Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!usc!ucsd!pacbell.com!att!rutgers!cbmvax!hood
From: hood@cbmvax.commodore.com (Scott Hood)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: A2320 and KS2.0 update
Message-ID: <15824@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Date: 13 Nov 90 15:32:57 GMT
References: <1990Nov2.083908.1102@urz.unibas.ch> <15556@cbmvax.commodore.com> <1239@lehi3b15.csee.Lehigh.EDU> <108475@convex.convex.com>
Reply-To: hood@cbmvax.commodore.com (Scott Hood)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Lines: 67

In article <108475@convex.convex.com> swarren@convex.com (Steve Warren) writes:
>In article <1239@lehi3b15.csee.Lehigh.EDU> glin@lehi3b15.csee.Lehigh.EDU (George Lin [900116]) writes:
>>In article <15556@cbmvax.commodore.com> hood@cbmvax.commodore.com (Scott Hood) writes:
>
>[...patient explanation of why ECS & 2320 do different functions deleted...]
>
>>If this is true, then why do you need the productivity mode since in a
>>previous e-mail, you wrote:
>>"Yes, the A2320 and the A3000 both de-interlace the hi-res 16 colors as well
>> as the HAM modes (4096 at one time)."
>
>Because the ECS and the 2320 (equivalent circuitry on the motherboard) are
>both in the 3000.  But the ECS does not incompass the 2320.  If you buy the
>ECS you get productivity modes.  If you buy the 2320 you get deinterlacing
>of normal interlaced video modes.  These are totally different and disjoint
>screen modes.  Both are included built-in on the 3000.  Neither is included
>in current A2000s, but you can get either or both (ultimately), depending on
>what you want to do with your machine.
>
>Productivity mode is a way to include deinterlaced video in the normal
>Amiga without resorting to the expensive memory and control circuitry on
>a flicker-fixer.  It is probably included in the 3000 for compatibility
>reasons.  Once they start building A2000s with the ECS built-in then you
>(the owner of a new ECS-equipped Amiga) will already have one way to get
>deinterlaced video output.  For you the 2320 will be an enhancement beyond
>the more limited capabilities of the ECS.  ECS will become the base machine,
>and the 2320 will be your option to improve that capability.
>
>If you don't already have the ECS in your non-3000 machine (and who does?)
>then you may just want to get the 2320 and blow off the ECS.  Of course
>then you'll be in the same boat as us 1000 owners with no half-bright mode.
>;^)  (ie, lacking at least one of the video modes of the latest base machine).
>  \
>   (Note smug smiley)
>
>My 1000 didn't melt and run into a puddle of slag on the floor when
>half-bright came out.  I'm sure it won't do it now either.
>
>BTW - Scott Hood, are there any plans (that you can talk about) to do a
>      520 or whatever - a 2320 for the 500?  Maybe just an adapter like
>      Microway sells?
>
>--
>            _.
>--Steve   ._||__      DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own.
>  Warren   v\ *|     ----------------------------------------------
>             V       {uunet,sun}!convex!swarren; swarren@convex.COM

I have thought about just such a beast but it would be more expensive
than the A2320 is today due to the A/D, power supply, casework, etc.  I
am not so sure that the average A500 user would be so willing to pay fo
for this and a multisync monitor as well.  If someone is that interested
in using their A500 machine for productivity applications then the ECS
might be the better (less expensive) approach.  Thus, it has been
discussed and probably will not be pursued.  This might be a very good
third party problem to solve, hint, hint!!  Please do not send me
massive email to the effect "we want an A500 version of the A2320!", I
need to get some work done :-).

Scott Hood
P.S. By the way, that was a very good answer Steve!

-- 
--
Scott Hood, Hardware Design Engineer (A3000 Crew),  Commodore-Amiga, Inc.
   {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!hood   hood@cbmvax.cbm.commodore.com
  "The views expressed here are not necessarily those of my employer!"