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From: lemke@radius.com (Steve Lemke)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Best color monitor and card?
Message-ID: <1330@radius.com>
Date: 10 Sep 90 16:49:26 GMT
References: <313@intuit.intuit.COM> <1990Sep08.134718.18163@ddsw1.MCS.COM>
Distribution: usa
Lines: 57

hammen@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Robert Hammen) writes:

>>I'm thinking of the
>>Radius card that can be upgraded later from 8 bit to 24 bit color just by
>>adding more memory?  Is it any good?  Is there a 24 bit card that is
>>reasonably fast without an accelerator and doesn't cost an arm and a leg?
>>How are these Magnavox monitors that the mail order places are pushing?
>>How about the NEC MacSync?

>The quality of a color monitor is a subjective thing (just like the "touch"
>of a keyboard). In my humble opinion, the Apple 13" RGB is the best in its
>class (notice that you never see any of the other monitor manufacturers claim
>that their monitors are better than the Apple one, just that they're cheaper).

This is entirely true from my experience, too (as far as 13" displays go).
I have an Apple 13", and I have yet to run across another (multisync or not)
13" display that looks better.  Of course, if you think the Apple 13" looks
good, check it out after calibrating it with the Radius PrecisionColor Cali-
brator...

>As far as video cards go: RasterOps (not Radius) has a low-end video card
>that can be upgraded from 8 bits to 24 bits by adding RAM. Apple has one
>like that as well.

I assume you're talking about boards for the Apple 13" here.  Regardless,
let me fill you in on what Radius (currently) offers for 24-bit video:
[Disclaimer:  I work in the Engineering department at Radius.]

The Radius DirectColor/GX board drives the Apple 13" display, and comes in
one configuration:  24-bit with on-board acceleration.  It retails for $1095.
(Compare this to other 24-bit boards, accelerated or not).  In addition, it
also supports NTSC and PAL output timings (though you may need an external
RGB to composite adapter, depending on what you plan to do with the signal).
The DC/GX board supports 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24-bit modes, and the 16-bit
mode supports a 1-bit alpha channel (overlay plane) for use with RadiusTV.

The Radius DirectColor board drives the Radius 19" display, and comes as an
8-bit board that is expandable to 16-bits or 24-bits.  The DC board supports
1, 8, 16, and 24-bit modes, and the 16-bit mode supports a 1-bit alpha channel.

The Radius QuickColor board is a RISC-based QuickDraw accelerator board (and
was the FIRST such board released for the Mac market).  It will accelerate
video boards that support NuBus block transfer, including the Radius Direct-
Color, DirectColor/GX, and the Radius GS/C board (an 8-bit only board for the
19" display).

>I believe you can add an accelator later to the RasterOps
>board. I'd look to pursue that route.

Considering what people are discounting the DirectColor/GX board to, it
is also worth considering, since it INCLUDES 24-bits AND acceleration.

(Not to mention fantastic [unofficial] support over Usenet from various
members of the Radius Engineering deparment.)
-- 
----- Steve Lemke, Engineering Quality Assurance, Radius Inc., San Jose -----
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