Software Emulators
15 messages in this thread
Hi, I'd like some info regarding the software based MS-DOS emulators
here in the libraries. The two files are PCDEMO.LZH and IBEM.LZH. I
am assuming these are XT-compatible files. I see that IBEM.LZH can be
used an any Amiga (I have a 500) and I assume PCDEMO can be used on a
500 as well. My main questions are for anyone who has used either of
these, how well do they work? Do they require a hard drive or can
they be used with an external IBM compatible floppy drive? I'd
appreciate any comments, thanks very much,
Randy:
I've used both of them (well only the unregistered version of PCDEMO) and
both seem to work OK. The problem is that on a stock A500 they're going to
be SLOW. On my A3000 (running at 25mhz) I get an SI rating of about 1.7 –
1.9 although if the Amiga is running a CPU intensive task the PC rating
will go down from there, and I've been told that on an A500 the rating is
about .2 or so, which is REAL SLOW. IBeM uses an MS-DOS formatted partition
either on floppy or HD via either CrossDOS (commerical) or MessyDOS
(shareware). PCDEMO doesn't need a separate handler to use PC floppies, and
it uses a fake partition the same way the Bridgeboard does (as a matter of
fact it's compatible with the fake partition made by the BB).
I've found that for me I'm better off with a separate PC system rather than
trying to use an emulator, or PC board within the Amiga, and I currently
have a 12mhz 286 system next to my Amiga, and the 2 share the same monitor.
I might soon upgrade it to a 40mhz 386 that I can get from my local dealer
for $300.00
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
Mike, thanks for the info. That speed is a real problem, it seems that my
best bet is indeed to go with a seperate MS-DOS system. How do the graphics
look on your monitor with the IBM system? I have a Magnavox monitor for my
A500, which can use the CGA mode, but I'd like to be able to have VGA
graphics if I do choose to buy an MS-DOS system. I'm going to look around
and find some cheap shareware MS-DOS disk and see what these software
emulators can do on this 500. I love the Amiga and it's capabilities, but
in the world right now it seems one has to have an MS-DOS system as well.
(sigh) Anyway, thanks for the help,
Randy
Randy:
The A3000 has a built-in display enhancer, and so I use a Multisync
monitor, on the IBM system I have an SVGA display card, so the graphics are
good. If you buy a display enhancer for your system (I think the only one
you could use would be ICD's FFV, as it'll work on an A500) you'll be able
to use a VGA compatible monitor with both the A500 & IBM systems.
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
Mike, thank you for the information. I thought perhaps you had a multisynch
unit, but wasn't sure. I'll check into that enhancer, and if it fills my
needs for a reasonable price, perhaps I'll try to trade up this RGB monitor
to a multi-synch. Thanks,
Randy
Randall,
If you are going to invest in a new system, you should look into some of
the Hardware DOS options for the 500, namely the AT-ONCE plus(notice the
plus), the POwer PC board, and I believe that GVP makes one which fits into
their 500 harddrive.. All support VGA monochrome, one or two support 16
color VGA, and speed is, as far as these things go, decent..especially the
AT once plus which runs at 16 mhz.. It is much more convenient than having
an entire new computer, and saves ALOT of space; which can be a factor..
The only problem is that none of these emulators(and if it is an emulator
or simulator is not important right now) is that you do not have the option
of adding sound or video cards(or any other cards). All do or will in the
VERY near future support Hard Disk partitions..
…Just thought I would let you have my two cents worth..
Alan
Alan, I appreciate your two cents worth, believe me. I have been in a bit
of a quandry for some time as to buy an entire MS-DOS system or one of the
emulators. I like the idea of the emulator, especially for cost. I've
wondered however, do these emulators need an MS-DOS compatible floppy
drive, or do they do like the software emulators and make a sort of fake
MS-DOS drive out of the Amiga's standard floppy drives? Any more info you
can help me out with I'd be very appreciative.
Randy
Randall,
I'm pretty sure that they all use the internal floppy in your 500. The
only problem is that most IBM software comes(that I've seen) comes on 5.25
disk. I myself am waiting to find DOS on 3.5 inch disks so I can try out
the software emulators. Most of the software stores that I've been to
onbly have the upgrade packs, not the original DOS disks which have
something which I believe is equivalent to boot block, which, on the IBM
disks, holds a copy of some ROM or other. Your best bet would be to go to
an AMiga dealer who has one of the hardware emulators installed in a
machine and check it out. If that isn't available call supra, GVP and
whoever distributes AT-once and get some info from them. On a side note, I
remember someone mentioning either here or on Genie that they saw(in
England) a 386 at-once. Myself, I have never heard of such a thing, but
perhaps. Anyways, I have rambled long enough: Like I said, contact the
makers, a dealer or look in some back issues of Amigaworld and Amazing for
reviews(although they may be outdated by now)..
I hope I helped you out some, I don't have any of the products, but I
have only heard good things from those who do.
Alan
Alan, thanks for your help. I appreciate all the info. Now I just have to
check out all the equipment and see if it's auitable. :>
er, suitable. :>
Randy
All you gotta do is make a bootable 720k floppy!
Jonathan, I tried to make a 720K bootable floppy with one of the programs
here in the libraries, then ran one of the software emulator demos and got
the message "Not a system disk or boot error", so that made me unsure of
the need for a hard drive. I used a regular double sided double density 3.5
disk to do this, so thought maybe I needed to use a high density disk. I
haven't went out and purchased one as yet though. Are you familiar with
these emulators and making these bootable disks?
Randy
Randall: You need to make the disk bootable from a PC. usually sys a: or
sys b: will do the tr trick. Format the floppy on a PC like this. FORMAT
A:/N:9/T:80/S This will format a 3.5" floppy at 720k and copy the system
onto it. You might then w want to add DOS commands. The emulators usually
allow for partitions or virtual file partitions to be made on a hard drive
and you then use FDISK and format to make them them bootable. I use PCTASK
and it works fine for me. Hope this helps… -Jonathan
Jonathan, it does indeed help, thanks very much! I have a friend who can do
the formatting for me. As I was told, the software emulators will be slow
on this system, but I am still interested in seeing how well they work.
Thanks again,
Randy
Randy,
The Atonce Plus, PowerPC, and GVP cards all make use of both floppy
and hard drives as well as your memory, which can be configured in many
different ways. However, they are all 286 emulators running at or around
16 Mhz. None support color VGA according to their advertisments, but do
support mono VGA. The GVP card is designed for the 500 as is the PowerPC.
The Atonce can be used in either a 500 or 2/3000.
Stevn, thanks for the information. I appreciate it!
Randy