Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!solo.csci.unt.edu!vaxb.acs.unt.edu!vaxb.acs.unt.edu!news From: wright@etsuv2.etsu.edu (BRIAN WRIGHT) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.misc Subject: Re: Mac Sales Vs Amiga? Message-ID: <1991Jun2.155058.47229@vaxb.acs.unt.edu> Date: 2 Jun 91 20:10:59 GMT Reply-To: wright@etsuv2.etsu.edu Organization: East Texas State University Lines: 84 Nntp-Posting-Host: etsuv2.etsu.edu In article <5055@orbit.cts.com>, chucks@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Erik Funkenbusch) writes... >taab5@isuvax.iastate.edu (Marc Barrett) writes: >> Rumors are bullshit -- I want FACTS. If A-Max III takes half as >>long to reach the market as A-Max II+, it never will reach the market. >>Besides, what kind of color capabilities are you talking about? >>ReadySoft cannot use any of the third-party graphics boards, because >>they all lack the resolution and flicker like all hell. They also >>cannot use the Amiga's built-in color capabilities, because they >>are next to non-existant compared to the 8/24-bit color of the LC. And look at how much you PAY for that 8/24-bit color. Even so, the only time you get 256 colors is on the SMALLEST RGB screen. You only get 16 colors on the largest. IF you buy the expansion VRAM THEN you can get 256 on the LARGE RGB screen. Of course, if you still use the SMALL RGB screen with the VRAM you get 32,000 colors. I just wonder how slow the LC really IS with its 020, though? With 32,000 it has be be VERY slow. If I know Apple, that expansion VRAM has to be VERY EXPENSIVE. >16 bit color is better than no color, and besides that, there are other boards >besides Ham-E. like Firecracker which is a true 24 bit card.. I would imagine >they would build in a driver system like they did for the hard drives. where >each manufacturer can write a driver. this will work quite well, since the >mac doesn't depend on a certain type of device. The Digital Micronics boards will be QUITE nice and QUITE expensive. They will produce a FLICKER-FREE 8 bit AND 24 bit output for the Amiga. They will have resolutions of 1280x1024 at either 8 or 24 bit/pixel (out of a palette of 16.7 million for both). They will require a Megapixel multisync and WILL have FLICKER-FREE imagery. The price for the 8 bit board will be $1095 and for the 24 bit board will be $1995 you can add between $200-$600 if you want double-buffering. Currently they are planning Zorro II versions although they said that Zorro III versions are in the works also. These board work out of a standard Zorro II slot and not out of the Video slot. >> The point is, if A-Max III does support color, it will very likely >>either support very limited color (16 colors out of a small palette), >>require a third-party graphics board like the HAM-E that flickers >>like hell, or require a very expensive graphics board like the A2410. >>All of this would make a genuine color MAC very desirable in price >>and quality of display. From all that I have heard about the A2410, it will be quite a BIT less than the cost of an LC. An LC is what? ~$3000? An A2410 should only be right around $1000 or so. If it's more than that, go for the Digital Micronics board. >Some of that might be true, but as i said, the majority of mac color >applications will support a 16 color display quite well. Yes, and even with something like Colorburst (flickering and all) it would STILL do quite nicely for Mac color. Of course, the thing that has been completely overlooked here is that ReadySoft may be working with someone who MIGHT produce a custom graphics card for Amax II+ (Amax III?). Of course, what price you're paying for your Mac could ALSO buy you the DM Board for the Amiga. The Digital Micronics 8 bit board is quite a bit less than an LC. Of course, once you add the MegaPixel monitor, then you have added a lot more. But then you also have a VERY nice graphics system. If you add double-buffering you have also quite surpassed the Mac's color system as you then have real-time animation. Of course, if you add the DM 8 bit board and monitor than you have also surpassed that of the LC. The LC will NEVER be capable of what the DM 24 bit board equiped Amiga will provide (graphics-wise). If you want no flicker 8 or 24 bit color, go buy a Digital Micronics board. >..--------------------------------------------------------------------------. >| UUCP: {amdahl!tcnet, crash}!orbit!pnet51!chucks | "I know he's come back | >| ARPA: crash!orbit!pnet51!chucks@nosc.mil | from the dead, but do | >| INET: chucks@pnet51.orb.mn.org | you really think he's | >|-------------------------------------------------| moved back in?" | >| Amiga programmer at large, employment options | Lou Diamond Philips in | >| welcome, inquire within. | "The First Power". | >`--------------------------------------------------------------------------' (dislaimer: I talked to a person at Digital Micronics on the phone and this is what I was told about their boards. If the person I was talking to was lieing, I cannot be held resposible.) -------------------------------------------------------------- Brian Wright wright%etsuvax2@ricevm1.rice.edu or wright@etsuvax2.bitnet -------------------------------------------------------------- Standard Disclaimer... not my words and all that jazz.