From: psteffn@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Paul Steffen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: ACE'92 show: Report
Keywords: Tibetan Peach Pie Inc.
Date: 7 Apr 92 04:35:42 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: /etc/organization

In article <12385@umd5.umd.edu> adhir@cygnus.umd.edu (Alok Dhir) writes:
>In article <1992Apr6.220407.21238@cis.ohio-state.edu> tbrown@trout.cis.ohio-state.edu (Ted Brown) writes:
>>In article <92095.191851EENG6801@RyeVm.Ryerson.Ca> Carlos Varela <EENG6801@RyeVm.Ryerson.Ca> writes:
>>
>>Why would I want to pay more than the cost of at TT to run programs just
>>as fast as a ST?
>
>Because you not only get REAL applications (Windows, OS/2, DOS) but you get to keep compatibility with the ST(e) series of computers (god knows why).
>
>
I rather prefer having two systems running side by side...  But I can see
quite a bit of incentive JUST to run a powerful package like 
Calamus.  The cost of an equivalent package on the PC can be
more than the cost of Calamus + Gemulator but I'm guessing.

>I surely hope that it runs better than his Atari 8-bit
>>emulator "runs".
>
 
Xformers is nice as far as emulation goes.  I was surprised that
Darek could emulate the 8bit video hardware on the crappy
ST graphics hardware as far as he did.  Even to the point
of running some games/demos.  I thought that he could
have done much better on the overall design of the
emulator, however.  If it weren't for a couple of
inconsistancies in the user interface and the awkward
handling of XFD [SD???] files, esp. with the support
software.  For instance, the utility that transfers
files from/to *.sd images won't bother with *.xfd
filenames [why did he even bother checking yet still
allow the user to change the file list mask].
Why not use a standard file selector, anyway?  
Why not use the same random access code in Xformers to
transfer files instead of loading the whole image in
RAM!  Or better yet, why not integrate the transfer
code WITHIN Xformers.  These are things that could
have been done quite easily by him.
>
>the problem  If the thing can't run Windows fast, it can't emulate a ST fast. 
>>That pretty much leaves out *any* Intel box including the 50 Mhz 486.
>>
>Unfortunately, you are right, it is difficult to get high speed video out
>of a 8 or 12 mhz bus, but the apparently the screen update is not bad at
>all.  Very usable according to reports.
>

I'm kind of confused by this.  Shouldn't Darek have two operating
for his emulation?  Direct bitplane conversion is very slow and
takes up an unacceptable amount of cpu time.  If you have used
a mono screen emulator, you would know this.  Also, most
ST software that does direct writes to screen memory would
most likely never work on Gemulator at all, anyway, as they
bypass other OS functions [granted, this <IS> the best
way to program].  But, a more logical way would be to emulate
VDI calls...  Replacing GEM VDI calls in x86 assembly
would also allow software like DynaCadd to function on
1024x768 SVGA monitors.  
 

>>Hey, it might be a dream to have NeXTStep running on a Falcon, but I still 
>>think Gemulator is even more-so.
>
>This is a rather ignorant statement, considering that Gemulator is basically
>completed, but NeXTStep for the Falcon is some idiot's fantasy.
>>

hehehe!  Actually, NeXTStep for Falcon doesn't sound like such a
pipedream.  Hasn't NeXTStep been ported to IBM workstations?  
The operating system is running on a device-independant Unix core
so why not?  It's well within possibility.  Aside from all
legalities...  d:^)


>>If I want an ST/TT I will buy one.  If I want an IBM (why?) I will buy one.
>>The only emulator that I have seen that even worked halfway well is Spectre!
>>Dave Small is at least a competent hardware and software man.  Darek is just
>>another Microsoft-lacky.
>
>Your personal opinion of Darek says just about nothing about the fact that
>the Gemulator is a fact.  The only problem I can foresee is him finding
>enough people to back him in such a seemingly useless project.  Why would
>a 486 owner want to emulate an ST?  There is not one single application on
>the ST which I EVER use...except for those which I run within Spectre.  Which
>by the way, runs (or is very close to running) under Gemulator.
>

I respect Darek Mihocka for all the work that he hasn't been
sufficiently rewarded for.  Especially for that crap that
those BRE scum pulled on him over his Xformers cable.  From
the software that I've seen from him, he doesn't seem to
me as a perfectionist.  But I've seen little.

There is, in fact, some excellent applications software that is
are available on the ST.  Particularly midi applications such
as CuBase or Virtuoso.   Calamus seems to still only be available
on ST machines.  I would imagine that the 3D animation software
for the ST is infinately superior to any like-priced IBM
package as goes with just about everything else.  

Paul STeffen
aka. STratoHAKster
of Tibetan Peach Pie Inc.  [Amiga/ST coders]
Xref: sparky comp.sys.atari.st:7023 comp.sys.atari.st.tech:2645