Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bbn!rochester!rutgers!cbmvax!grr From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: COMDEX report Message-ID: <2723@cbmvax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 11-Nov-87 09:26:41 EST Article-I.D.: cbmvax.2723 Posted: Wed Nov 11 09:26:41 1987 Date-Received: Fri, 13-Nov-87 23:46:55 EST References: <300@uscacsc.UUCP> <4111@ccicpg.UUCP> Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins) Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA Lines: 77 In article <4111@ccicpg.UUCP> harald@ccicpg.UUCP ( Harald Milne) writes: > In article <300@uscacsc.UUCP>, papa@uscacsc.UUCP (Marco Papa) writes: > > This is a report after a frenzy 1-day at COMDEX, with lots of time spent > > at the Commodore-Amiga booth. > > for me since I have two Amigas and one monitor. 8^( Although multi-scanning > monitors were suggested, I asked what would be the best or highly recommended. > The answer was VGA compatable (640x440) and Mitsubishi. The reason for > Mitsubishi was that it could also handle NTSC video. Mitsubishi has only one > monitor like this, the AUM1371A Diamond Scan. The resolution of this monitor > is 800x560. It accepts four input signals: I'm not sure exactly what you mean by NTSC video in this context. All the multi-scan monitors I know of will handle the NTSC timing/formats. Do you mean that it has a composite video input? > > > * NewTek's Tim Jenison showed "Video Toaster", a "real-time, full color > > digitizing, real-time digital-video effects and a broadcast quality > > genlock in one systems", for $799.95. At this price, it looks much better > > that all other genlock-only systems that cost pretty much the same. It > > will be upgradable with add ons that include:real time-processing support, > > TMS 34010 video coprocessor, croma-key, programmable video switcher (??). > > Egads! How did I miss this! I thought this stuff was cranking out of memory > ala Maxine Headroom. Anymore details? Like what kind of video effects? > What slot(s) are used? The "video toaster" wasn't displayed until Wednesday or so, since some last minute software development was needed. It is basically an external video processing box that is controlled by the Amiga. I don't know what the actual Amiga interface is, but it doesn't neccessarily use any slots. This seems like an very interesting product, but I suspect it will be a while before it's true form and full capabilities are fully revealed. The video effects were the demonstrated involved taking an incoming composite video image, shrinking the image to an arbitrary size and positioning one or more copies of the image at arbitrary postitions on the output video frame. One intersting display modifed the video to provide a "fisheye lens" effect. All these modes seemed to be things that you could do with delays and dynamically varying the sampling rate and direction when displaying the digitized input video. The Newtek people indicated the device had all kinds of interesting capabilities and indicated that they were working on even better stuff. It will be most intersting to see what they have in few months. Notes: 1) All the actual video processing is external to the Amiga. 2) A genlock device is needed to combine the processed video with Amiga video. > > * As of Wednesday, the 82086 board was still held up at customs (it came from > > Germany), but there was talk that an 80386 board (also from Germany) will > > be demonstrated at one of the Spring Shows. I believe it was shown Thursday and Friday. > Does that mean 80286 boards are immanent? Tell us more! Let's say that they are closer than before. I'd expect more information around the time of the January shows. > There was also a CBM 68020 CPU board for the A2000 MMU connector previewed. > It had a 68881, PMMU, and 2 meg of 32-bit wide memory. It was in the > Byte by Byte A2000 box, running Sculpt3D. This was the first public showing of the 68020 board. Please note that the 286 bridgecard, 68020 board and hi-res display were label as "Technology Previews" and availability dates and prices are not yet available. -- 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)