X-Organization: Potsdam College of the STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK (SUNY)
X-Envelope-to: I-AMIGA@UBVM.BITNET
X-VMS-To: IN%"I-AMIGA@UBVM.BITNET"
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.i-amiga
Date:         Sat, 22 Aug 1992 01:24:00 EDT
From:         ARGO <FRASER50@SNYPOTVA.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Amiga Chip Set

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COMMODORE SETTLES TAX PROBLEMS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(March 25, 1992)
Commodore International Ltd. says it has settled "all major issues" related
to its US tax litigation for the years 1981 through 1986.

In a statement from New York, the company said the agreement "results in no
tax liability, other than certain obligations for restricted interest, estimated
by the company to be about $2 million, which amount has already been reflected
in the company's financial statements."

The Internal Revenue Service asserted tax deficiencies amounting to $109
million, the statement noted.

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COMMODORE EARNINGS REPORT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW YORK (APRIL 29) PR NEWSWIRE - Commodore International Limited
(NYSE: CBU) today reported earnings of $4.1 million, or $0.12 per share
on sales of $194.6 million for the third fiscal quarter ended March 31,
1992.

This compares with net income of $1.4 million, or $0.04 per share after
extraordinary charge on sales of $246.3 million in the year-ago quarter.

For the nine months ended March 31, 1992, Commodore reported net income of
$49.5 million, or $1.47 per share on sales of $770.3 million. This compares
with net income of $44.9 million, or $1.37 per share after extraordinary
charge on sales of $830.7 million in the prior year.

The decline in sales for the quarter was primarily due to the dis-
continuation of the unprofitable low-end MS-DOS range, and a reduction
in C64 sales, due to economic softness in certain markets. This was partially
offset by a 10 percent increase in unit sales of the Amiga line along with
continued growth in the Professional PC line.

Gross profit for the quarter declined, primarily reflecting the impact
of lower revenues, partially offset by the favorable impact of hedging
activities.  Operating expenses were reduced by 25 percent vs. the prior
year.

These factors resulted in net income for the quarter of $4.1 million.

Irving Gould, chairman and chief executive officer stated: "Revenues and
profitability for the quarter were adversely impacted by the weak global
economic environment.  However, we are encouraged by the continued growth
in the Amiga and Professional PC lines.  Furthermore, Commodore's range
of products has been enhanced with the recent introduction of the Amiga
600 and 600HD, a new line of consumer products which have been well received
in the marketplace."


          COMMODORE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
          Consolidated Balance Sheets  (Unaudited; $000's)
 March 31                               1992                1991
 Cash and Investments                  $60,800            $101,300
 Accounts Receivable, Net              255,400             221,300
 Inventories                           202,200             245,300
 Other Current Assets                    9,400               8,800
   Total Current Assets                527,800             576,700
 Other Assets                          108,200              91,400
 Total                                $636,000            $668,100
 Current Debt (A)                     $ 71,800            $ 99,800
 Other Current Liabilities             165,800             195,200
   Total Current Liabilities          $237,600            $295,000
 Long-Term Debt and Other               60,300              72,700
 Shareholders' Equity                  338,100             300,400
 Total                                $636,000            $668,100
 (A)  At March 31, 1991 includes reclassification of $59.5 million long-term
      debt.

                Consolidated Statements of Operations
 Periods ended             Three Months             Nine Months
 March 31               1992          1991        1992        1991
 Net Sales            $194,600      $246,300    $770,300    $830,700
 Cost of Sales         140,300       166,660     538,300     552,300
 Gross Profit           54,300        79,700     232,000     278,400
 Operating Expenes      49,100        65,300     168,600     205,100
 Operating Income        5,200        14,400      63,400      73,300
 Interest Expense, Net   2,800         3,100      11,200      12,000
 Other Expense (Income) (1,900)          400        (100)      4,400
 Income Before
  Income Taxes           4,300        10,900      52,300      56,900
 Provision for
  Income Taxes             200           300       2,800       2,800
 Income Before
  Extraordinary Item     4,100        10,600      49,500      54,100
 Extraordinary Item (A)    ---        (9,200)        ---      (9,200)
 Net Income           $  4,100      $  1,400    $ 49,500    $ 44,900
 Earnings Per Share: Income Before
  Extraordinary Item       $.12         $.32       $1.47       $1.65
 Extraordinary Item (A)     ---         (.28)        ---        (.28)
 Net Income                $.12         $.04       $1.47       $1.37
 Average Shares
  Outstanding        34,137,000   33,586,000  33,782,000  32,847,000

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FREITAG ON COMMODORE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Standard & Poor's Corp. analyst Larry Freitag was quoted by Reuter's news
wire that "there is a general concensus Commodore will eventually be
acquired by someone."

Freitag estimates Commodore's stock will rise to 25 dlrs within a year
based on fundamentals, and would go for 35 dlrs in a takeover.

He said Commodore was an attractive purchase because of its unique
dealer/distribution network in Europe, but noted its heavy exposure
overseas also brought foreign currency risks.  Commodore gets 90 pct of
its sales from overseas.

Freitag said he sees Commodore's sales growing to 1.6 billion dlrs in
fiscal 1995, from 1.1 billion in fiscal 1991.  He projected profits of
2.10 dlrs per share in fiscal 1992.

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MAC EMULATOR
~~~~~~~~~~~~

                A T T E N T I O N   E M U L A T I O N   F A N S
                -----------------------------------------------
This notice is to officially announce Utilities Unlimited's new hardware/
software emulation platform "EMPLANT".

This package is an open-ended emulation platform designed to allow the
emulation of virtually any computer at hardware-related speeds.

The package consists of one EMPLANT board (fits internally for A2000-3000
in a ZORO II/III slot - on the expansion bus for A500-1000), and a software
driver for MAC IIx emulation.

The MAC IIx emulation is a full blown color MAC IIx with ALL of the same
features available on a real MAC IIx.  Video display drivers allow the use
of 3rd party video boards to allow full 256 color emulation.  Device
drivers allow the use of virtually any storage media.  A normal MAC IIx
uses a 68030, however, Apple did provide exception handling routines for
the 68000 (odd, eh?), so 68000 users will be able to take advantage of
this emulator too.   The MAC IIx emulator will run all known MAC software,
so compatibilty at this point is 100% (when used with an MMU).  The
emulator completely multi-tasks with the Amiga, allowing files to be
transferred to/from AmigaDOS to MAC from either OS.

The way that this hardware is designed, by simply changing the ROM-SIMM
module (MAC IIx uses a 256K ROM-SIMM), and the software driver (emulator
software) we can change what computer is being emulated.  Because of this
flexibility, we *will* be emulating the MAC IIfx and QUADRA computers by
the fall.  A simple software upgrade is all that will be required.

Support for high density drives (such as CBM's 1.76 drive) have been
included, as well as support for the 800K MAC disks with the SYBIL
hardware.

Also included on the hardware board are 4 sockets (28 pins) that can be
used for BIOS ROMs, static RAM, or utility programs.  ALL of the custom
chips used in the MACs are emulated through hardware, so speed is identical
(or faster) than the real thing.

The retail price for these units is $199 for EMPLANT, and $249 for EMPLANT
and the SYBIL system.



April 27th, 1992

Information reguarding the product "EMPLANT" from Utilities Unlimited,
Inc.  This information is freely re-distributable and may be placed on
any BBS or network except Q-Link.

What is EMPLANT?
----------------
EMPLANT is a hardware/software product that is designed to allow the
emulation of virtually any computer using the Amiga.  A simple software
driver and ROM(s) from the computer to emulated are all that is required.
Features and software compatibility will depend on the software driver.


About the hardware
------------------
The hardware holds the key to emulation speed.  Every effort was made to
make the hardware virsatile enough that we should never have to upgrade
it to handle the emulation of forth comming computer systems.  For this
reason, we have included components that may never be used, however,
this does insure the fact that we are prepared for the future.

The MAC series of computers, although different from one another, share
the same basic technology.  We can replicate this technology by emulating
the MAC's custom chips through a reliable hardware system.  All timers,
interrupts, and clocks are handled on a hardware level so that speed is
identical (or even faster) than the real computer being emulated.

Support for custom EPROMs, static RAM, and SIMM modules makes our hardware
compatible with all existing methods of storing a computer's operating
system.  This versatility also allows us to create adapter boards if some
new method of OS storage becomes available.  The EMPLANT hardware has four
empty 28 pin ROM/RAM sockets provided for use with operating systems that
are stored in DIP format (such as 128K MAC+ ROMs are).  These sockets
can also be used to store your own utility software in EPROM format.  We
plan to release a utility package that will be literally "at your
fingertips".  Another option is to fill the four sockets with 32Kx8 static
RAMs, giving you 128K of extra RAM that you could write protect and make
auto-booting, which would be handy for floppy-only customers.

The hardware comes in two forms: a plug in card that occupies one of the
Zoro II/III slots on your A2000/2500/3000, and a plug in card that fits on
the expansion bus on your A500/1000.  For the A500/1000 version, there is
a pass-thru that allows you to plug in your existing equipment.

The Apple Nu-Bus expansion ports are not emulated through hardware because
they are now RAM-based device drivers which operate faster than a MAC's
own hardware.


                        * AVAILABLE HARDWARE OPTIONS *

HIGH SPEED MAC SERIAL PORTS/APPLE TALK SUPPORT

The MAC serial port is not emulated, it is duplicated - using the exact
same standard dual high speed serial interface IC.  Apple Talk is completely
supported through this port like the MAC, via a 8 pin mini-din connector.
This dual high speed serial port can be used on the Amiga side as well,
allowing the connection of two serial devices operating independantly.
Communication speed on these ports are a maximum of 230.4K baud, which is
the speed at which Apple Talk runs.  Maximum modem speed is generally
limited to 57.6K baud.


SCSI INTERFACE

A simple, non-autobooting SCSI controller using NCR8490 high speed
controller IC.  Capable of non-DMA transfers up to 800K per second.
Support for up to 7 SCSI devices including CD ROMs, tape backup units,
and hand scanners.  This SCSI interface can be used on both the Amiga
side and the MAC side, independantly or simotaneously.




                     About the MAC IIx emulation software
                     ------------------------------------

The MAC IIx emulator software is relatively simple since the majority of
the emulation is done on a hardware level, giving both better
compatibility and equally important, emulation speed.

The software reads the MAC ROM SIMM module that is installed on the
EMPLANT board, dumps the ROM image into a block of memory, and patches the
image to run on your Amiga.  One intelligent move on the part of Apple was
to define "global" variables for their operating system.  This makes it
relatively simple to move the code around without a lot of hassles.
Since the MAC IIx is a 68030 based machine, it has a AMU or PPMU to map
memory into various locations.  Using a 68020/30/40 with an MMU allows
virtually 100% compatibility when running MAC software on the emulator.
Another big advantage of having a MMU in your Amiga is that the emulator
will multi-task with the Amiga.

You can transfer files back and forth between file formats without the
need of transfer software.  The MAC IIx operating system supports a
FFS (Foreign filing system).  This is the link to the Amiga.  ANY AmigaDOS
device can be used on the MAC side.  This means that floppys, hard drives,
CD ROMs, and even non-standard AmigaDOS devices (such as MessyDOS) can
be used as valid devices on the MAC side.

Full color (up to 256 colors) can be emulated with various 12bit and 24bit
video boards.  Support for DCTV, HAME, Firecracker, and others is
provided by video device driver software modules.  Up to 16 colors can be
displayed using the standard Amiga video output.

Sound is emulated exactly via PAULA.  The MAC IIx has 4 channel stereo
sound nearly identical to the Amiga, so this is easy to emulate on a
software level using the existing Amiga hardware.

The MAC 400/800K disk format is emulated by using the already successful
SYBIL hardware package.  High density (1.44mb) floppys are supported via
the CBM 1.76mb drives, as well as "do-it-yourself" high density drives
that many people have built themselves.  Complete interface schematics
will be provided (along with information where to find the necessary
components and the high density drive mechanics) with EMPLANT so that
anyone with the basic soldering skills can build their own high density
floppy drive.



Future emulation
----------------
Since the EMPLANT's hardware is so versatile, a completely new and
different computer can be emulated by just changing the emulation
software patch and the ROM(s).  MAC IIfx, MAC QUADRA, Mega ST, and
IBM AT (386/486) emulators are planned in the future.



Price and availability
----------------------
Current retail price for the basic EMPLANT system is $199 + shipping.

Basic EMPLANT system with High speed serial ports/Apple Talk support
is $259.00 + shipping.

Basic EMPLANT system with high speed SCSI interface is $259.00 +
shipping.

Deluxe EMPLANT system with both high speed serial ports/Apple Talk
support AND high speed SCSI interface is $299 + shipping.

All EMPLANT packages described above come with the MAC IIx emulation
software and necessary device drivers.

The EMPLANT systems will be shipping no later than the third week in July
of 1992.

* Product specifications and prices are subject to change without notice *

To be placed on a mailing for more information, please contact
Utilities Unlimited at:

1641 McCulloch Blvd. Suite #25-124
Lake Havasu City, AZ  86403
(602) 680-9004


We have found that Apple currently *is* allowing the sale of 256K (MAC
IIx), 512K (MAC IIfx), and 1meg(QUADRA) rom simm modules.  The average
price is about $90 for each.

*************************************************************************
*    Jim Drew - Vice President - Utilities Unlimited of Arizona, Inc.   *
*               1641 McCulloch Blvd. Suite #25-124                      *
*               Lake Havasu City, AZ  86403                             *
*   Support BBS: (602) 453-9767  Office: (602) 680-9004                 *
*************************************************************************

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