Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!purdue!bu-cs!mirror!ssi3b1!pselver
From: pselver@ssi3b1.zone1.com (Peter Selverstone)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Interlace on Multisync Monitors
Message-ID: <1989Nov3.032037.24321@ssi3b1.zone1.com>
Date: 3 Nov 89 03:20:37 GMT
References: <627@crash.cts.com>
Reply-To: pselver@ssi3b1.UUCP (Peter Selverstone)
Organization: Spy Pond Systems
Lines: 86

In article <627@crash.cts.com> bobl@pro-graphics.cts.com (System Administrator) writes:
>Network Comment: to #4434 by JAGBDCD%PANAM.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu
>
>> I have a question about multisync monitors. Right now I can afford to buy

[Question omitted. Curiously, the response has little to do with the question]

>I don't understand why anybody would even consider buying a FlickerFixer board
>for the outragously high price of about $500 just to stop interlace flicker. 
>It continually amazes me that people want to do this.  Interlace flicker is
>normal and the interlace feature is actually intentional.  It is a requirement
>of NTSC video and shouldn't be non-interlace in the first place.
>
>In the second place, you can wait a few months when Commodore releases it's
>complete ECS (or at least the Denise) and get the "Productivity Mode" display
>of 640x400 non-interlace and pay alot less than the $500.00 the FlickerFixer
>costs.
>
>I have a prototype ECS and combined with a MultiSync monitor, the display is
>rock solid and clear as can be.  Don't waste your money on a FlickerFixer. 
>Just wait until the Denise is final and released and you will thank the day
>you didn't blow that $500.00!
>
>-- Bob
>
If the poster acquired his prototype Denise and the unreleased
software required to make it function through normal developer
channels, then he should know better than to make these
ill-informed and deceptive statements.

Many thousands of Flicker Fixer users prefer a non-interlace display
on their Amigas.  Commodore has recognised the need for a non-interlace
display in many applications and supplies the board in their bundled
Desktop Publishing System.

In the two years since "non-interlace chips" were first announced
most people have become aware of the following facts:

1. Productivity mode will require the one-meg Agnus, the new Denise
   and version 1.4 of the os.  No dates have been announced, but I
   don't know anyone who expects it to be a "few months".

2. Productivity mode will be limited to 4 colors selected from a palette
   of 64.

3. Bandwidth limitations will cause significant chip memory contention
   when the mode is used with 4 colors. The slowdown will be similar to
   what is currently experienced in 16 color hi-res modes.  To obtain
   performance equivalent to the current 4 color workbench, Productivity
   mode must be limited to 2 colors.

4. The mode will only be compatible with software which runs on the
   workbench or which is revised to make use of Productivity mode screens.

5. The enhanced chips will not improve the quality of current modes.
   Non-interlace modes will operate at 15.75 KHz and will have visible
   scan lines.

6. Because the display will operate at both 15.75 KHz and 31.5 KHz,
   single frequency VGA monitors like the Zenith ZCM-1490 flat screen
   or the Seiko 1430 cannot be used.

7. The sharpness of the display will generally be limited by the
   bandwidth of the Amiga's digital to analog converters. It will
   not be able to exploit the capabilities of many high quality
   monitors.  

Flicker Fixer has been available for almost two years and I think
most people are familiar with its capabilities and reputation,
so I'll skip the commercial. If anyone has not had an opportunity
to use an Amiga with a Flicker Fixer installed, I urge you to try it.

Along with most other third party vendors, I am looking forward to
the release of 1.4 and the enhanced Denise. It will provide an
intermediate cost solution to the problems with the Amiga display
which have limited the Amiga's success in many markets. For some
users, Productivity mode will provide an adequate display,
but I am confident that Flicker Fixer will continue to be the
high-end display system for the Amiga 2000 and 2500.

I should mention that I designed the product for MicroWay.
-- 
Peter Selverstone ...{mit-eddie,pyramid,datacube}!mirror!ssi3b1!pselver
Spy Pond Systems  pselver@ssi3b1.zone1.com
Arlington, MA     BIX:pselverstone   PLINK:pselverst   CIS:72527,2652