Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!wuarchive!udel!mmdf
From: BARRETT%FOREST.ECIL.IASTATE.EDU@cunyvm.cuny.edu (Marc Barrett)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Constructive Question
Message-ID: <16450@snow-white.udel.EDU>
Date: 11 Apr 90 04:03:43 GMT
Sender: mmdf@udel.EDU
Lines: 28


   Many people are saying that they wish there were more constructive
questions around here.  Well, here is a constructive question to get
one started...

   does anyone know whether or not the A2360 ("Lowell") video card
has the ability to accomplish such things as palette-switching
(on-the-fly between scanlines) or HAM modes?  I was told be someone
(probably not here, though) that this card can emulate (in software)
the current Amiga chipset.

   If this card can do this, this may be Commodore's way out of the
fix that they've found themselves in with the now-far-superior video
capabilities of the Apple 8/24GC video card.  If the A2360 can
accomplish a normal 320x200 6-bitplane HAM mode, then it should
also be able to accomplish a 1024x768 8-bitplane "Extended HAM" mode
(262,144 colors at once!).  If the card can switch palettes between
scanlines (A LA Dynamic HiRes) then it could display approx. 200,000
colors at once (256 colors per line * 768 lines).  If it can do
both, Apple would be in deep trouble!

   However, there are a LOT of 'IF's here.  I hope it has these
capabilities, but I haven't heard anything about it being able
to do so.  If it doesn't, then I renew my call for Commodore to
bring out some serious video hardware, because it is needed.


                                  -MB-