Xref: utzoo comp.sys.amiga.tech:2233 comp.sys.amiga:24430
Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!portal!cup.portal.com!thad
From: thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech,comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Wither Video Toaster?
Message-ID: <10400@cup.portal.com>
Date: 23 Oct 88 11:06:42 GMT
References: <5380001@otter.hple.hp.com> <3769@homxc.UUCP> <10246@cup.portal
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 95

Stephen Hartford (of NewTek) writes:
``
      There never was, nor is there now, any "self-modifying" code in
      DigiView. DigiDroid does not currently work on an '020 Amiga for
      other reasons. We apologize for this fact - we wanted to get version
      3.0 out, and give people things they've been screaming for like
      overscan. 68020 Amigas are still a very small percentage of our
      customer base. All future releases of NewTek products will fully
      support '020 machines.
''

Tim Jennison (President of NewTek) admitted the DigiDroid "bug" in public during
the ((video) recorded) meeting of FAUG at which Max Toy was the featured
speaker earlier this year. 

The bug surfaced in DigiView Version 2.0 (April 1987) though it wasn't
detectable until DigiDroid shipped in January 1988.

Bryan Gallivan and I independently "discovered" that DigiDroid only functions
(on an '020 Amiga) when the instruction cache is flushed and turned OFF; this
is prima facie evidence for self-modifying code.

====================
Continuing:
``
      >Then, after I accused Paul Montgomer of being the Bandito (in Amazing
      >Computing) and he called me asking me to retract that statement on the
      >FAUG BBS in exchange for a quick fix to make DigiDroid work on an '020

      I just spoke with Paul, and he said there was no such "exchange". It
      seems logical to me that you should retract inaccurate, and harmful
      statements anyways, Thad. Paul was "very pissed off" that you would even
      say such things in a public forum.
''

The very-strong flames directed at Amazing Computing on the FAUG-BBS (by MANY)
followed the several months' series of articles in which the Bandito was
essentially saying NewTek was good and everything else was evil.  That series
of articles so angered many people that Jack Palmatier (Winner's Circle,
Berkeley, CA) called Don Hicks to get the story, but Don wouldn't reveal the
Bandito's identity.  Shortly afterwards, a new 'disclaimer' starts appearing
in AC prefacing the Bandito's column.   :-)

I'm sorry to hear that Paul has forgotten our conversation.  On that "certain"
day, I first received a phone call from Mitch Lopes (chief honcho of Robo City
News) alerting me to expect a call from Paul Montgomery in re: the Bandito
since "someone" had informed him (Paul) of the exchanges on the FAUG-BBS.

Several hours later Paul called and said he was going to contact his lawyer
unless I posted something to the effect that Paul is not and was not ever
the Bandito.  Interesting he should call me at my office where we have this
real nice voice email system.  The archives of FAUG-BBS are also available
should the need arise.

I never (knowingly) post inaccurate and harmful material.

Because the events are precisely as I related them, there is NOTHING to retract.

====================
Continuing:
``
      >Perhaps New-Tek is spending too much time doing demos and NOT doing the
      >real software ... 

      [ and I said "This is idle speculation on my part."]

      NewTek is a company which does products, Thad. Innovative products.
      We use demos as a way of testing new technology as we develop it.
      [..... material deleted.....]
''

Hey, I buy NewTek products!

But disabling the instruction cache to use DigiDroid is unacceptable, so I
have to continue using the manual color wheel.  It's about 6 months now with
no fix; the DigiDroid is of marginal use to me and is for sale.

I'd like to end this on a POSITIVE note and offer the information (to you and
others) that a LOT of so-called "power users" are operating hot-rodded Amigas
with 68020 or 68030 chips under the hood, and there is a legitimate concern
for software compatibility with these processors.  Especially since such
processors are officially supported by CBM for the Amiga and the guidelines to
assure software compatibility (re: 68010, 68020 (and now 68030)) have been
hammered home since the first Developers' Conference in Monterey circa May 1985.

Some people using such Amigas for commercial production in the creative arts
(e.g. music, graphics, animations, etc.) even have multiple systems equipped
with '020 and '030.  Bryan Gallivan, Paul Theodoropoulos, Ken Hodel, etc. are
just a few names that come to mind (of those who publicly discuss their projects
in the SF Bay Area).  These are the people who buy your products the DAY they
become available.  It is even "rumored" that one person leaves blank checks at
a local dealer to assure receipt of all the new stuff!


Thad Floryan  [ thad@cup.portal.com (OR) ..!sun!portal!cup.portal.com!thad ]