Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!cbmvax!grr From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Sidecar vs Bridge Message-ID: <2322@cbmvax.UUCP> Date: Sat, 12-Sep-87 20:32:56 EDT Article-I.D.: cbmvax.2322 Posted: Sat Sep 12 20:32:56 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 13-Sep-87 10:12:37 EDT References: <548@rocky.STANFORD.EDU> Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins) Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA Lines: 39 In article <548@rocky.STANFORD.EDU> ali@rocky.stanford.edu (Ali Ozer) writes: > ----- > From: ARTHUR WALKER > Subject: Sidecar and Bridge > > Anybody know whether the programmer's models for the Sidecar > and the Bridge Card are identical? Do they look the same to > the 8088? to the 68000? In other words, could I > use a sidecar to write lots of connectivity software for the > 2000/bridge configuration and have object code compatibility? The programming model is the same, the sidecar and bridgecard are different implementations of the same basic logic. > I expect that > what has come from commodore doesn't stretch the capabilities for transfer > through the video ram. The applications software provided probably doesn't, however there is "Janus" library provided that can provide the basis for more sophisticated applications and interactions. I'm not sure whether this library is fully documented in the A2000 user's guide that comes with the machine, however I know the documentation is in the A500/A2000 Technical Reference manual available from the CATS people. > We should already be hearing about using the 8088 > as a server for all sorts of resources not now accessible to amigites for > lack of hardware. If this is what I want to do, should I buy a sidecar > tomorrow or should I wait, wait, wait.........for a 2000? I think that > buying a clone and emulating the dual port ram via serial port and interrupts > in software might be too slow and obscure the power of the Bridge. You shouldn't have to wait long for the A2000, now that they are finally shipping... -- George Robbins - now working for, uucp: {ihnp4|rutgers|allegra}!cbmvax!grr but no way officially representing arpa: out to lunch... Commodore, Engineering Department fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)