#AutoPilot
32 messages in this thread
Steve,
While 2.0 is becomming the standard, I am not so sure about hires
displays. Of course anyone who buys an A3000 has one, but there are a lot
of us A2000 and A500 users out there, and I would be willing to bet that
more CIS Amigans have a 1084 than a flicker fixer (or equivalent). I know
many people who still use a 1084. Oh, I want to upgrade with a flicker
fixer real bad, but am not so sure when I will be able to afford it.
So folks have suggested things I could do to get arround flicker, all
things have have tried before and use from time to time. But I have found
that the number aide in reducing flicker to be a careful selection of color
pallete. I would strongly encourage you to include the ability to save
custom color pallete for AutoPilot.
Of course, I realize that I can run any software I want on my Amiga, so
if I don't like the flicker I don't need to purchase AutoPilot. But, If I
want the functionality of AP (which I do very much) then I am almost forced
into buying something which may turn out to be frustrating for me. But, at
the Whap $20.00 upgrade cost, I sure wouldn't be loosing much.
<<< Michael Shea >>>>
<<< 76665,3360 >>>>
Michael,
About a year ago, before I had written 1 line of code for AutoPilot, I
stated my intentions that it would be 2.0 only. I got a lot of flak over
that. I also got a lot of flak on another forum when I said, about 4 years
ago, that within 12 months (of that time) that 2400 baud modems would be
the standard (I'll say the same now about 9600). Times change. Hardware
changes. Within 12 months a hires display will be the standard (if it
isn't already).
Why did I go with hires/interlace only? Because I needed the visual space
and refused to go with a some sort of scrolling lores screen. That's just
the way it is. The program may or may not be what you want — only you can
decide that.
Steve,
The machine I log on to CIS with is an A1000. No 2.0 in the forseeable
future. I don't have a hires monitor on this machine, so hires screens are
useless to me.
But all that I could live with, I will probably get yet another Amiga
eventually and it will likely run 2.0 and have a hires monitor. The 2 megs
I saw mentioned by someone else is something I object to. Text-based (and
Whap! and Autopilot are both essentially text-based) programs should not
come with requirements like that. Word-processors, maybe, but it better
allow me pretty huge documents for that. Not auto-downloading programs.
Requiring 2 megs says more "whiz-bang" than functionality to me. So, tell
me it ain't so! It doesn't _really_ hog all that memory does it?
MCR – San Jose, CA CIS: 76450,26
Internet: mcr@unison.com
Michael,
On my A2000 with the 1Meg Agus, 2Meg on the A2620, the WB2.04 screen is
showing "809312 chip, 1071000 other mem". I have found that Autopilot
multitasks very well both within itself while on CIS and outside with
other programmes going.
BTW have you noticed the thread ref New Amigas. There is speculation
regarding a "800" which sounded similar to the "1000". Perhaps you should
hold on till the rumoured Sept'92 publicity date.
Hope this helps
Laurie Carroll AKL NZ
Amiga-Via Falnet.APb
Laurie,
Hmmm. Interesting. Several messages I've read indicate that 2meg is
required to run the program at all. Your results don't seem to bear this
out. I wonder what the real story is. I like your results better than the
other messages.
Oh well. It will be a while before I get 2.0 running at home. I'm
waiting until I can afford a second A3000. Maybe an A3000UX, then my
current A3000 would come home to replace the A1000.
MCR – San Jose, CA CIS: 76450,26
Internet: mcr@unison.com
Michael Riehle
My dealer here in Salt Lake City has an A3000UX he is selling. It has been
the store DEMO for a year or so I think. Might make you a good deal.
Call Brent Gray at 801-484-2791 from 10a to 5p M-F. The store name is
ARMADILLO BROTHERS.
JOHN – The Lost Southerner!!
Michael,
Glad I could give a positive pointer.
BTW I noticed that you are useing the A3000 at work which may be at a
University, going buy the Internet address. Is that correct? The reason
that I enquire is that I follow what is happening on the MultiMedia Forum
and I have "pushed" the Amiga in a thread regarding what to use in the
Medical arena for imaging/Multimedia etc. (I used the articles in the
Feb'92 issue of Amazing/Amiga as an illustration) You may be a possible
"contact" for the two Doctors that were in the thread.
Laurie Carroll AKL NZ
Amiga-Via Falnet.APb
Laurie,
My A3000 is, in fact, at work. But it's not at a university. I'm a
programmer by trade and I program for Unix and HP3000 systems. I use it to
run GfxBase's X Server software, as well as for project planning and word
processing.
I'm perfectly happy to talk to people about my use of the machine. Give
me a call at (408)245-3000 between 9:00am and 5:00pm PDT.
MCR – San Jose, CA CIS: 76450,26
Internet: mcr@unison.com
Michael
I'd like to be able to call but it is an international toll call from
here in NZ. I will keep the info though as I plan to visit friends of the
family in Orange Cal. next year. Plus, you never know, I may come across
someone down here that may want to get in touch with you re your
programming.
My friend teaches at a local Community College there and I have'nt been
abl to access them via Internet even though their computer department does
use CIS, hence the question to yourself.
Laurie Carroll AKL NZ
Amiga-Via Falnet.APb
Steve, will AP run reasonably nicely on a standard 2000 with 1084?
Ron
AutoPilot requires 2.0x of the Amiga OS. It is hires/interlace only.
Hardware requirements are an Amiga (of course), hard disk, and a
minimum of 2M ram (the more the better).
-sja
The above is from a meesage Steve posted earlier. While it is possible to
run AP output to a 1084 in hires/Interlace, you will need to adjust your
WB color-palette and contrast/brightness to minimize flicker.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Ron,
I don't know — I have neither.
-sja
No wonder you caught so much flak over the years….
Nobody likes some guy who is right all the time…..<g>
Let me know when to send my $20. – Alex
Have you tried using 2.0's vitual screens to create a 640 x 400
non-interlaced screen.
John Koller
Yes, and I do not intend to do that.
Michael,
When I first started Beta testing AutoPilot several weeks ago, I too was a
bit concerned about running in interlace mode on a standard RGB system.
However, after playing with the colors a bit and spending $10 on a screen
for the monitor, I barely notice the flicker anymore, in fact I have
started running most of my programs and even workbench in interlace mode
and prefer it. Someday I'll have some extra pocket change and will get a
FFV and a multisynch monitor, but until then I'm quite happy.
=Rick=
Rick,
Well, even if I don't like the idea of the hires interlace screen, for
the 20 dollar upgrade from Whap, I am sure I will buy AutoPilot when it is
available. It just sounds to neat. The are other systems out there like CIS
that are cheaper, but I have stayed here because I like Whap so much…
<<< Michael Shea >>>>
<<< 76665,3360 >>>>
AutoPilot is worth even more than a $20 upgrade, but lets not give steve
any ideas <G>.
=Rick=
Richard,
Whats this AutoPilot thing? I just started reading all the WHAP!
messgaes so I missed the discription, I guess.
>>>>>Skip (SKP Graphics) <<<<<
AutoPilot is a program currently in beta testing that is like WHAP! in the
sense that it automate's many of you tasks on CI$. Unlike WHAP! it is
workbench 2.04 specific, and offers much more than WHAP! does. I believe
Steve will be posting additional information when he is ready to
distribute the program in a little while.
=Rick=
So it's still Steve's program,just not a WHAP! upgrade. Sounds
interesting. I'd be a customer.
>>>>>Skip (SKP Graphics) <<<<<
Those other systems are probably less expensive also. <smmiiille>
Richard,
I've been running my 1000 in interlace since late 1985. I couldn't
stand to be without 50 lines of text on a screen.
What did you buy with the $10.00 you spent?
…Dave
What's all this grumbling I hear about hires screens? I must be blind or
somethin', but I've been running interlaced hires workbenches since BEFORE
I traded up my 1000, and have never gone cross-eyed or crazy!
I can't complain, I'm really accustomed to it and see nothing to yell at
Steve about. It's not rock-steady but I really tune it out. I've heard
some people complain about jittery camcorder movements giving them motion
sickness, does this affect you in any way similar? 🙂
Maybe it's my Sony (TV/) Monitor?
*** jd
Many people are resistant to change, I was till AutoPilot, and the it
forced me to, now I prefer interlace and run workbench and most of my
programs that way, some day I'll get a FFV and a multisynch, when the wife
lets me sink more $$$ into my system <G>.
=Rick=
John,
At long last! Someone else who's perfectly comfortable with interlaced
screens. And I thought it was just me. 🙂
Malcolm
Malcolm, nah, me too. I've been running Taarna in interlace since October
'85. Wouldn't trade the 50 lines of text for anything.
Well, I traded the 50 lines of text for Courier. 🙂 I only started running
an interlaced WB when I discovered that I could use Courier with TransWrite
in a WB screen.
Malcolm
Malcolm,
We must have chromosomes one step away from cross-eyed! 🙂
*** jd
jd,
-> chromosomes one step away from cross-eyed!
HAR! Maybe shuttered LCD glasses will make us see 2D. 😀
Malcolm