#PC Emplant
60 messages in this thread
Any word on the status of the IBM emulator release?
Bruce
We are getting closer the release of the IBM emulation. I want to wrap this
thing up as quickly as possible so we can finish the MAC version of it to
compete with SoftPC. 🙂
So… the IBM emulation is software based only or will it be like your current
implementation of the Apple where, as I understand it, emulate the ROMS, ie. a
hardware/software emulation?
The 486DX processor emulation itself is software only. However, we have all of
the necessary hardware on the EMPLANT board to handle all of the standard low
level timers and interrupts found in everyday PC machines.
The heart is software. People are always misinformed about the speed at which
things can be accomplished with software, often times basing their speculations
on previous accomplishments…and where no previous accomplishments have taken
place…well, then 'that is impossible' is the common cry.
SoftPC for the Macintosh is written in 'C'. It is a 80286/7 emulation that
also has to deal with the MAC's multitasking. It is 16.7 times faster than
PCTask for the Amiga when ran under EMPLANT's MAC emulation. 16.7 times faster
is a significant difference, and SoftPC's code (although decent for 'C') is no
match for two people who have spent their entire lives working only in assembly
language. The bottom line is that by using single instruction translation, we
are achieving twice the speed that SoftPC Pro is… and with our code
transcription (converting 80486 code into 680×0 code), we get a tremendous
increase (often times we are running faster than 66Mhz 80486 speeds on a 33Mhz
040)..which is causing a big problem with certain applications (like games).
This emulation will NOT be well suited for game use because of this.
Great news!!! I think so long as the IBM emulation allows the use of the
Amiga's mouse, serial and parallel port the same way the Mac emulation does, it
will serve most user needs. But it is like you have said before, it you need
to access a particular piece of IBM compatible hardware, then you (we) should
opt for getting a BB or a true IBM clone. BTW, I imagine that the IBM emulator
will allow the use of the Amiga HD or supported HD (Syquest, Bernoulli,
SCSI-HD) to be used (or a partition/portion of it) as an IBM hard disk? Great
job on the Emplant board and their emulation modules. Any interest on a
ColecoVision/ADAM emulator… just kiddin ;^) Catya,
I haven't been following this conversation, but happened upon it while browsing
thru. I'm interested in getting an AMAX-II+ card, but have been wondering about
the Emplant (having seen ads in AW) SO, what is the difference, pros and cons
of both? Do they offer true compatibility?
>>Do they offer true compatibility?<<
Garry,
Asking the president of Utilities Unlimited about A-Max II+ is probably a
little unfair, don't you think? <g>
I've just replaced my A-Max II+ card with an Emplant. Couldn't be happier.
I mean, instantly I've got a color MAC multitasking with workbench and do
not ahve any more cables going from my motherboard to the A-Max card to
the floppy drive… (I always hated that setup 'cause it made the use of
'flipper' on the Bridgeboard a mute point).
Emplant will (eventually) also do other emulations, while A-Max will not.
Utilities Unlimited offers, imo, much better support with continuous
software upgrades and online assistance.
The compatibility of the emulation is extremely high with Emplant, and
'almost' extremely high with A-Max.
That's my .02c
The president of the company? Dang… went straight to the top thru the
backdoor while walking around blind on that one. Shows how much I _don't_
know…
>Utilities Unlimited offers, imo, much better support with continuous
>software upgrades and online assistance.
as an amax4 users, i'd say that UU definately has better online assistance
since readysoft does not have any online assistance. 🙂 readysoft also
loves "stealth upgrades". they never seem to tell you about any minor
update to the amax software. they wait until you have the problem, make
you spend an hour on the phone telling you that the amax couldn't be at
fault. 🙂
does the emplant have any method for supporting 800k mac floppies (not all
software is distributed on hd disks)? what is the minimum memory required?
i wish either card would have an adaptor for a macintosh hd drive. i think
that would make reading mac floppies much easier.
the amax4 does support color and multitasking, although color is very slow
unless you have a 24 bit card such as a picasso. even then you need lots
of fast ram. even with my picasso, i can out-type (what i type appears a
few seconds after i typed it) my mac word processor, write now. the amax4
is also on the slow side when it comes to programs that are memory and
resource hogs, such as MacCIM which is very slow even in b&w mode.
with my amiga 3000, the amax4 claims that i have a quadra. 🙂 this is
pretty funny when you try mac speedometer which tells you that your amax4
is chugging along at the speed of a mac2. 🙂
bob – 1:226/600.3@fidonet.org
– zooming by in his TIE Interceptor on AutoPilot
>does the emplant have any method for supporting 800k mac floppies (not
>all software is distributed on hd disks)? what is the minimum memory
>required?
Yes, UU has a device called the AMIA which supports 800k MAC floppy
drives.
The Emplant MAC emulation will give you a TRUE speedometer reading and
reflect it in the Finder.
-Jonathan
// Amiga online via Autopilot. MAC Quadra 900 and
\\// 486 emulation. E-Mail: jonathanb@delrina.com
>Yes, UU has a device called the AMIA which supports 800k MAC floppy
>drives.
does it work under mac emulation? or is it an amigados program which
writes a disk to a file and vice versa? how well does it work?
the amax2 didn't really like to read 800k mac floppies when they were
being read from a high density drive. the amax4 has fixed that somewhat,
though it isn't quite perfect yet. apple did a fine job making sure that
it would be difficult to read 800k mac floppies. 🙂
bob – 1:226/600.3@fidonet.org
– zooming by in his TIE Interceptor on AutoPilot
>>does it work under mac emulation? or is it an amigados program which
writes a disk to a file and vice versa? how well does it work?<<
Bob,
[from the promo card I got in the mail]:
…Amia was designed with multitasking in mind, and becauseof this you
will be able to use the 800K drive from the Amiga's Workbench (when
MultiOSFilesystem is released). This is also the only interface that will
allow the reading/writingof 800K MAC disks while using Emplant's MAC
emulation module.
Michael-
> (when MultiOSFilesystem is released).
Whuzzat?
Paul
>…Amia was designed with multitasking in mind, and becauseof this you
>will be able to use the 800K drive from the Amiga's Workbench (when
>MultiOSFilesystem is released). This is also the only interface that will
>allow the reading/writingof 800K MAC disks while using Emplant's MAC
>emulation module.
for a second i had to wonder if the emplant can read 800k mac disks under
emulation, then why hasn't the readysoft crew figured this out. then i
read your message again and noted "when multiosfilesystem is released". so
i take it that the emplant can not read 800k mac disks now, but hopes to
in the future. is that correct?
bob – 1:226/600.3@fidonet.org
– zooming by in his TIE Interceptor on AutoPilot
Yes, it works under MAC emulation, you don't have to use the cryptic Amax
file image method. In addition, you can use it to mount 800k MAC disks
under AmigaDOS once MultiOSFilesystem ships.
-Jonathan
// Amiga online via Autopilot. MAC Quadra 900 and
\\// 486 emulation. E-Mail: jonathanb@delrina.com
>>does the emplant have any method for supporting 800k mac floppies
(not all software is distributed on hd disks)? what is the minimum memory
required?<<
Bob,
You can read and write MAC 800k floppy disks by plugging a MAC disk drive
in to the Amiga external floppy port and using AMIA s/w available from UU.
Or, if you have an old A-Max cartridge lying around that will work. I
haven't tried either method yet. AMIA has only just been released… see
the Press Release in the UU library of AmigaVendor Forum.
The minimum memory requirement is 2 meg of fast ram, 4 meg for system 7…
and I'd at least double those for any serious use (but that's only my
personal opinion! <g>).
>>i wish either card would have an adaptor for a macintosh hd drive.<<
I'm not sure what you mean. I have a HiDensity Amiga floppy drive in my
A3000 and have no problem reading or writing HiDensity floppy disks in it
using either board.
Emplant MAC emulation on my A3000/25 with 8 meg of fast memory and a 16
color ECS screen moves at a relatively ok speed. I can imagine it really
flies when an 040 and a 24 bit board are employed.
>You can read and write MAC 800k floppy disks by plugging a MAC disk drive
>in to the Amiga external floppy port and using AMIA s/w available from UU
i did not know that. will it also work with a mac high density drive? i've
tried looking for 800k mac drives, but they seem to have disappeared from
the market. i can only find high density mac drives and they are quite
expensive.
>The minimum memory requirement is 2 meg of fast ram, 4 meg for system
>7… and I'd at least double those for any serious use (but that's only
i can get my amax4 to work with my 4 megs of fast ram. writenow, the lean
& mean mac word pro :), works fine with system7.1 and maccim will tolerate
it. i even have a few extensions working too. 🙂 it's a tight squeeze, but
it will work.
it would love to have 16 megs of fast ram, but that isn't really practical
for me considering the expense of SC ZIP chips. 🙁 i have other things i
want to blow money on…. 🙂
>I'm not sure what you mean. I have a HiDensity Amiga floppy drive in my
>A3000 and have no problem reading or writing HiDensity floppy disks in it
>using either board.
i do not know if i said something backwards, or you read it backwards but
i can read mac high density floppies without any problems. it's the 800k
floppies that prove to be the problem. the amax2+ would not always read
them via a 3000's high density drive. it would read 800k mac floppies from
a low density amiga drive, but might chew them up if you use the amiga
high density drive. so far the amax4 does not appear to have this problem,
though it does seem a litle pickier when it comes to 800k mac floppies
than it is with 1.44mb mac floppies.
>Emplant MAC emulation on my A3000/25 with 8 meg of fast memory and a 16
>color ECS screen moves at a relatively ok speed. I can imagine it really
>flies when an 040 and a 24 bit board are employed.
you have not lived until you have clicked on a folder and then waited
until the window was drawn on an amax4 16 colour ecs screen. 🙂
now you've gone and done…. 🙂 i've been tempted to get an emplant
before, now i really want one. 🙂 if only i could find someone to pass
this amax4 to so i could buy an emplant…. 🙂
what, you mean you haven't sold a kidney so you could buy a 24-bit card?
🙂 now if only i could find a 3000T/040 for a reasonable price…. 🙂
priorities, priorities…. 🙂
bob – 1:226/600.3@fidonet.org
– zooming by in his TIE Interceptor on AutoPilot
Bob,
Some people play their state lottery hoping to be able to pay off the
mortgage, get a new car and go on vacation… I look at those tickets as
coupons for new Amiga equipment. <g>
>Some people play their state lottery hoping to be able to pay off the
>mortgage, get a new car and go on vacation… I look at those tickets as
>coupons for new Amiga equipment. <g>
hehe… 🙂 i know the feeling. i will have to put the emplant off for a
while since i really could use a sysquest drive. now if UU offered a
"trade-in" deal for an emplant w/ roms i would jump at the opportunity to
upgrade.
bob – 1:226/600.3@fidonet.org
– zooming by in his TIE Interceptor on AutoPilot
Michael-
I have to agree with you on UU's support and superior product. As a MAC
developer, it became obvious to me very quickly that UU's implementation
was much closer to a real MAC than the Amax can ever be. Besides the fact
that Emplant provides Amiga serial and SCSI in addition to Amiga, other
upcoming emulation modules by itself makes it a better product.
-Jonathan
// Amiga online via Autopilot. MAC Quadra 900 and
\\// 486 emulation. E-Mail: jonathanb@delrina.com
Jonathan,
Quite frankly, it was _your_ experience with UU that made me focus so much
on making the switch myself. Thank you for making those very early
progress reports available to us all.
No problem. It was a rough ride at first, but very rewarding. Now it is
smooth sailing for anyone who jumps on board.
-Jonathan
// Amiga online via Autopilot. MAC Quadra 900 and
\\// 486 emulation. E-Mail: jonathanb@delrina.com
Hi Michael,
Just out of curiosity, why did you go for Emplant rather than upgrading to
A-Max IV?
Marion
Publisher, CROSSINGS
(Newsletter for Amiga/PC/Mac compatibility)
.#: 139936 S11/Amiga Hardware
. 20-Apr-94 20:43:07
.Sb: #139875-#High Density Floppy Driv
.Fm: Michael Gerard/Sysop 76702,1071
.To: Brian Lowe 76640,2664 (X)
[note: the following has been exerpted from a reply I
posted earlier to a similar question]
Brian,
>>Any comments on why you went with Emplant rather than upgrading
your AMAX?<<
Lots.
I've been a ReadySoft customer for years… going from A-Max to A-Max
II to A-Max II+… I waited patiently for each upgrade. I waited even as
the announced release dates came and went. I waited for new features. I
waited for online support. While they always answered their phones and
eventually addressed any problems I had, it was time consuming and
frustrating, often requiring me to write or call several times. Faxes went
unanswered.
Then all of a sudden some company announced that they would have a new
Emulator on the market that would not only do MAC in the Amiga, but do it
in color. And that their product would multitask. And their product would
run emulations other than DOS. Utilities Unlimited seemed to be promising
everything under the sun, and more. I couldn't wait to see what they came
out with becasue it sounded so implausible.
Then they went and did it. The first boards shipped with the usual
amount of bugs in the software that can be expected in a new product of
this type… but more importantly, users like Jonathan Blackwell started
reporting that the Emplant actually worked. And maybe even _more_
importantly, he reported getting software updates on what seems like a
weekly basis, directly from UU's BBS. Jim Drew was determined to get this
thing right, and do right by his customers.
Jim appeared out of nowhere and started personally assisting people in
the online community here on CIS, (and elsewhere, which I could live
without <g>). That did it.
With a product as complex and powerful as this, I wanted the support I
deserved when I needed it. I don't know how long ReadySoft was working on
support for color, but it sure seemed to me like the possibility of real
competition is what made them finally concede and put their act in to high
gear for A-Max IV.
It was too late for me… I had already decided that if a company like
UU was going to support both the Amiga and their users the way they were,
I wanted to be using their products.
>>And what do you thin[k] of Emplant?<<
I'm astounded by the technology and impressed with both the
functionality and support provided by UU… I've only just installed
Emplant and I can say that I am incredibly impressed. This board is
designed to address the needs of using an Amiga in a world that speaks
everything _but_ Amiga. It's felxibility will keep my Amiga useful far
longer than any other Amiga specific peripheral I might own.
Geez… too bad Commodore Technical Support doesn't/didn't have Jim
working for them!
Chris – Fast and Low on my '020!
…Is it significant that my spell checker doesn't know "Intel"?
Michael,
I agree with you about Jim Drew's support–I think the guy has some secret as
to how to fit extra hours in the day. Can I quote you?
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for PC/Mac/Amiga compatibility
>>Can I quote you?<<
You bet.
(just be sure to credit the AmigaUser Forum on CIS <g>)
Marion…
Can you send me subscription info for CROSSINGS? I want to subscribe.
..Carl
Carl,
Sure, just leave me your postal address by e-mail and I'll send you info and a
sample issue.
Thanks for your interest…
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for PC/Mac/Amiga compatibility
Emplant is better!!!
Yeah, I'm starting to believe that meself… been reading some back issues of
AW, saw the ads. You have an emplant board?
Yes, I have Emplant. It's AWESOME!
So can you do EVERYTHING that an Apple can? What about IBM stuff?
My Emplant can do EVERYTHING that a real MAC can. I am even doing
development work on my Emplanted Amiga. The stuff I work on eventually
gets marketed to the MAC community.
-Jonathan
// Amiga online via Autopilot. MAC Quadra 900 and
\\// 486 emulation. E-Mail: jonathanb@delrina.com
The -only- problem I see with Emplant is this, for now: no NuBus cards.
Eventually also as programs abandon 0x0 architecture, there'll be others
too. But don't get me wrong, I'm going to get one either for my 1200 (if
the PCMCIA version ever comes out) or for my 4000 if I get it.
Wouldn't that just burn MacOwners everywhere if they knew:))
I can eonly confirm what the veteran Emplant users on this conference have been
claiming–with only my own novice experience…
From what I can tell, it KICKS ASS! (I hope that doesn't offend anybody!!!!
It's just a small, harmless little explative!)
Anyway, I go my hands on a PD demo of Adobe Photoshop, which I am running on my
A3000/030/16, EMPLANT, and it works REALLY well! I can hardly believe I am
running such an awesome MAC program on my AMIGA!
I can't WAIT for the PC emulation.
–If you are thinking about getting Emplant (obviously, because you want to
participate in the Mac Software community,) GET ONE! I'm sure Jim Drew loves
all the volunteer **SALESPEOPLE** he has running around these days!
Good luck, man!
–Joseph
You sold me, if the pc emplant works just as good we shouldn't
worry about what happens with cbm, we'll have the best of all
three worlds. The emplant might prolong the life of the amiga-
ibm, mac compatible with a video toaster.
Uh Oh I'm feeling kind of dizzy again better give AAA another call
Amigaholics.
Well, providing I can be a good *SALESMAN* to my wife, I'm gonna get one…
let's face it, most Amiga owners are fanatics who would be penniless from
spending all our paychecks on Amiga stuff if our wives (or husbands, as the
case may be) didn't protect us from ourselves… I think I can sell her on this
one, though. Thanx for the 'ammo' for the pitch I'm going to throw at her
(i.e., MUST USE MAC PROGRAM! MUST HAVE EMPLANT! – with associated begs and
whines thrown in ad-lib)
Awwww, "This emulation will NOT be well suited for game use.."
Won't there be a way to slow down the computer so that games can be played on
the PC version? I really wanted to be able to play games with the Emplant PC.
Of course, the speed is probably great for things like windows etc… where you
always need more speed.
But still… it won't be close to 99% compatible if you can't play games.
There's so many games out there for the PC these days.
We just got DOOM and are working with it. I think if we can get DOOM to run
reliably (at the same consistant speed.. code translation makes things speed up
and slow down noticeably with moving graphics) we'll be in fat city. 🙂 DOOM
is nasty.. bends a few rules, and really maxes out the machine's capabilities..
that and MS FlightSim. 🙂
That will be nice if you get games working on the PC Emplant too. I know you
must feel very pressed to get this out fast because of all the people demanding
it from you. But take your time, and get it right!
IF the PC Emplant works as good a real 486, then you can bet I'll be getting
one of them. I heard it will have Sound Blaster emulation and VGA? That's
better than my BridgeBoard. Plus I'd get to use my Amiga memory instead of
buying more for a Bridgeboard.
Jim,
I'm currently living in Moscow, Russia, and your company recently sent me
information on the Emplant (I was very pleased and impressed with the speed of
the response too). But I'm going to wait until the IBM version is released as
well. So if possible, if you could have someone E-mail or contact me when all
is ready, then I can start looking at my pennies to purchase.
Bruce
Greeting from the US. 🙂 Yes, I would be happy to email you when the PC
emulation is released.
Hey, this is too much. I'm just becoming a "beliver" on the Mac emulation, but
a PC emulation too! WoW. Count me in (tired of BridgeBoard and GoldenGate,
except access to AT slots)…
Jim,
How much closer? (Don't think of us as pests, we're enthusiastic would-be
customers!)
Marion
Publisher, CROSSINGS
(Newsletter for Amiga/PC/Mac compatibility)
Hi Marion. 🙂
We're getting closer… we are spending 3-4 hours per night tearing apart our
486 machines (hardware emulation experiments)… we have things stable (for the
most part) now. So, I am very pleased at the progress we've made. BTW, I just
realized last night that we'll have the only '486 emulation available in the
world… another first for us. 🙂
Excellent, but I'll give you a pat on the back when we see it! Sure sounds
like some incredible work though. The guys at work would never beleive it,
even if they saw it. I can't wait (that's the day I buy an Emplant).
Robb
Jim –
> BTW, I just realized last night that we'll have the only '486 emulation
> available in the world… another first for us.
You've been working on this thing HOW long? and you've only just realized
this?
Get a couple of nights sleep in a row, Jim…. <g>
. . . . JimDoc, on AutoPilot
Good for you, Jim…
I don't follow what you mean by the only 486 emulation, though. Both the BB and
the Golden Gate have been upgraded to 486. Do you mean software emulation? Or
DX?
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for PC/Mac/Amiga compatibility
Marion,
The GG2+ does not have a processor on it… all it is for is to bridge the
Amiga and PC slots together. It also includes a serial port and parallel port
(usable from the Amiga side) and software to use IBM EtherNet cards from the
Amiga side.
Jim,
Marion is referring to the Golden Gate Emulator, not the bridging device.
Michael-
Do you know what the bridging device goes for? If I get a 4000T and an
Emplant, I'd certainly have no use for some lame-o 486. Especially if I
got one of their MP boards! <BG>
Paul – Minus Pins!
Paul,
I've never seen one of the GG boards, or even seen one advertised that I
can recall. Maybe Marion can fill us in?
If I can cut in, the GG2+ was made by one man at the university of Urbana
in Illinois originally and sold through the mail only. I have his address
but Jim Drew mentioned that it is now owned by someone else he is talking
to so it won't help. He _was_ selling it for around $125. assembled and
with drivers for serial/par I/O, VGA, some others and people were writing
code for eprommers, Lan cards and I forget what else when his maillist on
internet died last summer. I hope this means it is still alive and well.
Tom
Oklahoma City, OK
Thanks for the info, Tom. I hope that we can get some info the status of
this BB slot connector.
Jim,
Yes, I know what it is, but as far as I know it's not manufactured by Vortex.
Or is it?
Do you have an address etc. for it?
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for AMIGA/PC/Mac, etc.
I will get the name of the company and a phone # for you (GG2+).
Please post it publicly Jim. It is valuable information.
Paul – Minus Pins!
Thanks Jim…
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for Amiga/PC/Mac compatibility