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- From: sourada@iastate.edu (Steven D Ourada)
- Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st,news.answers,comp.answers
- Subject: Welcome to comp.sys.atari.st! (Hardware)
- Supersedes: <hard_760150665@iastate.edu>
- Followup-To: comp.sys.atari.st
- Date: 2 Apr 1994 23:43:51 GMT
- Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
- Lines: 697
- Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.Edu
- Expires: 16 May 1994 23:43:41 GMT
- Message-ID: <hard_765330221@iastate.edu>
- References: <gen_765330221@iastate.edu>
- NNTP-Posting-Host: pv3440.vincent.iastate.edu
- Summary: Some frequent questions and answers about Atari 16/32 bit
- computers. Please read this before asking a question on
- comp.sys.atari.st.
- Xref: bloom-beacon.mit.edu comp.sys.atari.st:30939 news.answers:17233 comp.answers:4401
-
- Archive-name: csas-faq/part3
-
-
-
- Welcome to comp.sys.atari.st! Please read this FAQ before posting a question
- to comp.sys.atari.st, since a lot of common questions are answered here.
-
- Thanks to David Paschall-Zimbel (davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu) for
- compiling most of this FAQ.
-
- Entries are dated by the last change. ??.??.?? means they were last changed
- before the dates were added.
-
- The following is an index of the questions answered in this part of the FAQ.
- For easy access to a particular question, search for the tag surrounded by
- colons (i. e. :GNU:). Questions marked with '*' are new or changed.
-
-
-
-
- WEL Welcome to comp.sys.atari.st
- MODELS All the models in the ST line
- FALCON What are the specs on the Falcon?
- ACCEL Hardware Accelerators
- TAPE Can I use a SCSI tape drive?
- DRIVES What should I know about hard drives and the ST?
- FLOPPY Can I use 1.44 meg floppy disks and Flopticals?
- GRAPHIC How can I enjoy enhanced graphics on my ST?
- KEY A few keyboard questions
- JOY What joysticks work best with the Atari ST?
- MODEM What modems work with the Atari ST?
- MONITOR What should I know about monitors and the ST?
- PCEM How can I turn my Atari ST into a PC emulator?
- SPECTRE How can I turn my Atari ST into a Macintosh emulator?
- UPGRADE Can/should I upgrade my ST?
-
-
-
- :WEL: 93.06.11
- Welcome to comp.sys.atari.st
- ============================
-
- This newsgroup is devoted to discussion about 16 and 32 bit Atari micros. At
- present that includes the Atari 520ST, 1040ST, Mega ST, STe, STacy, Mega STe,
- TT, and Falcon. There are also emulators for the Apple Macintosh and IBM
- PC/XT/AT available.
-
- Most of the people who read this newsgroup are technically oriented.
- The newsgroup serves as a resource for Atari users ... feel free to
- contribute to the discussions.
-
- Associated newsgroups include:
-
- comp.binaries.atari.st ! uuencoded binary programs
- comp.sys.atari.st.tech ! technical programming/hardware topics
- comp.sources.atari.st ! uuencoded/shar sources
-
-
- :MODELS: 93.01.30
- All the models in the ST line
- =============================
-
- This is a pretty complete list of all the ST/TT models and their main
- features. If you have any additions/correction, of course, send them to
- me.
-
- Feature key:
- CPU's:
- 8 8 MHz 68000
- 16 16 MHz 68000
- 16/3 16 MHz 68030
- 32/3 32 MHz 68030
-
- RAM:
- /1 128kB
- /5 512kB
- 1 1MB
- 2 2MB
- 4 4MB
- S SIMM slots for expansion
-
- Built-in:
- F Floppy
- M TV modulator
-
- Extra:
- AV 8 bit digital stereo audio, 4096 colors, hardware scrolling,
- analog joystick ports
- MB MegaBus processor-direct bus slots
- 6U 6U VME bus slots, second serial port
- FC Motorola 56000 DSP, 16 bit stereo audio, much enhanced video
-
- TOS:
- Highest built-in TOS
-
-
- Models:
- Name CPU RAM TOS B.I. Extra Comment
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
- 130 ST 8 /1 1.0 M Never marketed
- 260 ST 8 /5 1.0 M
- 520 ST 8 /5 1.0 M
- 520 ST+ 8 1 1.0 M
- 520 STm 8 /5 1.2 M
- 520 STfm 8 /5 1.2 FM
- 1040 ST 8 1 1.0 FM
- 1040 STf 8 1 1.2 F
- 1040 STm 8 1 1.2 M
- 1040 STfm 8 1 1.2 FM
- Mega 1 8 1 1.2 F MB
- Mega 2 8 2 1.2 F MB
- Mega 4 8 4 1.2 F MB
- STacy 8 1 ??? F Laptop
- STBook 8 1 ??? F Notebook
- 520 STe 8 .5S 1.62 FM AV
- 1024 STe 8 1S 1.62 FM AV
- Mega STe 16 1S 2.06 F AV,MB,6U
- TT 16/030 Just for developers
- TT 32/030 S 3.06 F AV,MB,6U Various mem/HD configs
- Falcon 16/030 S 4.?? F AV,FC Many enhancements!
-
-
-
- :FALCON: ??.??.??
- What are the specs on the Falcon?
- =================================
-
- Here's some stuff I culled from the (reposted) Delphi conference with Sam
- Tramiel.
-
- --- Start Quoted material ---
- Here's the specs on the Atari Falcon 030:
-
- CPU: Motorola 68030 running at 16 Mhz
- 32-bit Bus
- Optional 68881 or 68882 FPU
- RAM: 1,4, or 14 megs
- Standard Atari Cartridge Port
- Motorola 56001 DSP chip
-
- Expansion Bus:
-
- Internal direct processor slot for 386SX PC emulation, or other
- coprocessor
-
- Graphics:
-
- Super VGA graphics: 640x480 with 256 colors
- True color 16 bit mode allowing a display of up to 65,536 colors
- Accepts external video sync signal to allow high quality genlocking
- Overlay mode for easy video titling and special effects
- Overscan on TV's and ST Color monitors
- 262,144 possible colors
- hardware-assisted horizontal fine scrolling
- BLiTTER graphics co-processor
-
- Sound features:
-
- Eight 16 bit audio DMA record and playback channels
- Stereo 16 bit digital DMA input
- Stereo 16 bit DMA audio output
- SDMA sound/DMA Coprocessor
-
- Standard Ports
-
- SCSI II port with DMA
- High speed LocalTalk compatible LAN
- Connector for analog RGB color (ST or VGA) or composite video
- RS232C serial port
- Bidirectional parallel port
- MIDI IN/MIDI OUT
- Stereo microphone input, miniature stereo plug
- Stereo audio out, miniature stereo plug
- Two joystick connectors
- Two enhanced digital/analog controller/light pen connectors
-
- Data Storage
-
- 1.44 Mbyte floppy disk drive
- Optional internal IDE Hard Disk
-
- System software
-
- Pre-emptive Multitasking with adaptive prioritzation (MultiTOS)
- Inter process communication
- NewDesk desktop and eXtensible control panel
- Multiple window user interface; number of windows limited
- only by memory or software in use.
- --- End Quoted Material ---
-
-
-
- :ACCEL: ??.??.??
- Hardware Accelerators
- =====================
- (Thanks to Shoou-yu Tang sytang@lamar.colostate.edu for this info.)
-
- 68000 based: ICD adspeed ST/STe
- Fast Tech Turbo T-16 (16MHz)
- T-20 (20MHz)
- T-25 (25MHz)
- 68030 based: Gadget by Small SST (16MHz to 40MHz user changeable, 8 SIMM slot
- 68882 FPU socket, 1 expansion slot, TOS 2.0x).
- Fast Tech : Tiny Turbo
- Full size version
-
-
- :TAPE: 93.08.11
- Can I use a SCSI tape drive?
- ============================
-
- Yes, just about any SCSI tape drive should be useable on the ST line. (Of
- course, if your computer doesn't already have a SCSI port, you'll need a SCSI
- host adapter.) There are at least two freeware/shareware programs that can
- help you back up your HD to SCSI tape: TapeBIOS and GEMAR (a German GEM
- ARchiver)
-
-
- :DRIVES: ??.??.??
- What should I know about hard drives and the ST?
- (Thanks to Shoou-yu Tang sytang@lamar.colostate.edu for this info.)
-
- To get a hard drive for ST, STe, Mega, Mega STe or TT(using DMA port):
- 1. Host adapter (convert the ST's DMA to SCSI standard):
- ICD, Supra, BMS are the three major manufature. ICD has very good
- software updating support and updates very often.
- 2. SCSI hard drive or MFM/RLL drive with SCSI adapter:
- i). SCSI drive:
- Like Quantum Pro80LPS, Seagate ST-xxxN series, they have a 50 pins IDC
- connector, and usually say SCSI hard drive or Mac drive. (Any Mac except
- Mac128, Mac512, FatMac has SCSI built in, so a drive that works with Mac
- usually has SCSI interface).
- No other adapter needed, just connect to the host adapter in 1.
-
- ii). MFM/RLL drive:
- These types of drive is older and used in older IBM machines. To use
- them you need an adapter to convert them to SCSI. Adaptec 4000/4000A
- is for MFM, 4070 for RLL drive, Emulex and OMTI also has similar cards
- availible. Adaptec has stopped production for quite sometime so look for
- these in used/liquidation place. (usually goes $40 to $75 each).
-
- Connect the drive to the adapter (said Adaptec 4000) then connect the
- adapter to the host adapter. (said ICD). It looks like following:
- -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------
- | MFM drive |------->|ACB 4000 |------>| ICD |------>| ST DMA |
- -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------
-
- 3. Case, power supply and cabels for the drive system:
- Unless you have Mega, Mega STe, TT and the drive is 3.5" so you will put
- the drive internally, you will need a case with power supply to house the
- adapter and hard drive. IBM case is very easy to get and has a lot of space
- for expansion.
- For older drive you need about 40 watts each drive, for newer 3.5" drive
- they use about 20 watts or less, Quantum LPS drive use about 10 watts each,
- make sure your power supply has more than the drives need. Again if you
- use IBM case, the 150 watts power supply for that type case can drive at
- least 3 drives without problwm.
- Cables: DMA cable usually comes with the host adapter.
- power cable from power supply to drive usually comes with power sup
- SCSI cable from host adapter to SCSI drive or adapter(for MFM/RLL),
- it's 50pins IDC female connector on each end with 50 conductors
- cable. Should be availible at place you get the drive.
- For MFM/RLL drive you will need the usual MFM/RLL drive cable:
- ( a 34 conductors cable and a 20pins connector, again should be
- available at the place you get the drive).
-
- Now, connect them all together. Before power up, check the connection again.
- And check the jumper setting on the drive (consult the drive's manual). If you
- are using more than one drive with the system, make sure only the last drive
- has the terminator (either a DIP or a signle inline package of resistor, which
- usually is socketed and close to the SCSI connector on the drive circle board.
- Remove the terminator from other drives. [only the last drive should have the
- terminator]
-
- Software usually comes with the host adapter, or you can FTP atari's AHDX5
- from ftp sites.
-
-
- :FLOPPY: 93.08.11
- Can I use 1.44 meg floppy disks and Flopticals?
- ===============================================
-
- 1.4 megabyte floppy drives will soon be available from Atari for MegaSTe
- and TT machines. If you own an older Atari ST, there is a company which offers
- a $199 kit (including floppy) to install and use the drive.
-
- Note that Tos versions prior to 2.05 will not format a 1.4 meg floppy from the
- desktop.
-
- Floptical drives (floppys that use optical tracking to get 21MB on a 3.5" disk)
- can also be used through a SCSI port. ICD's newer host adapter software (the
- 'PRO' version) will handle them.
-
-
- :GRAPHIC: ??.??.??
- How can I enjoy enhanced graphics on my ST?
- ===========================================
-
- For stock STs, JRI makes a chip which allows a 4096 color palette.
- There is also a public domain enhancement that allows 32768 colors on
- older STs. This can be found as 32kcolor.lzh on some archives.
-
- There are a number of graphics boards on the market. Here is a first pass
- at listing some of them. The information is based on postings by Ben Gilbert
- and Jari Lehto.
-
- C32 board by Matrix Datensystem (Germany)
- * 800x608, 256 colors
- * all ST/TT models
- * 256k, 512k and 1meg versions
-
- C75Z board by Matrix Datensystem (Germany)
- * 1024x768, 256 colors
- * Mega ST or STe, TT VME Buss
-
- (Matrix GmbH has over 15, maybe over 20 with all versions, different
- graphics boards available, from hobbyist to professional, from CAD
- to GenLock and digitizing.)
-
- ISAC board by Dover Research Company (U.S.)
- * 1024x768, 16 colors from palette of 4096
- * makes hi-res look like ST low res, just with a huge window
- * Mega ST buss
- * Dover Research Co. (612) 492-3913
-
- The Imagine by Wittich Computer GmbH (Germany)
- * 1024x768, 256 colors
- * Mega ST only
-
- (Versions available for all ST/TT models. Several possible resolutions.
- Reasonable price, but slow and not very compatible..)
-
- Crazy Dots by TKR (Germany)
- * 1024x768, 256 colors
- * Mega ST only
-
- (1280x800, 256 colors out of 16.7 million color palette. 1664x1200 for
- both 16 color and monochrome. True color option available. Mega ST,
- Mega STe and TT.)
-
- reSOLUTION SuperVGA by GengTec (Germany)
- * 8 resolutions, 320x200 through 1600x1200
- * 16 colors without driver, 256 out of 256,000 with driver
- * 1 mb RAM
- * uses a standard VGA monitor
- * Mega ST or regular ST
- * available in U.S. from Rio Datel, 1-800-782-9110, (702) 454-700
-
- (1024x768 is the highest resolution with 256 colors. Driver is called
- Multicolor VGA option. Compatible with NVDI and Blitter. Multisync
- monitor recommended.)
-
- AlberTT
- * like ISAC card, but specific for TT VME buss
-
- MegaScreen
- * 832x624 monochrome
- * connects to MegaBus
- * works with Spectre
-
- Reflex
- *1024x1024 with SM124 monitor
- *2048x2048 possible with expansion
- *usable with most big-screen displays
-
- ODIN by Marvin AG (Switzerland)
- * external expansion
- * gives TT-resolutions to a regular ST
-
- Cyrel
- * RISC-based card
- * extremely costly
-
- Here's a few more cards, available from OverScan GbR, Saentisstrasse 166,
- 1000 Berlin 48, West Germany, ++49 30 721 94 66, ++49 30 721 56 92 (FAX),
- ++49 30 727 05 6 (Mailbox, language: German)
-
- Autoswitch OverScan for the ST (NO STE compatibility) is DM 129.--, you
- don't have to buy a new monitor. The maximum resolution on a SM 124
- is variable, but in most cases at about 732*480.
- AutoSwitch OverScan TT is a VME board. It's about 249.-- DM, you also can use
- your old monitor, but it only works in the TTs five color modes
- (3 ST-compatible modes, 2 TT-modes). Resolutions are variable, ask
- OverScan about the values for your monitor.
- Falcon ScreenBlaster blows up your Falcons resolution to a maximum of nearly
- 900*600 on SVGA-monitors. It'll be shipping as soon as Falcon030s
- become available, and the pricing will be near 150.-- DM.
-
-
- Graphics cards for which information is sought:
-
- OmniChrome board by Omnimon Peripherals
-
- JRI GenLock
-
- Atari/Lexicor 24 bit color card
-
-
- Jari Lehto proposed the following recommendations:
-
- Low budget SVGA - reSOLUTION
- Professional high-end use Cyrel (or is it Cyrix?)
- Hobby or semi-pro DTP Reflex
- Hobby DTP MegaScreen
- To obtain TT resolution ODIN
-
-
- :KEY: 93.09.02
- A few keyboard questions
- ========================
-
- Here's how to connect a MegaST-keyboard to a 1040ST:
- It's taken from the "ST-Computer" October '90 ('Quick-Tips')
-
-
- Picture 1
-
- Mega ST-Keyboard cable
- (seen from outside)
-
- It's no problem to connect * 1
- the MegaST keyboard to the ____________ o
- smaller computers 520St and ___| | * 3
- 1040ST. To do that, you only | 6 * | * 4
- have to get a 6-pin western | 5 * | * 5
- connector plug to be connec- | 4 * | * 6
- ted to the keyboard. (available | 3 * | * 7
- in Electronic shops) After that | 2 * | * 8
- four cables must be connected | 1 * |
- with the 'Pfostereihe' (the |___ | 1040ST
- plug inside the 1040ST) where |___________| Keyboard-Plug
- normally the dazzy original-keyboard
- is plugged in. The exact connection Picture 3
- is shown on picture 2 and 3
-
- Eickmann Computer, Franktfurt
-
- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * o *
- 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 1
-
- Picture 2 520 ST Keyboard plug (not for You, Jeff)
-
-
- Picture 3 (Meg to 1040ST) Picture 2 (Meg to 520ST)
- MegST MegST
- keyboard cable <--> 1040ST plug keyboard <--> 520ST plug
-
- 6 <--|----> 8 6 <--|----> 1
- | |
- 5 <--| 5 <--|
-
- 4 <-------> 5 4 <-------> 14
- 3 <-------> 6 3 <-------> 15
-
- 2 <--|----> 4 2 <--|----> 13
- | |
- 1 <--| 1 <--|
- *********************
- And now for No.2
- *********************
- If you remove the keyboard from the Mega ST and switch on the computer,
- the computer won't boot up and send you a series of 'Alert-Beeps'.
- If YOU want to let your Mega ST run without a keyboard (FAX-Server a.s.o.)
- simply connect a restistor to the keyboard-plug in the Meg and at once
- there's silence and he'll do his job!
- (Freely translated from Eickmann-Computer by me)
-
- 6 * 10kj resistor
- 5 * _____
- 4 *----|_____|--
- 3 * |
- 2 *-------------+
- 1 *-------------|
-
- Mega ST keyboard-plug
- (inside-view)
- ***********************
- And here's another one: This one's about the Hardcopy-function of the ST's
- ************************
- Do you hate it - after pressing <Alternate>+<Help> the same time - when
- you don't have a printer connected to the parallel port of your ST and
- must wait a long time to work again because of the long break taking the
- computer to realize that there's no printer connected?
- Well, do this and forget about it:
-
- connect the following pins of the printer port of your computer (better:
- create a Sub-D 25pin-male-plug an connect the pins on the soldering side):
-
- pin 13 connected to 14 and 15 (all across the plug)
- pin 1 connected to 10
- pin 23 connected to 11 and 12
- ***********************
-
-
- :JOY: ??.??.??
- What joysticks work best with the Atari ST?
-
- The Atari ST works with joysticks with a 'standard' D-Socket. IBM-style
- joysticks, Apple joysticks, and Nintendo joysticks will -not- work.
-
- Some recommended joysticks:
-
- Konix Navigator - "best .. if you want to use it for any length of
- time"
- Gravis - "responsive ... great for games like MidiMaze"
- WICO - "strong reed switches, hard plastic and metal components"
- Atari - "FAR more controllable and responsive than other, more durable
- units"
-
-
- :MODEM: ??.??.??
- What modems work with the Atari ST?
-
- Any external modem should work fine with the Atari ST-series of computers.
- You will need to purchase or build an RS-232 cable. Be sure the cable is
- capable of establishing DTR with your modem, as many telecommunications
- packages check the status of the DTR line. (Ask your local hardware guru if
- you don't know what DTR is...)
-
- The ST can connect to modems at up to 19,200 baud. Practically, you will
- purchase either a 2400-baud or 9600-baud modem. The cost of 2400-baud modems
- has dropped so much in the past few years that you should not even consider
- a slower modem. Believe me, modem speeds under 2400-baud are going to seem
- SLOOOOOOOW to you!
-
- You will probably need a serial port patch program to use high speed modems
- on your ST; most versions of TOS have a bug in CTS/RTS handling.
-
- :MONITOR: ??.??.??
- What should I know about monitors and the ST?
-
- The monitor is your connection to the ST. Without a monitor, you're typing
- blind. (Unless, of course, you have an RF modulator on your ST and attach it
- to your TV set. This is discouraged, as the bandwidth and resolution are
- pretty terrible for anything other than arcade games.)
-
- There are three monitor choices for those of us owning Atari ST/STe equipment:
-
- 1. Monochrome monitors - these include the venerable SM124, one of the
- sharpest monochrome monitors on the market. Street price is about $150,
- used monitors should run around $80-90. You can also purchase a 19"
- monochrome monitor. This gives you a 'big screen' to play around in, and
- is best for work with DTP and CAD systems. The price is a bit high at
- $1500+, and you'll need a plug-in board, which is generally set up for
- the Mega ST machine.
-
- 2. Color monitors - including the SC1224 in all of its incarnations (JVC and
- Goldstar being the primary vendors). The newer monitor, the SC1435, has
- a 14" screen and stereo sound.
-
- 3. Multisync monitors - these monitors provide monochrome and color access
- in one monitor. The street price is around $450, about $100 more than
- a standard Atari color monitor. You need to reset your computer to change
- resolutions. In many cases, a nice little switch box is provided (or you
- can build one) which does this for you. Examples of multisync monitors
- include the OMNIMON RAINBOW MONITOR.
-
-
- There are any number of monitor choices for those owning Atari TT equipment,
- although they all boil down to 'multisync VGA'. There 14" color VGA monitor
- from Atari is quite nice, as is the 19" monochrome monitor. Any standard 14"
- multisync VGA monitor will do as well. Forget moving your SM124 or SC1224
- monitor to your new system, the cabling and electronics is just not going to
- work.
-
-
- :PCEM: ??.??.??
- How can I turn my Atari ST into a PC emulator?
- ==============================================
- (Thanks to Shoou-yu Tang sytang@lamar.colostate.edu for this info.)
-
- Supercharger is the only external PC emulator with 8MHz V30 and 1MB RAM in a
- nice lunch box. It connects to ST's DMA port and defaults as device 3. It's
- powered by external power supply. Has 8087 socket and one expansion slot.
- The 1MB RAM can be used as RAM drive by ST when the IBM side not used.
-
-
- :SPECTRE: ??.??.??
- How can I turn my Atari ST into a Macintosh emulator?
- =====================================================
- (Thanks to Wayne (trek@ihlpb.att.com) for this info.)
-
- Product: Spectre GCR from Gadgets by Small, Inc
- 40 W. Littleton Blvd
- #210-211
- Littleton, CO 80120
- Retail: $299.95
-
- Description:
- The Spectre GCR is a combination of software and hardware that allows
- the Atari Mega/ST/STe/TT line of computers to emulate an Apple MacIntosh
- Plus(tm) Computer. The emulation is so good that most Apple software
- runs out of the package using your Atari Disk drives to read in the
- Mac software. It does all of this while running 20% faster than the
- program would on a MacIntosh Plus and provides you a 30% larger screen
- area.
-
- The Spectre GCR is a combination of software (written by Gadgets by Small,
- Inc), a cartridge (also from Gadgets), and a pair of 128K Apple ROMs (from
- either a MAC 512kE(tm) or Mac Plus - part numbers 342-0341 and 342-0342
- which you purchase separately from an Apple source.) The Apple ROMs can
- currently be purchased for around $150. MacIntosh documentation and
- software, including the operating system (referred to as System/Finder),
- are also required to round out the package.
-
- The Spectre software is currently at release Version 3.0. Gadgets supplies
- fairly frequent updates to allow you to keep up with the Apple OS releases.
- The Version 3.0 update retails for $20. Version 3.0 supports 15 of the
- 128K OS releases up to, but not yet including System 7 releases.
-
- Spectre software supports Mac formatted disks (including formatting your
- own) with your Atari drives, Mac sound, large screen displays (1280x960)
- Mac harddisks via SCSI through a Megatalk board (retail $299.95 from Gadgets)
- or through an ACSI-SCSI host adapter (my Syquest works beautifully- and
- the excessive use of disk accesses in Mac software will have you wanting
- a hard drive). Spectre 3.0 also supports DOS Mounter and Apple File
- Exchange if you are needing MS-DOS data disks for Mac work. Language
- configuration support, keyboard support, A4 paper size support for
- Lasers have also been added to 3.0.
-
- Running Spectre:
- The feeling you will get when you see your Atari transformed into a
- MacIntosh with a decent screen is indescribable. The extra flexibility
- that you get will also make you feel more confident in the greatness of
- your Atari. You will also get to see some of the frustrations with one
- of the other sides of the fence - frustrations like excessive disk access,
- remembering not to remove/change a disk unless the OS tells you to, etc.
-
- Speaking of changing disks, there are major differences in the operating
- philosophies of an ST and of a MacIntosh. You really must read the
- documentation that comes with the Spectre GCR (and I for one found that
- a real delight. Dave and Sandy have a very different approach to software
- documentation that makes it enjoyable reading.) You should also read the
- Mac Operating System docs. One other reference you may need if you are
- going to do much with Mac software is one of the reference manuals
- referred to as the MacIntosh Bible.
-
- If you ask an Apple dealer if a particular piece of software runs on
- a GCR, don't figure you will get a straight answer. They won't know.
- The current compatibility list from Gadgets lists about 450 programs
- and their release numbers that have been tried and found to work with
- Spectre GCR. In general, if a piece of software won't work with the GCR,
- it is probably becuase of copy protection. Most serious Mac software is
- not copy protected.
-
- One last note - earlier versions of the emulator exist that were not capable
- of reading Mac disks directly. It's a capability you will want.
-
- (Thanks to Shoou-yu Tang (sytang@lamar.colostate.edu) for this info.)
-
- Spectre GCR is the best availible, you need to obtain a set of 128KB ROM from
- Apple (they are used in Mac 512KE and Mac Plus, noted that Mac512 use older 64
- KB ROM which is not good) to fully utilize the device. Also it's recommanded
- to use it with MONO monitor and at least 2MB RAM. The Spectre software takes
- about 300 some KB of memory, so on a 1040 there is not very much left for Mac,
- especially after the Mac system is loaded. 4MB memory and MONO is best.
- It can read/write Mac disk direct using ST's drive (double side drive, as most
- Mac drive is double side). With DOS mounter or software like that you can read
- /write ST, IBM disk from the Mac desktop as well (don't try to run the ST, IBM
- binary. It's only for file transfer). Or you can use Apple File Exchange to
- read/write ST, IBM disk.
- Syatem 6.0.5 runs fine, system 6.0.6, 6.0.7 runs also. But system 7 will not
- run with it.
-
-
- :UPGRADE: ??.??.??
- Can/should I upgrade my ST?
-
- The answer depends on the type of ST you currently have, and what you want to
- do in the future. Be aware that there are a large number of modifications one
- can perform on the venerable 1040ST, and that newer machines are coming down in
- cost so much that to obtain a certain feature it may be cheaper to purchase
- new than to upgrade.
-
- 1. Memory - most ST machines may be upgraded to 4 megabytes. The newer STe
- machines use either SIP or SIMM
-
- 2. TOS - for those still running TOS 1.0, now is the time to consider an
- upgrade. TOS 1.4 has been around for at least 2 years now, and is -much-
- faster (and safer) for those using hard drives. TOS 2.06 is available
- as a hardware upgrade to ST and MegaST machines for about $150 from CodeHead
-
-
-
- =====================================================================
- Hope you liked the comp.sys.atari.st FAQ. If you have comments,
- suggestions, more material, etc., mail me at sourada@iastate.edu
-
- Thanks to David Paschall-Zimbel (davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu) for
- compiling most of this FAQ.
-
- Later,
- Steven Ourada
- --
- Steven Ourada --- sourada@iastate.edu
- "have no faith in constitution, there is no bloody revolution"
- -- The Police
-