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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

5259.0. "compatability problem" by KERNEL::PETTET (Norm Pettet CSC Basingstoke) Mon Dec 09 1991 13:01

    Hello,
    
    	I wonder if anyone can help me. I'm considering buying an Amiga
    500+ in the new year for my son and daughter to improve their IT and
    CDT work at school. However the school predominately use the Archemedes
    processor. Whilst I admit this is a good machine there isn't much
    software written for it (unlike the Amiga). Does anyone know of an
    emulator for the Amiga to provide atleast some compatability with the
    schools gear?.
    
    Cheers...Norm
    
    
    BTW: yes I do know the Amiga is 16 bit and the Archemedes is 32 bit
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5259.1probably not?WHAMMY::spodarykFor three strange days...Mon Dec 09 1991 14:0812
> BTW: yes I do know the Amiga is 16 bit and the Archemedes is 32 bit

Nope.  The M68000 in the A500 is a 32bit processor (32bit registers, etc),
but only has a 16bit path to data (like a 386SX).  The M68020/30/40 are
true 32bit processors, in that they have both.  

Can't help with an emulator, but I believe there was some Archemedes
discussion in another note.  I think the hope for compatibility is pretty
slim, but since the Amiga seems able to emulate everything else - 
you never know.

Steve 
5259.2How about a BBC Emulator [moved by mod.]VIVIAN::D_VISTUERMon Dec 09 1991 17:298
    A commercial BBC model B emulator is available for the amiga for about
    30 to 50 quid from varius retailers. At least it gives you a ceratin
    amount of compatibility.
    
    Thanks.
    
    Dave.
    
5259.3...FORTY2::CADWALLADERNot yours... not mine...Fri Dec 13 1991 10:2223
    As far as I know, many schools will still be using a fair amount of
    educational software written for the BBC B in BASIC. The Archimedes
    runs this, so the majority of soft will run on it.
    
    The BBC emulator for the AMIGA also runs BBC BASIC so any programs
    which *were* written in this will run on the emulator too, so long as
    you can figure out a way to get them onto Amiga disks, (I think the
    latest Beeb emulator has provision for such things - don't know
    details). Of course machine-code programs probably will not work...
    
    The Beeb emulator is really excellent so this would be my bet for what
    you need. Could be a long way around though? Why not check what
    educational soft is available for the ST/Amiga (saw your ST note too!),
    if these 2 machines are the 2 you are trying to decide between.
    
    Also, if this is the case... I would ask for demos of both machines so
    you will be able to appreciate the extra capabilities of the Amiga; I
    have had both machines but I would never want to go back to an ST now,
    especially since re-witnessing it's capabilities recently :-)
    
    The choice is yours however, good luck!
    
    								- JIM CAD*
5259.4SYSTEM::GOODWINRameses Niblik III. Kerplunk! Woops! There goes my thribbleThu Jan 02 1992 06:3012
    The software situation on the Archimedes has slowly been changing.
    There is a LOT of software out there now, but still nowhere near as
    much for the Amiga. PD sources in C fairly quickly moves to the
    Archimedes.
    
    As for which machine is better... the latest Archimedes is the A5000,
    which has faster memory and a much faster CPU (25MHz), and the latest
    desktop software (2Mbytes in ROM). It's about 6 times faster than the
    older Arcs. Bit difficult to say how it compares to an Amiga. I think
    it's comparable to a 486.
    
    Pete.