Conference 7.286::atarist

David Small's "Spectre GCR" cartridge should be out any day now, and is
supposed to be the ultimate MAC emulator.  I've heard that it includes
the ability to read/write MAC disks.

    Re: .1
    
> David Small's "Spectre GCR" cartridge should be out any day now, and is
> supposed to be the ultimate MAC emulator.  I've heard that it includes
> the ability to read/write MAC disks.
    
    Not only does Spectre GCR have the ability to read Mac disks, but
    (according to Dave) it reads and writes them faster than Spectre reads
    and writes Magic format disks.
    				- hbm

There are two MacEmulators on the market. I know both  because I own both and
have used both.


Aladin: First out in Germany by Proficomp. Then banned by Apple and now still
known and sold as Aladin, but from Softpaquet in Holland.
It uses the (old) 64k MacROMs. Hypercard and a lot of new software won't run.
But Aladin has fully compatible sound and is (for professional work) more 
reliable than Spectre. The implementation of the desktop is complete, you can
format/shutdown/reboot just normal as with a true Mac. This is NOT possible
for the current version (1.9) of the Spectre. On the other hand, Spectre works
with the newer ROMS (128k), emulating a MacPlus, but crashes if you try to 
format a disk, use the reboot/shutdown menu options. Sound is implemented but
is not useful at present time (it is a beta release of the sounddriver). It is
not possible to use the system when sound is on --> terribly slow. Aladin has
buildin drivers for nonMac printers as Epson FX, NEC P6 (including fonts for 
its highest resolution!!) and the atari laser. 

More info on Aladin can be found in this notesfile under the topic 'mac in a 
sac' (can't recall the notes number, sorry).

I bought Aladin Version 3.0 and was very happy with it. When I saw the Spectre
running on a friends system I decided to go with it. I have no problems with
the Spectre so far, but if I'd had to do really professional work like DTP
or so I probably would use Aladin. Don't get me wrong: I only work with 
Spectre now because I want to use MPW and TurboPascal and these work fine.
I think that version 2.5 or so of the Spectre will be the ultimate and fully
reliable.
Rumours say that the Aladin team is also working on the 128k ROM implementation.

Ask for more if you feel like...

---markus---

    re:1,2,3
                                                                 
    Thanks very much for your help. Does anyone have any pricing
    information on the three products mentioned?
    
    J.O.H.N                           

    Re: .4
    
>    Thanks very much for your help. Does anyone have any pricing
>    information on the three products mentioned?
    
    Spectre 128 is about $200 and the Mac ROMs can be had for about $100.
    I don't think Aladin is available in the US; I don't believe they have
    an agreement with Apple (as Gadgets By Small does).
    				- hbm

Hello,

I am an happy owner of a 1024 and also ALADIN. MS WORKS runs OK on it. 

But, as many of us, I'd like to read MAC disks directly. On a french ATARI
magazine, I've seen that a new product called EXCHANGER does it. 
Price: 2000 FF ($ 300 )

Does any one know about it ? 
Does it really work without problem ?
Is it cheaper in germany ? 
Has it been cracked despite the fact that It seems
to be a soft/hard solution (i.e. cartridge + wire to disk reader).?  


/|\ Christian-Luc

    
    I saw Spectre GCR working on a STACEY and (reading) Mac disks at the
    PCW show in London a short while ago. I dont know if it is generally
    available yet. It must be very close!!
    
    Cheers
    PAt K.

    We have our Spectre GCR, and have had it for at least 2 weeks.
    				- hbm

re .6/.7

There are at least 2 solutions for direct access to Mac disks from Aladin.
I think the one you (.6) mention is a German product
Call      Eickmann Computer                  (sorry I don't have their
          in der R�merstadt                   complete address, perhaps
          Frankfurt/West Germany              some German Atari user can
                                              add the rest [phone#] )
and ask for the 'EXChanger'

The EXChanger lets you read and write Mac disk, BUT NOT AT REALTIME. It takes
about 12 minutes to convert a double sided disk.

A second product is from 'Happy computer' and is called the 'Happy cartridge'?
I don't know if this one works with Aladin. It was designed to go with the 
MagicSack/Spectre128 and also does not give you real time access.

The Spectre GCR is a new product and is NOT compatible with Aladin. It is the
Mac+ implementation that uses the newer 128k ROMS. The Spectre GCR however
gives you realtime access to the Mac disks.

---markus---

RE .9 Thanks for the info. I'll try to find SPECTRE. It sounds promising.

                 Christian-Luc

    I have SPECTRE GCR now since 1 week. It was mailed to me directly from
    Gadgets by Small. The address is:
    
    	Gadgets by Small, Inc.
    	40 W. Littleton Blvd.; #210-211
    	Littleton, CO 80120
    	phone: (303) 791-6098
    	FAX: (303)791-0253
    	email: ...!hplabs!well!dsmall or
   		 ...!hplabs!boulder!tcr!gadgets!dsmall 
    
    It works fine. I am using it with Cricket, Pagemaker and many other
    applications. The problems is that it comes without the ROMs. They
    give some suppliers but they are all in the US. I had bought
    originally my SPECTRE 128 from HISOFT in the UK. HISOFT provide you
    with a nice package including the ROMs which avoids some of the startup
    headaches.
    
    I am interested in a dialog with SPECTRE owners discussing some of the
    problems I still have to solve such as printer drivers, international
    keyboard etc. I am running the 6.0.4 system.
    
    Jurgen.