Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!hp4nl!utrcu1!mi.eltn.utwente.nl!klamer From: klamer@mi.eltn.utwente.nl (Klamer Schutte -- Universiteit Twente) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: Re: QL Emulator on ST Message-ID: Date: 7 Mar 91 07:57:24 GMT References: <1991Feb14.110620.11306@cs.city.ac.uk> <1991Feb23.063153.22410@isis.cs.du.edu> <5333311@arium.stgt.sub.org> Sender: news@utrcu1.UUCP Organization: University of Twente, BSC-El Lines: 47 In <5333311@arium.stgt.sub.org> be@arium.stgt.sub.org (Bernd Ebach) writes: >In article 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... >Very close. To be more specific exactly the same besides just 8Bit >Data~ and 20Bit AdressBus. For clearity: the 68008 is just a 68000 in a package with less pins. >> Should be possible, but probably is difficult. Most programs on the QL are picky >> about their screen resolution :-( >Has been done. For ST with extentional hardware (for displaying 512x256). >For Amiga without any hardware but less kompatibility. But we were talking about an PD one -- additional hardware means $$$. >> Should be nice, though -- a QL has a better OS (IMHO) than TOS. >Depending on how you define 'better OS'. Mutitasking and windows are >nice; but passing parameters trough register? Opening windows without >saving background? No proper device handling? Passing parameters through registers is more efficient. And also the TOS system call interface is not very comfortable from C. You always have to save the return address from the stack before the trap. The actual devices on a QL aren't my favourite. But this has nothing to do with the OS; its the QL OS which easily allows addition of a different window system. >Nevertheless it was some sort of genius to program a nice multitaksing >os with some sort of window handling plus a really super basic inter- >preter into just 48 kB. And please remember that a QL was at the time of introduction really a bargain -- the only other m68k systems for home use were the Lisa and Mac then. Also at introduction of the ST the QL still was cheaper. But the ST is much better supported than the QL was... -- Klamer Schutte Faculty of electrical engineering -- University of Twente, The Netherlands klamer@mi.eltn.utwente.nl {backbone}!mcsun!mi.eltn.utwente.nl!klamer