Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Transformer is a software emulator that allows the Amiga to run
    most NON-GRAPHIC, NON-COLOR MS-Dos software.  It actually runs quite
    a few packages, including Lotus, DBase, TK!Solver, and almost all
    text-only programs.  Transformer runs at about 50% the speed of
    a vanilla PC.  It will read/write/format 720K 3 1/2 inch MS-Dos
    disks, such as from the Data General One, Kaypro, Toshiba, and IBM
    laptop computers.  Or, Commodore sells a 5 1/4 inch disk drive with
    the software, for about $175.00 .  Quite a bargain, if you can live
    with the speed loss.  
    
    Interestingly enuf, Transformer treats the Amigas 3 1/2 inch drives
    as though they were actually 720K drives.  So, if you have access
    to PC stuff on micro-floppys, there is no need to buy a 5 1/4 inch
    drive.
    
    I used to work at Data General, and was amazed at all the things
    that the Transformer would run. All the infocom adventures, for
    example ran just fine, with little speed loss...
    

    Some where in the dusty archives of my memory I seem to remeber
    at BIOS from Phoenix (?) that is suppose to make transformer work
    3 times faster. Does anyone know the details of how you make this
    work. 

      Rich

.1 says
>    
>    Interestingly enuf, Transformer treats the Amigas 3 1/2 inch drives
>    as though they were actually 720K drives.  
>
The version of Transformer that I have treats the 3-1/2 inch 
disks as 360K drives, not 720K.  Do I have an old version that
needs updating, or can it read such disks but not FORMAT or
write them? 

rick

    Whose DOS are you using?  I was using Data General's own BIOS, which
    was listed as MS-Dos 2.11, and disks were indeed formatted at 720K.
    
    If you want a copy, let me know.
    
    Also, I am using Transformer Beta 3.5.  I think it was the last
    version done.
    

I was using IBM PC-DOS 3.20, the very latest thing available.  
Dunno what version of Transformer; never saw a version number 
anywhere, but I'll check again.  

rick

    Has anyone ever run DBase III + or Lotus 123 using transformer?
    
    I am trying to decide if it is worth my while to get and I know
    that I HAVE to run these programs.
    
    Anybody have any clues?
    					Rob

    The people to ask would be the Memory Location in Wellesley, MA.
    They are extremely knowledgeable.
    
    Or, you might try calling Amiga Technical Support in Westchester,
    PA at (215) 431-9100.
    
    

    As to LOTUS 123, you might want to consider VIP Professional. I
    have been fairly pleased with it. I bought it because I am able
    to transmit my WKS files into a VAX and use XWAY to move it to
    whatever I care... There are some things that I would like to see
    improved, but it does seem to be 100% LOTUS 123 compatible.
    

    And as to DBASE III+, consider AQUISITION (available at Memory
    Location).  It is supposed to be an Amiga-ized/Intuition-ized DBASE
    III+ look-alike.  One caveat:  it might have "V1 symptom", by which
    I mean, if you don't want to put up with a bunch of bugs that will be
    fixed in the next release, wait for that next release.  That was the
    rumor I heard, so I am waiting.  Note: "rumor".  But I'm waiting
    for the next release anyway.  I've been burned by the first release
    of more than one package that I just couldn't wait for, so I'm waiting
    on this one to see if it makes any substantial difference.
    
    -jim

    a non-DEC friend of mine tried running DBASE (not sure what version)
    on the transformer.  It was just too slow to do any useful work.
    He now uses DOS-2-DOS to copy the DBASE files into an Amiga DBASE
    clone (don't remember which one).
    
    -dave

    Re: last couple,
    
    Thanks for the info,
    
    I'll probably do it that way ( Get the Dbase or lotus compatable
    software and then find someway to port it over to the ibm machine)
    
    That way I'll have the packages for my amiga too.
    
    That Dbase close you were talking about Dave is DBman.
    
    					Rob