+Larry Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 A recent discussion with an Atari-friend got me thinking about this. I have a V2, but never installed it, waiting for some compelling (software) reason to put it in an Atari. There is "The Last Word," but I moved to M.S. WORD many, many years ago. So for those of you that have a VBXE, what software do you use it for? Maybe there are some things that I'm not aware of -- then, maybe not... -Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 High quality RGB output for starters - some people bought it just for that fact. Not that there's exactly a lot around but there are games, demos, pictures. There's the extra RAM - for a time I used mine in Rambo mode that gives 320K system Ram via PortB. For those that want it, the modified S: driver that allows 80 column text mode. Even alternate cores around for proper VGA output, or changing the VBXE into a sound device. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poison Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 - RGB Output - and I like games - Robbo, Heartlight and thats all:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelmischief Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 I bought is just for the HQ RGB output. I'm hoping that a better SVGA core gets developed eventually so I can connect it directly to a desktop monitor. In the meantime, I block, whip, and box it up to HDMI. Looks fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 The kick ass 80-column driver for SDX is another killer bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Jefferson Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 (edited) I'm trying to port Moria for it. Using both the 80 column and extra memory. Edited September 25, 2014 by Shawn Jefferson 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Larry Posted September 25, 2014 Author Share Posted September 25, 2014 Your responses raise some additional questions. For you folks that use the VBXE for its RGB display, what are you using for a monitor -- older CRT's? I haven't seen any flat panel RGB monitors, although someone probably makes a specialty monitor with RGB. I probably wouldn't be a candidate for that. I use my PC XGA monitor with an All-in-Wonder card that creates an excellent Atari display. But I know where you are coming from -- I used an Apple IIC+ with RGB, and that was a really nice clean display. @ Stephen - I don't understand what would be the benefit of using SDX with 80-columns. Could you explain a bit? @ Pixelmischief - could you explain a bit more about how you use the VBXE with HDMI input -- on a VGA monitor? Edit: I wonder if Component Video could be used with RGB output? Thanks, Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poison Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 I bought 15" LCD TV with SCART. And than Ctirad made cable from DB9 (added to my atari) to SCART. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 1084S here - sadly, outside of Europe the modern RGB options are hard to find. Scart seems to be disappearing globally anyway, Component video virtually gives the same quality as RGB but the problem is they're not compatible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Larry Posted September 25, 2014 Author Share Posted September 25, 2014 Yes, I see that it would take another ~ $50 to $100 adapter to convert the true RGB to component video. And it looks like you can convert RGB to VGA with a converter, also. Amazing how you can convert just about any video signal to another one with modern adapters. -Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Z Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 A recent discussion with an Atari-friend got me thinking about this. I have a V2, but never installed it, waiting for some compelling (software) reason to put it in an Atari. There is "The Last Word," but I moved to M.S. WORD many, many years ago. So for those of you that have a VBXE, what software do you use it for? Maybe there are some things that I'm not aware of -- then, maybe not... -Larry http://atariage.com/forums/topic/225063-full-color-ansi-vbxe-terminal-in-the-works/ eventually.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drac030 Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Software I use with VBXE: MAE, TLW, SC (and SDX generally). I have not played with Indus CP/M for a period of time, but there is also TT - a very nice 80-column VBXE terminal for CP/M. Monitor: Commodore 1085S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 APT FDISK is another application which makes direct use of S_VBXE: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelmischief Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 @ Pixelmischief - could you explain a bit more about how you use the VBXE with HDMI input -- on a VGA monitor? My VBXE is terminated onto an Amiga style video port. I use an Amiga SCART cable into a SCART-2-HDMI box, which is then plugged into the HDMI input on my desktop monitor. That monitor also has DVI and SVGA inputs, to which other devices are plugged (SLG3000 on the SVGA and my main PC video card on the DVI). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenjennings Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 The purpose of my VBXE is to develop infinite patience in myself. I'm still waiting for Sloopy to send it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+remowilliams Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Wait, I'm supposed to be using it for something... ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Your responses raise some additional questions. @ Stephen - I don't understand what would be the benefit of using SDX with 80-columns. Could you explain a bit? Thanks, Larry Well, I use SDX for my hard drive setup. Last word has 80 columns, as does Ice-T. The cool Norton Disc Commander clone, has 80 column support. With careful config.sys setup, I can have every single application ready to run from HD, with the same background and text colours, all in 80 columns. It makes for a wonderful user experience. Even my MAN pages are setup to be displayed in 80 column paged mode. If you want my config settings, just let me know, as all this is even possible using software solutions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Note that no version of Ice-T uses S_VBXE.SYS; the 80 column display is software generated and works without VBXE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 But RGB video quality vs stock makes for much more readable and tolerable 4-pix wide characters in that mode. One thing not mentioned and probably not utilized a great deal to date - you can in effect run dual displays with legacy video on one monitor, VBXE video on the other. This could make for a great debugging setup or possibly a multitasking environment with VBXE showing tasks/status. Note of course these things mentioned don't actually exist but the possibilities are there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Larry Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 Well, here is a stumbling block for me -- perhaps someone knows of a work-around (adapter). Since I use a S-video to VGA scaler (All-in-Wonder), I have a scalable widow on my PC monitor with the Atari display. And since it is a PC window, I also have APE open nearly 100% of the time when I'm using the Atari. Is anyone familiar with an RGB (VBXE) to VGA adapter that can put the VBXE display in a window much as I now use with the S-Video? For clarity, here is a .jpg of my Atari setup. Note that PRINT SCREEN cannot "see" the Atari display, since it is super-imposed on the ATI window, and it also cuts off part of the monitor screen. -Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 I'm not sure there's easily obtainable RGB capture devices for the PC. The best bet might be an RGB to S-Video converter. They're fairly common, widely used by owners of older arcades as it's a much cheaper solution to replace the old CRTs with a TV than to try and source another CRT. Also they tend to be fairly cheap - I got one for about $35 although it's just an unenclosed board. Then you can easily use most PC-based TV capture devices to display in a window if you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Larry Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 I was again reading the VBXE description posted by Lotharek: "RGB output providing crisp clear picture using LCD TV or RGB monitor" The RGB monitor is self-explanatory, but what kind of output to what kind of LCD TV? Anyone have any insight as to what kind of TV this would be? Certainly in the US, the only RGB input we have is component RGB. A VGA core was also mentioned here -- is anyone familiar with this? Last (I think) -- does anyone use this with anything other than SDX? Looks like the text drivers are SDX-only (unless an app has a built-in 80-column driver)? -Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashjazzcat Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 The RGB monitor is self-explanatory, but what kind of output to what kind of LCD TV? SCART equipped or any DB15 (VGA) input capable of syncing down to 15KHz. A VGA core was also mentioned here -- is anyone familiar with this? Seen it, never tried it, and it's deprecated (this from Candle himself), so not a good path to follow. VGA upscaler is a better idea. Last (I think) -- does anyone use this with anything other than SDX? Looks like the text drivers are SDX-only (unless an app has a built-in 80-column driver)? The S_VBXE driver is not SDX-only. It may be installed via any DOS using the supplied loader. The Last Word (VBXE version), however, does not use S_VBXE; it loads its own internal driver from disk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Larry Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 @FJC -- Thanks for the info. SCART is non-existent in the U.S. so that makes the options here more limited. -Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 VGA Core requires modification of VBXE and you lose capabilities, from memory: - 14 MHz crystal, VGA can be done but graphics are legacy only. - 28 MHz crystal, VGA mode with reduced VBXE capability, only first 2 palettes of 4 available. Scart RGB is pretty rare on TVs outside Europe and even dwindling there since Component is virtually as good but incompatible. I have VGA input for my LCD TV like many but no idea if it would work with a 15 Khz composite sync signal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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