Re: AVATAR

[jpenne@ee.ualberta.ca (Jerry Penner)]

ltchean@rambutan.iss.nus.sg (Lim Thye Chean) writes:

>What makes it a Super GS? Consider the following facts and figures of Avatar:

>1. 10 MHz 65816
>2. Memory map of Apple IIGS (with some differences)
>3. DMA: 10 magawords a second
>4. Using TMS 34010 (or 34020/34030 depending on cost) for videa at 25/50 MHz

The 34010 runs at 40 or 60 MHz depending on which version you
get.  The 34020 runs at 32 MHz.  There maybe faster versions.
I've never heard of a 34030 yet.

>5. 1024 x 768 max resolution
>6. Use 65265 with 512K RAM as video processor, stereo and tie directly to
>   Ensoniq. 

What's the point in this?  If you have 340x0 chip, using an
65265 (do they exist?) will likely slow things down.

>7. Support CD-ROM (optional), IDE harddisk, floppy drive (read/write
>   Mac/Apple II/IBM/ST/Amiga disk)

That's good.  Cheap floppy and hard drives.

>8. Able to run Avatar-aware GS software (GS applications that use Toolbox
>   and don't draw directly to screen)
>9. Able to offload program to separate 65816 subprocessors.

I suppose that's kind of a neat idea too.  But how are you going to
arrange access to the screen (graphics screen)?  Is someone going to
write a multi-tasking windowing system?

I will also raise the question that another poster mentioned.  Has
this project actually taken a form other than some ideas that are
tossed around?  Is this really a viable project in terms of today's
market for computers?  Even if all of us on the net bought one, and
everyone else on AOL, CI$, and GEnie bought one, would that even be
5000 units?
-- 
Jerry Penner   jpenne@ee.ualberta.ca   Try a 1-line .sig today.