From: darekm@microsoft.com (Darek MIHOCKA)
Subject: Re: More info on GEMulator please!
Date: 10 Apr 92 17:41:26 GMT
Organization: Microsoft Corp.

In article <1992Apr6.145527.10156@oz.plymouth.edu> pyr579@oz.plymouth.edu (Technoid) writes:
>	I just caught a reply to an earlier posted GEMulator article
>which certainly sounds like an emulator for the IBM to allow it to run
>ST software. How about sending me some more in depth info on this. I am
>looking into buying a laptop and keeping the ST at my house in Maine while
>I'm in Indiana for the next 2-3 years. Thanks,

Since Gemulator was demoed last week at the Toronto show, you'll probably
be reading more about it from eyewitnesses, but why I don't I just recap
some of what I said at the show:

To run Gemulator you will need a machine with a 386sx, 386, 486sx, or 486
processor. 286's and earlier relics from the early 80's are not supported.
Keep in mind that 386 based computers have been around since 1986, and
the great majority of PCs sold today are at least 386sx's or higher. I
didn't see the point of supporting machines that are hardly used any more.
The issues of trying to emulate the 32-bit 68000 on a 16-bit 286 or even
the 8-bit 8088 are just to complicated to be worth the trouble. It would
be like emulating the 68000 on an Atari 800.

Gemulator can run on MS-DOS or any DOS compatible operating system such as
Windows. YOU DO NOT REQUIRE WINDOWS, but if you want to multitask ST and PC
software or multitask several pieces of ST software, you need Windows.
But if all you want to do is run one ST program at a time, the good old
C:> prompt is all you need.

Gemulator requires a PC with 4 meg of RAM. This is because the ST's memory
is taken out of your PC's memory, so obviously you need more memory in the
PC than what you're emulating in the ST. Gemulator will probably ship
configured to emulate a 2 meg ST. If you want a larger ST, you'll need
more PC memory.

As was demoed at Toronto, Gemulator's emulation of the 68000 chip and the
ST hardware is virtually 100% compatible. Every program that anyone tried
to run (and people were encouraged to bring their own disks) worked.
Programs that were tested at the show included Pagestream, Calamus,
Dynacadd, Tempus, GFA Basic, Sudden View, DC Desktop, Hotwire, Multidesk,
Warp 9, Neodesk 2 and 3, APL, Laser C, and many more.

Gemulator uses a plug in card to hold the ST's TOS chips. This way you
can plug in ANY version of TOS (from 1.0 to 2.06) into your PC. If you
plan to use Gemulator on a laptop, just make sure you get one that has
a card slot built in or a docking station option.

Both color and monochrome are emulated and you can switch from color to
monochrome with a few keystrokes. No unplugging of monitors or rebooting
of the computer! The one VGA monitor handles low rez, medium rez, and 
monochrome ST modes. In color, all 4096 colors are supported.

I can't give you any ordering information of pricing over the net, so
please see the ads in ST Informer, Atari User, Atari Advantage, Current
Notes, or Atari Interface Magazine for more information. Please do not
send email asking for more information. Read the ads.

- Darek

-- 
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  Darek Mihocka. Creator of Quick ST & Gemulator. Views expressed are my own.
  Branch Always Software, 14150 NE 20th Street, Unit 302, Bellevue, WA  98007
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