CompuServe Thread

Jim: Well, here goes… 1) first off, the bridge-board is not built in. It is a complete MS-Dos computer on a card that plugs into the Amiga. It is currently available in XT (8088) and AT (80286) versions, although Commodore is working on a 386 version. The XT version runs at 4.77 Megahertz and the AT version I'm not sure of, but I would guess probably 12. You can, however, ad accellerator boards in the slots and increase the speed, just as in your computer. 2) the XT version comes with 512K (I'm not sure about the AT version), and is they are both expanded by memory cards, just as on your computer. The memory limitations are the same as the intels (ie., 640K for a XT). 3) They are 100% compatible with MS-Dos programs. 4) The bridg-board comes with CGA… cont on 5) 5) If you stick to CGA, you can still use the Amiga monitor. The MS-Dos programruns in a window on the Amiga Screen. If you want VGA, jus If you want VGA, just plug a VGA card into a slot. You will then have to have a seperate VGA monitor, however. 6) The 2000 series comes with 4 IBM type slots, 2 16 bit and 2 8 bit. One of the slots is used up by the bridge. 7) The keyboard is quite good, with the IBM equivilant key markings on the front of the keys. 8) Yes the Amiga mouse will work with the IBM side. 9) Yes, you can reset the Bridge-board without resetting the Amiga. 10) This is the hardest question. Two computers in the space of one is one reason. There is also the ability to internaly transfer information between the two formats with a bridgeboard. Maybe someone else can think of some more reasons. Hope This has helped you. If you have any more questions, let me know. Branden Beachy 72557,107

Jim, 1) XT Bridge runs at 4.77Mhz, AT Bridge runs at 8 Mhz 2) As much as you want…just like any other MS-DOS machine 3) I've yet to find a program that wouldn't run on it 4) Using the shared monitor…CGA or MDA (you can add a graphics adapter for other modes) 5) One both sides can use it at once 6) 2 8 bit, and 2 16 bit slots, BUT, the Bridge takes one of the 16 bit slots, and the 8 bit slots can be made into 16 bit slots by simply adding the card socket (traces and holes are already on the motherboard). 7) Standard Amiga keyboard…similar to an AT keyboard 8) Yes, mouse can be shared…but only one side at a time, it can be hot keyyed back and forth 9) Yes, you can reset the Bridge by itself via CTL-ALT-DEL 10) Advantage over an A500 + current 20Mhz 386 machine wiht VGA…none really. Less desk space and expandability of the Amiga side would be the only "advantage". To me, that wouldn't be a "fair" trade for your current MS-DOS machine plus a separate Amiga. The Bridgeboard can share a hard drive (either side to the other side) and the parallel port, but it needs a separate serial card (or multi-function card) for serial communications. I'd suggest you simply keep your current MS-DOS machine and buy an A2000 or 2500…it's far easier to expand than an A500 and doesn't take up much more desk space. In fact, if you expand an A500…you'll take up more desk space than the 2000 (or 2500) alone. Don

Jim: Since others are replying to the Bridgecard portion, but missing the point on your last question, I will attempt to confuse things further. 🙂 The Amiga 500 uses a straight 68000 CPU running at a little over 7mHz. The 2500 and 3000 use 68030's running at 25mHz with a 68882 math co-processor. I find that this runs about 10 times faster than a standard Amiga 500. (I have a 1000 and a 2500/30). So, there are definitely other benefits than space alone to go with the 2500/30 or 3000. Also, the 3000 is memory expandable to 16 megs of 32 bit fast RAM and 2 megs of chip RAM, without getting an add-on board, just the chips. Clint <VRLI>

Jim, I know you are going to get more replies than you know what to do with, so let me add something different: Commodore is coming out with new bridgeboards. There have been interminable rumors of 386 and turbo XT versions. Also, obviously, Commodore is working to make bridgeboards that work with the A3000. — Ethan

First of all, before anything else, why do you want to get an Amiga? That should be the first question answered before anything else.(I'd hate to recommend my favorite system to someone who may not need it, then wind up thinking that they wasted their money) As to the rest, 1)There are two bridge cards available now, with a third that was announced (don't know about release) and a fourth rumored under development. One is a 4.77mhz 8088 board with 512K, the 2nd is a 10mhz 286 board with 1M(I think) the 3rd is a 10mhz 8086 or Nec V20 or V30, and the last one is a rumored 386 or 386sx with EGA. All the others are CGA/Herc(I think they can be both) 2)Memory can be added via IBM slots just like any other MS-DOS system, and the system can be accelerated to a 386 using a SOTA board(I don't know what it is, or where you can get it, but from what I have heard, it gives the best results on bridgecards. 3)Anything that runs on MS-DOS, Unix, or OS/2 on an 8088 or 80286 will run on the appropriate bridge, with about as many incompatibility problems as your typical clone. 5)A Bridgecard can run in one monitor if you are using the native video modes of the bridgecard. If you use an expansion card, you have one of two choices: you can add an extra monitor to run VGA separately from the Amiga side, or you can purchase a device known as a flicker fixer for the Amiga side, and get/and/or make a switchbox(like the ones you see for printers) and hook both the amiga side and the VGA side through the switch box to a single multisync monitor(though there might be some hardware problems that I don't know about, since I don't own a bridgecard). 6) The A2000 has 4 Amiga slots and 4 IBM slots, though two slots perform double duty, so you can have either 3 and 3 or 4 and 2 or whatever. 7)The keyboard is basically the functional equivalent of an 82 key keyboard, though a 2000 can have an IBM keyboard adapted to fit it. However, the lack of an F11 or F12 doesn't really impact on the functionality of the bridge, since in my many MS-DOS travels, I've seen very few programs that