kentd@FtCollins.NCR.com (Kent.Dalton) (04/12/91)
Hello World,
Through the combined magic of US federal income tax returns and the used
amiga market, I was able to pick up a complete A1000 system for about
half the cost of the average MSDOS Windows application. :^) :^)
I've read the faq posted comp.sys.amiga.intro... and have some additional
questions (some of which might make nice additions to the faq).
If you know the answers to any of these questions, please take a few
minutes of your time and help a new user out. Replies can be posted here
or sent via email. If I get a large amount of email and others are
interested, I'll summarize.
Software:
=========
1. Are there any PD or shareware programs that are considered 'must-haves'.
Specifically: Paint programs, Word Processing, Spreadsheet, DataBase
C compilers, and o' course games :^)
2. Is mg2a (microGNUemacs) available for the amiga? I use gnu emacs at work
and mg2a is the most GNU compatible of the 'small' emaxen. If it's
not available, what other small emacs compatibles are available (ftp'able)?
3. What's the best way to get booted up on Amiga software development.
i.e.: what references do you find indispensible, especially for
things that are unique to the Amiga and it's OS.
I have extensive C experience under UNIX, VMS, and non-Amiga micros.
Hardware:
=========
1. I have a 30Mb RLL drive mech that's currently unused. What is required
to get this thing running with an A1000? I'd like a simple 3rd party
solution. I figure I probably need some kind of host adapter and
SCSI controller. If anyone has a used solution for sale definitely
let me know!
2. Are there any 'PD' hardware hacks I can do myself? Like a text file
explaining a DIY RAM upgrade or other stuff like that?
3. What expansion/upgrade options are available for the A1000? (I know it's
generally not compatible with hardware expansions for the 500/2000.)
If you have experience with *any* A1000 hardware upgrades please share your
experiences: how they performed, how difficult they were to install, etc.
Here are some A1000 products which I've seen advertised in Amiga mags:
1. Kwikstart - allows installation of 1.3 or 2.0 ROMS
2. Rejuvenator 1000 - Allows use of ECS, extra 1Mb RAM, Kickstart ROMS. I'm
especially interested in info on this.
3. CSA Turbo Amiga - I saw one of these advertised used on the net. It said
it added Zorro II slots (same as A2000, right?), this means you
buy A2000 cards and just plug 'em in and go right?
4. Processor upgrades/accelerators - which ones are A1000 compatible?
I've heard of Sapphire, MidgetRacer, and AdSpeed.
5. Ram expansions: Insider II, minimegs, others... Some say internal,
some say external, what's the difference?
6. I've heard that the A1000 can be made compatible with A500 expansion
bus. Is this true?
How compatible are these upgrades with one another? For example, can I
install an Insider II *and* rejuvenator?
All replies/followups greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading,
KD
--
/**************************************************************************/
/* Kent Dalton * EMail: Kent.Dalton@FtCollins.NCR.COM */
/* NCR Microelectronics * CIS: 72320,3306 */
/* 2001 Danfield Ct. MS470A * */
/* Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 * (303) 223-5100 X-319 */
/**************************************************************************/
Fortune:
Jone's Law:
The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone
to blame it on.al158305@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx (Gustavo Cordova Avila) (04/14/91)
kentd@FtCollins.NCR.com (Kent.Dalton) writes: >Hardware: >========= > >1. I have a 30Mb RLL drive mech that's currently unused. What is required > to get this thing running with an A1000? I'd like a simple 3rd party > solution. I figure I probably need some kind of host adapter and > SCSI controller. If anyone has a used solution for sale definitely > let me know! Hmmm... If you plan to connect it to your machine via a scsi controller than get yourself an adaptec a4000/a5000 [?], a little thingy that connects an mfm/rll drive to an scsi controller. [not 100% sure about the part#] >2. Are there any 'PD' hardware hacks I can do myself? Like a text file > explaining a DIY RAM upgrade or other stuff like that? YUP! One thing that's available and quite popular is the lucas/frances hack, lucas is a 16mhz 68020/881 accelerator board that you build, and frances is a 4 mb 32bit expansion ram for lucas. If you want more info on the board, there's a file on ab20.larc.nasa.gov called '/amiga/hardware/lucas.lzh' which contains info about the beast. I don't know if the author of the lucas/frances pair is still around. FOR EVERYBODY ELSE: Has anybody gotten hold of Brad Fowles? Then, there's also in the same directory the amscsi.lzh file, which detailes how to make your own scsi interface, but it doesn't have a driver yet; it's supposed to have also a ram expansion module, but the author hasen't been able to finish that yet. Also, there's a file called 'bynery.zoo' which talks about building your own IBM HD controller adaptor, but I don't know more about it. If you have any trouble give me a ring. >3. What expansion/upgrade options are available for the A1000? (I know it's > generally not compatible with hardware expansions for the 500/2000.) > If you have experience with *any* A1000 hardware upgrades please share your > experiences: how they performed, how difficult they were to install, etc. Hmmm.. there's still available the insider/spirit boards, also, spirit tech. also sells an a2000 memory board with an a500/a1000 expansion slot. ALSO, a guy some posts ago said he had plugged in a GVP S2 a500 harddisk/memory expansion into his a1000, the 1000 expansion slot is supposed to be identical to the a500 one, only that rotated 180deg HORIZONTALLY. > 1. Kwikstart - allows installation of 1.3 or 2.0 ROMS Hmmm... I'd get one of those just to eliminate all the bus noise in my machine. > 2. Rejuvenator 1000 - Allows use of ECS, extra 1Mb RAM, Kickstart ROMS. I'm > especially interested in info on this. That's a really nice one. I'd get one but I still haven't scrapped up all the money :) > 3. CSA Turbo Amiga - I saw one of these advertised used on the net. It said > it added Zorro II slots (same as A2000, right?), this means you > buy A2000 cards and just plug 'em in and go right? That hasen't been commercially available for a long time I think, although I do have the amigawhirled mag where it was mentioned in the what's new column, it also had a cpu slot and another two slots for STATIC MEM boards. You could connect an '020/'881 thing and make it SCREAM.. [I think] :) > 4. Processor upgrades/accelerators - which ones are A1000 compatible? > I've heard of Sapphire, MidgetRacer, and AdSpeed. Hmmm... I think they're all compatible. The Sapphire is advertized for the 500 and 1000, I *think* that the AdSpeed is for all machines, and definitely the MR is for both the 500 and the 1000. Although I like more the MMR ;^) > > 5. Ram expansions: Insider II, minimegs, others... Some say internal, > some say external, what's the difference? Insider II, I think it only takes 1.5 megs, internal (plugs in cpu socket, cpu plugs in board). minimegs, goes into the expansion slot, takes up to 2 megs, no passthrough. I think the external ones are less noise prone, besides being easier to install, but then I could be wrong about the noise thing. > > 6. I've heard that the A1000 can be made compatible with A500 expansion > bus. Is this true? I think so. It's supposed to only be rotated 180deg horizontally. Besides, it's WELL known that commodores own HD for the a500 WILL work with the a1000 just by turning it around, I think that the others take into consideration the same signals as commodores, so, at least theoretically, they should work. A RUMOR: A guy said that it's possible to plug an A2000 cpu slot accelerator into the expansion slot of an a1000 or a500, just by changing the gender. Can anybody corroborate this? > How compatible are these upgrades with one another? For example, can I > install an Insider II *and* rejuvenator? I think that the rejuvinator will work with the insider, the designer wanted it to be compatible with internal expansion boards. >All replies/followups greatly appreciated. >Thanks for reading, >KD >-- >/**************************************************************************/ >/* Kent Dalton * EMail: Kent.Dalton@FtCollins.NCR.COM */ >/* NCR Microelectronics * CIS: 72320,3306 */ >/* 2001 Danfield Ct. MS470A * */ >/* Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 * (303) 223-5100 X-319 */ >/**************************************************************************/ >Fortune: >Jone's Law: > The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone > to blame it on. -- | Gustavo Cordova Avila | al158305@mtecv2.mty.itesm.mx | | Electronic Systems Engineering | PL158305@tecmtyvm.bitnet | +--------------------------------+------------------------------------+
zerkle@iris.ucdavis.edu (Dan Zerkle) (04/14/91)
In article <KENTD.91Apr12133449@zappa.FtCollins.NCR.com> Kent.Dalton@FtCollins.NCR.com writes: > >Hello World, You've been doing too much C programming. This is not the world. This is a sophisticated AI simulation of a bunch of nerds running around and complaining at each other. Didn't you know that? After all, we had to do SOMETHING with that ILIAC IV. >1. Are there any PD or shareware programs that are considered 'must-haves'. > Specifically: Paint programs, Word Processing, Spreadsheet, DataBase > C compilers, and o' course games :^) Get lharc and zoo. These are file archive/compression systems. There are several others, but these two are the most important. You can use them to unpack archives that you get via ftp or on a Fred Fish disk. If you want a C compiler, get DICE (Dillon's Integrated C Environment). This is on a Fred Fish disk. You'll need to get the genuine Commodore #include files from somewhere, though. >2. Is mg2a (microGNUemacs) available for the amiga? I use gnu emacs at work > and mg2a is the most GNU compatible of the 'small' emaxen. If it's > not available, what other small emacs compatibles are available (ftp'able)? No, you want mg3. It's still beta, but some people like it. I seem to remember it being on a Fred Fish disk. >3. What's the best way to get booted up on Amiga software development. > i.e.: what references do you find indispensible, especially for > things that are unique to the Amiga and it's OS. > I have extensive C experience under UNIX, VMS, and non-Amiga micros. Ha! I knew you'd been doing too much C programming. First use the thing for awhile to get the feel of it. Get a subscription to an Amiga technical magazine (there are several). Then, buy an Amiga ROM KERNAL Reference Manual. There are (again) several of these. The first one you should get is Libraries and Devices. It's blue, paperback, Addison Wesley ISBN 0-201-18187-8. Also, you will need a hard disk to do serious development, or you will be driven mad doing the floppy shuffle. > 1. Kwikstart - allows installation of 1.3 or 2.0 ROMS Considering that the 2.0 ROMS don't exist (in finished form), this is probably not very useful. > 2. Rejuvenator 1000 - Allows use of ECS, extra 1Mb RAM, Kickstart ROMS. I'm > especially interested in info on this. You'll probably want one of these. > 5. Ram expansions: Insider II, minimegs, others... Some say internal, > some say external, what's the difference? There should be a little bay in the front (?) of your 1000 where you can plug in more RAM. That's internal. External RAM generally hooks onto the slot on the right side. Also, there are some hacks by which you can put RAM inside the 1000 in places it doesn't really belong. That's internal, too. Dan Zerkle zerkle@iris.eecs.ucdavis.edu (916) 754-0240 Amiga... Because life is too short for boring computers.
mwm@pa.dec.com (Mike (My Watch Has Windows) Meyer) (04/15/91)
In article <8775@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> zerkle@iris.ucdavis.edu (Dan Zerkle) writes: In article <KENTD.91Apr12133449@zappa.FtCollins.NCR.com> Kent.Dalton@FtCollins.NCR.com writes: >1. Are there any PD or shareware programs that are considered 'must-haves'. > Specifically: Paint programs, Word Processing, Spreadsheet, DataBase > C compilers, and o' course games :^) If you want a C compiler, get DICE (Dillon's Integrated C Environment). This is on a Fred Fish disk. You'll need to get the genuine Commodore #include files from somewhere, though. If you're planning on programming in "Unix mode", you don't need those includes. But that takes all the fun out of the system. You can get the genuine Commodore Includes from Dillon if you buy the registered compiler. That compiler also includes floats. >2. Is mg2a (microGNUemacs) available for the amiga? I use gnu emacs at work > and mg2a is the most GNU compatible of the 'small' emaxen. If it's > not available, what other small emacs compatibles are available (ftp'able)? No, you want mg3. It's still beta, but some people like it. I seem to remember it being on a Fred Fish disk. mg2a is available for the Amiga, and some people still use it. mg3aBeta4 is on disk #352. It includes ARexx support, and was released to make that available before 2.0 (which includes ARexx) hit the streets. FYI, mg was developed on an Amiga. Finally, ARexx is a commercial product. It's cheap (< $50, down to $30 mailorder), and the best money I've ever spent on software. It's a must-have. While it's bundled into 2.0, you may want to get a copy now to get a jump on things. That's also the only way I know of to get the documentation on adding ARexx support to a program. <mike -- My feet are set for dancing, Mike Meyer Won't you turn your music on. mwm@pa.dec.com My heart is like a loaded gun, decwrl!mwm Won't you let the water run.
m0154@tnc.UUCP (GUY GARNETT) (04/16/91)
I also have an A1000, and have done some research in the areas you mention. First of all, get yourself a copy of AC's guide to the Amiga; it is not expensive, and lists the addresses and phone numbers of literally every company that makes Amiga products. My copy is at home, so I can't provide addresses in this post. Software: PD or Shareware "Must-Haves" : I couldn't imagine living without ConMan (freely distributable from William S Hawes; included with the purchase of ARexx or WShell). I also use a screen blanker (QMouse, MachIII, PopCLI, or NewPop, depending on my boot disk). Commercial Software "Must-Haves" : I know you didn't ask about this, but there are a few commercial packages worth shelling out for right away: I wouldn't be without FaccII (ASDG), ARexx, and WShell (William S Hawes). I also have a bunch of productivity applications, but that's a different story. MicroGNUEmacs : I believe it is available (look on Ab20). Software Development : Get one of the commercial or freely distributable compilers out there. Matt Dillon's DICE is a lot better than the "Commercial" products in the beginning of the Amiga. You can also look into GCC (if you have the requisite hard disk and RAM) and Draco (Chris Gray's own language, it compiles fast and will run just fine on a 512k, floppy based system). Commercal products include SAS C, Aztec C, Benchmark Modula-2, and M2Sprint. Hardware: Attaching a IBM MFM or RLL hard-drive (this one should really go on the FAQ): There are three companies which make products to do this. Spririt Tech makes an assembled-and-tested interface, complete with a case and power supply for the drive. Pre'Spect Technics makes a whole line of products, from a bare adapter board up to a product very like the Spirit Tech box. Palomax sells a "kit" of plans and software, and also an assembled (but "naked" - no case or drive enclosure) board. I want to buy the Spirit Tech HDA-506 in the future (like when I get some money). PD Hardware Hacks: Yes, there are some; one of the best sources is back issues of Amazing Computing magazine. Expansion Options: A number of products are still available, but compatibility varies; you should check with the individual manufacturers before you buy. My overall feeling is that the ReJuvenator is a good product (it allows 1Mb Chip RAM, v2.0, and ECS to be installed in the A1000). I prefer my RAM expansions and hard disk interfaces outside of the A1000, so I can plan on installing an acellerator (LUCAS/FRANCES or MegaMidgetRacer) and the Rejuvenator inside. Wildstar