Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!uunet!mcsun!hp4nl!alchemy!nico From: nico@cs.ruu.nl (Nico Verwer) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: Re: QL Emulator on ST Message-ID: <1991Feb26.105639.10773@cs.ruu.nl> Date: 26 Feb 91 10:56:39 GMT References: <1991Feb14.110620.11306@cs.city.ac.uk> <1991Feb23.063153.22410@isis.cs.du.edu> Lines: 55 In klamer@mi.eltn.utwente.nl (Klamer Schutte -- Universiteit Twente) writes: >In <1991Feb23.063153.22410@isis.cs.du.edu> rcarter@isis.cs.du.edu (Ron Carter) writes: >>Really? A QL (Sinclair!) emulator for the ST? Should be possible as the >>CPU is the same (or did the QL use a 68008 or maybe a 68010?) but close > ^^^^^ 68008 it was >>enough... >Should be possible, but probably is difficult. Most programs on the QL are picky >about their screen resolution :-( >Should be nice, though -- a QL has a better OS (IMHO) than TOS. I have the april 1989 issue of the dutch magazine Atari ST Nieuws in front of me, and in it is a review of a QL-emulator. I'll summarize some of the main points. It is/was built by a norwegian company called Futura Data Center., and was available from [Strong Computer Systems, Bryn Cottage, Peniel, Carmarthen, Dyfed, SA32 &DJ, England] and [Jochen Merz Software, In Stillen Winkel 12, 4100 Duisburg 11, Germany (tel. +49-2035-97283)] (remember, this was almost two years ago!). The emulator requires a hardware modification: It is a small PCB that should be inserted between the video-shifter and its socket. Also you should make 6 soldering connections. On the PCB is, a.o., an original Sinclair 8301 chip. The PCB costs hfl 750,- (approx. 220 pounds, DM 700), _without_ 8301, which should be bought seperately. The 8301 is included in the German version, which costs DM 850. The QL operating system comes on a floppy disk. Since low addresses in the ST are RAM, and the QL operating system resides at the bottom of memory, no changes to the QL operating system had to be made. QL disks (not microdrive-cartridges) can be read by the ST without problems. Sound is emulated faithfully. QL programs run three to six times faster than on the QL. For games, speed can be decreased :-) . Everything, including multitasking, runs fine (don't flame me, I don't need multitasking, and I don't have an amiga ;-) ). A `real' QL has 128 kB RAM, of which 88 kB can be used. On the ST, there is a whopping 850 kB left! A provision is made for ROM-port keys, which sometimes come with copy-protected software. The QL video modes cannot be fully emulated on the ST; In medium resolution there are only 4 colours instead of 7. The printerport works fine. I don't know whether this emulator is still available, so do not ask me! I have no connection with Futura Data Center; in fact I don't own this emulator myself. This is just for your information. -- Nico Verwer | nico@cs.ruu.nl Dept. of Computer Science, University of Utrecht | phone: +31 30 533921 p.o. box 80.089, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands | fax: +31 30 513791