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From: chucks@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Erik Funkenbusch)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc
Subject: Re: WB2.0 for non-A3000
Message-ID: <3987@orbit.cts.com>
Date: 4 Feb 91 00:25:04 GMT
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Organization: People-Net [pnet51], Minneapolis, MN.
Lines: 49

peter@stca77.stc.oz (Peter Jeremy) writes:
>There has been a lot of smoke and heat generated in the net regarding the
>(lack of) WB2.0 for machines other than the A3000.  One question I haven't
>seen asked (or answered) is why can't the existing WB2.0 be used on the
>A500/A1000/A2000?
>
>The only problems I can think of are:
>Commodore Marketing - this is the most likely.
>
>Contains 68030 specific code - Given that AmigaDOS has always supported
>multiple CPU's (it supported 680[012]0 from day 0), I find it difficult to
>believe that WB2.0 has been written specifically for the 68030.  It is
>(barely) possible that the current version was compiled for a 680[23]0,
>but this is just a matter of re-compiling with a different flag specified.
>
>CATS are waiting for a real 68040 so they can test the 68040 support - this
>is possible, but only explains why it is still `beta' rather than a final
>release.
>
>WB2.0 assumes the A3000 ECS chipset - I understood that the new chips were
>compatible with the existing chips (and I think that the only difference
>between the B2000 and A3000 is Denise anyway).  The code needs to start in
>one of the compatible modes in any case (there may not be an enhanced
>monitor attached).  It is possible that the drivers don't have sanity checking
>code to ensure that programs don't request modes that are not available in
>the hardware, but this would only affect programs that tried to use graphics
>modes that weren't available.
>
>Would one of the keepers of the AmigaDOS like to comment?
>
>Anyone for `raw cold fish' :-)?
Hmm.. I don't know where you get your info from but commodore has always said
that 2.0 would be available for 2000's when it is finally released to ROM.  As
for 500's well, from what i understand it is still up in the air if it will
even be available for 500's.  marketing? i don't know.  possibly since keeping
the 500 1.3 compatible would make it much more compatible for games, which is
what most 500 owners do the most of.  but rest assured the 2.0 will be
available for 2000 owners.

>-- 
>Peter Jeremy (VK2PJ)         peter@stca77.stc.oz.AU
>Alcatel STC Australia        ...!uunet!stca77.stc.oz!peter
>240 Wyndham St               peter%stca77.stc.oz@uunet.UU.NET
>ALEXANDRIA  NSW  2015


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