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From: rb@ccivax
Newsgroups: net.micro.amiga
Subject: interlace mode
Message-ID: <353@ccivax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Jan-86 18:50:46 EST
Article-I.D.: ccivax.353
Posted: Wed Jan 22 18:50:46 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 26-Jan-86 05:06:56 EST
References: <570@amiga.amiga.UUCP> <877@h-sc1.UUCP> <511@well.UUCP>
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> In article <877@h-sc1.UUCP>, breuel@h-sc1.UUCP (thomas breuel) writes:
>   The necessary fix would be fairly expensive. The biggest reason for the
> 640 X 200 limitation on each field is to reduce the bandwidth requirements
> of the coprocessor and the memory, and to allow the CPU more cycles. 
> (Before I hear anything about the Atari ST
> and its 640X400, 70Hz screen, let me remind you that that is a one-bit-per-
> pixel monochrome screen.  It's ONLY color option is 320X200. 

Minor Correction: you also get colors (4) in 640X200 mode on the ST!

> If you are
> willing to accept THAT limitation, then the problem isn't too hard.  If you
> want a color screen such as the Amiga's, at a reasonable cost, compromises
> have to be made.)

So how about this as an option (to get the best of both worlds!)!
Add 640X400 monochrome at 70HZ interlaced.  This would be ideal for editing
text and large draftings that end up getting sent to a 'monochrome' copier
for quick and cheap duplication (the majority of office documents). 
Then use the multicolor interlaced mode
for stuff that will be sent to the print shop for color printing.

From what I've seen in the Amiga Specs, it seems to have more than enough
bandwidth for this (mono 70HZ) mode and still have about the same CPU
bandwidth as it would in the 640X200X4 at 60HZ mode.  It might even be
a simple software change.

There are still a lot of situations where all you need is easy to read
black and white (like stuff for copiers).  Also, there is no reason why
you couldn't get 80x50 lines on the screen by using the same 'fonts' you
would normally use on the 640X200 screen (not to mention being able to
look at two documents at once).  Of course, if the 'monochrome' could be
put on a color display, you could still pick your choice of forground
and background colors from the color registers (White on Black background
is hard to do on any color monitor).