Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!orca!javelin.es.com!pashdown
From: pashdown@javelin.es.com (Pete Ashdown)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.emulations
Subject: Re: IBM Soft-ware Emulator
Message-ID: <1991Jan23.151052.3674@javelin.es.com>
Date: 23 Jan 91 15:10:52 GMT
References: <11405@helios.TAMU.EDU>
Reply-To: pashdown@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah
Lines: 38

n350bq@tamuts.tamu.edu (Duane Fields) writes:

>A SOFTWARE only based pc-emulator that (on the 3000/25) runs at an
>adjustable speed at around 10 mHz or so comparible. Hard drive and
>floppys supported,  as well as clock and ports. Graphics and 
>multi-tasking (i.e. running concurrently with AMIGADos) could come
>at a later time I suppose.  

This was discussed to some length in c.s.a several months ago.  What initiated
the discussion was after I posted the results of a call to Insignia Solutions.
Insignia makes an IBM-AT emulator for the Mac II that is completely software.
On the original Mac II, it ran at a full 4.77 mhz with color graphics and
sound.  When I used it (about three years ago), it only had CGA graphics.
Since that time, they have introduced an EGA upgrade.  The original Mac II
only runs at 16 mhz plus has other slow-downs with memory contention (I'm not
a hardware guy, I only play one on TV).  Since the Amiga 3000 is 25 mhz, plus
has the productivity mode which is IDENTICAL to EGA, it would probably be a
lot easier to make Soft-PC (the name of the Mac product) for the Amiga.  When
I called Insignia about this, I was referred to a guy who was very helpful and
respected the Amiga systems.  He told me that their Mac product was the last
time they would ever do a software package on their own.  Usually, they are
contracted by a computer manufacturer to do a port.  Sun, Apollo, and other
workstation companies have done this.  I believe Apple gave them a big chunk
of cash to do it as well.  On top of that, most Mac ads make mention of the
fact that you can run Soft-PC to emulate an IBM, free advertising.  Anyway,
he told me that they HAVE approached Commodore about doing a port, but at
that time, Commodore was more interested in pushing the Bridgeboard.  He
suggested to me that we get on Commodore's back to dump the Bridgeboard and
engage work on a software emulator again.  Well, as the Amiga gets faster and
faster, this option is going to become more and more attractive, so I would
imagine that sometime in the future it will happen.

>|Email: n350bq@tamuts.tamu.edu         _ //             Duane K. Fields       |
-- 

                "I'm going under the table."  - Bernard Shaw

Pete Ashdown  pashdown@javelin.sim.es.com ...uunet!javelin.sim.es.com!pashdown