#Xetec CD Software Great!
64 messages in this thread
Hi;
I just had to write this message; its not often that we hear of something
that goes right with an Amiga Vendor. Most often, someone's Visa got
charged before the product shipped, or the vendor went of biz, or version
5.0 of something has drastic bugs…we never hear the good stuff.
Well, here's some good stuff. As I type this, my hard disk LED is
flickering, polling my CD-ROM drive to see if a disk is inserted. The
product that is doing the flickering is XETEC's CD-ROM File System.
This software had the easiest install I've seen in a while. You tell it
to find your SCSI device (it did), and what your controller is. You can
play with some settings (well explained in the manual) and tell it to go to
work.
Two minutes later, my Amiga is on a talking terms with my Toshiba
CD-ROM!!
The price direct from Xetec was about $50; it included UPS Blue
shipment, an audio utility, and two CD-ROMs (Fish and More Iⅈ goes up
to FF470).
This is a great product at a great price. Expect to see a lot of older
SCSI ROM's getting dumped soon (the new generation just hit)…bargains for
the AmigaHeads!!
Jonathan
– via Whap!
Welcome to the crowd Jonathan! I've been enjoying my Xetec CD-Rom drive and
software for a little over a year now. And I agree, the Xetec software is
plug-and-play. You might want to call their BBS once in awhile because they
update the CD-Rom software almost monthly. I'm glad they are now offering
support for CD-Rom drives other than the Chinon. If they would have been
doing this back when I bought mine, I would probably have purchased a
Toshiba drive instead. Also wish they would update their "Fish & More"
CD-Roms because they max out at Fred Fish disk 470. But I bought HyperMedia
Concepts CD and it contains Fish from 1-600 (Version 1.4). Lots of IBM CD
Roms can be used if you are interested in Graphics or ClipArt. One in
particular called "VGA Spectrum". Not only does it contain a BUNCH of .GIF
pictures and clipart, but a BIG directory of .MOD files. These were
originally intended to be used for IBMer's with Sound Blaster boards, but
they came from the Amiga world anyway.
John – K7KB (via Whap!)
John,
Do you have the telephone number for Xetec's BBS?
.. Tim Trompeter…
Well just a second while I go to the background and bring up my Term
program. OK, it says the number for Xetec's BBS is 913-827-1974.
John – K7KB (via Whap!)
Thanks.
I'm trying to find out if Xetec CDROM software supports Toshiba drives.
CDROM-FS does, but there are enough bugs in the driver so that my system
crashes sporadically, Especially when using WHAP!, and I'd like to put an
end to those probs…
If anyone's using a Toshiba CDROM and Xetec software, I'd love to hear your
comments about the combination.
.. Tim Trompeter…
Tim: Here is a clip from my Xetec documentation for the latest software –
This release of the cdx.device should support any SCSI CD-ROM drive, as
well as audio control on the following drives:
Chinon CDS-431
Sony CDU-541, CDU-8001
Texel DM-3000, DM-5000 series
Toshiba XM-2200A, XM-3200B, XM-3201B, XM-5100A
NEC CDR-75/CDR-77
Future updates will support even more drives.
So that's it, if your Toshiba is among those listed, it should work with
the audio and CD-Rom capability of the drive. Even if it is not listed, it
looks like the software will work with most any CD-Rom drive, but Audio
capability may be limited.
John – K7KB (via Whap!)
I have a Toshiba XM-3301B CDRom reader and it works perfectly with
the Xetec software. I also have the CDRom_FS software and it works
fine on this drive. The Xetec software now supports block sizes other
than 2K. The installer IS very nice and so are the people at Xetec.
I've ordered the Xetec software and it sounds like what I'm looking
for 🙂 The problems with CDROM-FS have to do with it not co-existing
peacfully with other programs I use regularly; in particular WHAP!
… I've installed CDROM-FS only to find that when I try to use the
hot key combinations in whap (like r-amiga-q or r-amiga-m to quit
viewing a message base or to flip to the next message base,
respectively) I get repeatable gurus that disappear after I take the
CDROM-FS out of the system. Since I find that annoying (especially
when I forget it's a problem on my system…) I decided to purchase
the other CDROM driver. I'm hoping that the Xetec stuff won't have
similar problems.
The Xetec software works just fine with WHAP! (at least the demo version I
have). It hasn't had a problem with anything, actually.
Jonathan,
i've installed the xetec software, and my hotkey gurus have vanished 😉 so
far, no problems with anything, except that the FF programs on the xetec
cd's are much more difficult to locate than those from the hypermedia
discs. They also tend not to run a lot from WB; and i use WB to peruse
around the cd because i'm not so familiar with all the cd directories–but
the hypermedia cd works just fine and dandy from the xetec controller
software.
happy again on the peninsula!
.. Tim Trompeter…
Timothy,
I'm glad that you found satisfaction. When I sat down a friend to check
out my new CD setup, the first thing he did was pop in a Fish and More
disk, and look for Aquarium (which, I guess, is a FF disk database). He
didn't find it, and pronounced the collection as trash. I'm not so hard on
Xetec, but they could have done a better job with the organization of the
files.
However, (and this bears repeating) their file system software is
amazing. Again, one of the best investments I made on my Amiga.
Jonathan
tim and jonathan,
I couldn't disagree more…the fish and more is organized by subject, and a
few clicks of the mouse, and I can find all kinds of things…to me its a
lot easier than looking thru the aquarium DB…But I do agree that if you
know what program you want (and which fish disk it was on, it can be tough
to find…
Well different strokes…
I too like the xetec package (had mine a year+), and the BBS is a good
place get the updates from…
Later…
Scott
Jonathan,
I agree that the Hypermedia FF collection is easier to use (and as of right
now more current as it includes 600 disks), but quite realistically the
driver software itself is worth $50!!!
It's one of those times when I don't feel like I'm getting shortchanged
with a software purchase. I just hope that I'm not disappointed in the
future. But, after a phone conversation with someone at Xetec and several
prompt and appropriate responses to my inquiries on their BBS, I don't
think there's gonna be any problem.
Just continuing to do my part as a consumer 🙂
.. Tim Trompeter…
Tim,
Your mention of the problem between Whap! and CDRom-FS has solved
a longstanding mystery on my system. Suddenly I was getting Gurus
whenever I called a file requester from Whap! I had no idea what
could be causing the problem. It apparently was CDRom-FS. When I got
the Xetec software and changed my startup so that CDRom_FS was not
automatically invoked the problem disappeared. I would like to thank
YOU!
The problem is not happening when I use the Xetec software. I
didn't encounter any other problems with CDRom-FS. I don't think it
is bad software but the problem with Whap! is puzzling.
Mark,
My problems are gone, too!
I don't know what the CDROM-FS problems were or are, and maybe they'll fix
them in the future. If it breaks one program, who knows what other kind of
damage it could do to others.
I'm gonna call them and let them know, maybe it'll prompt them to
investigate and clean up the program.
.. Tim Trompeter…
John,
Thanks for the welcome! I have to say that the Toshiba 3201b is a pretty
great unit ( a friend of mine is having trouble with his 3301, which is
much faster, and may swap me even for my unit…I hope!!); it is pretty
fast, and works perfectly with the Xetec software (which also works
perfectly with my GVP Series II card).
I bought the unit specifically for using bitmap-clipart collections, but
found the Fish Disks to be very pleasant surprises. I hope that they do a
Volume III; I would probably snap it up immediately.
Thanks for the tip on VGA Spectrum; will look for it. I hope that these
messages inspire a lot of other Amigaheads to look into CD-ROM…
Jonathan
– via Whap!
Yep, I hope we get a bunch of people interested in CD-Rom, then maybe some
other developers would create some CD's specifically for the Amiga. I'm
sure things will get much better when CBM FINALLY gets around to releasing
their drives. But I didn't want to wait 2 years or so for them to come out
with a drive for the 3000.
John – K7KB (via Whap!)
John,
Commodore showed their CD-Rom drive at the AmigaShopper Show in London a
week or so ago. The drives are supposed to be released for sale there by
now, but I was not given the price. I suspect they will be released here
by fall, if not sooner.
Betty
Betty, The price over here for a A570/A670 CD drive is #299 but is only
compatible with the A500 and A600.
Cheers Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
Allan,
Thanks for the price. Are the drives actually being sold now?
I do wish they would make them for the 2×00/3000 machines!
Betty
Betty,
The prices I quoted come for a large retailer over here so I presume they
are available. I've heard no news on the 2000/3000 front. There is a rumour
over here that the A500 is no longer being produced now the A600 is
available.
Cheers Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
I was told at the show that they would be available for sale most any day,
and the show was over a week ago. I did hear a rumor ( and it was a rather
vague rumor, at that) that there were plans to make CDTV work with all
Amigas, and if that is true, then the CD-ROM will have to be made available
to the other machines, I think.
Betty
Yes I agree especially if they are phasing out the A500. I going to check
this weekend about the availability of the A570.
Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
Allan,
Are you SURE they're compatible with the A600?? Where do they plug in?
Vic, No I am not sure if they are compatible but one supplier is
advertising the A670 for the A600 and the A570 for the A500. As the A600
hasn't got an expansion port I don't know where it will plug in. Perhaps
it's a case of a supplier second guessing C= – it happens sometimes in the
UK. Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
Allan,
Is the A570 actually shipping? And this is the first I've heard of an A670;
does it plug into the PCMCIA slot? '
Denny,
It is being advertised but wether it's available I'm not sure. I will check
availability at the weekend. I will also check about the A670.
Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
Betty, Is this just a standard CD-ROM drive, or does it do CDTV emulation
as well?
Jonathan
– via Whap!
Jonathan, I'm not sure. I suspect Allan could tell us more about it than I
can remember. It was my impression that it could do CDTV, but I could very
easily be wrong.
Betty
Jonathan, Yes it is the same drive as the CDTV. It just plugs in the
expansion port on the A500. No pass through so if you've got a hard drive
which uses the expansion port you can't have the two together.
Allan
from the UK – via Whap!
>Commodore showed their CD-Rom drive at the AmigaShopper Show in London a
>week or so ago. The drives are supposed to be released for sale there by
>now, but I was not given the price. I suspect they will be released here
>by fall, if not sooner.
Thats the version for the 500's, right? That's great except CBM is still
taking their sweet time in coming out with a 2000/3000 version. You would
think they would support their upper level machines first, but I guess
thats Commodore.
John – K7KB (via Whap!)
Another CDROM you might consider for your new cdrom drive is Walnut Creek's
ab20 cdrom. It's a collection of some 250 meg of source and executables
from the internet.
-jack
Jack:
Where does one get the ab20 cd-rom? Who is Walnut Creek?
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
I work for Walnut Creek CDROM. Here is the address and a longer
description of the CD:
Thanks for your interest.
Jack Velte
Walnut Creek CDROM 1547 Palos Verdes Mall Suite 260 Walnut Creek, CA 94596
+1 800 786-9907 +1 510 947-5996 +1 510 947-1644 FAX 72147,3425 CIS
AB20 Amiga CDROM $24.95
This disc contains the entire Amiga Internet Archive from
ab20.larc.nasa.gov. There is more than 300 megs of software, over three
thousand files. Hundreds of applications, including GNU utilities,
editors, hypertext, plotter utilities, modem and communication programs.
There are demos of commercial programs, video games, strategy games, card
games, and word games. There are many graphical images, animations, and
programs to view them.
There are many documents on Amiga hardware, a huge selection of sound
files, and utilities to play them, including Noisetraker and MED modules.
The Amiga implementation of the TeX typesetting program, with MetaFONT and
dvi filters, is included.
The disc contains all of the Usenet archives comp.sources.amiga and
comp.binaries.amiga. This includes thousands of source code files that are
an invaluable resource for any progammer.
The AB20 Amiga CDROM was made in May 1992
Did you folks take a snapshot of the /incoming/amiga directory from ab20
too?
Steve
We didn't know what the files were in the incoming directory so we didn't
copy those to disc. We didn't want to take the chance of virus'es.
Whatever had been moved into catagories by May was included; /incoming was
not.
-jack
Actually, as far as I know, none of the software on AB20 was checked for
viruses. I might be wrong about that, but I do remember a thread where the
"keeper" of that site didn't want to take any responsibility of checking
for viruses, or completeness of the programs.
The /incoming directory might have been copied to one of the "mirror" sites
on the Internet. It's got a TON of programs, MOD files, and what-not. It
might be worth your while to check into it. It would add a sizeable chunk
to you ROM.
Steve
When we built the ab20 CD, we deliberately removed the /incoming directory.
That directory wasn't classified at all, and we didn't want to have a
random pile of stuff on the cd. Sorry….
You are right about the ab20 site not being checked for virus's. A good 40
meg of the ab20 disc is source code from the source newsgroup archives, so
there aren't any virus's in there. Also, wouldn't the user community have
reported any virus's in the archive site's file?
Are virus's a problem in the Amiga world?
-jack
Jack: Thanks bunch for the info on the AB20 CD-Rom. I'll be sending out a
check this week!! Sounds like a pretty nice collection of programs, source,
and other goodies.
John – K7KB (via Whap!)
Jack,
"Its a collection of some 250 meg of source and executables from the
internet…"
But of what?
Jonathan
– via Whap!
Jonathan-
Do you know if the CD-ROM drives advertised in DAK's catalog ($199 and
$350) work with the Xetec drivers. These are great prices and I sure would
love to have a CD-ROM!
Carl
Carl,
I know that at least one of the CD-ROM drives that DAK (used to?) sell was
not standard SCSI. It could only be used with it's own supplied interface
on a PC. (I believe that the cable pinout wasn't standard SCSI, and was
also proprietary.)
It's a good question to ask. I believe that DAK does sell some drives that
are standard SCSI – best to call and ask them directly.
David
PS – if you do, please let us know what you find out.
David,
Thanks for the response. If I get time I will call. What are the
questions I should ask other than if it has a standard SCSI out?
Carl
Carl,
You might ask them what cables, if any, come with the drive. And, you
should ask them whether the drive, if standard SCSI, has a 25-pin or 50-pin
connector.
I believe that the ones I saw on their shelf a couple of months ago were
internal NEC drives, but I'm not certain.
Try to get a return privilage, just in case.
David
Carl; I don't know about the others, but DAK's Sony drive was not SCSI.
-bill
Carl,
I don't think that the DAK ROM's will work with the Xetec, since I don't
believe that they are SCSI. I think that they are IBM only, using a
dedicated controller. I also here that they are *VERY* slow unit as well.
Jonathan
– via Whap!
The $199 DAK CD_ROM is very slow and not SCSI. However, they have had in
stock (not sure if they still do) a SCSI model that's only about $230. It's
not in the catalog, but you can call and get info about it.
Denny,
Have you used or seen the $230 SCSI CD-ROM drive? What's it like? That's
one heck kS\Pgood price.
Steve
Jonathan,
I don't have the new catalog here at work but I thought they were SCSI.
I say now that I wouldn't mind if it was slow – BUT once I started using it
I am sure I would get frustrated. We have the just released "professional"
version of CD-I here at the office. It has a 3.5 floppy drive and accepts
our Kodak CD. I just wish C= was coming out with a CD drive for my 3000.
Carl
Carl,
I would think that a bargain SCSI drive would be a good "fix" while you
wait for the CBM drive…that's my philosophy right now.
What are you guys doing with the "Pro" CD-I unit, anyway?
Jonathan
– via Whap!
Jonathan-
We have the CD-I unit for experimental purposes. Here at the
Smithsonian we are working on electronic imaging, doing some real
interesting things I might add. We have been cataloging images to laser
disks for some years now but are now in the process of exploring the
capabilities of CD-ROM for storage and distribution on photographs and art.
Apple is working with us and I am personally trying to get Commodore and
AMIGA developers involved also – without much luck I might add. The future
of photography is electronic and every photographer will have an
"electronic darkroom" on his desk within the next couple of years. Already
most major newspapers are going that way. So CD-I is being explored along
with the Apple CD format, and Kodak's format
Carl
What kind of "involvment" are you looking for, Carl? My company has the
most advanced image manipulation/processing software available for the
Amiga at this time – by far – it could easily be characterized as a
"darkroom on a desk". If you need specific types of capabilities that are
not already in our software, just tell us – we take suggestions all the
time from our customers. We already have a fair amount of color correction
capabilities for old photos, and are adding a VERY powerful new correction
facility in the next release.
There's nothing on the Mac that has comparable image manipulation power,
either… Photoshop doesn't even come close, for instance.
–Ben
I don't know whether or not you would be interested, but a spin off
from Merit Software is working on a CDTV development system aimed at
generating an interactive system that could be used to access
photographs, art, sound, etc. In fact, one part of their demo disk
is an interactive walk through of the Kimball Art Museum in Ft.
Worth.
The main developer is Scott Lamb. If you are interested, I can get
his phone number and more information for you.
Yes I am interested. I would appreciate it if you could provide me
with Scott's address or phone.
It will, however, be a couple of weeks before I can do much about
a follow up since I fly to Nicaragua tomorrow for two weeks work. If
you are in personal contact with him you might pass on my phone
number (202) 633-9116. I will be back in D.C. on the 15th of June.
My mailing address is Carl C. Hansen, Smithsonian Institution, Museum
of Natural History, Photo Services RM 375 MRC110, Washington, D.C.
20560.
Thanks for the information. I have personally done one interactive
program using digitized calls of tropical frogs and their pictures
along with sonograms as a teaching tool for scientists and students
to learn more about the different calls and the frogs that make
them. If I had had time I also would have made one that was an
interactive tour through our tropical research center in Panama.
It figures that Commodore would drop the ball on some free
exposure…imagine if you would…"The Smithsonian picked the Amiga.
Shouldn't you?"
Hope I don't seem too dumb here but even if one got a bargain SCSI
drive, wouldn't one also need some software, driver or something?
Yes, one would, but there CDROMFS is readily available.
I would have to suggest the Xetec CDROM file system software. It
works quite nicely, first of all. It is incredibly easy to install,
and very quick to install to. It comes with an Audio player utility,
it comes with CDTV emulation utilities, and it comes with two CD-ROMs
to play with that are the equivalent of Fish disks 1-470. It works
with what appear to be ALL of the major drives and controllers…I
can tell you if yours is on the list, if you want. Best of all: it's
only $50, and that includes second day shipping. The folks at Xetec
really value their customers; I got a call back after ordering to
confirm my order (they thought they *MIGHT* had made a mistake…but
they had the order correctly. A toll call for a $50
order…amazing). All in all, the purchase from Xetec was one of the
best I made for my machine in a while. I would also suggest ordering
directly from them (I don't even know if their software is available
from mailorder companies) so that they get all the profit, and you
get the latest update.
Jonathan,
Thanks for the info. I hadn't realized that Xetec sold that stuff WITHOUT a
CD-ROM drive! ("Excuse me, I just got back from Mars." <g>)
I don't have a drive but might be able to snag one at the office. I would
have to order directly cause here in Toronto, nobody's carrying it and we
don't have any mail order.
Malcolm
Malcolm…
Go for it! I was just enjoying the multitasking of my Amiga: playing a
Public Enemy CD on the Toshiba, while doing some modeling in Draw4DPro.
Yep, I love this machine…
Jonathan
– via Whap!
Jonathan,
Did your Xetec CDROM file system software come with a registration card?
I purchased the software/discs only, since I had been able to pick up a
Toshiba XM-3201B drive (that works great, i might add!) for $200.
But when I got the CDx-650 disk and the CDROM Fish and More discs, there
was no registration card.
Since I ordered directly from them, I assume that I'm somehow registered,
but I'd be happier to hear that you didn't need to send in a registration
card. Methinks the registration card might only apply to the Xetec CDROM
drive itself.
.. Tim Trompeter…
Xetec only puts registration cards in software sold through dealers or
distributors. When they sell direct you are in their database and your disk
has a serial number. The installation program will display your
registration number. I know this because I bought two copies, one of which
was for my credit cardless friend, and had to call to get the second copy
registered properly. If you call their BBS you will be given access to
updates to the software for just the cost of the call.
….Mark Sterling 74335,1677
Tim,
I'll check out the registration card thing tonight, and let you know.
Jonathan
Timothy,
I think that you already have your answer…there was no registration card
in my package.
Jonathan
– via Whap!