Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!munnari.oz.au!uniwa!DIALix!metapro!bernie From: bernie@metapro.DIALix.oz.au (Bernd Felsche) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware Subject: Re: Hardware Idiots ? Message-ID: <1991Jun3.142629.11499@metapro.DIALix.oz.au> Date: 3 Jun 91 14:26:29 GMT References: <21889@cbmvax.commodore.com> <1991May27.090523.8605@rulway.LeidenUniv.nl> <22006@cbmvax.commodore.com> <1991May30.095308.25743@rulway.LeidenUniv.nl> <22058@cbmvax.commodore.com> Organization: MetaPro Systems, Perth, Western Australia Lines: 35 In <22058@cbmvax.commodore.com> daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie) writes: >In article <1991May30.095308.25743@rulway.LeidenUniv.nl> breemen@rulcvx.LeidenUniv.nl (E. van Breemen) writes: >Since the A3000 accepts plug ins, it can support any kind of graphics. The >only reason you don't like this is (a) you're too cheap|poor to buy an A3000, >and (b) there are no graphics standards for add-in Amiga boards under AmigaOS. Regarding (b), what about the use of libraries? They are a far cry from the poke memory instructions rampant in other machines. Due to the object-oriented nature of the Amiga operating system, Extending libraries can transparently expand machine functionality. Right? There are probably few "hardware" standards which can guide designers to produce plug-in systems which transparently supplant the custom chips. Though it is within the realms of possibility, it is certainly non-trivial. I expect that the kernel/custom ship interface may be somewhat tighter than ideal of such graphics expansion, but heck, I could be wrong (again). >>As a possitive contribution: why not introduce a graphicscard standard. >This will certainly be done. You have no concept of how much work it will >be to support arbitrary graphics boards in a compatible fashion without >giving away many of the graphics advantages you expect from an Amiga. I >really don't either. Fortunately, there are people with vision beyond that >of either of us considering the problem at present. As for the desire >for this, it's obvious, we've been talking about it for many years. Good. How about a new newsgroup comp.sys.amiga.standards ? -- Bernd Felsche, _--_|\ #include Metapro Systems, / sold \ Fax: +61 9 472 3337 328 Albany Highway, \_.--._/ Phone: +61 9 362 9355 Victoria Park, Western Australia v Email: bernie@metapro.DIALix.oz.au