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From: hrlaser@pnet02.CTS.COM (Harv Laser)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Transformer Questions
Message-ID: <1945@gryphon.CTS.COM>
Date: Sat, 17-Oct-87 19:56:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: gryphon.1945
Posted: Sat Oct 17 19:56:08 1987
Date-Received: Mon, 19-Oct-87 00:05:48 EDT
Sender: root@gryphon.CTS.COM
Organization: People-Net [pnet02], Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 73

childs@cadnetix.UUCP (David Childs) writes:
>Hi,
>
>I just got a 5.25" disk drive and Transformer 1.2.  I have some questions that
>I hope someone out there can help me with.  First, does the Transformer work
>with disks other that 360k format?  For example 720k or hard drives?  Does the
>Transformer have any kind of documentation available?  I got my disk drive as
>a demo unit, and got Transformer on a disk with it.  I also got a owners
>registration card, but no other documentation.  Can anyone help?  Do programs
>like Microsoft Word work on it?  Is there any form of mouse input?
>
>I really like the Transformer, because I always thought the best computer would
>be one that can run several different computers software.  I hope the creators
>of the Transformer can be swayed to improve their product.  It is a bit slow,
>but it's really amazing.
>
>Thanks for any help,
>
>David Childs  Cadnetix Corp.  (303) 444-8075
>childs@cadnetix.UUCP  seismo!hao!ico!cadnetix!childs


You can format 3.5" disks as 720K MS-Dos format using the Transformer,
yes, but you'll need MS-Dos..uh...... 3.2 or higher (I think, maybe 3.1
at the lowest). You need to set up a config.sys file to create virtual drives
(usually C: and D:).  See a good MS-Dos manual on instructions how to do
this. 

Yes, Transformer comes with a manual. Most of it you should be able to
figure out. The settings you put into "SetATPrefs" are particular 
important as far as how the Transformer environment will work with your
hardware. 

Yes, it's slow. There are some minimal speedup routines available on
BBS's and networks. One is called 'SPEEDY3.COM' which gives a screen
speed up when working with DOS (doing Dirs and such) but rarely has much
of an effect on applications software. 

I've run MS Dos 3.2 and 3.3 under Transformer and passed them through
Norton Utilities' "SI" test which compares the overall performance
against a rock stock IBM PC, which measures 1.0 on the scale. Transformer
gives me 0.2, a 286 AT-type machine usually delivers a 10.0... so 
yes, Transformer is very slow. It supports no sound, no color graphics
or hi-res graphics modes, etc. Just yer basic Green screen monochrome
environment.  I've run over 100 different MS-Dos application programs
under Transformer - the list supplied by CBM with the documentation is
rather short sighted. MUCH more stuff will run than what they listed,
however some software, such as WordStar (any version) will be virtually
useless since it will run so abysmally slow. 

Transformer gives you access to the Amiga's Parallel port (as LPT1:)
and Serial port (as COM1:) so your printer and modem will still function
rather normally while using MS-Dos based software, however your mouse
will be a useless appendage when the screen is green.

There's a Transformer version 1.2 out there somewhere which due to some
(rumored) legal hassles, CBM has not yet released. Dunno if they ever
will either. From what I understand, it's not any faster than the
release Transformer anyway, but just modified to work with FAST RAM boards
attached and under Enhancer 1.2 system software. 

Also on BBS's and networks (such as PeopleLink) there is a hot "patch"
program for Transformer to allow you to use it under 1.2. 

Transformer is a pretty amazing piece of software. I use it all the time
so I can do PC type work at home, move it to a 5.25" disk, and then take
it to an office and mount it on someone's "real" PC - sure beats sitting
in an office all day doing the work!

Harv Laser
PeopleLink: CBM*HARV
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