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- Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
- Path: sparky!uunet!spool.mu.edu!umn.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!chet
- From: chet@netcom.com (Eric Chet)
- Subject: A4000 && More
- Message-ID: <2bwn=cm.chet@netcom.com>
- Date: Sat, 12 Sep 92 07:35:44 GMT
- Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
- Lines: 611
-
- ==========================
- amiga.dev/news #56, from jwiede, 4478 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:45:10 1992
- --------------------------
- TITLE: Press Release (1 of 6)
- For Release: Immediate
-
- Contact: Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
- 1200 Wilson Drive
- West Chester, PA 19380
- Mona Astra Liss or
- Amanda K. Griffies
- (215) 431-9354
-
-
- COMMODORE INTRODUCES THE AMIGA 4000 AT WORLD OF COMMODORE SHOW
-
- (Pasadena, CA --- September 11, 1992) --- Commodore Business Machines,
- Inc. today introduced the Amiga (R) 4000, the company's revolutionary new
- premier multimedia computer. The Amiga 4000 marks the company's most
- significant new technology advancement in its Amiga line since the
- product's introduction in 1985. In addition to the Amiga 4000, Commodore
- announced several other significant product introductions including the
- Amiga 600 and 600HD, AmigaDOS TM Release 3 Operating System, A570 CD-ROM
- Drive, and AmigaVision TM Professional Authoring System.
-
-
- James Dionne, President and General Manager of Commodore Business
- Machines, Inc., commented, "These product announcements exemplify
- Commodore's continued commitment to offer computers with probably the
- best price/performance ratios in the computer industry today. We are
- confident that these products, particularly the Amiga 4000, will keep
- Commodore at the forefront of multimedia technology and enable us to
- continue our aggressive push in the multimedia marketplace."
-
-
- Amiga 4000
-
- This powerful new machine features Commodore's Advanced Graphics
- Architecture TM custom co-processor chip set that enables users to
- display and animate graphics in multiple resolutions at up to 256,000
- colors from a palette of 16.8 million. The new hardware features are
- driven by AmigaDOS Release 3, the newest version of Commodore's
- multitasking operating system, in combination with the machine's main
- processor, the Motorola (R) 68040. While this new version of the
- operating system takes advantage of the latest hardware features, it also
- maintains backwards compatibility with Amiga software not written
- specifically for the Amiga 4000.
-
- The Amiga 4000 will come standard with a 120MB hard drive, 6MB of memory,
-
- a dual speed high-density floppy drive, and CrossDOS which enables users
- to read and write to MS-DOS (R) formatted floppy and hard drives. Other
- key multimedia features include: a dedicated slot for video devices;
- selectable NTSC scan rate compatibility; four voice dual-channel digital
- audio; up to 8 sprites, enabling high speed animations; and full hardware
- video overscan. The Manufacturer's Suggested List Price for the Amiga
- 4000-040/120 is $3699.00.
-
-
- AmigaDOS Release 3
-
- The newest version of the Amiga operating system adds several software
- enhancements to the previous 2.04 operating system. Among the new
- features are: CrossDOS, allowing access to MS-DOS formatted floppy and
- hard drives; a new Installer utility; and a Postscript printer driver.
- Additionally, AmigaDOS Release 3.0 offers full support for the new
- Advanced Graphics Architecture chip set featured in the Amiga 4000.
-
-
- Amiga 600
-
- The Amiga 600 is a powerful entry-level computer with a small footprint
- and low profile shape, making it very attractive to the home computer
- buyer. The Amiga 600 and 600HD will come with AmigaDOS 2.XX and a
-
- selection of software packages.
-
-
- A570 CD-ROM Drive
-
- The A570 is a high capacity read-only storage device for the Amiga 500
- series. The A570 accepts standard 5" compact discs in a CD caddy and
- plays all CDTV (R), audio CD, CD+G, and CD+MIDI discs. It can also read
- industry-standard ISO-9660 CD-ROM discs.
-
-
- AmigaVision Professional
-
- AmigaVision Professional builds and expands on the visual programming
- environment used in earlier versions of AmigaVision. The new features
- include support for the CDTV player, speed and memory improvements, and
- enhancements to the authoring environment. In addition, a freely
- redistributable runtime module has been included, enabling flows created
- in AmigaVision to be played back without loading AmigaVision.
-
-
- Commodore Business Machines, Inc., based in West Chester, PA, is the U.S.
- subsidiary of Commodore International. The company manufactures and
- markets a complete line of Amiga computers and peripherals for the
-
- business, consumer, education and government markets.
-
- Commodore (R) and CDTV (R) are trademarks of Commodore Electronics
- Limited. Amiga (R), AmigaDOS, AmigaVision, Bridgeboard and Advanced
- Graphics Architecture are trademarks of Commodore-Amiga, Inc. MS-DOS (R)
- is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Motorola (R) is a trademark of
- Motorola Inc.
-
- ###
- ==========================
- amiga.dev/news #57, from jwiede, 3441 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:45:59 1992
- --------------------------
- TITLE: Press Release (2 of 6)
- Amiga 4000 Technical Specifications
-
- CPU:
- - Motorola (R) 68040 series 32-bit processor
- - 25 Mhz clock speed
- - Removable processor module
-
- MEMORY:
- - 2 MB 32-bit Chip RAM
- - Up to 16 MB 32-bit Fast RAM
- - Easily expandable via standard SIMM units
- - Additional standard RAM is supported by the Amiga's proprietary
- AUTOCONFIG (TM) capability
-
- SOFTWARE:
- - 512 KB 32-bit ROM
- - AmigaDOS (TM) 3.0 Multitasking Operating System
- - Supports programmable resolutions
- - Supports outline fonts
- - Localized for multiple language/countries
-
- - CrossDOS MS-DOS (R) file transfer utility
-
- INTERFACES:
- - Keyboard
- - Mouse/Joystick/Lightpen/Tablet ports (2)
- - Serial (RS-232)
- - Parallel (Centronics)
- - Video (RGB analog or RGBI digital)
- - Right and Left stereo audio
- - Internal and External floppy disk drive ports
- - Internal AT IDE port. Optional SCSI adapter
-
- SYSTEM SLOTS:
- - CPU slot (200-pin) supports high-speed memory and advanced processors
- - Amiga system bus - Four 16/32-bit Zorro III expansion slots (100-pin)
- with AUTOCONFIG
- - PC bus - Three PCAT T(M) slots
-
- VIDEO SLOT:
- - Extended 24-bit Video slot
- - In line with standard 100-pin Zorro slot for easy integration of Zorro
- and video boards
- Zorro III Slots
- ____________________________________________
-
- | |
- 1 | [==========][======] [=================] |
- 2 | [==========][======] [=================] |
- 3 | [==========][======] [=================] |
- 4 | [======][=========] [=================] |
- |_ ____ _|
- |_________________| |_________________|
-
- 1, 2, 3 = PC/AT Slots; 4 = Video Slot
-
- How the Slots Work: If MS-DOS compatibility is desired a Bridgeboard
- may be placed in slot 1, 2 or 3. When a Bridgeboard is installed, the
- empty PC slots are capable of supporting a wide variety of XT or AT-
- style boards. The remaining Zorro III slots support both 24 & 32-bit
- Zorro boards.
-
- KEYBOARD:
- - Detachable
- - 94 keys, including 10 function keys
- - Separate numeric keypad
- - Separate cursor keys (inverted "T" layout)
-
- MOUSE:
- - Opto-mechanical
-
- - 2-button design
-
- DISK DRIVES:
- - Built-in 3.5-inch high density disk drive (880 KB/1.76 MB formatted)
- - Hard Drive models pre-formatted and pre-loaded with system software
- and utilities
- - 2 rear and 2 front 3.5-inch drive bays
- - 1 front 5.25-inch drive bay
-
- GRAPHIC MODES:
- - AGA custom chipset produces resolutions ranging from 320x200 to
- 1280x400 (more with overscan), including 800x600
- - NTSC and PAL video resolutions
- - Color palette of 16.8 million colors
- - 2 to 256,000 user-definable colors displayable on screen
-
- VIDEO DISPLAY OUTPUT:
- - Works with RGB analog VGA or multiscan monitors (not all modes
- supported with non multiscan monitors)
- - Horizontal scan rats 15 kHz - 31 kHz
- - Vertical scan rates 50 Hz - 72 Hz
-
- SOUND:
- - Four channel stereo sound, capable of reproducing complex waveforms
-
- - 8-bit D/A converters
- - 6-bit volume
-
- DIMENSIONS:
- - 15 1/4" deep x 15" wide x 5" high
-
- WEIGHT:
- - Approx. 20 pounds
-
- POWER REQUIREMENTS:
- - 110 volt/60Hz 150 watt power supply
-
- A4000 CONFIGURATIONS:
-
- A4000-040/120
- - Amiga 4000 with Motorola 68040 Processor, 6 MB RAM, internal 3.5"
- 1.76 MB Floppy Drive and 120 MB IDE Hard Drive
- - 94-key Keyboard
- - 2-button Mouse
- - AmigaDOS Release 3.0 System Software and Utilities
- - Gold Service Warranty Package
-
- ==========================
- amiga.dev/news #58, from jwiede, 3324 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:46:42 1992
- --------------------------
- TITLE: Press Release (3 of 6)
-
- AmigaDOS (TM) Release 2.1 System Software Upgrade Technical
- Specifications
-
- NEW FEATURES:
- - Dynamic Localization of Programs to different languages and locales
- - Includes CrossDOS for easy transfer of MS-DOS (R) and Amiga (R) files
- - Includes Postscript (R) Printer Driver
- - Supports Multiple Serial and Parallel Printer Preferences
- - New Preferences Editing
- - Motorola (R) 68040 compatible
- - Screen mode requester added for selection of screen mode or video
- mode
-
- FONTS:
- - Supports Agfa Compugraphic Intellifont scalable typefaces
- - Includes CG Times, CG Triumvirate and LetterGothic typefaces
- - Supports scaling of bitmap fonts
- - Better control of font rendering for Desktop Publishing applications
-
-
- AREXX PROGRAMMING:
- - Includes ARexx, a powerful inter-process communication language
- - Can be used to control applications which support ARexx
- - Allows the integration of different applications that support ARexx into
- a single environment
- - Ability to launch applications from within other applications
-
- USER INTERFACE:
- - Professional three-dimensional look
- - Improved ease of use and consistency
- - Extensively configurable through Preferences Editors
- - Standard file and font requesters
- - Supports scrolling screens larger than the monitor
- - Select Locale/Country by clicking on World Map
- - Keyboard selection in Input Preferences
-
- WORKBENCH FEATURES:
- - All files are accessible from the Workbench
- - Files are accessible by name or by icon
- - Drag selection of multiple icons
- - Includes New Drawer command
- - Easier cleanups and positioning of icons
- - Icons can be "left out" on the Workbench backdrop for easier access
-
-
- OTHER FEATURES:
- - General purpose installer added with installation activation of Keymaps,
- Monitors, Printers and DOS Drivers
- - Select keyboard from Preferences Editor
- - Printer Drivers for popular printers added
- - Spline animations on blanked screens
- - Support for European monitors
- - Enhanced reliability even under low memory situations
- - Faster and more reliable floppy disk access
- - Improved Icon Editor
-
- SHELL ENHANCEMENTS:
- - AmigaDOS commands are faster, more powerful and require fewer
- keystrokes
- - New commands handle environment variables and links
- - Cut and Paste in shell windows
- - Extended wildcard capabilities
- - Backtick feature allows embedded commands within commands
- - Shell windows have a close gadget
- - ARexx scripts can be run directly from the Shell
-
- ECS FEATURES:
- Enhanced Chip Set Required
- - 640x480 non-interlaced Productivity Mode (requires 31 kHZ-capable
-
- monitor)
- - 1280x200 and 1280x400 Super-HiRes Modes
- - 800x600 requires Multisync
- - New genlock features
-
- HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:
- - Requires any 2.0X ROM-ready Amiga 500, 600, 2000 or 3000 series
- computer
- - Amiga 2500, A2620 or 2630 requires rev-06 or greater ROMs on the
- accelerator card
- - ECS features require optional Enhanced Chip Set
- - Contact nearest Commodore reseller for details and installation
-
- ORDER INFORMATION:
- AS215 AmigaDOS Release 2.1 Software Upgrade includes:
- - 6 disks
- - 3-manual set
-
- AS216 AmigaDOS Release 2.1 ROM and Software Upgrade includes:
- - 2.0X ROM
- - 6 disks
- - 3-manual set
-
- Contact your Commodore reseller for details. To locate a Commodore
-
- reseller in the U.S., call 1-800-66-AMIGA; in Canada call 1-800-661-
- AMIGA.
-
- *New mail #7815 from: rsimonsen - Situation*
- Type 'mail read' to view new mail
-
- ==========================
- amiga.dev/news #59, from jwiede, 1652 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:47:30 1992
- --------------------------
- TITLE: Press Release (4 of 6)
-
- Amiga 600 Technical Specifications
-
- CPU:
- - Motorola (R) 68000, 16/32 bit
- - 7.16 Mhz NTSC
- - Multi-Chip coprocessor system for DMA, Video, Graphics and Sound
-
- MEMORY:
- - Expandable to 2MB Chip RAM
- - Maximum RAM expansion 6MB with PCMCIA
-
- SOFTWARE:
- - 512KB ROM
- - AmigaDOS (TM) Release 2 Multitasking Operating System in ROM
- - Workbench 2.X and Utilities software
-
- KEYBOARD:
- - Integral 78 Key International
-
-
- MOUSE:
- - Opto-mechanical
- - 2-button design
-
- DISK DRIVES:
- - Built-in 3.5-inch 880 KB floppy disk
- - External 3.5-inch floppy disk
- - Internal IDE hard disk drive (optional)
-
- GRAPHIC MODES:
- - Color palette of 4096 colors
- - Selectable resolutions
- - Supports full overscan
-
- VIDEO DISPLAY OUTPUT:
- - RGB analog 15 KHz Horizontal Scan Rate
- - Color Composite
- - RF Modulated
-
- SOUND:
- - Four channel stereo sound
-
- DIMENSIONS:
- - 14" deep x 9.5" wide x 3" high
-
-
- WEIGHT:
- - Approx. 6 lbs.
-
- POWER REQUIREMENTS:
- - Switching power supply 23 watts
-
- INTERFACES:
- External:
- - Floppy Disk (DB23)
- - Mouse/Joystick/Lightpen (2 DB9)
- - Serial (RS-232, PC-compatible)
- - Parallel (Centronics -- PC-compatible)
- - Video RGB analog (DB23 15 KHz)
- Color Composite (RCA)
- RF Modulator (RCA)
- - PCMCIA Card Slot
-
- Internal:
- - Internal AT IDE connector
-
- A600 CONFIGURATIONS:
-
- A600 P
-
- - Amiga 600 with Motorola 68000 Processor, internal 3.5" 880K Floppy
- Drive, 1 MB RAM
- - Integral Keyboard
- - Release 2.X Operating System and Utilities
- - 2-button Mouse
-
- A600HD
- - Amiga 600 with Motorola 68000 Processor, internal 3.5" 880K Floppy
- Drive, 1 MB RAM
- - Internal 40MB IDE Hard Drive
- - Integral Keyboard
- - Release 2.X Operating System and Utilities
- - 2-button Mouse
-
- ==========================
- amiga.dev/news #60, from jwiede, 1833 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:48:15 1992
- --------------------------
- TITLE: Press Release (5 of 6)
-
- Amiga 570 External CD ROM Storage for the Amiga 500
- Technical Specifications
-
- FEATURES:
- - High Capacity, Read-only CD-ROM
- - CDTV Compatibility
- - 2MB Fast RAM expansion (internal)
- - Rear expansion slot for plug-in cartridges
-
- OPERATING SYSTEM:
- - ISO 9660 file system handler
- - High-speed decompression for graphics, audio, CD+Graphics and CD
- Digital Audio
-
- CD-ROM DRIVE SPECS:
- - Data Transfer - Normal : 153 KBytes/sec (Mode 1)
- : 171 KBytes/sec (Mode 2)
- - Average access time : 0.5s
- - Maximum access time : 0.8s
-
- - Soft read error : Less than 1 in 10^9
- - Hard read error : Less than 1 in 10^12
- - Seek error : Less than 1 in 10^6
- - Commands : CD-ROM, CD-Audio, CD+G, CD+MIDI
- - Standard supported : ISO-9660
- - Data Capacity : 540 MegaBytes (approx.)
- - Mechanism : Protective Disk Caddy Type
-
- CD AUDIO SPECS:
- - 8x oversampling
- - Audio output : External 2.0V p-p, 10K OHM
- - Frequency response : 4-20 KHz
- - Signal/Noise : -96db
- - Channel Separation : -85db
- - Harmonic Distortion : 0.02% at 1 KHz
- - Maximum audio capacity : about 28 hours - AM quality
- - Sample Rates : variable from CD Audio rate (44
- KHz)
- - Dual 16-bit D/A converter plus 64 levels of attenuation
-
- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Rear Panel:
- - Power Supply Connector
- - Power Switch
-
- - Amiga Audio In (Left and Right)
- - CDTV Audio Out (Left and Right)
-
- Front Panel:
- - Stereo Headphone Jack
- - Compatibility Switch
- - Power-On Pilot LED
- - Drive Activity LED
- - Disc Loading Slot
-
- Dimensions:
- - Approx. 256 x 180 x 68 mm
-
- Weight:
- - Approx. 6 pounds
-
- POWER REQUIREMENTS:
- - 110 volt/60Hz from external supply
-
- ==========================
- amiga.dev/news #61, from jwiede, 2773 chars, Fri Sep 11 10:48:57 1992
- --------------------------
- TITLE: Press Release (6 of 6)
-
- AmigaVision Professional specs
-
- CDTV (R) SUPPORT FEATURES
- - Playback of CD-XL Motion Video Files
- - Plays CD Digital Audio tracks
- - Cursor and Jumping Highlight Modes
- - Reads CDTV IR Controller
- - Full Support for CDTV Preferences
- - Control MIDI out files to MIDI or Amiga
-
- VIDEO CONTROL FEATURES:
- - Supports full-motion video
- - Supports Genlocks
- - On-screen videodisc controller
- - Video setup and configuration
- - Supports Sony, Pioneer and Phillips laserdisc players, NEC PC-VCR,
- Panasonic TQ3032F, Sony Umatic 9 Tape Players
- - Supports drivers for custom players
-
-
- USER INTERFACE:
- - Primary Interface(s)
- Direct Manipulation of Icons
- Requester Boxes
- - Presentation in flowchart format
- - User input from keyboard, mouse, joystick or touchscreen
- - Auto-open and reduced-size icons
-
- GRAPHICS & ANIMATION:
- - Combines Text and Graphics on screen
- - Uses Amiga standard IFF ILBM files as foreground and background
- - Simultaneous playback of Animation and Audio
- - 34 Transitions with 4 speeds
- 17 palette/resolution independent
- - Visual Display Elements: Graphics, Text, Animation, Video
-
- SOUND:
- - Supports Amiga Stereo Audio
- - Supports Amiga standard SMUS files with tempo, dynamics and chord
- support
- - Digitized sound in standard 8SVX format
- - Speech synthesis and text-to-speech conversion
- - Pre-loading of audio and streamed-in animation and sound for increased
- display and playback speed
-
- - Audio Display Elements: Digitized Sound, Music, Speech Synthesis
-
- DATABASE:
- - Integrated into AmigaVision
- - dBase III (R) data file compatible
- - up to 10 files open simultaneously
- - Read and Update functions
- - Variable definition and manipulation
- - Define data input forms
- - String, numeric, data and Boolean operations
-
- VISUAL PROGRAMMING:
- - Features:
- Flow Control Subroutines
- Interrupts AV Engine
- Libraries of Events Object Editor
- Conditional Statements
- - Unlimited Number of Hit Boxes/Buttons per Screen
- - Unlimited Text Windows
- - Hypertext Browsing
- - Runs external programs via ARexx
- - Chaining of programs
- - Selectable memory constraints
- - Create runtime modules
-
- - Relocate applications
- - Name, Position and Move objects including animation brushes
- - Define Paths and Traversal Options
-
- RUNTIME PLAYER:
- - Includes freely distributable Runtime Player
-
- HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:
- - Minimum Delivery System: Amiga computer with 2 MB RAM
-
- - Suggested Development System: Amiga Computer with Hard Drive and 4
- MB RAM
-
- - Runtime Player Requires approx. 270KB, 1 MB RAM recommended
-
- AMIGAVISION PROFESSIONAL (PN: AS251) INCLUDES:
- - Program Disk
- - Install Disk with printer and video drivers
- - Demo Disk with Guided Tour booklet
- - Examples Disk
- - User's Guide
- - Runtime Player
-
- - Requires AmigaDOS (TM) 1.3 or higher
-
-
- ==========================
- amiga.dev/news #62, from jwiede, 210 chars, Fri Sep 11 23:20:51 1992
- --------------------------
- TITLE: Note regarding above announcements.
-
- The configurations and prices of the systems discussed in the previous
- six releases are for the U.S.A. only. Configurations and prices will
- vary in other countries.
- --
- ~
- /**************************************************************************
- * Eric Chet | Amiga does it better
- * chet@netcom.com | Ray Tracing and other graphics techniques
- * BIX: chet | "Use what is useful, simply to simplify"
- */
-