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From: ecs40hw036@minnie.ucdavis.edu (0000;0000048984;3200;250;205;ecs40hw)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Magic Sac and Spectre
Keywords: Atari ST
Message-ID: <3491@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
Date: 12 Jan 89 23:51:07 GMT
References: <19627@uflorida.cis.ufl.EDU>
Sender: uucp@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu
Reply-To: ecs40hw036@minnie.ucdavis.edu (Sir Hackalot)
Organization: University of California, Davis
Lines: 34


The Atari ST is a very good graphics machine.  There are programs that make
the ST's graphics comparable to the Amiga.  Obviously, the ST cannot match
the graphics of a $20,000 workstation, but many users of $20,000 ws use the ST
with the legendary CAD/3D as an experimenter.  

Yes, you can run UNIX on the ST, or, for that matter, on any ASCII machine.
If you mean within the ST itself, the answer is also yes.  As you know, the
ST uses a mouse-type interface, but there are many programs out there for the ST
that enable an ST to be a UNIX-type command line computer.

The Magic Sac and Spectre are both Mac-emulators for the ST.  The designer of
the Magic Sac, David Small, quit the company making his creation and formed his
own company to market Spectre, which, in the opinions of some, is better.
(You also need Mac ROMs, which is not hard to get)

To run IBM software, you can use the classic pc-ditto, a software-based
IBM emulator for the ST.  (Costs only $70!)  There are other emulators which 
are hardware based.  (But after you start using the ST, you wouldn't want to
switch back to the Big Blue)

The best C compiler?  Treading on hot territory here, but here's some favorites:
Megamax(now Laser), Aztec, Lattice, Manx, Mark Williams, Alcyon(Atari's), 
there's more, including some pretty good public domain ones.

The only difference between the new 1040STs and the Megas is memory.  There
are more differences between older 1040STs and newer 1040STs and Megas, however.The Megas have a blitter chip, a supposed cleaned-up TOS, and a clock.

And yes, the ST now has genlock capability.

(Hope you join the ranks of super-loyal Atari users -to the computer, not 
necessarily the company) 

****ahsiung@ucdavis  {INTERNET}