From: kruel@wpcst1.phys-chemie.uni-wuerzburg.dbp.de (Thomas-Martin Kruel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Organization: Institut f. Physikalische Chemie
Subject: Article on FALCON in German mag c't
Keywords: falcon, review, c't
Summary: the german mag "c't" has a first report on the Falcon
X-Software: HERMES GUS 1.03 Rev. Apr 14 1992
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 20:45:30 MEST

I wonder that this has not been posted yet:

   The German computer magazine "c't" (one of the leading ones) has an 
article in its September issue on the Falcon030, which will be presented 
definitely on the Atari fair, Aug. 21-23, 1992 in Duesseldorf/Germany.


   Even though some of the information has been posted before, I'll post 
the summary again for some details (may be):

   - processor 68030/16 Mhz
   - coprocessor 68881/68882 optional (socket available)
   - RAM: 1, 4, or 14 MByte
   - ROM: 512 kByte (internal), 128 kByte (external, ROM-Port), 16 bit wide

   Sound subsystem:
   - DSP 56001/32 Mhz with 96k SRAM (0 wait, 32 kWords at 24 bit)
   - 16 bit stereo AD/DA
   - sampling rate max. 62.5 kHz, external clock input available 
   - 8 bit sound compatible to STE
   - 3 channel PSG sound compatible to ST

   Video subsystem:
   - ST low  320 x 200, 16  colors from 4096
   - ST med  640 x 200, 8   colors from 4096
   - ST high 640 x 400, 2   colors from 4096
   -         640 x 480, 256 colors from 262144
   true color mode:
   - 320 x 200, 32768 colors
   - 320 x 480, 32768 colors
     either overscan or interlaced mode, may be sychronized from outside
     overlay mode, HF modulator
   - Blitter at 16 bit, 16 MHz

   Interfaces:
   - DSP connector, Sub-D, 26pol. fem.
   - SCSI-2, 50pol.
   - Centronics, Sub-D, 25pol. fem.
   - RS-232, Sub-D, 9pol., male
   - MIDI In, Out/Thru, 5pol. DIN, fem.
   - LAN, compatible to TT030 and STE (8pol. Mini-DIN, fem.)
   - ROM-Port (cartrigde, 16 bit, compatible to ST)
   - 2 STE compatible joystick ports, Sub-D, 15pol., 3 rows

   Storage subsystem:
   - Floppy 1.44 MByte, 3.5'' 
   - HD, internal IDE Bus, external SCSI Bus (size expected to be 
     40 MByte), 2.5'' within the case

   Miscellaneous:
   - operating system unclear; currently TOS 2.07, MultiTOS to be expected 
   - real time clock, battery backed
   - internal expansion port
   - fan
   - connectors for microphone and speaker
   - case like 1040

   Price: around DM 1500  (~ UK L 500, ~ FF 5000).

   
   In particular, it might be interesting that ordinary MultiSync or VGA 
monitors can be connected now instead of just a SM 124.

   The machine presented to "c't" had no MultiTOS yet, but a modified TOS 
2.07 (whatever this may be). "tms" claims that they were able to port their 
program "Cranach" easily to the new system. QuickIndex reveals a CPU 
performance of about 50% of the TT030. It's quite unclear to me what the LAN 
interface is meant to be.

   There is a photograph inside the mag which shows a rather clean board 
apparently ready for production. The machine presented here was handed out 
to the magazine in the beginning of July.

   The machine seems to aim at the consumers market, rather at the low than 
the high end. Alwin Stumpf from Atari Germany did not exclude that yet 
another machine may be released this year, but left it open if that will be a 
Falcon040 or an even smaller system.

   I'm personally quite unsecure if I should replace my old MegaST by such 
a machine. I think it's better to wait for a high end machine such as the 
speculated Falcon040. There is still a need for MultiTOS to become ready, 
before.


Regards,
         Thomas
-- 
Thomas-Martin Kruel  Institut f. Physikalische Chemie / Universitaet Wuerzburg
                     Marcusstr. 9-11, D-8700 Wuerzburg, Tel. +49 931 31579
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