CompuServe Thread

#Amiga 2000

10 messages in this thread
#76585From: Stefan KelleyJul 16, 1987 11:12 PM
1) Does the A2000 support all the hardware that has been developed by OEM's for the A1000? 2) Same question for software. Stef!
#76596From: Don Curtis/SYSOPJul 17, 1987 12:47 AM
Stefan, As to hardware…NO, the A2000 does not support the hardware itself as the A2000 uses the internal slots for expansion while the A1000 uses the port on the side for expansion. Obviously, things like card cages won't fit inside the A2000. As to things like printers, external disk drives, modems and the like, they do work with the A2000, but you will need either an adapter or a gender mender to fit the parallel and serial ports. Software…yes, it is 100% compatible. Don
#76761From: Scott S.Jul 18, 1987 6:09 PM
Don, 100% compatible?! How is this possible, since the 2000 has 1.2 on ROM? I'd like to hear if Archon (with it's 'MiniDos') would work on a 2000. Scott – The ARCHIVES (203)938-9163 24hrs/day 2400baud.
#76762From: Don Curtis/SYSOPJul 18, 1987 6:10 PM
Scott, If the program will run on the A1000 with 1.2 it will run on either the A500 or A2000. I don't consider the need to swap operatings systems an incompatability but rather a program bug that is the fault of the program author not the computer. Don
#76763From: Scott S.Jul 18, 1987 6:17 PM
Don, Do you know if the final version of the 2000 will boot up from a Kickstart disk in df0: ? This would allow one to boot up under AmigaDos 1.1; thus solving compatibility problems. Scott BTW, are you watching me type or something?…hehe…that reply of yours was under two minutes after my message! BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING…
#76815From: Don Curtis/SYSOPJul 18, 1987 11:47 PM
Scott, I'm not sure about the A2000 being able to boot an older version of KS, supposedly there are "hooks" to allow other routines to be run instead of the routines in ROM…but then remember that the A2000 has no WCS like the A1000 does…so if you could boot 1.1, you'd lose 256K of memory and it would not be protected against being written to. Right now, I'd just have to say it's a guess if 1.1 can or can't be used in any fashion with an A2000. Perhaps one of our Canadian friends who has an A2000 can clue us in. As to the message…hehehe…I just happen to be reading the message base when you left your message, so I got it quickly. Don
#76854From: John DraperJul 19, 1987 2:02 AM
Don, The hoks in the OS are for upward compatibility and loading of routines, and may not allow 1.1 to be booted (KickStarted, that is). Anyway, perhaps someone will try it. I am not about to go out and find a 1.1 again just to find out if we can run defective software. Regards, Larry.
#76918From: Bill Christens-BarryJul 19, 1987 6:18 PM
Do you know if external expansion ram, in particular the Techni-Soft 2MB RAMBOard, is adaptable to the A2000? Thanks, Bill Christens-Barry
#76930From: John DraperJul 19, 1987 8:29 PM
Bill, The only way to adapt an existing A1000 board to the A2000 would be with a specially built extender/adapter, and I have my doubts about whether such a beast would be electrically quiet enough to do the job, as it would add a considereble length to the bus. Regards, Larry.
#76970From: Don Curtis/SYSOPJul 20, 1987 12:37 AM
Bill, I see you have another answer (which I haven't read yet, but hopefully we agree)…. I don't know for 100% sure, but I'd be about 99.44% sure the answer is NO. To expand an A2000, you need a card especially designed for the A2000. At this time, I know of no way to adapt an external card to fit inside an A2000 or to extend the bus via a ribbon cable so it can remain outside. That's not to say an extension can't or won't work (although I doubt it would due to lead lenght an timing problems), but I know of no one who has successfully done it. Don