jet@karazm.math.uh.edu ("J. Eric Townsend") (04/24/91)
Excerpted from InfoWorld 15Apr91, "Commodore's CDTV Can Read Mac, PC, Amiga CD ROM Discs", by Nic Krohn. CBM has introduced an interactive multimedia CD ROM player for $999. Called CDTV, it attaches to TV sets and reads ISO 9660 CD ROM discs, making it compatible with Mac, PC, Amiga and standard audio CDs. Users can point and click on hotkeys embedded in CDTV-specific applications using an infrared remote control unit or optional trackball. The remote also has regular CD ROM-drive control functions. CDTV supports audio, text, grpahics, animation and video [from another article: includes CD+G and whatever format MIDI data is stored in on audio cds]. Users can add an optional genlocking card to overlay video in a presentation created on an external VCR. CBM also introduced a library of 53 interactive CD ROMS aimed at home market. Cost of authoring CD ROMs using DOS-based PCs remains high ($50,000+), while Amiga based authoring systems (including 600Mbyte drive, indexing and retrieval software and tools for interactive CDs) is available for under $10,000 says Gail Wellington, CBM Director of Special products. CDTV is based on a Motorola 68000 micro, users can add a hard or floppy drive, monitor and keyboard if they want full computer functionality. [probably has an Amiga 500 motherboard inside it, can't wait to open it up and look.] From another source: There should be a CDTV for dedicated use with Amigas (making it cheaper by a few hundred $$$) out "any day now". Also, check for a show called "Computer Chronicles" on your local PBS affiliate, they're supposed to be showing off CDTV... -- J. Eric Townsend - jet@uh.edu - bitnet: jet@UHOU - vox: (713) 749-2120 Skate UNIX or bleed, boyo... (UNIX is a trademark of Unix Systems Laboratories).