Conference 7.286::atarist

192.0. "Big screen on Mega ST" by BRSDVP::GEBOERS (Grin and ignore it.) Wed Aug 10 1988 09:00

     Well, you heear a lot about Atari and future products ... Thanks to the
    dealer where I purchased my Atari I had the possibility to test a 19 inch
    screen on a Mega4 ST. (No typing error). This screen gives you a
    resolution of 1024 by 1024 pixels, while you still can use GEM.

    This adaption to the ST exists of additional hardware, which goes in to
    the internal expansion port of the Mega and brings out a connector at the
    back above the current connector. This means that you can't combine this
    option together with the arithmetic coprocessor, but  ... that's only a
    detail.

    The driver for this screen is implemented as an .ACC file and was written
    by M�gavision, a french company. One of the authors is Dominique Laurent,
    the guy from TURBODOS. This driver is currently at version 1.1 and still a
    little buggy, but the dealer told me that he would receive an update one
    of these days.

    Here is some more technical specification :

	CRT	    19 inch, paper white phosphor
	Resolution  up to 1024 x 1024 pixels
	Scanning    Horizontal 48 kHz
		    Vertical 60 Hz Non-Interlaced
	Input	    Video : TTL Positif
		    DB-9 pin (DIN)

    Hardware interface :
	Delivered as Desk-Accessory
	Can be used as a 'Switcher'
	Choice between pull-down or Drop-Down menus
	Menus can be called anywhere on the screen
	Laser-Hardcopy of the large screen.

    Supports all GEM-programs, if they are written following the DR-rules.
    ex :    Timeworks Publisher	�
	    Data Manager
	    Fleet Street Publisher
	    Publishing Partner 2
	    Superbase Professional �
	    Calcomat �
	    The Graphic Artist

    I could test the programs marked with � myself, so that is for sure. I
    tried also the following :
	- CAMPUS V1.2 (CAD application) : works fine, but keeps the same size
	  of screen as on the normal monitor.
	- 1STWORDPLUS : Works fine in non-Graphic mode, Graphic mode doesn't
	  bomb on you, but messes up the screen.

    To start the screen you need first the normal screen of the ST. Clicking
    on the .ACC allows you to install the big screen and switch over to it.
    Once you saved the setup you don't need the second screen anymore and you
    can start the ST directly from the large screen.

    A nice feature is also the "zoom" option, which shows an area near the
    cursor enlarged on the other screen. Especially using Timeworks is fine
    with this feature.

    The price of this tool : ~ 105000 Bfr = $ 2600. A little high for domestic
    use, but nice for a professional CAD or Publisher User ...

    BTW. The arithmetic coprocessor really exists, I had one in my hands ...
    Once again it seems that Europe is favoured by Atari.

    Other nice items I tested, thanks to the dealer :

    - Handy Scanner : A desktop scanner implemented like a mouse that gives
    nices pictures of fotos and magazines.
	Price : ~ $ 400

    - A Teletext reader : Just give it a video signal and it will get the
    Teletext pages out from you. You can even save the text in a plain ASCII
    file and use it for editing later.

    Any questions, feel free to shoot them. I'll do my best to answer them.

    Cor

    PS: I have an Epson FX80 for sale . Requested price 14000 Bfr. Itrested ?
    Mail me.