Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!topaz.rutgers.edu!wilmott
From: wilmott@topaz.rutgers.edu (Ray Wilmott)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: 256k related questions
Keywords: video output and software
Message-ID: <Sep.10.20.39.53.1989.13502@topaz.rutgers.edu>
Date: 11 Sep 89 00:39:55 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 38


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Hello fellow Atari enthusiasts! This past weekend, while attending
a computer show, I came into a good deal. A stand was selling Atari
800xl's refurbished and in-the-box-with-everything for $35. I ended
up saying "why not...I'll hold onto it as a backup in case mine
happens to die on me". Once I got it home and did a little inspection
of the unit, I discovered that not only did it look new and work
great, but it has a 256k Rambo installed in it. This made my day
since I've thought about having one installed in my old 800xl, but
never did! 2 questions...

1) The video output quality. The 256k machine has a "softer"
picture than my old 64k machine...the colors are not as vivid.
Not that I think anything can be done about this, but out of
curiousity; is the likely reason just that the new machine has
a lower quality video circuit (it's a newer production run than
my old one), or is the slight "washing-out" of colors a result
of the greater power demand placed upon the transformer by
the upgrade?

2) Software. Up 'til now, I've more or less ignored software
designed to use memory beyond the 64k mark. Now that I've got
some extra to play with, I'd like to know exactly which titles
work only on 128k+ machines, or those that offer improved performance
with more memory. I am interested in hearing about ANY type of
software, from games to demo's to utilities to applications;
whether they be commercial, shareware or PD.
Probably the thing I would like to find MOST is a word processor
that takes advantage of extra memory and allows editing of larger
documents. (up 'til now, Textwiz was my choice with about a 24k
buffer...can I assume I can do better now?)

			-Ray

wilmott@topaz.rutgers.edu
(alt:  @althea.att.com)