#Mac to Amy and back
14 messages in this thread
I use a Mac at work and I have a 2000 Amiga at home. I would like to be
able to do some of my work at home. The main programs I use on the Mac are
Word (Microsoft), Pagemaker (Aldus), and Mac Draw Pro (Claris). Here's
>ALL< I would like to be able to do. I need a structured drawing program
similar to Mac Draw Pro. Then I need some means of converting drawings and
text from the Mac programs to something that the Amiga would handle, and of
course convert back again. Seems to me like I'm asking for a lot, but if
anyone has any advice, it would be appreciated. Thanks in
advance……………..WW
Walt,
Have you considered getting AMAXII+ for your A2000? This would let you run
the very same programs you use at work at home on your Amiga. You'd get a
card for a slot in the A2000, that provides you with appletalk port for a
printer, plus two other serial ports. You'll be able to read/write
Macintosh format with your Amiga disk drive. Plus if you get the High
Density drive for it, you'll be able to handle the HD Mac disks AND
read/write IBM format using Apple's very own program that does it. You can
partition a portion of an Amiga Hard disk for your macintosh system and
applications or add a hard drive formatted as an apple device. What your
asking for may seem like a lot, but the solution is available, but it will
cost you about $350 for AMAXII+ card/software, your going to need a set of
MAC 128K ROMS, and MAC software and mac formatted hard disk is an option
but to me it is necessary. Maybe this isn't the solution you wanted to
hear, but it does cut through all the file conversion routines, dancing
around, etc, etc.
Chris
I'm not sure that this would help you, but . . . . I use a Mac at work and
transfer the files back and forth all the time. Without going to the
expense of Amax II, you could get MultiDos for your A2000 which is a
wonderful shareware program that will read and right to Dos disks on the WB
level (similar to CrossDos). For the Mac side it would be easier if you
had DosMounter or AccessPC to mount Dos disks, but your Forgien File
transfer software that came with your Mac system software will read those
disks. This process is somewhat redundent (using Dos as common ground but
not having a Dos PC) but it only will cost you the shareware fee and the
trouble of formatting disks on a Dos machine (if you have DosMounter you
can format either Mac or PC). I could give you more information on my
setup if you're interested.
Matt
Mathew,
I have AMAX, CrossDos, MAC 2 DOS, DosMounter, AccessPC, PhotoShop, and a
bunch of other programs. I use what I need to get the job done, Amiga or
MAC. The person I responded to wanted to know if he could transfer his
images, page layouts between platforms, so he could bring his work home and
do it on his Amiga. Since he uses a MAC at work, sure he can do some of
that, but why not do the same thing at home? Make AMAX work his Amiga into
a MAC, do his 'homework' and take it to work in the morning? Why fool
around trying to find ways to move graphics between platforms? Or a
wordprocessor compatible with the one at work? If you can just use the same
program to do the job, you save a lot of time, frustration, and dancing
around. I appreciate your response. I've been transferring files between
platforms for a few years now. Operating a service bureau, you have to do
that sort of thing. We even had a dedicated null-modem hookup between a MAC
and an Amiga in different parts of the building, before we added a second
scanner, that one for the MAC. Before that I would scan everything on the
Amiga and move it over to the artist's MAC, where he'd convert the IFF with
photoshop to a TIFF to load into Adobe Illustrator. Now, I found that AMAX
2.51 works well, it transfers files between hard disks easily using its
better version File Transfer Software. If it would just allow multiple
selections instead of one at a time I'd be even happier. However, with
LHARC on the MAC I just package together a multiple LHARC archive and move
it over to the Amiga formatted Syquest cartridge in SyQ2:, un-LHARC the
file and go from there. I'm just happy that I can interface my Amiga
hardware into the MAC arena. I'm getting jobs that call for me to hand in
MAC files, I give them what they want, I'm not going to convert them.
Chris
Chris,
What you have done sounds great. I was not responding to you, but to Walt
Weber (the same as you were). I didn't mean to come off as combative to
your response.
I wish I had a setup like yours. My point was that Walt could do EXACTLY
what he had said he wanted to do for the Shareware fee on MultiDos instead
of $299 for Amax II+ plus the 128K ROMS =$5??.00. Using a IIci w/24 bit
color at work has spoiled me and I'm afraid I would find a black & white
Mac Plus emulation insufficient.
Matt
Mathew,
Yeah, I did get a bit combative didn't I? But what Walt wants to do
just using MultiDos isn't going to be enough. He wanted to transfer
graphics between platforms and wordprocessing files. Sure you can do that
without AMAX. But your still going to have to buy a decent graphics program
like Imagemaster or ADPRO. Sure there are some shareware GFX converters in
here he could use. But it makes it easier to use the same program that is
required by the client, company, etc. AMAX gives you that edge. They don't
even have to know that the hardware wasn't APPLE made. I don't tell them I
just use an Amiga computer. I don't keep it a secret but why bother?
They're ususally not that aware of other platforms and I want to get in and
out. Take money and run.
Chris
Walt,
All is not heaven with the AMaxII+ card. Before buying one, see if you can
try one in your machine. It won't work in mine, and from what I
understand, it fails to boot in about 20% of the machines. ReadySoft is
working on their third iteration of software. If you do get it running,
make sure your software works with it.
Also, BTW, AMaxII displays a 2-bit screen (ie:black & white).
-Steve Sponagle
Stephen,
"…All is not heaven with the AMaxII+ card, …Also, BTW, AMaxII
displays a 2-bit screen (ie:black & white)…"
I've been using AMAX since its first release. I still have the cartridge,
don't plan on upgrading to the +card just yet. No need, plus I'm giving
EMplant a chance to appear on the market and read some reviews if it does.
As far as boot problems, the only ones have been when my old controller
whacked the installed drivers on the Syquest cartridges. I replaced it
reinstall the drivers and they're working fine now. In all, I'm using two
Syquest drives, an 80MB Seagate and a Wangtek 150MB tape drive with it. All
works fine. One of the Syquests holds an Amiga formatted cartridge used for
file transfers, I'm busily converting my 80MB of mac postscript Type 1
fonts into .PFB, .AFM and Compugraphic formats to use with ProPage &
Prodraw 3.0, Pagestream 2.2HL and Post. Both Evolution and Metamorphosis
Pro work fine with AMAX, the File Transfer II software version 2.51 works
OK, and using LHARC on the MAC to move multiple files appears to be working
fine. Nothing is heaven for anything, there will always be that little
problem or area left unattended to, just work with what's available, and
try and make the most of it.
Chris
Chris,
I just wanted people to know that it emulates virtually the lowest
level of Mac computers. Although, with an accelerator, a fast low-level
Mac. Certain applications may be severly limited, if not non-functional
altogether. DTP probably is not limited, but Video/Art probably is
(PhotoShop/Canvas/Macromind products) due to lack of color.
Like I said (in reverse) it works on most Amigas, it still doesn't work
on mine. I want the Mac compatable ports for several reasons, thats why I
bought a plus card.
So, I just sit back and wait for ReadySoft to come through….yawn.
-Steve
Stephen,
Yes if you want to see the colors your out of luck, although a good artist
with the right MAC software like Aldus Presentation (I think) can use the
pantone color numbering system to select the colors they want instead of
doing it visually. I know one artist that uses that system ALL the time
with her Amiga and AMAX. You can do it with Adobe Illustrator too! Every
program I've used with AMAX has been sucessful. If your satisfied with just
sitting back and waiting… then so be it. Although I'd be on their A**! I
want the Mac compatable ports too, but I have to wait for $$$. It may
emulate the lowest level of MAC computers, but if your need compatible word
processing with your mac at work, or spreadsheet, or your doing DTP or
illustrations, or you want to use CIM or lots of other programs where color
is not a need it does just fine. In fact, I've used it to convert 24BIT
color MAC files with PhotoShop to IFF for Amiga. So you could use it to
convert the color work from the Amiga to something the MAC at work can
handle in the morning. So I think it covers quite a bit of the problem the
gentleman was trying to solve. Maybe if/when EMPlant materializes from the
vapor machine we'll get color, but then again, AMAX is here now and it does
fine.
Chris
I have thought about AMAX……The feeling I have been led to is that the
ROMs are not easy to find. I agree that it seems to be the best solution.
However, I was hoping some Amiga programs would save in PICT or EPS format,
that Mac Draw would be able to swallow and still keep objects intact.
Thanks for the info……………..WW
Actually, ADPRO does support those graphic formats.. EPS, etc.. The
Emplant is
supposed to be shipping now. Color MAC emulation. Have not seen or heard
yet if that is true. I'm gonna hold out on the AMAX II+ until the Emplant
either becomes a reality or Utilities Unlimited pulls back it's claims. I
already have the cartridge AMAX II so, I have at least good MAC emulation.
I haven't heard of the Emplant……What is it??
Walt,
Here are the prices I found for AMAX and the ROM sets. Not cheap but
cheaper than elsewhere.
Suggest CSN'S
Retail PRICE
A-Max II Plus ——————- ReadySoft, Inc. —— $499.95 $332.61
A-Max II Plus ROM Set ———– ReadySoft, Inc. —— $199.95 $169.49
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Chris