386sx Bridgeboard
68 messages in this thread
Hi, Can anyone tell me about the new 386sx Bridgeboard ? I would like to
know how it works under 2.04 and how compatible it is with IBM programs.
Judd
The 2386SX Bridgeboard is as compatible as most PC Clones on the market
today. I have not found a program that won't run on the Bridgeboard. The
only problem could be the VGA problem. If you need VGA to run your program
you will need to add a VGA card and a VGA Monitor to your system.
I use it every day under 2.04, well actually 2.1 and it has been tested
extensively under 3.0 PCWindow still only gives you CGA but with Janus2.1
it handles overscan and all that good stuff. I personally think that it
works very well, although I am prejudice, I QA'd the project here at
Commodore and wrote the installation script and put together the Janus
disks.
Greg
Greg Givler – CBMSER Sysop
Commodore Product Assurance
Greg,
We had dreamed and hoped for a 386 BB that would have VGA built in. There
are so FEW slots into which we can put cards, and so many cards to be put
in – especially for those with 3000 and 4000 machines!
But – that is something neither you nor I can help. My question is:
Where can *I* get a copy of Janus2.1?
—Betty
Betty:
As soon as I can get my hands on one of the CBM HD floppy drives, I'm
installing the 386BB in my A3000 along with a multi I/O card (single slot)
that supports VGA/IDE/PAR/SER… the board retails for $250.
Your paying $250 for a multi I/O card!….geez that's high.
Dave
Elite MicroComputers 908-541-4214 – via Whap!
Dave:
I have found only a few companies that even offer this card which
supports:
VGA/1 meg ram 256 colr @ 1024 X 768
2 serial ports
1 parallel port
IDE HD controller
2 FD controller
and includes a mouse
$249.95 is the same price everyone seems to be getting for it. Do you have
another source? The only company I know of selling that card _and_ is
supporting it on the Amiga is the company that sells the ATOP 286–>386
modification.
Well since you asked I guess forum policy will allow me to throw a number
at you.
Yes my company carries them and I sell them for $180 with 1 meg on the
video card…..ATOP is more expensive then most things I sell. Plus I have
486 accelerator and they don't [RAZZBERRY] ;>
Dave
Elite MicroComputers 908-541-4214 – via Whap!
Dave:
That's a great price… I'll be giving you a call. Since you don't seem to
advertise in the Amiga Magazines, how about Emailing me a description of
the products and services you offer for the Amiga?
Someone hasn't been reading Amiga World infomarket
The ad sez I'm selling them for $280 ( misprint by them 🙁 )
If you give me an address or fax number I'll send you my product brochure.
Dave
Elite MicroComputers 908-541-4214 – via Whap!
Dave:
I'm sorry I miised your ad in AW… ah… there it is, page 103 (october
issue). Ouch… that's a misprint that could really hurt. 🙁
I'd really appreciate a product brochure—> fax: 216-439-1523
Thanks.
Michael,
what company is this?? and ship they also oversee`s?? the price for the
board is very good, considering the features you have on it. (actually
this is a real bargin)
– Horst –
– Horst – all the way from northern Germany BY AUTOPILOT !!!!
Michael –
> I have found only a few companies that even offer this card which
> supports:
>
> VGA/1 meg ram 256 colr @ 1024 X 768
> 2 serial ports
> [etc.]
Socketed UARTS? 14550's?
. . . . JimDoc, on AutoPilot
Jim:
I have no idea what is used on the multi I/O VGA board. Crossings has
reported several folks using it with a very high degree of success. You
might want to leave a message or Email for Dave Cinege (70322,447) at
Micro Elite Computers. He should be able to give you more details.
Elite MicroComputers
Micro Elite is not to bad though….maybe I should have named it that ;>
Dave
Elite MicroComputers 908-541-4214 – via Whap!
Steve –
> To generate the English pound symbol you must use the the British
> keymap. However, unless everyone else is using that keymap they won't
> see it as a pound sign but whatever character is mapped to that key in
> the keymap they are using.
The "standard" USA keymap, viewed via "KeyShow", indicates that "Alt Shift
L" is the British pound sterling symbol. Wherfore this is a test:
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
. . . . JimDoc, on AutoPilot
Neither….one of the new VLSI type combo chips.
Dave
Elite MicroComputers 908-541-4214 – via Whap!
But the price of the 386 BB plus the multifunction card costs nearly as
much as an entire 386 system, complete with .28 dot pitch monitor. And
you still have only two slots left for whatever you might want to run in
your A3000. That makes it kinda hard to run lots of things you might
want.
—Betty
Betty:
I agree… what can I tell you. A few $$ more for the convenience of a
single box multiplatform (AMIGA/PC/MAC) computer on my desk is appealing.
A bridgeBoard isn't right for everyone. And I don't think I would use it
as my only or 'primary' PC.
I would really like to use the Amiga + bridgeboard (and plus AMAX if only
AMAX could multitask and use color) all in one box – but the boxes we are
being offered are simply not up to the task of handling the number of
cards we need to add on. Maybe a tower arrangement or something? I'll
wait a while and see what appears.
—Betty
Betty:
A Tower <g> Yup… I gotta get me one of those… with AGA & 040!
Your in luck….EMC is going to restart it's tower system devlopment
program again….we are going to improve on the old design and make it 4000
compatable
stats are 2000, 3000, 3000T, and 4000 motherboard compatable 300w power
supply 3 full height bays 5 exposed 1/2 height bays AT LEAST 4 IBM 16-bit
slots
Tower will prob be running $1000 – $1300 (depending on config) and will
include free pre existing system installation and testing
The tower will also be re-configurable…such as if you have a 2000 you
will be able to put a 4000 in it with little work to the case.
Release date not yet established….look for it around march '93
Dave
Elite MicroComputers 908-541-4214 – via Whap!
Dave…
Good move!
Marion
Marion:
"Good Move!"? really? You think that $1000-$1300 to move a $1500
computer in to a tower case and gain some bays and "AT LEAST 4 IBM 16-bit
slots" is worth the cost?
I'm not suggesting _at all_ that the enire project isn't reasonably priced
for the work and materials invloved… I just don't think it is worth it
from a consumers point of view.
I know that I wouldn't spend more than 3 or 4 hundred $ to get my A3000 in
to a tower case. Beyond that… I'll wait for a new computer from CBM.
Sounds good, Michael – and with SCSI II, of course.
—Betty
Betty…
I'm taking bets on how long before Commodore comes up with an A4000Tower. 6
months? Now THAT's the machine I want!
Marion
I'm waiting for something of that sort, too.
—Betty
Yes…that why you should look into a 486 33Mhz bridgeboard…by EMC. It's
more cost efficant.
Elite MicroComputers 908-541-4214 – via Whap!
Betty,
well, but you have then only a clone. And so?? what possibilities you
have now!!!!!!!!!
– Horst –
– Horst – all the way from northern Germany BY AUTOPILOT !!!!
Horst,
I'll NOT give up my Amiga – you can be assured of that.
—Betty
Michael…
Which one are you getting?
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for the Bridgeboard, etc.
Marion:
I'll probably get it from the folks in Painesville, OH. They're local to
me, and they know what they are doing with the Amiga.
Michael –
> …along with a multi I/O card (single slot) that supports
> VGA/IDE/PAR/SER… the board retails for $250.
What board is that? (Whose?)
. . . . JimDoc, on AutoPilot
STB manufacturs it….it special order only (semi-discontinued) and I am
one of the (VERY) few people still able to get it.
Dave
Elite MicroComputers 908-541-4214 – via Whap!
JDR MicroDevices has a similar card…..
// Brian — Cruising on AutoPilot…..
\X/
Not anymore……they stoped carrying it.
Dave
Elite MicroComputers 908-541-4214 – via Whap!
They still carry the card.
I called last week to see if they could give me a better price then my
current distributor (they also do wholesale) and they said "it's
discontinued and we don't carry it"
Dave
Elite MicroComputers 908-541-4214 – via Whap!
Right, and wrong.
While they have discontinued the item, they do have some left in stock.
Betty:
Have you gotten a copy of Janus2.1 yet?
If not, you can get it off of Tenex's Bulletin Board – It is listed
in the Amiga section as Janus2_1.DMS. This is the complete disk crunched
using DMS (I had never heard of DMS before – it's also on the board.)
Tenex's bb number is (219) 256-9325
Branden Beachy
72557,107
Commercial software from Commodore on their BBS? How do you pay for it?
I know about DMS, and I think it is on my hard drive.
—Betty
What is this Tenex BBS? Do they take Visa, or is this some sort of shady
operation?
– Nancy D. Lorieau
– Whapping from Sunny Edmonton, AB, Canada
Nancy:
Tenex is a pretty large mail order house. They've supported Commodore
computers since the days of the 64.
"Shady" is in the eyes of the beholder. <g> But fly-by-night they are
not.
Tenex is a company that sells Amiga and other Commodore hardware and
software via mail order – often, but not always, discontinued merchandise
that is greatly reduced in price. I get catalogs from them from time to
time. However, I don't know about their BBS. I've never used it.
—Betty
I have the DMS archiver/uncruncher program in both the CLI version and a
GUI interface. I wonder if these are welcome here in the libraries. I had
heard that the Turbo Diskmasher can introduce a virus to the system. In a
conversation I had with a California SYSOP, he claims that in all the time
he's used DMS he's had nothing happen, that its very fast, and efficient.
So I guess I'm asking SYSOPS here to say yea, or nay before I bother
uploading it.
The DISK-Masher: Command Line Version 1.11 Turbo Generic
Copyright ) 1989-91 All Rights Reserved.
The DISK-Masher (DMS) is a utility which allows one to archive whole disks
while preserving the disk-structure. DMS offers varying modes of
compression ranging from very simple to very deep compression.
Chris
Chris,
How about uploading the file and letting a few of the sysops take a look
at it…maybe add a note about your concerns over virus problems.
Thanks for the contribution.
Michael,
You got it, there are going to be four files, one is the CLI version, next
two GUI versions and finally a supposed DMS virus checker.
chris
Chris,
DMS was in our libraries at one time. I suspect it was not often
downloaded, and thus was purged when we needed disk space for new files.
—Betty
Betty (& Chris),
DMS.LZH is still in the Archivers library. I downloaded it last night.
The doc file in the one we have says that the command line version in the
archive is freely distributable, but the more advanced versions are not.
We'll have to check whether the others are freely distributable before
merging them.
David
David,
Ok, I didn't examine that file too closely when I found it on a CA BBS. I
did see this when you type DMS alone in a CLI
"…DMS is a next generation archiver intended to replace other SDS
Software products, Warp and Unwarp. It offers the highest degree of
compression along with more versatility than any other program.
The CLI/Shell version of DMS is being offered free of charge, however
it is NOT public domain and is copyrighted by SDS Software. If you use DMS
on a regular basis you are required to register the program with SDS
software. Registering will enable you to receive future updates and other
programs not available to the general public.
If you use DMS on a regular basis, please consider a $30 registration fee
to help support future releases. For a registration fee of $50 or more,
you will receive the latest versions of DMS plus extra utilities and
programs not available elsewhere, when available (See documentation for
more details)…"
There is a GUI for the program, but that is only for registered users, I
found another GUI that appears to be a freely distributable type. I never
fooled with it, the CLI version is enough for me.
Chris
Betty,
Michael suggested that I upload it so I leave it to you the SYSOPS to give
it the thumbs up or the heave-ho. It does seem to be very fast and
efficient in packing an entire disk. Might be just the thing for those
Fred Fish disks, now that they have their own library in AmigaTech. But I
haven't compared its compression ratio to that of LHA so I have no idea
how whether it really is that efficient.
Chris
Chris,
I'm not particularly eager for us to add yet another archiving format to
the libraries here. That is – I like for us to have ALL of them available
for people who need them, but I don't want our own files archived with
such a long list of them. It is much easier for our users if we limit the
number of archivers used to one or two. DMS is not as efficient as LHA if
I remember correctly.
—Betty
Betty,
I only put DMS up there for your use if you need it. I wouldn't want to
have to use another archiver either. I just thought if you needed to get
that Janus file from Tennex BBS and it was in DMS Format you'd need it. It
is also the latest version and ours in the LIBS is one above 1.2 I think.
This Turbo versioin seems very quick but I don't know about its
compression ratio vs LHA.
Chris
Chris, I appreciate your sending the file up. It *is* newer than the one
we had, and we thank you for taking the time and trouble to send it. I'm
sure there are others who will find it helpful, also.
My club BBS must be using at least ten different archivers. They let
members upload with any format they choose, and it is a real chore to keep
up with the constantly changing set of archivers that we have to keep
around for all those formats. In a small club, it is easier to teach
people to use them all, though.
—Betty
Perhaps someone can download it from the Tenex BB, convert it to LHA
format and upload it on Compuserve?
John G. Ata
Sterling, VA
Not a bad idea, the only problem is I don't think it is legal to even put
it here in the libraries. I have no idea what it's doing on that TENEX BBS.
I have no need for it, but if I was getting run around by dealer/C= phone
circle j I would mosey over to TENEX get it, and be done with it. Nuff
said.
chris
Chris and others,
I have used DMS for a long time with no problems. It is very fast and
very effective for compressing complete disk at the time. As for the
virus to the systems, well, I know a lot of people who use it all the time
and with no problems. It is a good program.
. // JOHN LOWERY FLYING ON
. \X/ The Lost Southerner!!! AUTOPILOT
John:
We've released the GUI that Chris uploaded. It is supposed to work with
the version of DMS that is also in the library (DMS.LZH) although I only
tested it with DMS 1.11. The interface works very nicely.
We didn't release the newer version of DMS, also uploaded by Chris,
because of a WARNING read.me file that talks about a link virus problem
with that particular version.
John,
What version of DMS are you using? I uploaded turbo 1.11 generic, there
was a warning in another file I uploaded that is suppose to search/kill
some sort of link virus that may get placed in the file by DMS? A
California BBS operator told me that he's used it for a long time and has
yet to see any virii from it. But until we can provide a supposed 'clean'
version of DMS 1.11 won't get in the library. I felt it my duty to include
the virus checker file, no way am I gonna get blamed for passing bad code
around.
Chris
Well there were thoughts of a VGA PCWindow for the AGA chip set,
unfortunately manpower at Commodore was at a premium at the time, what do
I mean at the time, it is always at a premium.
As to Janus2.1, I would suggest that you have your dealer contact
Commodore and see about the Status of the Janus2.1 Enhancer Kits.
Greg
Greg Givler – CBMSER Sysop
Commodore Product Assurance
Thanks, Greg. We always want just a little more than we get, don't we?
—Betty
Greg,
When will 2.1 be available to the general public?
wmc – via Autopilot!
I wish that I knew. I am suggesting that folks that are interested in the
update have their dealers contact Commodore to find out about the Status
of the Janus2.1 Enhancer kit.
I am working on it from my end, but I do not know the status on the Sales
end.
Greg
Greg Givler – CBMSER Sysop
Commodore Product Assurance
Greg,
The status of the Janus 2.1 kits is they are available via the old Janus
2.0 part number from Commodore parts. We just recieved one two weeks
ago.
According to my sources in marketing, Janus 2.1 was to be a product but
was pulled at the last minute. This is after the packaging and manuals
for the update kits were completed. These kits are not available via
parts–and only via parts as far as I know.
-mark=
Video Computer Resources
(804) 436-9508
I said something like "these kits are not available via parts–and only
via parts as far as I know"…
Gee, I meant to say "these kits *ARE* available via parts–and only via
parts as far as I know"
Ack..spft!
-mark=
ok… 🙂 That's what I _thought_ you meant to say, but I didn't want to
put words in your mouth!
"These kits are not available via parts–and only via parts as far as I
know."
Huh? Can you calrify that, please?
I have tried ordering Janus 2.1 using the part numbers published either
here or on Usenet. Commodore won't let me order direct from them and *no*
dealer that I'm aware has gotten them in quantity enough for there to be
one in stock when I ordered. This has been going on for over 2 months now
and every phone call is the same: "We haven't heard anything this week,
try again next week". Needless to say, I am very discouraged…
John G. Ata
Sterling, VA
Judd,
It works like a champ. So far no problems with either the hardware
or new Janus software. The latter is much nicer than the old versions.
Installation takes a little figuring out, but not too bad.