Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ubvax!ames!xanth!manes From: manes@xanth.cs.odu.edu (Mark Manes) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Sidecar questions. Summary: I recommend a reading course... Keywords: Sidecar 1060 BridgeBoard Message-ID: <6919@xanth.cs.odu.edu> Date: 22 Dec 88 21:01:04 GMT References: <871@hslrswi.UUCP> Reply-To: manes@cs.odu.edu (Mark Manes) Organization: Old Dominion University, Norfolk Va. Lines: 156 In article <871@hslrswi.UUCP> francis@hslrswi.UUCP ( Francis Demierre) writes: > >I would like to thank all the people who answered my questions about my >problems with the Sidecar. > Lots of stuff deleted... >Now the answer and my [editor note: drivel] comments: > >Answer to question 1: >===================== > >I do not quote the answers here, but the conclusion is that I have to buy a >serial card. Sigh..... > >Answer to question 2: >===================== > >In article <6867@xanth.cs.odu.edu> Mark D. Manes says: > >> I think you need to read the documentation on AREAD and AWRITE. >> I was less than pleased with AREAD and AWRITE they work, but... I bought >> Dos-2-Dos from Central Coast Software and I am pleased like a bug in the >> rug. > >a) To read the documentation, I should have it, and believe me, here in > Switzerland at my local dealer place, it's very difficult to get either > the doccuments or the software updates. I do not think that the AREAD / AWRITE software was made available for the Sidecar. (I could be wrong here), I do know it is there in the Bridgecard software. I told you to ask for Bridgecard software. I would never be silly enough to tell you to ask a salesman for a copy of "JF-handler", that would be a waste of time. >b) As far as I know, the Dos2Dos is only writing to 5.25" floppy disks and > I do not have the 5.25" Amiga floppy drive, only the one on the Sidecar. > ( And only accessible [read: 'not accessible' ] thru the dual port ram. ) > If it is able to write to 3.5" floppy, it is then still required to copy > the floppy to the DOS partition of my hard disk. A lot of unnecessary work ! I told you also, that Dos-2-Dos will do *EXACTLY* what you wish to do. I bought it to do the task of AREAD/AWRITE. It does not require a 5.25 disk. It will load and run on the Amiga side and allow you to connect to a PC virtual disk (ie JLINK). It works very nicely and is not hard. Well, at least for me. > >and in article <5044.AA5044@heimat> Dan Schein says: > >> Your best bet is to throw your software out and pop on down to your local >> dealer for a copy of the BridgeBoard software. Either study the manual or >> buy a copy from CBM and install the new stuff. You will gain the ability >> to read/write files between OS's (Aread & Awrite) plus alot more. >> Warning: >> Im not sure if its legal for your dealer to give you a copy of the software. >> So maybe an official CBM type (John Campbell ?!?) could tell us the official >> CBM method of obtaining this software. > >When I went to my dealer and asked about the JF-Handler, he did not understand ^^^^^^^^^^ What is a JF-Handler? It is now called the Janus-handler, and it is NOT the name of the product! It is called BridgeBoard software, try that. In order for a dealer to answer a question intelligently, he must be asked a intelligent question. >what I wanted. I think he believed that I was talking about a new game, he >probably understood 'JF Lander' :-) >After a long explanation, he promissed to call Commodore rep. in Switzerland. >When I went back to him, he said: "CBM told me that 'JF-handler' is not part >of the sidecar workbench, you have to buy it separately." > >What !!! 8-() > >I buy the Sidecar ( 1790.- Sfr !!! ) because it gives me I*M compatibility >and allow me to exchange data on floppies { the doc says that ;-) } and now >I have to pay more to get this thing which should be part of my worbench !?! >My conclusion: The poor dealer did not understand what I wanted or I have > been ripped off ! Anyway, I won't get it ! :-( > > >[ Begin of flames to CBM Switzerland ] > By the way, if you are reading this at CBM USA, I would just let you know > how useless CBM Swizerland is ! My first computer was an C=64 and now the > Amiga 1000. Every time I go to my dealer to ask something, I hear "Sorry > Sir, I do not know. Try CBM perhaps ???" and when I call CBM Switzerland: > "Soory Sir, we do not talk to you directly, go back to your dealer ! > [click...tuuut...tuuut...tuuut]" > Both the C=64 (at its time) and the Amiga are great machines, Ahh ! If > CBM Switzerland could be as user friendly as these machines ! >[ End of flames ] Considering this posting, I dont blame them.> > >Answer to question 3: >===================== > >in article <5044.AA5044@heimat> Dan Schein says: > >> Was there some discussion of this at the 88 Developers Conference (and in >> the notes)? Thats the only place I know any info. might be..... > >Here, there is another point I cannot understand: Why is it so difficult to >get the docs. >I.e.: Why cant we get the Workbench source code ? Because fools would change it. > Why cant we get the 'Hydra bios' source code (Sidecar) ? What is Hydra? Ah, the water bios... I see . > Why cant we get the Kickstart source code ? You mean you did not get this with your amiga??? Gosh, I got a copy. >Do you think this question is silly ? Extremely. >Other manufacturesr do provide this kind of info (IBM BIOS listings) Where do you get a source code listing of copyrighted IBM bios? >even CBM released it for the C=64 (BASIC interpreter ROM listing, C=1541 >floppy drive controller source code, etc...) >To be fair I also have to say that the released books are very nice (ROM >Kernel manual, Intution Manual, Hardware Manual, Library and Devices Manual, >Developpers manual, etc....) > >Answer to question 4: >===================== > >In article <6867@xanth.cs.odu.edu> Mark D. Manes says: > >> Try to get the newer software. > >in article <5044.AA5044@heimat> Dan Schein says: > >> See #2 above. > >My comment is the flames written under point 3 above. > >More on this subject ? > Hopefully not. > > +- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + > + Francis Demierre, + > + Bitnet: francis%hslrswi.UUCP@cernvax.BITNET + > + UUcp: {uunet,ukc,mcvax...}!cernvax!hslrswi!francis + > + M400: demierre@sba.kom.hasler + > +- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark D. Manes "In Amiga We Trust" Programmer of Fortune, have compiler will travel "Only Amiga makes it Possible, but with 1 meg its hell!" ===========================================================================