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From: 2fmlhiccup@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: OS Graphic Card Support: Part II!
Message-ID: <28532.27b759c9@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Date: 12 Feb 91 08:58:17 GMT
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services
Lines: 34

I want to clarify some of my opinions on the OS Graphic Card Suport I sent
recently...

A)  The graphics that come with the Amiga currently are wonderful for many
users that would not want to pay extra for 24-bit graphics standard.
B)  There are users that want and need 24-bit graphics and shy away from the
Amiga because it does not support higher graphic modes that are not standard,
but can be added on via a card.  

The problem is that because there is no real option to improve the graphics on
the Amiga, people consider it inferior to other computers that do.  If the
Amiga OS is not written to support better graphic modes with standardized
libraries, then it is really pointless to buy a graphics card.

Why isn't the OS being improved to handle higher resolutions/ more bitplanes,
etc?!?!

Solution (IMHO)
   Have all graphic card developers include a STANDARDIZED method of
communicating to the OS what resolutions the card supports, how it is stored in
memory(the image, hopefully in a rasterport compatable format), and how to
modify the pallette, etc.
   Have the Amiga OS call these routines to determine what modes are availabe. 
Add routines that a program may call to determine these modes.  Have the Amiga
OS be able to work with non-standard modes if they exist...

NOTE:  The program does not directly communicate with the card to find the
modes available, etc.  This is done by THE OS...  Therefore, one can put any
kind of graphic card in the machine, the OS can determine what it is...and any
program can use it because the program does not have to know how it works...

Any comments?

Jason Wilson - An Aspiring Amiga Programmer...