Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga.emulations:1080 comp.sys.amiga.programmer:4055 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!jarthur!uunet!cbmvax!drysdale From: drysdale@cbmvax.commodore.com (Scott Drysdale) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.emulations,comp.sys.amiga.programmer Subject: Re: MS-DOS emulator for CDTV? Message-ID: <22032@cbmvax.commodore.com> Date: 30 May 91 05:10:19 GMT References: <1239@cbmger.UUCP> <1991May24.021015.27939@news.iastate.edu> <7!Z_4N|@warwick.ac.uk> <1991May29.231913.25175@news.iastate.edu> Reply-To: drysdale@cbmvax.commodore.com (Scott Drysdale) Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA Lines: 84 In article <1991May29.231913.25175@news.iastate.edu> taab5@isuvax.iastate.edu writes: >In article <7!Z_4N|@warwick.ac.uk>, phupp@warwick.ac.uk (S Millington) writes: >>In article <1991May24.021015.27939@news.iastate.edu> xgr39@isuvax.iastate.edu writes: >> >>> It would be much better to simply modify the Janus software so as to >>>allow Amiga CD-ROM drives to run IBM CD-ROM software when used in conjunction >>>with a BridgeCard. Allowing an Amiga CD-ROM drive to run MAC CD-ROM >> >> Get serious. JANUS won't even use the serial port yet! >> > Janus has other problems as well. Commodore has not satisfactorily >upgraded the Janus software. In addition to the use of an Amiga CD-ROM >drive to run IBM CD-ROM software, a feature that Commodore should have >included a long time ago is the ability to use any serial port or >modems on the IBM side with Amiga software. this is technically possible, if you want your bridgeboard to do nothing except service serial ports. this is because ms-dos is not reentrant. ms-dos does not provide hardware resource arbitration. ms-dos applications therefor fondle the hardware themselves, since there's no OS support to speak of. > Internal modems and >multi-serial port cards for IBM are less than 1/5 the cost of similar >cards for Amiga, and it would be nice to be able to use these >cards with Amiga software. true, there are only a few (supra, applied engineering) manufacturers of internal modems for the amiga. the prices range from $159 to $189 (list prices). i believe both have MNP, and one is upgradable to send FAX. show me a 2400 baud internal modem with MNP for the pc that sells for $32 *LIST* (1/5 of $159). again, there are only a few add-on serial cards for the amiga. commodore's A2232 (7 port intelligent serial card, $400 list), ASDG's DSB (2 port "dumb" serial card, $249 list) are examples. there are at least three other manufacturers, but i don't know much about the products. let's use the A2232 - show me an intelligent multiport serial card for the PC that lists for under $12 per port ($249 / 7 * 1/5). "intelligent" in this context means it's got it's own CPU to offload interrupt overhead from the host computer. in both of these examples, don't forget to add in the cost of the bridgeboard. $400 for the 2088 (XT) or $700 for the 2286 (AT). somehow i think using real amiga cards comes up alot cheaper. > In short, I call into serious question Commodore's commitment to the >Janus software. There is so much potential with this software that >has to date been totally ignored by Commodore. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ um, i don't think so. there is indeed alot of potential. but how much of what is possible (as far as the amiga using pc peripherals and vice versa) can't be done better by normal amiga devices (or vice versa)? yes, there are some people doing some rather obscure things with bridgeboards because some kind of arcane card is available for the pc, but they'd rather program and amiga. as for general appeal to users, it might help out the hobbyist who has access to a bunch of virtually free pc hardware and *already* has a bridgeboard. but i don't think there are enough of those types of users buying bridgeboards to actually make a bridgeboard that much more attractive. the bridgeboard has two purposes in life: 1) to let people who have an amiga but need to run pc stuff occasionally do so easily and conveniently (easy data sharing, enough hardware sharing to get by). 2) to help business purchasers who otherwise would not be able to buy an amiga to do so. you: "boss, i'd like an amiga instead of one of those compaq's when we order those pc's." boss: "is it ibm compatible?" you: (slyly) "well, yes!" boss: "ok, if it's not too expensive." >>* Stuart Millington * "A Mind Is A Terrible Thing, Remember * > / Marc Barrett -MB- | BITNET: XGR39@ISUVAX.BITNET / --Scotty -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Scott Drysdale Software Engineer Commodore Amiga Inc. UUCP {allegra|burdvax|rutgers|ihnp4}!cbmvax!drysdale PHONE - yes. "Have you hugged your hog today?" =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=