Larry

Thanks for the replies. I tried the external palette, but that doesn't solve the issue I perceive. Here are a couple of screen shots that show what I'm referring to. Probably this would have to be changed in the emulator code. My point is that I think the luminance values are incorrect as written. And there may be good reasons for the way they appear, but seems like it would be a "nice to have" setting in the emulator to be able to change the "contrast." -Larry

Good to review the old threads, but still, a good question, because the technology/options keep changing. -Larry Ewps, sorry--got a little excited. I usually do search first...didn't this time...will do now. Thanks for the info.

For emulator users: what kind of speed are you getting on Atari800win Plus? Granted, for games it doesn't matter, but on some computation-intensive applications, faster is better. -Larry

V4.0 Beta 7 I posted this in the Emulation section, but no takers thus far. Since we have quite a few emulator users here... The default colors don't look correct. I can get the background an acceptable shade of blue, but the foreground/text is too dark. Has anyone achieved a pretty good combination of Gr. 0 color and luminance on this emulator? If so, what are your settings? Thanks, Larry

V4.0 Beta 7 The default colors don't look correct. I can get the background an acceptable shade of blue, but the foreground/text is too dark. Has anyone achieved a pretty good combination of Gr. 0 color and luminance on this emulator? If so, what are your settings? Thanks, Larry

Any particular advantages to either of these types of upgrades when applied to the A8? Such as wiring complexity, compatibility, etc. -Larry

Very clever!

The MyIDE series is a fine product that keeps getting better and more versatile. But there is also an excellent alternative in the KMK/JZ IDEa interface available at http://atarifanstore.selfip.com/idea.htm Cost? Currently $115 + shipping from New York IIRC (check the website). These interfaces were previously less expensive, but like all things from Europe, the prices have followed the Euro/Dollar divergence. The interface shown does not have a picture of the included ECI adapter for the 130 XE (or 65 XE with ECI). Also, there is no cartridge jack included on the adapter, but there are connections on the ECI adapter pcb to add one. (I added a cart jack on mine from a dead 65 XE, although my board is slightly different.) I have and very much like both interfaces. The MyIDE is certainly quite fast, but the KMK/JZ interface is absolutely the fastest interface currently available for the Atari 8-bit. There are quite a few timings of various interfaces mostly on pages 1 and 2 at http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?s...=76383&st=0 Larry

I rarely use the emulator, but I when I do, I use Atari800win plus. I'm curious -- what advantages does Atari800 (or a re-write) potentially give? My point is that instead of starting from "square one" with Atari800, why wouldn't the same group pick up "plus" since the source code is available and it is quite further developed? Unless this is a Linux project. (?) -Larry

What is a .MAP file as relates to BXL ro BXE? The files you are working with are Atari files (not images) on a Win32 system? -Larry

Thanks guys, for the links. Of course the world doesn't necessarily work this way, but 70(%)/66(MHz) as 100(%)/ "x"(MHz) X=94 MHz. That's well within the range of the acceleration. 1.4 times (Fast) is 92 MHz; 1.8 times (Ultra) is 116 MHz. Certainly looks feasible at a glance. Doesn't look too nice to install, but I've never seen the insides of a DS (other than those pics). For grins, I need to see what my 266 MHz Pentium I Libretto will do with Atari800Win Plus. Definitely apples to oranges, but the Libretto has a real keyboard and mouse. -Larry

I had not heard of an accelerator upgrade on a DS. Do you have any details or a link? I found nothing useful via Google. Thanks, Larry

Dunno. That was the only difference, run on a real 64. I've already got the stuff put away in the garage. Perhaps someone who uses the 64 emulator can replicate these. -Larry

Hi Rybags- I don't think that's what I did. Here's the benchmark: 10 ' Ahl's Simple Benchmark 20 FOR N=1 TO 100: A=N 30 FOR I=1 TO 10 40 A=SQR(A): R=R+RND(1) 50 NEXT I 60 FOR I=1 TO 10 70 A=A^2: R=R+RND(1) 80 NEXT I 90 S=S+A: NEXT N 100 PRINT ABS(1010-S/5) 110 PRINT ABS(1000-R) I did the square root as it said (line 40). But in line 70, it squares the result which is what I changed from A^2 to A*A. Am I missing something here? I am presuming that the "up arrow" key on the C64 is the exponent key. Isn't that correct? -Larry

For a stock C64 timed by hand: A*A method Time=76 sec. Accuracy 3.227 e-4 Random 4.19, 13.83 A^2 method Time =123 sec. Accuracy=1.041 e-3 Random 10.09 There are two sets of times because I originally didn't grasp that the "up arrow" key on the 64 keyboard was the exponent key. So I ran the benchmark using A*A instead of A^2. That produced a much faster time. I'm sure that I did that with one of the Atari Basics, and it produced a slightly slower time. Accuracy: 1.041 e-3 = .001041 3.227 e-4 = .0003227 Those are correct, aren't they? -Larry

For the following read "mostly" into the answers, since I'm sure there were exceptions. I'm not aware of significant keyboard differences, but perhaps there were? Hong Kong: All Socketed Chips Really poor video Rev. B Basic Taiwan: Fewer socketed chips Much improved video Rev. C Basic IMO, the winner: "Taiwan" -Larry

I have probably used my SIO2SD more today than all of the total time since I received it. Here are a few features in the SIO2SD I've noticed, and some questions for those of you who have more experience/knowledge about it. (These aren't criticisms, they are mostly questions about features.) When I execute the configuration menu, there is a "clock-ticking" sound through my monitor speaker. Also, this is accompanied by my APE interface LED pulsing, so there is some type of "polling" of the SIO going on. Anyone have any insight into this? Initially when I downloaded the configuration program from the 2.0 software, the menu of images immediately presented itself. Then I saw the updated XEX file from the 2.2 software and it opens with a prompt to "Choose Device: 0-3". If I select "0" then I get the image menu present on the SD card. If I select 1 through 3, I get "SIO error". Does anyone know what this prompt is designed to do? On the configuration menu, "U" represents "DIRectory UP". It returns me to the start of the image files present. It doesn't really move to a higher directory as best I can tell. Is this just designed to return to the beginning of the Atari directory? I presume there is no way to move BACK one screen -- just forward? Being able to move back one screen would be nice. Presumably the configuration menu is a regular Dos application, so it will not recognize filenames that begin with numbers (MyDos). The SIO2SD documentation suggests limiting images to about 100 in the Atari folder, but without removing the SD card and using a PC to change files/folders, there is no way to change folders from say ATARI to another folder (ATARI-2, etc.) So whatever you put in the Atari folder is all that you will have access to from the Atari. Is that correct? If so, perhaps a future version could be made to recognize/select more than one ATARI folder? That may have something to do with the "0-3" prompt? If you have noticed other features, chime in - I'd like to learn all I can about this fine device/system. -Larry

Yes, after re-reading the SIO2SD web page, I caught that, also. Fuse bits apparently do matter, and whether it can be upgraded is determined by the clock speed. I also originally did not see the menu .XEX file, which can be loaded from another device. In my case, I can load it from my Black Box, so I pretty much can avoid the control buttons completely in everyday use. "Most excellent!" -Larry

I successfully upgraded my firmware from the SD card. I still don't know if V1 can upgrade to V2 from the card or not, since I don't know what version I had originally (?) I don't see a version # listed on the *very nice* new configuration screen -- that would be nice to have listed. I really like this new selection menu, and I'm sure that I will like it even more when I learn to exploit its features more fully. It would be wonderful to be able to do almost *all* the configuration from the Atari, and perhaps in the future, the author will move in that direction. But again, this is a really nice improvement in functionality, I think. For those who haven't seen it, here is a screenshot (.bmp, zipped) of the new configuration screen. -Larry

I successfully upgraded mine to 2.3 via SD, no issues. I'm ready to upgrade mine from the SD card, but I don't understand the significance of the "fuse bits." I am dimly aware of fuse bits in GALs, but this must be in the Atmel. (?) Can someone who has upgraded from the card give me or link me to a brief primer? (Or is not significant for the card upgrade?) Thanks, Larry

SIO2SD is still available, I got mine recently from MegaHz in Germany, Have to put your own SIO cable on it, but maybe MegaHz could do it for you? How about even more choices, since this expanded a bit from just MyIDE? SIO2SD -- You might also want to check with Pigula who also builds these. I bought mine from him. There is a long thread here on this device. SIO2USB -- Available from ABBUC. Fairly costly, but a very nice device complete with a case. SIO2IDE -- available from this seller: http://atarifanstore.selfip.com/sio2ide.htm Another SIO device. Perhaps someone who has one of these can comment on how they like it? Here is a site in Polish that has more SIO2IDE info: http://atariki.krap.pl/index.php/SIO2IDE I'm pretty sure that I have seen a similar English page, but can't find it at the moment. Of these, I have the SIO2SD. It is a nice product that is very fast (for an SIO device). My only issue with it is using the small LCD screen and small buttons to select images. The SIO2IDE uses the Atari display to make selections. To me this is a more user-friendly system. I *believe* that the ABBUC device can be used either way -- LCD screen *or* Atari display for navigating ATR images. Hias brings out a good point about the height of the AtariMax Flash Cart with one type of adapter. I use another type of adapter (eBay) and a very short IDE cable so that my CF card folds down behind the cartridge. The new flash internal MyIDE can be flashed with any XL/XE compatible OS. If you for instance need an 800 OS, you flash it. Of course while you do not have the MyIDE OS in there, you can't use the MyIDE, but that is still a good trade-off for compatibility when the need arises. > MyIde Cartridge: could do the same as SIO2SD if I use a CF card + adaptor, but some soldering may be (will be?) needed. < Yes, depending on how you power it. Suggestion, if you want to use a card as opposed to module, see if Steve will modify it for you for a fee? Also, there is a thread in the MyIDE forum that goes into the power connection: http://www.atarimax.com/flashcart/forum/vi...&highlight= Decisions, decisions... -Larry

That would be great! -Larry

Hi Fuji-Man - Thanks for the reminder. There are several good routines in Dragon's Tail. These disks are in the Atari software archive: http://www.atariarchives.org/swlibrary/#dragonstail -Larry

Hi- The Transcend CF module is supposed to be the "gold standard" as far as CF for MyIDE. If you read through the threads in the MyIDE forum, I believe you will find that you still have to make a solder connection to pin 20 on the cart to supply power to the module. Steve's Cart + Module is "plug and play," although you should confirm that with him. So that is the "value added" for the extra cost for the module. Similar modules can be purchased for $12-17 on eBay or about $32 for a Transcend (both estimates including shipping). If using a CF card + "no-name" adapter, I have never found one that did not work, and I have accumulated several. Again, there are threads in the forum about all this. Now, do you want to run this from pin 20? I found color shift during writes on my computers. I don't know how widespread this is, but the color shift comes from voltage drop, so I have made a separate connection to the power switch to supply the module. If you ask Steve, he probably can tell you if this is a very common issue. The most maligned module is the SimpleTech. Some folks complained that these just didn't work. I have several of them and they ALL work, but they appear NOT to work with the lower voltage of the pin 20 connection. Last, some folks solve the power connection issue by using a 5V exterior switching supply. Extra cord, but it is "portable" when you switch computers. As you said, lots of options. Good luck, but whichever you choose, I'm sure you'll like the MyIDE -- a very nice product. -Larry

Here is an interesting one, I think. I decided to run AHL's Benchmark using Atari Advan Basic. I was never able to successfully import an Atari Basic SAVEd or LISTed version of the program, even using the "convert" program included. Advan Basic would read the file using LOAD (or LOADS for the LISTED version). After LOADing, it produced no error message, but I could not LIST it to the screen after LOADing, nor would it RUN. (?) I finally decided it would be quicker to type it in, so I did. After I typed it in, I could LIST it as well as SAVE and then successfully LOAD it from disk and LIST it to the screen. It is possible that my lack of knowledge of Advan Basic caused this, but I did check the manual. The results: Time: 456.2 sec Accuracy .036606 Random 18.92, 11.51 Notes: This was done with regular floating point. The manual states the advantages of using Integers, but Ahl's Benchmark is not really designed for Integers. -Larry