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From: chas@ssc-vax.UUCP (Chas Boyd)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Some thoughts and questions about the Ranger
Message-ID: <782@ssc-bee.ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 5-Mar-87 22:02:29 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-bee.782
Posted: Thu Mar  5 22:02:29 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Mar-87 07:07:53 EST
References: <140@tahoma.UUCP>
Organization: Flight Technology, Boeing Aerospace
Lines: 34
Keywords: 14MHz Blitter
Summary: A2500, A3000...

In article <140@tahoma.UUCP>, bakken@tahoma.UUCP (Dave Bakken) writes:
> 
> 1)  Please give us a Ranger, not just expecting us to buy an A2000 and
>     upgrade to the 68020.

	Dave goes on to show a wish list for the NEXT Amiga, based on a 14MHz
   68020.  One thing he does not specifically mention is a 14MHz blitter.
   It is very important that this be provided as there is a large category
   of applications which are limited not by number crunching power, but by
   how fast bits can be copied to the screen.
	For example: the main difference between PC flight simulators and
   the real ones here at Boeing is the screen replot rate.  Although the
   displayed database may be very complex, the time required to paint the
   screen forms the major portion of the replot cycle.  To perceive actual
   motion, replot rates must exceed 10 to 15 per second.  The first personal
   computer to achieve this speed will open up a whole new category of
   applications that will have tremendous impact.
	(It may be true that with the wider bus of the MC68020, a blitter
   might not offer as much of an advantage as the current one does over 
   the 68000, but if one can be made to work at 14MHz it should be included.)
	I was hoping that 1987 would be the year that such machines would
   appear, but I was disappointed.  Instead this was the year of IBM
   compatibility, a step backwards in the area of graphics performance.
   Both C-A, and Atari devoted their efforts to IBM compatibility instead
   of bringing out 68020 based systems.  Apple has announced a 68020 system,
   but it apparently has no specialized graphics hardware.

	Oh, well maybe 1988.
						Chas.
-- 
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