Amiga Collections: Panorama/Panorama - Disk 28C (1988-04-27)(Pacific North-West Amigas Club)[WB].zip/Panorama - Disk 28C (1988-04-27)(Pacific North-West Amigas Club)[WB].adf/Txt/mackraz.co

Text File | 1988-03-26 | 21KB | 459 lines

Copyright 1988 by CompuServe AmigaForum, Jim Mackraz, Dale Luck.

A formal conference with Jim Mackraz and Dale Luck was held on AmigaForum CO
channel 2 on 16-MAR-1988.  The topic was open.

The following is a heavily edited transcript of that conference.  Guest
speaker's and moderator's comments are identified with their initials, I.E.,
"JM:".  Forum members are designated with their names inside parenthesis,
I.E., (Mike Jeskin).  Other editing included the unraveling of interleaved
comments, correction of obvious line noise problems, deletion of unrelated
remarks, and paragraph formatting.  Editorial comments added after the fact
(by me) are presented in square brackets.  The original, unedited conference
transcript will be available through the end of the month; please contact me
if interested.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

                                                 Rick Rae
                                               [76703,4253]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

RR: Welcome to a VERY special formal conference, featuring Jim Mackraz, who
needs no further introduction (and I know you'd rather read his words
anyway).  And, lurking in the background but hampered by a scheduling
conflict, is Dale Luck.  Jim, would you like to make an opening comment?

JM: This is Jim Mackraz, "stepfather of Intuition," and currently under
contract to produce V1.4 with some other Los Gatos survivers.  And with some
West Chester REAL survivers.

RR: Let's open the floor for questions.  Paul B, go ahead please.

(Paul B) Jim, can you tell us what extra features we will see in V1.4.  Will
it also be a Kickstart upgrade?

JM: V1.4 will be a kickstart upgrade, plus a workbench disk.  We plan several
significant evolutionary changes.  One of my favorites is support for
hardware scrolling of screens.  The FFS will also be in ROM, for use on
floppies.  It's basically a standard fix/enhance release, plus support for
some unannounced hardware changes (hehehe).

RR: Keith, you were next, go ahead.

(Keith) Thanks.  First Jim, thanks for stopping by.  You just mentioned
"hardware scrolling of the screens"; would that be some kind of replacement
for "ScrollRaster()" ?

JM: Not really.  ScrollRaster is a blitter operation: it moves bits.  This
would be system support for the hardware capability to scroll the displayed
portion of a large bitmap by changing a couple of pointers.  There are some
low-level hard parts, and some user-interface questions, like menus.

(Keith) Ok, then I guess I have another question: using "ScrollRaster()" on a
multi-bitplaned screen without double-buffering, the display causes a certain
bit of "jumping".  Do you know if there will be any improvement on this?

JM: Dale says: "Probably not."

RR: Dale, is this related to software or hardware? I.E., will running a 68020
improve the "shearing" which occurs when scrolling, or is it tied to the
blitter?

JM: Dale says "It is the blitter doing it, a 68020 won't help."

RR: Okay.  Dave Weinbach, you're next.

(Dave Weinbach) I have run into a problem about which I have heard nothing.
That is that extreme overscan and the 2090 dont get along at all (R/W
errors).  Any plans to address this with software? Like reducing bitplanes on
the fly? (problem seen with Videotitler and PPage w/morerows.)

RR: <This problem was discussed in an earlier conference here with Dave
Haynie>

JM: This has been addressed.  It will see the light of day with the A2090A
controller's driver in ROM.  A fix in the disk-based driver is also done, but
I don't know how/when it will be available.

(Dave Weinbach) The fix in software is for the 2090A?  And what of those of
us with plain old 2090s?

JM: As I said, there is a fix in the disk-based driver, too.  I just don't
know when/how it will become available.

RR: Jay Craswell, go ahead please.

(Jay Craswell) Two questions... will you support more than one monitor?  And
will the conference in Washinton be a good hardware dev. show?

JM: 1) Probably not more than one monitor at a time, with current hardware.
2) The West Chester hardware engineers are getting their first chance at
bringing some information to the screaming hordes, in person.  I'm sure they
are up to it.  It will certainly not be a re-presentation of an earlier
DevCon.

RR: Don Lawrence, go ahead please.

(Don Lawrence) Ok, Thanks.  Two questions:  1: I've heard rumors of a 512K
Kickstart.  I love the idea, but being a 1000 owner, I'm just wondering if
this is possible on my machine.  2: I've noticed that recently Commodore has
been seeming to "De-emphasize" the Amiga in Amiga(?); i.e. taking the left
Amiga key and making it a Commodore key, eliminating the Checkmark... any
comments on that?

JM: 1) The 512K rumor is one of my favorites, as a systems programmer ;^).  I
don't have any comment on that, apart from mentioning that the A1000 user
base is the subject of some VERY protective instincts by the software team,
on both coasts.  As for de-emphasis, I don't see it.  They put the A key
back, and LosGatos never really liked the checkmark.  They're just trying to
do some marketing kinds of stuff.  Nothing malicious, I'm sure. They know
where their future lies, I believe.

RR: Thomas Holaday, go ahead please.

(THoladay) Amiga stereo makes it possible to think about sound 'position.' If
I want to have instruments spread across the listening area, however, I must
do complex mathematical wave manipulations.  Any hope of an audio blitter to
let me have a marching band move about the room, in real time, via mouse
control?

RR: <Wow>

JM: Uh, I don't know exactly what that would take.  Good luck ;^)

RR: Mike DeVonish, go ahead please.

(Mike DeVonish) We have all 'heard' of new or upgraded chips for AMY comming
soon, my question is are thing like more bitplanes and color registers in the
upgrade path? Or is this to difficult and more like '32-bit' versions of the
chip set?

JM: OH BOY!  I've been waiting to use this disclaimer file...

We are not at liberty to discuss any unannounced engineering projects which
may or may not be underway at Commodore Business Machines, Inc., or any other
client.  We hope you understand our position in this regard.

Let me say that the problem with DMA bandwidth is well-appreciated in
engineering.  That is to say, they'all working on it, but I have nothing to
report.

(Mike DeVonish) Thanx anyway, by the way I LOVE the checkmark ;]

RR: Vic Wagner, go ahead.

(Vic Wagner/Metadigm) There has been a bit of discussion here on CIS about
needing more standards.  Are there areas in which you perceive a need for
standards?

JM: Indeed.  Commodore has signed a license for Commodities Exchange, my
input handler standard.  It needs some more work of course, and I don't have
any insight into the distribution plans.  But it is pretty important.  I also
think that the IPC business is very important.  There is lots of activity on
USENET these days (LOTS and LOTS).  Oh, yeah: IPC stands for
InterProcessCommunication.  I personally feel that anything that comes out
should not be ignorant of the AREXX work Bill Hawes has done (although I
think a non-REXX server should be possible).  In any case, I'm stuck on a
panel at the DevCon discussing standards, so we'll see what the hot topics
are then.

RR: Ariel, go ahead please.

(Ariel) Jim, I'd like to ask a bit about Intuition.  What shape did you think
it was in when you took it over?  How do you feel you've improved it since
then?  And where do you see it changing in the future?

JM: Is this a trick question?  Well, Intuition V1.1 (I came in on the middle
of V1.1: before the bug fixes ;^) ) was sort of rushed, in fact it was a BIG
miracle that it was as far along [as it was].  My key contribution was to
make it re-entrant, and working out the bugs that you don't find until you
get a lot of fanatics banging away on something.  My other main thrust has
been to try to make it more possible to do things that weren't thought of
when it was first designed, like render into your own requesters, use a
different state model for your input, or not have a title bar drawn just to
get screen dragging.  I strongly hope to make much more progress on
"extensibility" by the applications.

RR: Jim, do you see the intensity of software development increasing,
decreasing, or staying the same as compared to, say, a year ago?

JM: Well, it is a LOT more active in Los Gatos this year.  Where there were
just two software engineers after the shut-down (Dale and Bart), there are
four now, with a fifth coming on line.  We are very active.  I think it has
something to do with Commodore not being broke at the moment, plus needed
support for new devices, like the hi-res A2024 grayscale monitor.

RR: Glenn, go ahead

(Glenn) Are there any new developments for the Amiga being announced at the
Hannover show?  Also, I know that Amiga sales have been very good and was
wondering if you had any numbers for total 500 and 2000 sales to date?

JM: I believe there are to be some announcements.  Gail Wellington made a
short list in a private conference on BIX, but she said not to mention them
until their announcement was confirmed.  So guess what: I cannot say.  Re:
sales, I have no great information, nor can I get anyone to discount the
claim that they sold 500,000 world-wide by Jan 1 1988.

RR: Miles Kurland, go ahead

(Miles Kurland) Are there any things you would like to see Amiga developers
doing that they aren't?  Or any system features you feel are underexploited
(like the clipboard)?

JM: Well, I can't believe there is not a structured drawing program ala
MacDraw, although I'm glad since I want to write one.  I think the clipboard
thing has to come along, and we'll try to help it along at the DevCon with
some examples, etc.  I am working on ways that people can get at the display
hardware more directly, to use the REAL magic in this machine, without
screwing Intuition, and I think there is a lot of potential in that, such as
moving overlays for the "tracing" operation of a draw program.  Oops, there
went one of my ideas.

(Miles Kurland) Thanks... I'm one of those who wants that graphics stuff!

RR: Don Lawrence, go ahead please.

(Don Lawrence) Thanx.  A couple of short ones (Which I'm sure you've
heard...): When will 1.3 be released?  How about 1.4?  What would it take to
make you call something "2.0"?  And Dale:  How about selling Checkmark
stickers to 500/2000 owners? 8-)

JM: I have a nice answer all ready for part one.  And part two.  We also
don't like the checkmark.  Do you mean the bouncing ball?

(Don Lawrence) No, the checkmark!

JM: It is my hope to get rich selling a little ball sticker for the side
windows of cars, like that little apple job.  If you want checkmarks, there
is a whole catalogue of junk.  I like the sox and the "members only" jacket.
I just don't like the checkmark.

(Don Lawrence) What about 1.3/1.4/2.0?

JM: OOps.  here's the answer...

We are not at liberty to discuss any unannounced engineering projects which
may or may not be underway at Commodore Business Machines, Inc., or any other
client.  We hope you understand our position in this regard.

The V1.3 release is in final testing at this time.  It is not possible to
accurately predict a release date.  All users should benefit from the changes
and additions on the Workbench disk.  Only users who have autoboot hardware
peripherals will likely be able to benefit from the several changes in the
ROM/Kickstart.

The V1.4 release will incorporate major evolutionary changes in both the
Workbench and Kickstart system software.  We cannot offer a schedule for this
project, but we do not expect to release it before the latter portion of this
calendar year.

(Don Lawrence) Thanks.

RR: Jim, care to address the "2.0" question?  What would it take to make the
leap to "2.0" in your eyes?

JM: We're saving the the designator 2.0 for a non-compatible release.  Then,
of course, all bets are off.  Especially the bet on us getting our contracts
renewed. ;^) I don't think anyone in CBM management has a taste for an
incompatible release.  I DO hope we get a chance to make a "revolutionary"
release, not just these "evolutionary" ones.  I have a list of things I'd
like to see, all big projects.

(Don Lawrence) Great answer - Thanks!

RR: Go ahead, Keith.

(Keith) Thanks... Dale, I guess this one's for you it has been rumored that
you have put together the only existing "portable" Amiga (!). Is this just
that (a rumor)?  And do you think it is a reasonable thing (hardware-wise) to
produce? ( I _want_ one!)

JM: HA!!! DALE JUST LEFT FOR THE AIRPORT.  HA HA!...  Can I say a little
more: the Amiga is video based, and not real conducive to LCD technology.  It
won't be a "natural" phenomenon to make a portable.

RR: 15) Daryl Thachuk, go ahead

(Daryl Thachuk) Ok, what are you opinions about the Amiga in the business
world, is it worth my time to develop some business software.

JM: Well, I think CBM leaves a lot of bases open in the business market, so I
don't BANK on a big win over Apple or the Clones.  I DO think that suitably
horizontal packages will get VERY GOOD penetration in the Amiga market still.
So, if I was going to write a word processor, I think the Amiga is a good
platform, compared to Mac/Clones (not that I recommend doing a WP), but if
you are planning a Job Costing package for Construction, do a PC version.  I
hope this illustrates my meaning of "horizontal."

RR: Jack, go ahead please.

(Jack) I have two questions:  Will 1.4 allow for setting the font used by
string gadgets?  And will there be some sort of locking added to screens so
that other tasks (parasite/utilities) may open windows without worrying that
the user may close the screen prior to closing the foreign task's window?

JM: Absolutely, you will have much greater control of string gadgets, both
for display and input formatting.  Proportional fonts will be supported.  I'm
not so excited about parasite windows, especially since I think they can be
supported by code NOT in the ROMs.  I may do some sanity checking on
CloseScreen() if that helps people do magic outside of the ROMs.

RR: Mike DeVonish, go ahead.

(Mike DeVonish) Thanx, (this time I won't hit a nerve ;^]) Jim, you said
something about some REAL Amiga stuff, what has not been done with the
machine yet?

JM: Well, I think the copper is underused.  I think the magic you can do with
bitplanes is unused.  I think there are applications for sprites in business
applications, and audio, too.  We don't have the resources that Apple does,
and everytime I hear about something like a "noisy desktop" I get jealous.  I
also think it could be the best computer for handicapped users, but we
haven't got enough people inside to work on it.

RR: John, go ahead please.

(John) This may be controversial but here goes.  How have rumors about future
developments affected current development?  Do they help to stimulate new
ideas, or do rumor columns in magazines hinder progress in general (and what
can be done about the problem?)

RR: <Please note *I* have *NOTHING* to do with AC's "ROOMERS" column,
okay? 8) >

JM: I don't think it's a real problem.  Sometimes it's hard to be working on
the grunt stuff and hear someone report that we're working on a Display
PostScript chip or something wild.  Generally, there has been so much of this
over the years, that it is only amusing to the principals.  The new ideas
come often from BIX, Usenet, or (even) CIS.  The rumor columns are rarely
practical.

RR: 20) Susan Molnar, go ahead.

(Susan Molnar) Hello! Who's idea was it to put the names on the inside of the
AMY case?  And will Amiga DOS take advantage of the new WORM drives?

JM: You'll note that my name is not inside the case (too late), but if I had
to guess, I'd say it was [originally] Apple's idea.  I understand that they
[C/A] have WORMs in house, with plans to hook 'em up.  CSA has one at the
present time, so it's available.

RR: Daryl Thachuk, go ahead.

(Daryl Thachuk) What is the future of the a1000 like and is it true about an
A3000?

JM: I can't comment on any A3000 type stuff.  We intend to support the A1000
as long as we can, but you'll see that we can't let it hold back ALL
progress.  Irving Gould was misquoted as saying that the new chips would plug
into an A1000.  Just let me say that that got some of the WC engineers
thinking.

RR: Jim, go ahead please.

(Jim (Eet)) Okay, first everyone I talk to says they love the checkmark.
Will 1.4 (or even 1.3) support the proportional controllers?

JM: You can have the checkmark.  Don't you like the bouncing ball?  I don't
know about prop joysticks.  We do have the input expert (Kodiak) working with
us now.

RR: Don Lawrence, go ahead.

(Don Lawrence) Thanks.  "We made Amiga, they Fudged it up": Who did it?  Is
there a story here somewhere?  (Checkmarks!  Lets have Checkmarks!  How about
a vote on it?)

JM: I know nothing, I see nothing, I hear nothing, and I want my contract
renewed.

RR: Linda F., go ahead please

(Linda F.) Daryl already asked the question about the A3000 so, before I
start lusting after the A2000 (not that I love my A1000 any less), are there
any plans to upgrade the Sidecar attachment, since I understand that Sidecar
cannot access the A1000 serial port.  And (not a question) whoever named this
machine has my compliments...  it is the perfect companion and friend.

JM: As Marketing Heavy Rich McIntyre said at AmiExpo,..  "You turn on the
side car, you get a PC clone.  Does it work?  What more do you want?"  I'm
glad you like the name.  I don't believe there are upgrades planned for the
SideCar.

(Linda F.) Then how does one transfer IBM files downloaded from Compuserve on
the Amiga side to the IBM Sidecar so that they are accessible to the, say,
IBM at the office?  Or am I asking too much?

JM: You're just asking the wrong puppy.  I think PCCopy goes both ways, but
I'm sure there is more to it than that.  Sorry.

(Linda F.) Okay, thanks anyway!

RR: Daryl Thachuk, go ahead.

(Daryl Thachuk) Is there a posibility of a ps/2 card for the A2000?

JM: PS/2?  Ick.  I suppose the possibilities are endless, but the interface
is based on an XT/AT bus, so it wouldn't be natural, since the PS/2 has the
Micro-channel bus.  Ick.

RR: Paul B, go ahead please.

(Paul B) Can you give us ANY idea if we will see a hypertext based system for
Amy?  Also, can you tell me if my current 2090 controller will autoboot with
1.3?

JM: Well, I feel comfortable saying that a "Hypercard" size project isn't the
kind of thing going on within CBM these days.  Anything in this area will
come from a third party, perhaps with a little help from CBM.  Your A2090
will not autoboot, since there is no driver in ROM, and you can't read one
off the disk until you've got a driver for the disk from somewhere.  Maybe
someone will hack up a mod, but it probably won't be CBM.

RR: 28) Doug Winger, GA

(Doug Winger) (First, I vote for the checkmark) My question is simple:  when
will the Chip ram be expanded past the 512K mark?

JM: My answer is even simpler:  "We are not at liberty to discuss...".  But I
think the new chips are kind of announced.  They are drop-ins (with jumper
change) for A500s and A2000s, which must be installed by a dealer/service
outler.  They should appear this calendar year, but I'm not authorized to
commit to any dates.

(Doug Winger) Ok, as long as I know they're in the pipline, I am happy.
Thank you.

RR: William Hawes, go ahead.

(william hawes) What areas of development are manifestly outside of the
manifest destiny of CBM, For those of us planning our next development
project?

JM: Manifestly speaking, I'm sure there is no policy, as such.  I don't know
how to answer your question, although I hope to get the opportunity to
discuss it with you.  I could only guess that they won't do any applications,
but they may well jump into bed with a vendor on some particular area, like
they seemed to do with Desktop Publishing.  I understand your concerns, in
fact, I share them.  I'm clearly not the individual to make a statement on
this.  I would think that AREXX targeted a good area, and I don't know what
happened business-wise with it (tell me over beers some day).  It seems that
people make money competing directly with CBM in some areas, such as disk
controller/drivers.

RR: Marlene, go ahead please.

(Marlene/Sysop) Jim, will you and/or Dale be participating in the Amiga Forum
in the future?  If so - great! if not - why not?

JM: Dale's back from the airport, and we agree that we are "networked out" as
it is.  Sorry CIS, we'll see some of you on BIX or Usenet.  Don't you want
any new software to come out of us this year?  It has been fun, though.

RR: And with that comment on being "netted out" it's time to call this one a
wrap.  Thanks muchly, Jim and Dale, for an excellent evening, and thanks all
for attending... all are now free to chat. <Banging gavel>