From: gblock@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Gregory R Block)
Subject: Re: Atari Falcon Discount Supermachine  Re: Sydnes is gone?!!
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 22:17:28 GMT

Chris_Millar@lppl.mi.org (Chris Millar) writes:
: Ok, let's clear up some misconceptions here.

Sounds like a damn good idea.

: First off, the Atari Falcon does not use the DSP as it's main audio
: processor. The Falcon has three main sound chips.....the original 3 voice
: Yamaha PSg chip, the PCM 8 bit stereo chip and a brand new 8 channel 16 bit
: DMA sound engine.  TOS can access any of these through the use of a
: built-in multiplexer.

So I take it this "new DMA sound engine" is the "Famed" RASCAL chip?

: The 16 bit DMA sound engine can receive audio input and generate audio
: output at rates of 12.5, 25 or 50kHz........if a user NEEDS audio at a
: HIGHER rate, he can access the DSP for audio at up to a 1Mhz rate.

You know, you just made it worse.  First:  Is the DMA hardware and
logic on the same chip as the audio stuff?  I had heard somewhere that
the system now had DMA, except that it was using the DSP for audio
record and playback, something a DSP can do quite easily.

Where are the DAC/ADC's at?  Are they separate on the motherboard or
in a custom chip?  How many custom chips are there now?  Is it just
the RASCAL with the blitter, DMA, and audio on board?

: Yes, it does seem a little tacky that Atari deemed it "neccessary" to
: include the original two sound chips, but if it gets it out the door
: faster, I'm all for it.

I'm not.  Obviously.  Look where rush-jobs got AmigaOS 1.0.

: As far as video modes go, the Falcon has the following:
: All STe graphics modes (w/ 4096 color palette)
: Plus:
: 640x480 16 bit color (true color)
: 320x480 "  "
: 320x200 "  "
: 
: VGA Modes:
: 320x200 - 2,16,256 colors  - 262,144 color palette
: 320x400 - "   "
: 640x200 - "   "
: 640x400 - "   "

So I take it these are multisync and non-multisync?  The original STe
graphics modes and the other 3 16-bit true-color modes are all
15.75KHz, and the VGA modes are 31.5KHz?  Are any of the modes
interlaced?  (Let's hope so...)  Theoretically, what types of
frame-rates can be expected through delta animation sequences?

: Also, all modes except for the true color modes can be overscanned to
: provide up to 732x480 maximum resolution.

: + a one bit overlay mode in true color allows the use of externally
: generated video on a pixel by pixel basis.

No chroma?  Basically, this gives you what the ECS terms as "bitplane
keying".  So I take it you can't key on a chroma color register?

: As far as TOS being a "CP/M launcher covered by hacks" (or something you
: said imilar to that) I merely laugh in your face........An Amiga owner
: talking about a hacked OS......what a stinking hypocrite!

1)  I didn't say that.  2) I was also an ST owner.  I did use MiNT,
and it was not as nice, when it came to multitasking, as the Amiga's,
or even OS/2's, multitasking capabilities.

And so far, from the descriptions I've heard, the OS is even behind
the newest Amiga OS.  The trend for other operating systems seem to be
going to interprocess communication and scripting, something which the
Amiga and OS/2 have a firm hold of by using REXX as the standard
scripting language, and at least the Amiga has as an IPC form.  (I'm
not sure if OS/2 REXX is used for IPC, but let's hope so...)

: Keep in mind my ignorant friends, what market this is being pushed at - 
: Several "niche" markets - Music, low-end DTP, and the HOME........
: Hmmmmm, all of this for under a $1000..........let's see C= top that.  
: Oh, and the crack about C= doing better than Atari?  True, but at least
: Atari hasn't jumped ship to the clone world.........what are C='s profits
: now? 80% of sales is from PC clones?  Interesting...........

First:  C= has beaten it.  They're selling A600's for #300 in Europe.
Pretty low, don't you think?  And it can get lower.

Second:  They're not going to get low-end DTP without better packages.
Calamus is nice, but the Mac has so many more and better ones that
it's ridiculous.  The best Atari could do would be that someone takes
the UNIX/X code for FrameMaker and ports it.  That would be a BIG, BIG help.

Third:  C= hasn't "Jumped ship" to the clone world.  They've been
selling clones for a long, long time.  They haven't stopped, fine.
Does the fact that Atari sells game systems mean that Atari has jumped
ship to the game market?  Probably not, eh?  Didn't think so.

And I do believe they make more money off of C64's than anything.  :)

--
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(:	gblock@csd4.csd.uwm.edu			Gregory R. Block         :)
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