Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ub!csn!ncar!unmvax!uokmax!drtiller
From: drtiller@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (Donald Richard Tillery Jr)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.graphics
Subject: Re: AmigaExpo - DCTV, HAM-E, and Colorburst Impressions
Message-ID: <1991Mar24.043701.25553@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu>
Date: 24 Mar 91 04:37:01 GMT
References: <18d90924.ARN0f35@cbmami.UUCP> <1991Mar20.225204.13633@ariel.unm.edu> <13637@helios.TAMU.EDU>
Organization: Engineering Computer Network, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
Lines: 78

In a message From: cmw1725@tamsun.tamu.edu (Christopher Walton)

>I dissagree on the original posters feelings about MAST.

Me too!

>YES, they had a very plain booth.

Because, I understand from a reliable source, their luggage was lost on the
trip to the expo.

>YES, they have a plain box.

Lest ye judge not a book by its cover.

>YES, they seemed like a garage operation.

The ColorBurst WAS there, but the software was in the lost luggage.  Attempts
to download the software by borrowing a modem from Supra were foiled by the
hardwired phone lines in their hotel room.

To quote a Styx song: "Nothing ever goes as planned...."

>BUT this means NOTHING....

Well, it COULD mean something in some cases, but I think not in this one.

>
>All you should be worried about is the performance, and the price...
>
>They have a supperior product, at a supperior price.  They have generous
>support programs.  (Source in asm and C is available FREE, to anyone who
>wants it, via US bbs)  

Also they tell me that the registration card will have a block to be checked
and this will enable technical details to be sent to anyone interested in them.

>(Every registered Colorburst owner is registered
>into their video club, sorry I forgot the name, in which you get freely
>distributable pictures from other colorburst owners, newsletters, and
>other benefits) 

Wow!  I didn't know about this.  I have several 24 bit pics ready to be
traded! :-)

> They also knew what they were talking about, if you
>pushed your way through and actually sat down to really talk business with
>them. 

I get this impression from talking to them on the phone too.

> And contrary to popular belief, they ARE shipping. (Just not in
>US yet.) 

That is true.  PAL shipping began March 20th and I get mine when the first
NTSC versions ship the 29th.  I hope to have it in my hot little hands by
our local users' group meeting on the 2nd of April.  After that, look for
a review in comp.sys.amiga.reviews as soon as I can tear myself away from
it... :-)

> Their hardware runs in 48bits, NOT 24, so that you can have
>a 24 bit pic, with a 24 bit overlay.  You can over AND underlay AMIGA
>graphics with 24bit RGB, WITHOUT a genlock, or any other device.  The
>hardware has RAM.  The hardware doesn't use the system much.  (Leaves
>the blitter to your system, where it belongs)  (You can intersperce Amiga
>graphics, and colorburst graphics in real time, to make a great game)
>WORKS ON ALL AMIGAS.  Outputs, in RAW, IFF24, and some others I have 
>forgotten.  Fully compatible with all the rest of the paint programs, and
>graphics enhancers since it can use the IFF24 format.
>
>As you can see this is a GREAT device.  Just because it is from a company
>that didn't seem impressive, is NO reason to bypass them alltogether.

Well, I wouldn't go that far (understand I'm the first on the American list-
literally), but I don't blame you for waiting until you see it.  I'd just
suggest that you not trounce it before you actually see it.

Rick Tillery (drtiller@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu)