SoftPC, does the job???
33 messages in this thread
I'm thinking of upgrading my 2000 w/BB to a 1200 or 4000 but I can't
afford to keep or upgrade the BB. I'm wondering if SoftPC or other
software based emulators are acceptable for serious work or are they
merely toys. My PC demands aren't too high: I use the BB for accounts,
some database work and learning C. I need something comparable to the
2286 with HDD access.
Will SoftPC do the job?
Thanks,
Andrew
Andrew: I use SoftPC often at work on my Mac Classic (a 68000 machine). It is
very slow – like 0.5 times an XT, with especially slow CGA graphics. The maker
of SoftPC (Insignia) makes other products that emulate better PC's (EGA, AT,
VGA, VGA w/ Windows), but they require at least a 68030 Mac; even then, the
graphic updates are too slow for things like games or fast graphics
applications.
I assume you know that SoftPC is a PC emulator for the Macintosh. You would
need either Emplant or Amax to run a SoftPC version on your Amiga. You'd be
better off running PC-Task (an Amiga software PC emulator) if you have a fast
Amiga. It has limited VGA support, and can use your HDD as a PC C: drive
(though I have no luck making it boot from C:). There is a demo version of
PC-Task you can download somewhere in the AmigaTech forum here on CS.
Hope this helps you some.
Appearantly SoftPC is good enough for Intel:
Rumor has it that at a recent demo of the Pentium, they compared it
(running Lotus 1-2-3) to a Mac Quadra (68040) (running Lotus 1-2-3 on
SoftPC!)…
That way they could say:
'See, our Pentium running Windows can beat the pants off a Macintosh!'
Isn't marketing wonderful!
Erik Flom
Is that so!!
I guess all's fair in love and monopoly building! Of course, Apple
doesn't have any way to fight back seeing as they haven't allowed any Mac
emulators on PCs. That way they could run Quark on a Quadra and a 8088
with emulator. 8^)
Andrew
Actually, I've heard rumors of Mac OS running on PC's.
They just don't want to ruin the market for Mac H/W.
Of course, if the test were done on the Amiga, the only one that would
suffer would be the Amiga, since it doesn't have Lotus 1-2-3. (Though with
a bridgeboard, and an AMAX/Emplant you'd be able to run emulators far
faster than the other 2 platforms! :^)
Erik Flom
Eric,
Yes, I heard the Mac OS on PC rumors as well. It's supposed to come out
next year or something and is being developed by Apple. Also, OS/2 was
reported to potentially have Mac application support sometime in the
(far?) future.
It would seem to me, however, that if Apple can come out with a full PC
version of the MacOS it WOULD hurt sales of Apple hardware. The Mac would
go the way of NEXT being software only. Why would anyone buy a more
expensive product that can only be used for one thing when they can get an
arguably faster, cheaper and more versatile clone. But maybe Apple sees
the writing on the wall and see that the industry is standardizing on one
architecture.
Andrew
I'd say you've got a pretty good assesment of what's going on.
Things are going to get real interesting in the next few years…:^)
Erik Flom
Erik,
Thanks, I *try* to keep abreast of events….
Yes, I think computers are moving into "the next generation". Not in
regards to hardware or software but in attitude. The awareness and
acceptance of computers are becoming more standardized and for that reason
systems and applications will likely standardize. That's why I wonder
about the future of the Amiga, it's not good enough only to read PC disks.
But the plethora of emulators on the Amiga gives it a very strong hand in
that regards. IMHO.
Andrew
Oh well, I get the feeling that with all the emulators being written for
these new processors, it wouldn't be too hard for somebody to hack
together an Amiga emulator for the new breed of machine.
While the Amiga probably won't survive the next ten years, I bet that at
least one of the other 2 big platforms out there will disappear too.
Thanks,
Erik Flom
Eric,
And, with the way Apple is scambling for cash these days I'll bet you its
the Mac that'll lose. But then things are NEVER for sure. Heck, everyone
could start buying Amigas!!!
I don't really know why one would bother with an Amiga Emulator,
truthfully. I mean, the Amiga is great and all but now everything is or
will be available on the new systems. The only advantage would be keeping
your software base but by that time it would be like using a C64 emulator
on an A4000. Of course, it might a nice trip down Memory Lane to run
ProPage and watch the memory get corrupted. 8^)
Andrew
Hey, they've had C-64 emulators for the Amiga, and you can get an AppleIIe
on a card for the Mac LC. Stranger things have happened…
I think there are enough hard-core hackers these days that would port the
Amiga to a 680×0 emulator on some other platform, just to say they did it.
You know, a 'college project' sort of thing. Yeah, that's the ticket. :^)
Erik Flom
Erik,
I'm sure there will be Amiga emulators and I would probably buy one but it
wouldn't be the same. You probaly heard the acronym SHBAM (Should Have
Bought A Mac) for Mac Emulators. Well, a revision of that would be SHSWA
(Should Have Stayed With Amiga).
But something like that is good for the transition period as you move from
the old into the new.
Andrew
The new optical computers will appear sooner than expected. Computers and
applications will be in a whole new world. Imagine, no RAM and unlimited
buss speed, neat stuff.
–Paul < Motorola Inside >
Can you say Desktop Virtual Reality? (With heavy emphasis on the REAL part
of it!)
Erik Flom
> Imagine, no RAM and unlimited buss speed, neat stuff.
Well, "unlimited bus speed" would imply that the photons travelling in the
optical pathways have infinite velocity.
// Brian — Cruising on AutoPilot…..
\X/
Well, if you can accept the FTL (Faster Than Light) chips they use in
ST:TNG as a possibility, then you shouldn't have any trouble with the
concept of an unlimited buss speed. :^)
Just think, FTL chips could be used to give you the answer to your
question – _before_ you ask it! :^)
Erik Flom
At the recent Mac developer's conference, they had a couple dozen real hands-on
PowerPC machines emulating the Mac faster than a Quadra. And there's something
called Bedrock that lets you write a portable app between Windows and the Mac
desktop.
Sounds impressive. I guess Bedrock is an OOP programing system, huh? Do
they have any pricing or availability expectations for the PowerPCs?
Andrew
Yes, Bedrock is/was based on Symantec's Think C++. I haven't heard pricing for
PowerPCs. Or at least I don't remember if I did.
John,
Are PowerPCs the result of Taligent (is that the name?), the IBM/Apple
coalition?
Andrew
I don't know, I can't keep it all straight in my head.
–> I don't know, I can't keep it all straight in my head.
I know what you mean! I have often wondered if I know any more than I did
last year. As soon as you grasp once peice of knowledge it's already
obsolete and you have to start learning something new.
But that's the joy of the computer industry…it's always changing.
Andrew
I think Taligent is supposed to come up with the Pink OS. The PowerPC
chips are from Motorola's part, of course.
Malcolm
Thanks Malcolm,
PowerPCs are RISC based, are they not?
The problem, as you say, with the industry is that the complexity has
grown so much that non-technies (which most writers would be considered:
users instead of techies) can't keep up with the advances. The techies
are too busy with their art and the writers are in a constant battle of
catch up. Likely it has always been that way but now everything is
accellerated. In a way I find it amazing that they can get timely
inforation out at all.
Andrew
It's more than a rumor. I saw a Mac emulator running on a PC at a show
here in Brussels at the beginning of the year. Can't remember the name of
the company now, but could dig it out if anyone is interested?
Pete Jones, flying on AutoPilot from Brussels, Belgium
"Borg proverb: beware a Worf in ship's clothing". (sorry :-^)
Would that work on a Bridgeboard setup?
(You'd have a PC in an Amiga, running Mac software – the height of
inefficiency. :^)
(Now, if this IBM Mac emulator was a software only emulator, gosh, then
you could run it on CrossPC! An emulator running on an emulator. And of
course, you should use a stock 2000 for optimal performance. :^)
Sorry, got a little carried away,
Erik Flom
Just for the heck of it, I am running Windows 3.0 on a SoftAT setup which is
running on my Emplant in my 040 powered A2000. It's a PC emulating a MAC
running on a MAC running on an Amiga!
-Jonathan
And, I bet it blazes!
You're truly a sick man! :^)
Erik Flom
Actually, it works very well, and quickly considering the goings on.
-Jonathan
Nice one, Erik.
I have tried running a Psion Organiser emulator on SoftPC on A-MaxII Plus
on an Amiga 2500. It worked, but don't ask about the speed!
Pete Jones, on AutoPilot from Brussels, Belgium
"Borg proverb: Beware a Worf in ship's clothing."
YukYuk 8^)
// John – (Flying via AutoPilot)
\X/ "Worf: To Hell with the Prime Directive – Give the Borg Windows!"