canoyk@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (Kevin Canoy) (04/09/91)
[ Last time I got an announcement from Kevin, he was just passing ] [ it on from Supra's marketing director. Instead of e-mailing him, ] [ you should just call the phone numbers listed in this message if ] [ you have questions about any of these products. ] [ -Dan ] Supra Introduces New Amiga Products at AmigaWorld Expo March 1991 AmigaWorld Expo, New York, NY - Supra Corporation, a leading manufacturer of Amiga peripherals, will be introducing several exciting new products at the AmigaWorld Expo starting March 15th. The new introductions will add to Supra's full line of powerful, yet economical expansion devices for Amiga computers. The new products include an external RAM board for the Amiga 500 computer and three new modems featuring data compression and error correction protocols. In addition, both the SupraDrive Floppy Disk Drive and Supra's hard disk software have been enhanced. SupraRam 500RX The SupraRam 500RX is 1/2-8MB of external FAST expansion RAM that lets the Amiga 500 user run larger and more sophisticated programs and create large, very fast RAM disks. The RAM board fits inside a sleek, compact case- designed to match the Amiga 500 - that easily plugs onto the computer's expansion port. And the SupraRam 500RX also features an Amiga bus pass-through that allows the user to connect additional devices (such as the Commodore A590). This feature is currently unique to Supra's products due to the difficulty in engineering and production. In case the user wants to connect more Amiga bus devices than his computer can power, the 500RX has the flexibility to easily add an optional external power supply. The 500RX is also easy to expand, so the user can start with a small amount of RAM and add more as his needs and budget allow. The 1/2, 1, and 2MB configurations use 256K x 4 ZIP DRAM, and the 2, 4, and 8MB configurations use 1Mb x 4 ZIP DRAM. (Both use 120 nanosecond or faster chips.) The RAM can easily be disabled by flipping the switch on the back of the 500RX case for use with any software that is incompatible with additional FAST RAM. For maximum performance, the SupraRam 500RX is a four-layer board, which reduces noise and improves reliability. It uses zero wait states and hidden refresh for optimal speed, and features a test mode and diagnostic software to simplify troubleshooting. The 500RX comes with a one year warranty, and (like all Supra products) is made in the U.S.A. New SupraModems Feature MNP 2P5 and CCITT V.42bis Supra has also started shipping the newest additions to its family of high quality, low cost modems: the SupraModem 2400 Plus*, the SupraModem 2400zi Plus*, and the SupraModem 2400 MNP*. The SupraModem 2400 Plus features both Microcom Network Protocol (MNP) classes 2-5 and CCITT V.42bis, the international standard for error-correcting, data compressing modems. With these protocols, the user can get up to 9600 bps, error-free throughput when communicating with other V.42bis modems, and up to 4800 bps, error-free throughput when communicating with other MNP 5 modems. The external SupraModem 2400 Plus works with virtually any computer and retails for $239.95. The SupraModem 2400zi Plus , an internal version for Amiga 2000 and 3000 computers, will start shipping in April. This modem fits into any Amiga slot and allows up to five different modems to be used simultaneously - running the same, or different, programs. This model retails for $229.95 and includes A-Talk III* telecommunications software. The SupraModem 2400 MNP, featuring MNP 2P5, offers a less expensive path to error correction and data compression. For $199.95, the user gets up to 4800 bps error-free throughput when communicating with another MNP 5 modem. Then as the user's needs and budget requires, this modem can be upgraded for only $40 more to the capabilities of the SupraModem 2400 Plus. Like the SupraModem 2400 Plus, the SupraModem 2400 MNP works with virtually any computer. With all of these modems, users simply set their terminals to 9600 bps and then mostly forget about rates and protocols. The SupraModem automatically determines what kind of modem is at the other end of the phone line - V.42bis, MNP, 9600, 2400, 1200, or 300 bps - and then adjusts its rate and protocol for optimal communication with the other modem. All Supramodems feature a five year limited warranty, Hayes compatibility, asynchronous and synchronous operation, compatibility with most popular telecommunications software, Bell 103 / 212A and CCITT V.21 / V.22 / V.22bis protocols, autoanswer/autodial (tone or pulse), two modular phone jacks, adjustable-volume speaker, and made in the U.S.A. The internal modem comes with everything the user needs, and the external modems come with everything the user needs except telecommunications software and an RS-232C cable to connect the modem to the computer. Supra is also offering existing SupraModem owners various ways to upgrade to the new SupraModem 2400 Plus or SupraModem 2400 MNP. You can call their Sales Department at 1-800-727-8772 or 503-967-9075 for more information. All that's needed to use an external SupraModem is a computer (or terminal) with an RS-232C interface, communications software, and a cable to connect the modem to the computer. Everything else is included: the modem, operator's manual, quick-reference card, power adapter, and telephone cable. SupraDrive Floppy Disk Drive Gets Virus Protection and Noise Reduction The SupraDrive Floppy Disk Drive has been enhanced to include boot block virus protection and "anti-click" noise reduction. The virus protection feature keeps viruses from secretly writing to a floppy disk's track 0 - eliminating one of the most frequent ways that viruses spread. This protection can be temporarily disabled to allow disk formatting and copying. The noise reduction feature eliminates the annoying clicking sound commonly heard from most brands of Amiga floppy disk drives. The SupraDrive Floppy Disk Drive remains at $149.95 and includes a one year warranty. SupraDrive Hard Disk Software Gets Faster, "Smarter," More Sophisticated Supra's proprietary hard disk formatting and utility software is also undergoing changes. The new software features a faster driver that features better error handling, improved multitasking performance, and full support for Commodore's Rigid Disk Block (RDB) specification - which allows devices like streaming tapes or CD-ROM drives or new drives not specifically listed in the program to be used. Supra has also moved their complete autobooting driver software to a ROM on their host interfaces. This allows any previously formatted drive that follows the RDB spec (such as from another manufacturer) to be directly usable from Supra's SCSI interface without reformatting. In addition, the SupraMount program which was formerly required to mount drives has been eliminated. Supra Corporation Supra Corporation, based in Albany, Oregon, has been providing personal computer users with high-quality, low-cost peripherals since 1985. In addition to manufacturing a complete line of modems, Supra makes hard disk systems, memory expansion boards, and similar peripherals for Amiga and Atari ST computers. Additional modems and Amiga products are scheduled for release in mid-1991. -- Please see monthly postings for the disclaimer, the introduction, the charter, and submission instructions. Comments to zerkle@iris.eecs.ucdavis.edu. ALL SUBMISSIONS TO announce@iris.eecs.ucdavis.edu (don't auto-post).