-=========================================================================- _ __ _ <>_ __ _ || /\\ |\ /|| || / ` /\\ || Amiga Update -News and Rumors /__\\ | \ / || || || ___ /__\\ ||(A Very Ocassional Newsletter) / \\_ | \/ ||_ _||_ \__// / \\_ || BACK FOR THE FUTURE || -=========================================================================- AMIGA and the Amiga logo are trademarks of Amiga Technolgies, GmbH --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 960227 A B O U T T H I S I S S U E - N E A T P R O D U C T S ! We don't have a lot of genuine news at this point, but we have come across some interesting information about products for Amiga users. We've run the material pretty much as we've found it, so it reads much like a series of advertisements. Well, no one can accuse us of changing the message! First, we have the most recently updated North American Dealers' List for you. Pass this around, especially to anyone who's expressed an interest in acquiring an Amiga. Next, it seems our friends as Softwood have come up with a truly unique product - Amiga phone cards. Their web page provides a picture of these interesting items and they look pretty nifty. This might be a good gift for an Amigan who travels. We include the Phase 5 price list primarily because some have expressed interest in 68060 upgrades. They exist, but the power doesn't come cheap! Ever wonder what to do with the PC expansion slots in a big box Amiga if you don't want to invest in a BridgeBoard or similar? There ought to be a way to use them from the Amiga side with PC add-on cards. Turns out there is. We have information from the maker of the GG2 Bus+ in this issue. Unfortunately, we don't have a price for this product, or any idea of how well it works. If you have any information to share on the product, let us know. Finally, there's a new address for the Amiga Video Backup System. If you're looking for a way to back up a good sized hard drive, you might want to investigate this. We've not tried it and have heard both good and not so good reports on the product. Apparently, it does work, at least with good quality, unused tape. Apparently. MORE STEALTH MARKETING? A week or so ago we came across an exchange in one of the Amiga Usenet groups between someone claiming to represent SMG and a well known, reliable Amiga journalist. The gist of the argument (it wasn't really a discussion) was that SMG seemed to feel it was a waste of time to advertise the Amgia in the American market. The journalist, rightly so, was very upset at the attitude, which sounds like a continuation of Commodore's old policy, often called "Stealth Marketing" due to its invisibility. I failed to download the exchange when I first came across it and now can't locate the items, which is why I provided the careful summary in the previous paragraph. If this really represents SMG's attitude, we have reason to worry. It might be worth an e-mail or two - politely and professionaly expressing concerns. Fortunately, things seem to be going well with AT itself right now, so it's not quite the situation we endured in the past. We'll keep our eyes open and let you know what else we see. AMIGA AND THE CORPORATION I have recently set up my Amiga to connect to the corporate network via PPP, X11 and a modem. If there is any interest in doing this among you readers, let me know. I'll consider writing an article about how to go about making it work if there's sufficient interest. Brad =========================================================================== U P D A T E D N O R T H A M E R I C A N D E A L E R S ' L I S T List published on 15 Feb 96 by company SMG This is the latest list of North American Authorized Dealers for Amiga products. We are signing up dealers and processing orders daily. Please check frequently for new dealers. Dealer Name City State/Prov Phone New Computer Shop of Calgary, Ltd. Calgary AB CAN 403-243-4356 A 1 Computers Edmonton AB CAN 403-448-0632 Software Supermart Edmonton AB CAN 403-425-0691 Desktop Computing Red Deer AB CAN 403-342-4444 TVI Interactive Systems, Inc. Burnaby BC CAN 604-298-5657 VFX Video, Inc. Richmond BC CAN 604-244-3000 Richmond Sound Design, Ltd. Vancouver BC CAN 604-664-5860 * J.L. Fotovideo Camera Ctrs. Winnipeg MB CAN 204-475-8730 Corey's Computing Winnipeg MB CAN 204-654-3194 Interactive Computer Sys., Ltd. Fredericton NB CAN 506-458-8858 Young Monkey Studio Fredericton NB CAN 506-459-7088 Animax Multimedia, Inc. Dartmouth NS CAN 902-468-2629 Atlantis Kobetek, Inc. Halifax NS CAN 902-422-6556 Legendary Design Technologies Brantford ON CAN 519-753-6120 The Computer & You Etobicoke ON CAN 416-231-0205 Forest Diskasaurus Forest ON CAN 519-786-2454 Visual Vision Georgetown ON CAN 905-873-4959 Videomation Media Corp. Gloucester ON CAN 613-567-1974 * J.L. Fotovideo Camera Ctrs. Hamilton ON CAN 905-575-3000 Altair Electronics, Ltd. Kingston ON CAN 613-384-3876 Zen Computing Leamington ON CAN 519-322-5893 D.F. Technologies London ON CAN 519-439-3181 Cancom Audio Visual Inc. Markham ON CAN 905-470-0466 Computer Express, Inc. Mississauga ON CAN 905-672-5595 Amazing Software & Accessories Mitchell ON CAN 519-393-6270 * Amiga North North Bay ON CAN 705-495-3605 APIX Systems North York ON CAN 416-750-9909 National Amiga Canada Oakville ON CAN 905-845-1949 Media Direct Orillia ON CAN 705-327-7583 CineReal Pro Video Ottawa ON CAN 613-798-8150 * Valley Soft Pembroke ON CAN 613-732-7700 Atlas Computers & Consulting Sudbury ON CAN 705-522-1923 OBY's Amigo Computing Shop Sudbury ON CAN 705-524-5826 Electronics 2000 Thunder Bay ON CAN 807-577-1759 Comspec Communications Toronto ON CAN 416-785-3553 Videolink, Canada Toronto ON CAN 416-690-1690 * Randomize Computers Tottenham ON CAN 905-939-8391 Centre Maxi-Mini Amos QU CAN 819-732-6464 Informatique Richard Lamond Lac Des 16 Iles QU CAN 514-226-7506 Gfx Base Electronics LaSalle QU CAN 514-367-2575 Electromike, Inc. Quebec QU CAN 418-681-4138 Info Plus Trois-Rivieres QU CAN 819-373-0894 System Compbac, Inc. Tokyo JPN 81-3-3837-868 The Computer Image Birmingham AL USA 205-933-8970 Pro Music, Inc. Fairbanks AK USA 907-456-1994 The Micro Shop, Inc. Little Rock AR USA 501-568-8023 SoftWood, Inc. Phoenix AZ USA 800-247-8314 Troxell Communications, Inc. Phoenix AZ USA 602-437-7240 Wentek Scottsdale AZ USA 602-483-7200 Transdata Systems Co., Ltd. Anaheim CA USA 714-630-8711 Connecting Point Calabasas CA USA 818-222-3822 Visionsoft Carmel CA USA 408-626-2633 Computer Gates Costa Mesa CA USA 714-444-4232 * Century Systems La Habra CA USA 310-697-6977 The Lively Computer La Mesa CA USA 619-589-9455 HT Electronics Milpitas CA USA 408-934-7700 Applied Computer Systems North Highlands CA USA 916-338-2000 TS Computers North Hollywood CA USA 818-760-4445 Alex Electronics Paradise CA USA 916-872-0896 La Bine Productions Rialto CA USA 909-355-9756 Wave Systems San Diego CA USA 619-495-9283 Sur-Tech Santa Clara CA USA 408-496-6664 Megagem Santa Maria CA USA 805-349-1104 Anti Gravity Products Santa Monica CA USA 310-393-9747 Amiga Exchange Torrance CA USA 310-534-3187 Compuhelp Computers Van Nuys CA USA 818-901-0280 The Computer Room Aurora CO USA 303-696-8973 Davis Audio-Visual, Inc. Denver CO USA 303-455-1122 Softown, Inc. Danbury CT USA 203-797-8080 Computer Source Fairfield CT USA 203-336-3100 Derrick Electronics Hamden CT USA 203-248-7227 Videology Newtown CT USA 203-270-9000 Infotronics Woodbury CT USA 203-263-5350 DeVine Computer Sales Newark DE USA 302-738-9046 Eagle Computers & Video Melbourne FL USA 407-951-9732 Harddrivers Co. Merrit Island FL USA 407-453-5805 Centennial Video Systems Miami FL USA 305-633-2200 Creative Equipment, Intl. Miami FL USA 305-266-2800 Miami Picture & Sound company Miami FL USA 305-666-4055 Access Media Group North Palm Beach FL USA 407-845-2379 * Computer Video Associates Pinellas Park FL USA 813-576-5242 Apogee Technologies Sarasota FL USA 813-355-6121 Discount Computer Sales Sunrise FL USA 954-797-9402 Showcase Video Atlanta GA USA 404-325-7676 ACS Computer & Video Norcross GA USA 770-263-9190 Hawkeye Communications Coralville IA USA 319-354-3354 Computer Advantage Des Moines IA USA 515-252-6167 Commodore Computer Center Boise ID USA 208-342-3401 Maxximum Video Creations Boise ID USA 208-322-3091 Blackrock Computers Plus Pocatello ID USA 208-232-0012 Trend Port U.S. Algonquin IL USA 708-854-9671 MicroTech Solutions Aurora IL USA 708-851-3033 Micro-PACE, Inc. Champaign IL USA 217-356-1884 Select Solutions Champaign IL USA 800-322-1261 Ring Video Systems Riverside IL USA 708-442-0009 Keyboard Studio Urbana IL USA 217-328-3975 Digital Arts Bloomington IN USA 812-330-0124 R.C. Instruments Cicero IN USA 317-984-9400 CPU Inc. Indianapolis IN USA 317-577-3677 Desktop Video Systems Lenexa KS USA 913-782-8888 Mission Electronics, Inc. Lenexa KS USA 913-894-8480 Video Lab Shawnee KS USA 913-631-0045 Smith Audio Visual, Inc. Topeka KS USA 913-235-3481 Icon Computers & Software Bridgewater MA USA 508-697-6060 Crimson Tech Cambridge MA USA 617-868-5150 The Camera Company Norwood MA USA 617-769-7810 EMH Systems Auburn ME USA 207-784-2048 Amiga Crossing Cumberland ME USA 207-829-3959 Thalner Electronic Labs Ann Arbor MI USA 313-761-4506 Computer Link, Inc. Garden City MI USA 313-522-6005 Slipped Disk Madison Heights MI USA 810-546-3475 Spectrum Computer Product Prudenville MI USA 517-366-8569 Alpha Video Edina MN USA 800-388-0008 A/V Solutions St. Paul MN USA 612-698-1175 Raymond Commodore Amiga St. Paul MN USA 612-642-9890 Data Grafix Springfield MO USA 417-882-1899 VIP Systems, Inc. Chapel Hill NC USA 919-968-9477 Magic Page Products Winston-Salem NC USA 910-785-3695 Amicom Computer Technology Omaha NE USA 402-556-6160 System Eyes Computer Store Merrimack NH USA 603-424-1188 Sir Render A/V Mays Landing NJ USA 609-625-0472 KBI Systems Mountainside NJ USA 908-654-3600 Integrated Teknologies, Inc. Roselle NJ USA 908-245-1313 Amiga Lynx Network Co. Saddle Brook NJ USA 201-368-0153 Electro-Tech Las Vegas NV USA 702-435-3201 The Microworks Buffalo NY USA 716-873-1856 Mr. Hardware Central Islip NY USA 516-234-8110 Microbyte Computers & Video Churchville NY USA 716-293-3365 Area 52, Inc. Coram NY USA 516-476-1615 Amigo Business Computers East Northport NY USA 516-757-7334 Better Concepts, Inc. Garnerville NY USA 914-786-1711 Armato's Pro Video Glendale NY USA 718-628-6800 Revels-Bey Music Hempstead NY USA 516-565-9404 CTL Electronics New York NY USA 212-233-0754 Tri-State Camera, Inc. New York NY USA 212-633-2290 Seismic Business Systems Poughkeepsie NY USA 914-462-4518 T.J.'s Unlimited Rochester NY USA 716-225-5810 Copperhead Technologies Schenectady NY USA 518-346-3894 Tronix Micro Systems Sloan NY USA 716-668-8176 Paxtron Corporation Spring Valley NY USA 914-578-6522 Software Link, Inc. White Plains NY USA 914-683-2512 Bartha Visual, Inc. Columbus OH USA 614-291-4585 Compuquick Media Center Columbus OH USA 614-235-1180 Neather Realm Software Cuyahoga Falls OH USA 216-928-1738 B&J Video Systems Findlay OH USA 419-424-0903 Industrial Video, Inc. Lorain OH USA 216-233-4000 Penguin Music Store #3 Toledo OH USA 419-882-0961 Media Graphics & Design Beaverton OR USA 503-649-0709 * Clackamas Computers Clackamas OR USA 503-650-0379 Magic Box, Inc. Corvallis OR USA 541-752-5654 Computer Users Springfield OR USA 541-726-8500 Computer Discount Center Erie PA USA 814-899-6437 New York Camera & Video Feasterville PA USA 215-322-9743 British Magazine Dist., Inc. Hermitage PA USA 412-962-1218 The Lerro Corporation Norristown PA USA 610-650-4100 CDR Systems Pittsburgh PA USA 412-351-1700 Mega Bytes Pittsburgh PA USA 412-653-9050 J&C Repair Rockton PA USA 814-583-5838 Electronic Connection West Reading PA USA 610-372-1010 Kasara Microsystems Hilton Head SC USA 803-842-5058 Via Video Interaction Knoxville TN USA 423-687-4328 Opus 2 Audio & Video Memphis TN USA 901-684-5467 Computer Ease Corpus Christi TX USA 512-882-2275 Metropolitan Computer Products Dallas TX USA 214-702-9119 On Video, Inc. Dallas TX USA 214-406-9292 Microsearch Houston TX USA 713-988-2818 Computer Wise, Inc. Logan UT USA 801-752-2500 Digitechnix Blue Ridge VA USA 540-982-1672 Dewberry's Computers & Supplies Danville VA USA 804-799-0502 HHH Enterprises Hartwood VA USA 540-752-2100 * Whitlock Group, The Richmond VA USA 804-273-9100 Spectral Multimedia, Inc. Bellevue WA USA 206-451-4075 Amiga Northwest Studio Bothell WA USA 206-488-5664 Computer Concepts Bothell WA USA 206-481-3666 MS Digital Edmonds WA USA 206-742-7051 Tape Duplication Supply Kent WA USA 206-852-1074 * Envision PC Consulting Lynnwood WA USA 206-469-6775 Omni International Trading Seattle WA USA 206-217-0607 Zipperware Seattle WA USA 206-223-1107 JW's Lil Shoppe Walla Walla WA USA 509-525-5582 * Camera Corner, Inc. Green Bay WI USA 414-435-5353 Images in Motion, Inc. Waukesha WI USA 414-798-9400 Safe Harbor Waukesha WI USA 800-544-6599 Taylor Pro Audio / Video Wauwatosa WI USA 414-778-0944 Computer & Supply Co., Inc. Charleston WV USA 304-345-3490 Any of these dealers can process your Amiga order. If your local dealer does not appear on the list, encourage them to sign up. Dealer Sign-up: Dealers can request an application by faxing their request to the SMG at (410) 992-9979 or (410) 715-6859. Make your request on company letterhead. Be sure to include your name, address, telephone and fax numbers. Dealers can contact us via phone at (410) 715-6850, via Fax at (410) 992-9979 or (410) 715-6850, via Internet email at pbielski@interramp.com, or via CompuServe mail at 72060,3271. =========================================================================== A M I G A P H O N E C A R D S ( W H A T N E X T ? ) To commemorate the end of uncertainty over the state of the Amiga and the promise for its exciting future, SoftWood is releasing a set of prepaid, long distance phone cards. These collectable phone cards can be used to call anywhere in the world at some of the lowest long distance rates possible! Each phone card is beautifully printed and comes complete with 10 minutes* of pre-paid long distance calling time. You can add long distance call time to these cards, whenever you want, at the low rate of only .25 a minute*! Each card is the size and thickness of a credit card, and can be carried easily in a wallet or purse. Not only will you carry an item that identifies you as one of the original Amiga owners that kept the Amiga alive, but you can use these cards to make long distance calls to anywhere in the world. The entire set of three cards is specially priced at $19.95 plus $3.00 shipping. Use your Visa or MasterCard and order your set today by calling 602-431-0949. Mintage: 1,000 of each card produced 1995 Long Distance: LDDS / HT Technologies Phone time: 10 minutes* prepaid Recharge rate: .25 a minute* Printed by: Brilliant Color Cards Card Specs: .28mil / poly core / litho back /scratch off Price: $19.95 for a matched 3 card set *1 unit = 1 minute for calls within the USA, international rates may vary. =========================================================================== P H A S E 5 P R I C E L I S T Phase5 Digital Products is the developer of high quality hardware products for the AMIGA computer. Phase5 has devoted considerable time and money to bring to market the best Amiga hardware upgrades available. Phase5 is the Developer of the FastLane Z3, the Blizzard series of accelerators, the CyberStorm and the CyberVision64. The Cyberstorm was the world's first fully implemented 68060 accelerator. PRICE LIST CyberStorm 4000 68060 $1374.00 68060 Accelerator for the Amiga 4000 CyberStorm SCSI $ 249.00 Fast SCSI-II Module for CyberStorm CyberStorm I/O $ 549.00 SCSI-II, Ethernet, Fast Serial CyberVision64 2MB $ 469.00 24-bit Graphics Board, 2MB CyberVision64 4MB $ 599.00 24-bit Graphics Board, 4MB Blizzard 1260 Turbo $ 949.00 68060 Accelerator for Amiga 1200 Blizzard 1260 SCSI Module $ 169.00 Fast SCSI-II DMA Controller Blizzard 1230-IV Turbo $ 269.00 68030 50Mhz Accelerator for Amiga 1200 Blizzard 1230-IV SCSI Module $ 169.00 Fast SCSI-II DMA Controller Blizzard 1220/4 $ 299.00 4 MB Turbo Memory Board Blizzard 1220/ADD4 $ 249.00 4 MB Upgrade for 1220/4 =========================================================================== G G 2 B U S + F O R B I G B O X A M I G A S The GG2 Bus+ bridgecard lets you lets you use AT-compatible IBM plug-in cards in your Amiga PC slots as Amiga devices, controlled by Amiga software. PC HARDWARE SUPPORT The GG2 Bus+ bridgecard will support almost all non-DMA AT-compatible (8 MHz bus capable) PC plug-in boards. This includes such popular items as internal modems, multi-IO boards, non-DMA ethernet boards, VGA boards, A/D boards, etc. Access to the PC cards is at full Amiga Zorro II bus speed unless wait state support is turned on. The following IBM AT bus signals are supported: IO address space from hex $0000 to $7FFF (first 32K) Memory address space from hex $90000 to $FFFFF (440K) 16 bit data bus All AT bus interrupts Wait states (IOCHRDY signal) for both IO and memory access 14.31818 MHz clock (OSC signal) from on-board crystal oscillator 7.2 MHz processor clock (CLK signal) BALE signal AMIGA HARDWARE DETAILS The GG2 Bus+ bridgecard occupies one Zorro II slot aligned with an IBM AT slot in an Amiga 2000, 2500, 3000, or 4000. It has essentially the same form factor as a normal bridgeboard. You will need at least one additional open PC-AT slot for your plug-in PC card. The GG2 Bus+ requires 1 Megabyte of autoconfig memory space to be available to correctly map all of the PC memory locations. All address and data lines to the PC bus are buffered to avoid loading. ON-BOARD REGISTERS The GG2 Bus+ bridgecard includes 3 software accessible registers for the control of wait state and interrupt support. The default setting of wait state support after reset is controlled by an on-board jumper. AMIGA ENVOY BUNDLE Software Results Enterprises offers the Amiga Envoy networking package (two machine license) bundled with a GG2-Bus+ card for an additional $45US, no extra charge for shipping. Amiga Envoy can be purchased by our customers at a later time for the same $45US, plus $3 domestic shipping, $5 Canadian shipping, or $10 international shipping. Software Results Enterprises (makers of the GG2 Bus+) erd\@kumiss.infinet.com Ethan Dicks sevant\@infinet.com C. "Sevant" Baum sales\@kumiss.infinet.com Sales-related mail support\@kumiss.infinet.com Support-related mail listserv\@kumiss.infinet.com Kumiss' listserv GG2-list\@kumiss.infinet.com GG2 Bus+ mailing list Software Results Enterprises 2447 N. 4th St., Ste. B Columbus, OH 43202-2706 U.S.A. voice: +1 614 262 9146 fax: call first =========================================================================== A M I G A V I D E O B A C K U P U P D A T E Dear Video Backup System Amiga users, I would like to announce 2 things: 1. I moved from The Netherlands to New York City! After this big move, the address for Lyppens Software Productions has become: Lyppens Software Productions 152 E.84 th Street, Apt 2d New York, NY 10028 USA Tel/Fax: +1-212-7440973 2. The Video Backup System Amiga is a product that lets you hook up your VCR to the Amiga and use it to back up your hard disk or other data to video tape. It's very affordable and very reliable. The price has been reduced to US$69,-! A Web page is now available with technical details and specifications of the VBS package: http://www.stack.urc.tue.nl/~hugo/vbsinfo.htm If you have any questions, please contact me at the address above or by sending an E-mail to: hugo.lyppens@fw.gs.com. Sincerely, Hugo Lyppens LYPPENS SOFTWARE PRODUCTIONS -=========================================================================- _ __ _ <>_ __ _ || Brad Webb - available at: /\\ |\ /|| || / ` /\\ || webb@malamute.med.ge.com /__\\ | \ / || || || ___ /__\\ || bandr@globaldialog.com / \\_ | \/ ||_ _||_ \__// / \\_ || Portal -- XJumpdisk -=========================================================================-