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RE: < Note 287.0 by LEDS::ACCIARDI "Dukakis should pluck his eyebrows" >
> I just read in EETimes that Atari is planning on showing a 68030
> based Unix box at Fall Comdex that will run ST software. It also
> includes the same DSP chip used in the NeXT worksation. Color support
> is standard. The specs (from memory) included 1 MB of main memory
> plus 1 MB of dedicated video ram.
>
> Is this for real? If so, where does this fit in with the ABAQ?
> Ed.
There has been much ramblings on the atari usenet newsgroup, with
respect to these rumors. Atari won't confirm or denounce these
rumors, but they have left hints, and sometimes corrected a few people
Essentially the rumor is a 68030 based machine, running at&t unix
system 5. Also, they supposedly support x-windows, and have some
berkley unixisms. It is also rumored to have the M56000 DSP, but
this is definitly rumor. Essentially this machine is the next
generation TT, you remember that machine, it was a back end for an
ST using a 68020, and running unix, incredible graphics, that atari
said they were developing, and never saw the light of day. I think
that they are serious about this machine, and it actually will be
released.
They also have the atari workstation, formerly called the ABAQ, they
had to change the name, cause someone else uses that name. This is
the transputer based machine, and has been released in europe to
a few developers.
Bill Powers
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| Hello,
I cant comment on the 68030 beast but the ABAQ now renamed the "ATARI
TRANSPUTER WORKSTATION" does exist and will be released soon. (note
I havnt given a date). I have seen the hardware on the ATARI stand
at the UK PC SHOW last month.
In the November ST WORLD there is a 5 page spread on the ATW. Brief
details of performance follow:- (anyone wants the full article mail
me!)
At the heart of the ATW is a T800 transputer 20Mhz model 1.5MFlops
Blitter chip named "CHARITY"
4MBytes ram plus 1 mbyte video ram
Remote transputer drive capability @ 20Mhz for 100 feet
4 slot expansion backplane can either hold transputer farm card
or memory Each farm card can hold 4 T800 transputers, each
memory card can hold 20 Mbytes ram max ram is 64 mbytes plus
video ram
IO interface from internal Mega ST board
graphics resolution
Mode 0 1280 X 960 4 bits/pixel = 16 colours from 4096
mode 1 1024 X 768 8 bits/pixel = 256 " " 16 million
mode 2 640 X 480 8 bits/pixel Multi buffered for animation
mode 3 512 X 480 32 " " 8 bits/colour plus overlay and
tag fields = 16 million colours
Scan rates are 60 or 70 HZ all modes.
pixel clock 25 mhz to 102 Mhz for highest resolution
video ram is dual ported claimed video processing only takes
one or two percent of bandwidth of machine
The blitter cvan write to all 32 rams in video memory
simultaneously
Operating system is Helios not written in OCCAM
either CLI UNIX LIKE !! or WIMPS using X-WINDOWS V1.1
Thrid party developers have machines and are writing
compiler software for the ATW.
machine is NOT a desk topper but a pedistal now.
Full SCSI IO port as well as all standard Mega ports.
base machine less than 5000 pounds
I,ll believe it when I see it in the market place.
Cheers
Pat K.
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