Re: Emus vs. the Real Thing

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Lim writes ...

> Rubywand wrote:
>>
 
      An A2 emulator makes good sense if you do not own 'the real thing'
and want to enjoy A2 games and can find disk images on archive sites. A2
emulators are also helpful to Apple II users for checking out disk
images.

<<

> 
> I own the real thing, I own a PowerMac with Bernie II the Rescue.
> I disagreed completely on this point.

     The statement supplies a couple conditions under which using an
emulator "makes good sense". It does not exclude other situations.

     

> 
> An emulator is not a good choice if:
> 
> - it runs slower than the real thing
> - it does not provide the necessary hardware
> - it is not 100% compatible

     No emulator is 100% compatible and some may run slower than a user
would like; but, an emulator can still be useful for trying out
downloaded disk image files before moving them to your Apple II.



> 
> For the PowerMac/Bernie II the Rescue combo
> 
> - it runs so much faster than it is like having a 100MHz Zip in it
> - it has everything the real GS have (except 5.25" drive) and more:
>   better 3.5" drive (super drive), better RGB monitor, etc
> - it is close to 100% compatible. I migrate all my GS software to it,
>   and face with less problem compare to upgrade from Rom 1 to Rom 3.
> 
> Plus the fact below:
> 
> - you can store all 3.5" disks as disk images, thus can backup all
>   FTA demos at once
> - build in harddisk! I have a PowerMac 5500/225, it is really cool to
>   have a compact "GS" with only one wire needed, unlike the real >   thing.
>

     For many GS users, not being able to boot 5.25"-based software
would be a disqualifier. A lot of old stuff still is not available in
any other form.

     Let's suppose that the Bernie programmers get tired with having
their emu bonked for not supporting 5.25" Disk ][ drives and get a local
hacker to put together an interface they can sell for $30. Bernie gets
the necessary mods and, Viola!, the emu+Mac+interface can handle old
protected and unprotected 5.25" diskettes.

     Is the new emu-Mac the way to go for most GS users? No. Whatever
the nice features of the emu-Mac, it is not a standard GS and it has
_no_ chance of ever becoming the 'standard GS'. It lets you run some
software faster; but, there will never be much in the way of new GS
games, etc. which are designed to utilize the setup's capabilities. The
emu-Mac market will never be large enough to support emu-Mac product
development.


     Exactly the same argument would apply to a hardware mod to upgrade
the GS display which most users would be unwilling to try. For example,
in the early 80's we added several extra display modes to our II+ to
allow placing larger blocks of Text above or below a reduced graphics
display, interleave Text and graphics, etc.. It was fun and adds very
useful capabilities; but, there was no way the majority of users were
going to do the mod. Except for in-house games and utils, no one else is
going to be interested in writing software utilizing the extra modes.

     If any mod is too much hassle or too costly for wide adoption, it
is not of much help in advancing the 'standard machine'.  
     
     Eventually, the current hardware bottlenecks on GS performance will
be cracked and the 'standard GS' will move forward. Then, there will be
plenty of new software. PC and Mac-based emulators are interesting and
useful; they are not the solution to GS hardware challenges.

 
> XGS on the PC, however, don't delivers those, so I don't recommend > going to PC. I found that I love using the GS software on the PowerMac > much more than the real thing.
>

     For you, of course, that is what matters. Bernie and XGS give us a
benchmark to shoot for in making improvements to the 'real thing'. It's
part of the fun of being an Apple II user.
        

Rubywand