#Picasso RTG Board
22 messages in this thread
Our user group, Ohio Valley Amiga USers Group (OVAUG), demo'd the Picasso board
at our last meeting (5/25). This board is incredible (I am sure those DevCon
know this, but I am not one of those lucky folks). It is a true RTG board,
doing 24 bit at 640×480 (with overscan), going up to 1240×1024 (?) at 256
color. And fast. Several times faster than an A4000. On board blitter, etc.
The Agnus/Alice chips just sort of idle, since the board does not merely copy
from chip ram, it patches into the Intuition calls and redirects to the board.
No chip ram usage, and a faster machine since the cpu never waits for the
display. And AGA compatibility for properly-written 2.0+ applications (i.e.,
opens up as a monitor selection). Who says the 2000/3000 are AGA-dead? I hear
availability in 1-1/2 months (FCC, manuals, translation from German, etc) at a
MSRP of $599 for the 1MB version (2MB to come – field-upgradable).
Ed,
Does Picasso animate well?
//Jonathan,
\\//via AutoPilot
From what I have seen, the 2MB version will allow buffered screens for
animation – I haven't seen animations on it yet, but based on the specs it
should move data real fast, so I expect good animation capabilities I will
upload Picas.lha which contains some specs on the board.
Ed,
Thanks for the information. I have a feeling that I'm going to regret my
choice of an OpalVision…:)
Jonathan
Jonathan,
I've seen you remark several times about possibly regretting the
OpalVision. Are you actually using this card? It's an outstanding product
and will have many capabilities that are not part of these other cards.
The paint program is dynamite with lots of image processing tools, eg.
magic wand, etc. All in all an outstanding deal for the show price you got
it for.
It doesn't quite animate as well as I had hoped, but that may even be
fixed in the future. Also, don't forget that you can still use the Retina
with the Opal card. Don't know about the Picasso.
-Richard
Richard,
The Picasso seems very impressive; it very well might do more for me than
the Opal. Not to say that I don't like the Opal…I might just like one
of the newer alternatives a bit more 🙂
//Jonathan,
\\//via AutoPilot
Jonathan,
Before you go for the PICASSO take a look at the MERLIN. It's about the
same price and has MUCH more to offer! I'll go for the MERLIN as soon as I
have the cash on hand. I'm just waiting for a 20" or 21" multisync to come
my way… (or at least a 19")!
Sean.
Sean,
What's so great about Merlin?
//Jonathan,
\\//via AutoPilot
Jonathan-
I bought my own Emplant and got it working in about 5 minutes. It is
great! Now I'm gonna have to get a Retina board to use the 24bit
capability now provided by UU for the Emplant!
-Jonathan
Jonathan-
Could you expound on the connection between the Emplant and 24bit IFF?
Retina24 is an incredible board. Is there a possibility that the Picasso
may eclipse it? Will you wait, or jump?
Have you watched the action on the NET over Retina? Very positive.
What monitor will you use?
–Paul < Motorola Inside >
I am considering a Retina board for two reasons. 1) It has had great
reviews on the nets from end-users as you have said. and 2) It has
direct support under Emplant emulation.
-Jonathan
Jonathan,
Glad to hear that you had good luck with your Emplant! Wish I could
connect to the BBS to get the newer software, and to see if I can finally
get mine running.
Are you using HD floppies, or Sybil, or no floppies at all?
//Jonathan,
\\//via AutoPilot
I am currently using version 2.8 of the Emplant software. It is posted
regularly on Genie. They do support on that network as well. I am sure
if CIS gave them a sponsored (free) account, they would provide service
here as well. I do not have an HD floppy (YET). I am running off of the
7.01 AMAX partition that I have had for a while. I have accessPC running
on this system and my MAC at work. I just make a MAC/PC disk and transfer
stuff that way. I also have a tape backup and Syquest drive in which I
bring media back and forth from work with. When I get an HD floppy, I
will be able to run MAC Hi-caps. The new converter software by the way
lets you use the sybil without messing with the pots. Software is getting
better by the day. By the way, they have introduced the Retina 8 and 24
bit drivers and are nearing completion of the EGS, Domino, Merlin, IV24
and one other (name escapes me). They have put OpalVision on indefinate
hold due to the fact that Centaur refuses to give them technical
documentation on the board. On Genie, they gave several names at Centaur
of who to contact. Anyone with an OpalVision and planning on getting an
Emplant, call Centaur first to make sure they are going to provide UU with
the technical specs.
-Jonathan
Jonathan,
I just picked up on this thread. What is this Picasso bd? And
what is it's major advantage over OVsn?
Thanks….
Chris
I have a feeling you're not (going to regret your choice of an OpalVision)
:^)
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Ben,
Not another "I know something you don't" comment!
//Jonathan,
\\//via AutoPilot
Mmmmm…. no, not exactly. But I do think the OpalVision is likely to get
the lion's share of support – Centaur has been nothing short of excellent
in their work with us; and we've completed what is very likely the most
complex application created outside Centaur as a result… that says to me
that others who want to use the board will also get good support. I also
know those things sell quite well, and are very system-compatible; more so
than most other boards. If video res 24-bit is sufficient, then OpalVision
is an excellent deal.
Oh yeah – I also have a *very* high level of confidence in the designer of
the OpalVision, and expect that the promised hardware upgrades will meet
the expectations that have been raised for them.
I've seen quite a few other high-rez boards go by the wayside in the past
few years.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Ben,
Kind of the way that I feel about the Opal folks, too…although the
non-genlock boards, which patch or "intercept" Intuition seem to be
getting pretty good reviews. (Incidentally, has anyone considered that
RTG has been delayed to avoid dilution of AGA sales? Hmmm…)
One sour note, tho. Jonathan Blackwell has reported that
Utilities Unlimited is *not* getting good support from Centaur. I
find this kind of hard to believe, especially considering the
ultimate source this report is coming from (meaning UU, not
Jonathan).
At any rate, I hope that a 4000 appears in my future. Right now, I
see AGA as the hottest video hardware…anything else is an
approximation in some way or another.
//Jonathan,
\\//via AutoPilot
Jonathan…
As far as support goes, all you have to do is call the centaur BBS and D/l
the support files. You don't have to ever even speak to them. So whatever
the problem is, it's NOT Centaur.
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Ben,
I kind of figured something like that…my opinion of UU is not terribly
high right now! Even more distressing is how terribly their BBS works,
and that is *their* main line of support.
//Jonathan,
\\//via AutoPilot
That's interesting Jonathan, I have not had any problems connecting to
UU's BBS. Actually, they do support on Genie and Portal. If someone gave
them a free account here on CIS, I am sure they would support the product
here as well. They always post the latest updates on Genie, etc…
without putting out an ad for Genie, UU has given me great support – on
Genie.
-Jonathan
No, actually his stuff looked kinda blocky, ya know, he operated with
antialiasing truned off… ;^}
wmc – via Autopilot!