Amiga Computing - Commodore Is Awesome

14
NEWS
Ilmiga World 0115 it quits
l o h e first all-Amiga magazine, Amiga
o l i l almost exactly ten years after the first
W o issue r hit the stands, That issue offered little hard
l d . information about the then new computer, and the
c l graphics proudly displayed throughout the maga-
o szine
seem positively primitive compared to what's
e
a
f
t
e
r
t
h
e
d being done on Amigas today. But to computer
users of the day - weaned on Commodore 64s
and CGA IBM XTs - they looked like digital
masterpieces.
Al one time there were 10 Amiga magazines in
the US. With the death of Amiga World, due to
fewer ads and a dropping number of subscribers,
we're down to one Amiga magazine over here,
and that hasn't been able to meet its monthly
publication schedule lately. Luckily, we can still
A obtain Amiga Computing and lesser UK Amiga
p magazines, so US users aren't completely out of
r luck - although we get awfully jealous when we
i read of how much software and hardware support
l there is still available on your side of the Pond,
1 Still, it's sad to see a magazine go that's support-
9
9
5
i
s
s
ed the computer for a decade. R.I.P. Amiga
World.
Amiga publishing isn't completely dead over
here, mind you. There are a number of videooriented
magazines that still cover our favourite
u
e
, layt plane to ME
Cutting it a little close, multimedia users needing
expert advice and a look at some of the latest
gear to aid in productions on all scales
should consider heading for the nearest airport
The NAB Multimedia World is a Las Vegasbased
show that is running from 9 to 13 April
and covers a wide range of topics such as
Video Toaster and Lightwave to seminars on
how to use America's holiest DV equipment
There are more than 100 of the world's leading
multimedia developers and manufacturers
on call to answer questions and offer advice on
how to improve your productions. For more
details, fax the organisers on 0101 301 216 1847
or e-mail them on register(rnab orig.
Pgro mania cdntinue5
After receiving glowing accolades from this humble
magazine. VCE Inc are releasing the sequel to
Pyromania, aptly titled Pyromania 2. Following in the
footsteps of its predecessor, the special effects compilation
is made up of 37 Ouicktime movies, 1736
PICT files representing 16 PICT sequences. and
three fire loops. The new visual trickery that can be
incorporated into Lightwave and other packages is
made up of fire, smoke, fireworks, and more,
All footage was shot on 35mm motion picture film
and, if it's anything like Its forefather title, should be
something rather special. To order by fax, call 0101
818 362 3490.
Amiga Computing
MAY 1995
AWN fitifin reports fill the derline
of the 115 timiga mogaeine 1n1J115try
The closure
of Anglia
World mean.
only one
Amiga meg
left in the US
computer, as well as on-line publications (such
as the well-known Amiga Report) and some speciality
newsletters. One of the best of the latter
category is Scientific Amigan, Walter Lounsbery's
Utilities Unlimited's PC emulator for the Emplant
board, the E5156DX, has finally shipped.
Unfortunately, it seems that's not a call to rejoice,
Jim Drew and company seem to have jumped the
gun on this one, as the current emulation is incomplete
and problem-plagued. Like the first release of
the Emplant Mac emulator. compatibility problems
abound and documentation is minimal_ Drew
assures me that the problems will be addressed very
soon with a new revision of the emulator ported from
the PowerPC version he's been working on - this
update should be smaller (500K versus 1.4MB) and
more compatible.
To UU's credit, though, while the first release of
the Emplant Mac emulation was a disaster, the current
revision of the emulator is a fine-tuned, highly
compatible system that does a great lob running the
vast majority of Macintosh software. Given time, the
E586DX emulation will likely be similarly capable.
The $99.95 module (which requires the Zorro
based Emplant board, which starts at $279.95) is
supposed to support the entire Pentium instruction
set, including protected and virtual modes. The sales
literature claims the emulation supports MDA, CGA,
EGA, VGA, and SVGA video modes, sound, hard
and floppy drives, CD-ROM drives, SCSI devices,
joysticks, and other PC features. Advertisements
feature the emulation running Doom II and Windows.
The emulator that shipped to users in mid-March,
though, didn't run Doom II or Windows. In fact, as
this was written (about a week after the E586DX
release), users on the online networks and Internet
reported success-only In running DOS, some old
games, and text-based programs like WordPerfect,
n etv
newsletter devoted to research, analysis, design.
and technical education with Amigas.
If you want to use your Amiga for more than
saving Lemmings, you'll enjoy this fascinating
look at how the Amiga can be used in science.
Some of the material could easily fit in a dry.
scholarly journal, but this newsletter also packs
plenty of interesting opinion and neat ideas on
new uses for your Amiga. For information, write to
Scientific Amigan, P.O. 60685, Savannah, GA
31420-0685 USA; e-mail waltalewellsf.ca.us; or
call or fax (912) 898-1760.
PrematurP PE - too soon for 1t5 own good
Even getting those running was a challenge. though,
since Utilities Unlimited shippod the product without I
the BIOS ROM necessary for PC emulation - they
had problems licensing a BIOS in time for release.
Drew says he's writing a custom BIOS for the
E586DX. but in the meantime users need to find a
real PC to borrow a BIOS chip from, or download
BIOS images from PC manufacturer bulletin boards
or from FTP sites such as americanmegalrends.com.
Also missing from the first release are serial and
parallel port support, SVGA support (there are no
drivers for custom Amiga graphics cards), and the
ability to turn on the full CPU transcription mode that
promises to make this faster than other PC emulators.
Many users also reported problems getting
CD-ROM support to work.
In short, this product was released before it was
completed. Given the precipitous state of the US
Amiga market. UU may have felt pressure to lust get
it out the door and prove that it was on the way.
Whatever the reason. the PC Emplant just isn't very
useful yet. But Jim Drew's track record with the Mac
emulation suggests he'll get the PC emulation running
smoothly in short order. It should be in better
shape by the time you read this. Your best bet is to
contact UK distributor Blittersoft and see if updated
software is available.
The E586DX module is available from Utilities
Unlimited. 790 N_ Lake Havasu Avenue #11, Lake
Havasu City, AZ 86403 USA_ Phone (602) 680-9004,
or fax (602) 453-6407. It's distributed in Europe by
Blittersoft, phone (0)1908 261466, fax (0)1908
261488, or e-mail plesurf@cix.compulink.co.uk,