software for the original one didn't handle >color very well, if you knew what you were doing, you could get DECENT, but >not GREAT color pictures with it. Well, I plan on ordering this _today_ (friday) so thats why I needed to know... I take it then that Allison does not run on the original VisionPlus? What I really *NEED* is great B&W, color is a bonus for other things. (By B&W I mean a color picture to B&W... Not B&W pictures) >$99 is a GREAT price for that! I think the upgrade to the new VisionPlus >is about $95, so it would be cheaper to get the $99 and upgrade than getting >the new one to begin with... assuming I'm remembering the prices right: >VisionPlus...$99 >upgrade......$95 >NEW VP.......$200???? Non MO I can get the enhanced VP for about $220 at a local shop. I don't have $220. How old is the price on the upgrade, and how easy is it to install? I suppose that I could wait on the upgrade 'til it came down in price, and get the V+ now... What is everyones best advice? Should I or shouldn't I? >>Dan Gross >---------------------------------------- > Michael J. Quinn > University of Tennessee at Chattanooga > BITNET-- mquinn@utcvm > pro-line-- mquinn@pro-gsplus.cts.com Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: Video Capture card Summary: Expires: References: <info-apple-request@APPLE.COM> <9101102358.AA15914@apple.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Keywords:
scottg@gnh-starport.cts.com (Scott Gentry) (01/12/91)
In a recent post, Brian Campbell writes, "AST no longer makes the card, and some other company took over the rights to it and upgraded. They had an upgrade offer for original owners of the AST card. I took advantage of it, and it solved the problems I had with the original hardware and software (e.g the black left margin in bright pictures that the prevous article mentioned). The color digitizing was particularly improved. I think that I heard that a third company now has the rights to it. If so, do they still offer the upgrade? The second company promised a future software release for the card with enhancements, which I have not heard anything about. " The company that purchased the rights is Silicon and Software. They, in turn had a marketing deal with Virtual Realities. Virtual Realities folded. New Concepts picked up the product. The new software is currently available from New Concepts. It's called Allison. I'm a co-author. In the A2 Binaries, there is a demo of the software. Upgrades to the existing AST Vision Plus are available from New Concepts. I think I posted complete information earlier today, but I'm not sure it was accepted. If it doesn't show up, Email me and I'll let you know. In fact, I'd rather handle this via Email, since answering all this stuff on the net might take on the appearance of an advertisement. I'm available at any of the addresses listed in my .signature, however, I'd prefer if you used: uunet!ingr!ne1300!brnded!scott. The above address will land right on my workstation in my office and is a lot more accessable for me. To those who have asked about the $99 boards being offered, I'd jump on it if you're at all interested in upgrading. It's a darn good price. _______________________________________________________________________________ | Scott Gentry * ALPE AFL Scott * I never said that!| | 2051 Mercator Drive * GEnie W.GENTRY * But you never | | Reston, VA 22091 * UUCP: uunet!ingr!ne1300! * know! | | (703) 264-5652 * brnded!scott * Do You? | |_____________________________________________________________________________|