CompuServe Thread

#OS 3.1 Available in UK

9 messages in this thread
#155485From: David KayJul 6, 1994 6:58 PM
I phoned Blittersoft (in the UK) this morning, after reading a small article in Amiga Shopper. They are expecting WB3.1 for ECS and AGA Amigas on the 16 July. The price is around 100 pounds. But they won't ship to North America because Expert Systems have distribution rights there. David Kay Flying in from Montreal.
#155848From: John G. AtaJul 10, 1994 12:27 AM
David, Do you know if the WB3.1 update for the ECS and AGA Amigas is a software only update, or is there a new ROM involved? Thanks, John G. Ata Sterling, VA
#155862From: Ronald B. RomineJul 10, 1994 8:12 AM
The WB3.1 update requires a 3.x Kickstart ROM(s). So if you have an Amiga that already has the 3.0 ROMs (like the A1200 or A4000), you shouldn't need the ROMs. However, the 3.1 ROMs do contains bug fixes, and the all 3.1 kits being made available contain the 3.1 ROM (including the A4000 kit). Ron. — (Stealing from one, is Plagiarism — Stealing from many, is RESEARCH!)
#155919From: Greg MalcangiJul 10, 1994 6:39 PM
Ron, Can you tell me what advantage 3.1 has over 3.0? Thanks, Greg
#155954From: Ronald B. RomineJul 11, 1994 1:18 AM
I don't have 3.1, so I don't know all the features it has over 3.0, but believe 3.1 has: – bug fixes for AGA & ECS graphics.library, as well as other fixes – a CD-ROM filesystem – a CDXL datatype, for the animation format developed with the CDTV – supports 256 color WB for ECS Amigas (for use with display cards) – the 'fastfilesystem' is faster – updated version of the WB software/files. – *IF* the A1200 version id released, support for exec-configured RAM in the trapdoor slot using Zorro-III space. There are probably more, but these are the only ones I know of, or heard about. Ron. — (Stealing from one, is Plagiarism — Stealing from many, is RESEARCH!)
#156055From: Greg MalcangiJul 11, 1994 8:07 PM
Thanks Ron, The only real advantage for me would be the faster file system and I'm not sure that it's worth the hassle just for this. Thanks for the info. Regards, Greg
#155921From: Dale LarsonJul 10, 1994 7:11 PM
I'm 99% sure that you need 3.1 ROMs even if you have 3.0 ROMs. There were too many changes to fit in a setpatch. Maybe so many were ECS related changes such that SetPatch is ok (because the only 3.0 ROMs are AA, which don't need the ECS-related changes), but I don't think so. Dale L. Larson Intangible Assets Manufacturing (info@iam.com) "That's the best part about being crazy. You see things no one else can see."
#155955From: Ronald B. RomineJul 11, 1994 1:18 AM
Ok, the current ROMs may be required for the update. However, I thought that in the conference with Dave Haynie, and that he said a ROM update wouldn't be *required*. You wouldn't get some of the new features like booting from a CD-ROM without it, but that the new 3.1 WB ran on the older 3.0 ROM. Of course, as you said, if a lot patching was needed — a simple Setpatch wouldn't be enough, and would require a new ROM. Ron. — (Stealing from one, is Plagiarism — Stealing from many, is RESEARCH!)
#155999From: Dale LarsonJul 11, 1994 11:21 AM
The v40 Workbench may well install on a system with v39 Kickstart, and that would certainly be an improvement. So it it wouldn't be *required*. But I don't think it's the same kind of not required as with 2.04->2.1, where updating the workbench makes all the same kickstart changes as a ROM upgrade does. Dale L. Larson Intangible Assets Manufacturing (info@iam.com) "That's the best part about being crazy. You see things no one else can see."