#Amax II/II+
28 messages in this thread
Does anyone know if the Amax II with the new software is as sompatible
with Mac software as the newer Amax II+?
Hardware isn't the issue, only software.
Also is there anyone out there who has placed an order for Emplant? I
spoke to Utilities Unl. and was told that if I wanted to place an order I
would have to wait until the end of August for one because they were so
backordered.(Over 2000) If so, please let me know; I'm very interested in
this.
Thanks,
Alan
Alan:
The only increase in software compatability you get with AMAXII+ (card) is
with programs that make use of the timing chips in a MAC (like fax
software) and Midi software that uses the same chips that are found on the
card, but not in the cartridge. Here's what the AMAX II+ manual has to say
on the subject:
"The A-Max II Plus card is more compatible with some software because it
provides Mac software with two indentical chips to those found in a
Macintosh – the 8530 Serial Communications Controller (SCC) and the 6533
Versatile Interface Adapter (VIA). Programs running under A-Max II Plus
can directly access either of these chips and achieve the correct results.
Examples of such programs include terminal programs, MIDI applications,
and programs that make use of the VIA's accurate timers for graphics
effects etc."
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
On a simialr note, I have just received a beta version of the QLII MACFAX
software by MicoSmith from PPI, to try out on my Amiga/A-Max II Plus
card.
I am _very_ happy to report that it worked beautifully when I had my PPI
PM14400FXSA hooked up directly to the Plus card serial port, in both send
and auto receive! I'm having a bit of difficulty when I have the modem
hooked up to the Amiga serial port, but I think I can overcome that… the
fax/modem/amiga-serial and fax machine handle everything ok, but the fax i
sent wasn't nearly the same quality as using the A-Max II Plus serial
port.
Anyway, it's neat stuff!
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael,
Thanks, it sounds like what I need then. Telecommunications and MIDI
aren't what I'm looking for. Do you happen to know if freehand, pagemaker
and photoshop work? The emulator will be for my girlfriend who would
rather buy amax for her amiga than buy a whole new computer.
Alan
I don't know about Freehand (I can only assume it will work) but PM and
PhotoShop will both work. Keep in mind that both of those programs, like
any Amiga program of the same type, will be (IMHO) much easier to use on
an Amiga with soem kind of de-interlacer/flicker fixer. And an accelerator
wouldn't hurt either. I hardy ever used A-Max until I stepped up to a
68030 based Amiga and a deinterlaced screen on a VGA monitor. In fact,
even then, it was the speed improvement of loading AMAX with the Plus card
that finally has me using it on nearly a daily basis.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Sounds like a man who hadn't found FastMax 3 :^)
Though it IS a moot point now.
Erik
Erik,
Is there a FastMax3 for Amax 2.5? If you have it please upload it.
Chris
"Sounds like a man who hadn't found FastMax 3"
I found it… just never installed it 😉
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael,
Is FASTMAX 3 the update for the new AMAX 2.5 version? I used a
FastMAX with 2.06 and it worked fine, but I'd like the update if you got
it, since I'm still using the cart not the card. Finally got my AMAX
Syquests working. Had to reformat, restore, and rewrite the drivers on
them. They got all munged up somehow. I had 'em all tape backuped using
Retrospect and it saved me buns.
Chris
Chris-
I'm really not familiar with FastMax… as i said, I downloaded a version
from here (I've no idea WHAT version) but never bothered to use it. Maybe
Erik can point you in the right direction… although I don't see why the
old version wouldn't work with the AMAX 2.5 s/w.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael,
I found my copy of FastMAX3 and it is just for version 2.06 of
AMAX II it won't work with the 2.5 version. It makes a file size about
3000K too small. I wish there were an update to it. It did a good job of
speeding up the loading of AMAX.
Chris
Chris:
Sorry to hear FastMax isn't working with 2.5. I'm sure someone will update
it soon. In the meantime… get the Plus Card <g> It takes about 7
seconds from the time I select the AmaxII+ icon on my workbench for the
MAC happy face to be finished booting the emulator (on an A3000/25).
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Alan,
FreeHand, Pagemaker, and Photoshop will work on the Amiga. I hope that
your girlfriend's machine is an accelerated Amiga. It would help. Plus
she'll need a Flicker Fixer (de-interlace board) and VGA or better, a
Multi-Sync monitor. A good quantity of ram, and a large hard drive. But
that is still cheaper than buying a MAC. But if she wants to use these
programs in color, Amax ain't your baby. It only emulates the MAC Plus
(albeit a fast one) and that is B/W.
Chris
yeah, she will soon be upgradeing her 500 to that status, sans the flicker
fixer..Is it that bad? Will she be able to adjust her screen colors from
the Amax side?
Maybe I should just tell her to upgrade to a 3000, instead of building up
her 500. I'll definitely tell her to hold off on Amax until the emplant
thingie either shows up or disappears
Alan
It that emplant thing actually for real? After reading the blurb on that
I thought "Yeah, right". I could be wrong but it just seemed a little too
perfect.
Donovon,
Dunno, youre guess is as good as mine. I know that Utilities UNlimited
has a below average track record, but I'm always willing to give a second
chance and I'm sure that as soon as it is released there will be a myriad
of reviews here and in magazines. I sure hope it's for real tho. Well,
supposedly we'll see the first or second week of august.
Alan
I can also testify that Illustrator and many (though not all) utilities
work nicely on the AMAX II system. We also use Quark Express with no
problems.
Regards, Whap!penned…
Pat @Oxxi (310) 427-1227
Michael,
Interesting…the serial port in use shouldn't have anything to do
with the quality of the fax…or at least I wouldn't think it would. But
then again, since Class I is based in external software and tight timing
loops…maybe it does.
Don
Don:
>"the serial port in use shouldn't have anything to do with the quality
of the fax…then again, since Class I is based in external software and
tight timing"<<
Exactly!
The A-Max Plus card has an Apple 8530 Serial Communications Controller
chip (SCC) that isn't found in the A-Max cartridge.
I still have some more tests to do with the Amiga serial port emulation
and this fax stuff. The Amiga serial port works fine for data transfer…
it just doesn't seem to handle the fax timings very well… yet. By this
weekend, I'll have a complete 'report' ready for upload to lib 5.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael: Amiga serial port emulation? Are you by chance talking
about using the AMaxII+ serial ports under AmigaDOS? Is there a
driver to do this? Currently my 2232 card has only one of it's
serial ports in use, so I might consider swapping it for the AMaxxII+
card IF I could use the 2 serial ports under AmigaDOS!
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
I really like my Mouse Systems optical mouse (same the BOING!
optical) It's not cordless, but then again, it doesn't eat
batteries <g>
My favorite mouse is the Amiga 3 button mouse — no metal or plastic
mouse pad needed with it (along with the inherent problems of
registration).
hmmm… I never registered my mouse… I wonder if there's been an
upgrade? <squeak>
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Well, ya better get it registered quickly. There's a $100 fine if
you're caught operating an unregistered mouse.
they'll never catch me… I pulled the plates off of the other mouse
(which of course, is up on blocks in my driveway)
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael:
Do you have an aluminum pad with your mouse? I replaced the original
plastic pad with an aluminum pad, and it works much nicer. Plus, about
once every 2 weeks I polish the pad with car wax, and run the mouse hard
over a sheet of paper (to smooth the felt), and after doing both of these
on a regular basis, the mouse glides so smoothly over the pad that it's
amazing. I've also velcroed the pad to the table so it never slips on me
either (I had a problem with that when I first got the mouse)
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
Mike- I remember you talking about that awhile back… where can I get the
aluminum pad?
Michael
…..on AutoPilot