CompuServe Messages

I think you are going to get bit by this one Jim 8^) Maybe you should ask your son how the Amiga works. With the 68000 on board, the Amiga also contains 3 custom processors called Agnus, Denise, and Paula. Agnus contains DMA channel controllers as well as coprocessors within itself, including the Blitter (responsible for large memory moves–especially usefull for animation), and the Copper (controls screen resolution on the fly, i.e. one part of the screen can be Hi-Res, the other Low-Res, etc). The DMA controllers on Agnus control memory moves between the ram and other custom processors, such as Denise and Paula. Denise is responsible for Graphics generation and Paula is responsible for various I/O functions such as Audio, Disk drive control, Serial I/O, and all inputs (Keyboard, Mouse, Joystick, etc). So while other computers spend a lot of processor time taking care of these chores, the Amiga uses very little processor time to take care of these mundane tasks….Hmmm–notice I mentioned the word tasks. So if all of these processors are taking care of these tasks, and the software also does multitasking, then we have hardware and software multitasking….a good definition of TRUE Multitasking in my book. I don't think the Mac could even come close. Although I might defend your son when everyone jumped on him for ZKICK, when you start bad mouthing the Amiga, I get a little defensive 8^) John (in beautiful downtown Walla Walla) – via Whap!