=============================================================================  NEWS FROM THE STATES - S.M. Oakland ============================================================================= >>>EXPANSION HARDWARE -- ACCELERATORS Progressive 040/2000 ($1995 with 4 MB), by Progressive, is a 28 MHz 68040- based accelerator board for A2000's, making them 23 times faster than the original 'stock' version. The card includes 4 MB of 16-bit memory, though it can accept up to 32 MB of 32-bit RAM. It is software switchable from 68040 operation to pure 68000 functioning, and is compatible with A or B series motherboards. What is more, the '040/2000 was designed for later upgrading to the 33 MHz '040 processor. It works with either 1.3 or 2.0 AmigaDOS ROM's (though 2.0 is preferred), is compatible with the Video Toaster, has a "whisper quiet" fan for cooling, is easy to install (just plug into the processor slot), can access 16-bit RAM from other memory cards, has a one-year warranty, and runs at speeds of 19.2 MIPs (at 25 MHz) or 3.5 MFLOPS. If only Santa left me one of these...! Progressive 040/3000 ($1595), by Progressive, is a 25 MHz version of the board above designed for the A3000. It includes 4 MB of 32-bit RAM, is software switchable between '030 and '040 modes, can access the 32-bit mem- ory on the A3000 motherboard, and is over four times faster than a stock A3000. It requires the user to have AmigaDOS 2.0 in ROM, and is compatible with most 2.0 compatible software. >>>EXPANSION HARDWARE: CHASSIS Slingshot ($39.95), by Micro R&D, is an expansion device for the A500. Attaching to its expansion box, the Slingshot furnishes its owner with one A2000 compatible slot for boards other than video or coprocessers. It comes with a one-year warranty. X-Pander ($149 with box; $79 for pure interface), by Pre'Spect Technics, is an expansion box for A500 and A1000 computers, allowing them to access a single A2000 full-size card (e.g., memory or hard drive controllers -- not video or processor cards!). Its dimensions are: 7" X 17" X 3". >>>EXPANSION HARDWARE: DISPLAY Impact Vision 24 ($2199), by GVP, is an amazing 24-bit multi-function board that occupies both a Zorro II slot and the video slot of an A3000 (it can be installed in an A2000 with the purchase of an adaptor). It provides the user with Picture-In-Picture (PIP) capabilities, so video can be displayed and manipulated in a sizable, movable WorkBench window. With a 16-million color display and mouse or keyboard control, the Impact Vision 24 also sup- plies a built-in flicker fixer, genlocks for both RGB and analog signals, three simultaneous video-out signals, a 1.5 MB frame buffer and a digital keyer. Bundled with this hardware are a 2D paint ("Macropaint-IV24"), a video titling package ("Scala") and a 3-D rendering package ("Caligari- IV24"). Now you too can watch your favorite television program while you 'work' at your Amiga. >>>EXPANSION HARDWARE: EMULATORS Bridgeboard Accelerator ($449 for kit; $1099 for full Bridgeboard), by ATOP, is a 20 MHz 80386 SX-based Bridgeboard, with zero wait states. Users can either install the kit with their own Bridgeboards, or purchase the entire '386 card. In either case, the installation is simple (or so they say), and gives the user the ability to run "Windows" and related software on their Amiga. >>>EXPANSION HARDWARE: MEMORY BattDisk ($269.95), by DKB, is an auto-booting, battery-backed static RAM board for the A2000 and A3000 series. Expandable to 2 MB -- in increments of 64K or 256K -- the disk does not take ANY Amiga memory space, so the user with nine MB of RAM can add the BattDisk above their established mem- ory map. Even better, since the memory is battery-backed, it is always 'ON' (even when the Amiga is turned off) -- so if the user stored the necessary system's information on it, (s)he could have an Amiga that booted virtually instantaneously! Data transfer rates for the disk are up to 2.7 MB per second, and an EPROM version is also available. MegAChip 2000 ($299.95), by DKB, is a board that allows A2000 owners to install the Super Agnus 2 MB chip in their computers, thus giving them the graphics power of an A3000. The board comes in two forms: the plain MegA- Chip 2000, and an Hi-Rise version that has room for Microway's DEB extender board. >>>EXPANSION HARDWARE: MICE Alfa Data CLM-MT Cordless Mouse ($99.95), by CHS Inc., is a three button cordless mouse for the Amiga. Its receiver has LED indicators on the front panel, while the mouse itself possesses an ergonomical shape, recharges directly from either the computer or an external power source, and communi- cates with the computer by infra-red signalling. >>>EXPANSION HARDWARE: MISCELLANEOUS Airlink 2 ($50), by Geodesic, makes your Amiga into a giant, integrated infra-red remote controller. It includes an infra-red transmitter and a receiver that connects to the second mouse port, and has output for remote wired infra-red LED's. Using the Airlink, the user can have the computer initiate infra-red commands from a timer, the mouse, user programmed hot- keys, the serial or parallel ports, an ARexx script or MIDI. The package includes software for making pop-up windows that duplicate the functions of any or all of one's infra-red remote controllers, and furnishes a library of examples of how this capacity can be used in or by such programs as "AmigaVision", "ARexx", "HyperBook", or "Bars&Pipes" for controlling VCRs, laserdisks or compact disk players. BigFoot A500 Power Supply ($129), by Micro R&D, is an improved version of its original A500 power supply. This new version now furnishes 200 watts of power (vs. the original 150W) to operate any add-on device available for the A500, and its voltage regulator was adjusted to maximize performance of any accelerator boards it might be feeding. Infra-red Remote Controller ($200), by Edu-Vid, is an infra-red controller that permits an Amiga to control any device with an infra-red receiver. Attaching to the parallel port, it can learn the infra-red codes of most remotes, is able to detect when a VCR is transmitting a video signal (and switch the screen from computer to video display), and -- with the proper touchtones placed on a videotape -- allows the Amiga to mix or overlay sound or graphics on video, or to switch from video to computer displays (or vice versa). Bundled with the controller is a disk with sample pro- grams along with software to use with "AmigaVision". It requires four AAA batteries and two VCR cables. KA-1 Series II Keyboard Adaptor ($54.95), by Top Secret Device, lets the user to use any of the leading enhanced keyboards on the market on any Amiga or CDTV unit. Once activated, every key is completely mapped, eight or more 'extra' keys (including F11 and F12) become available, and foreign keymaps are supported. Finally, it is completely compatible with WorkBench 1.3 or 2.0. KwikStart II ($99.95), by DKB, provides users of A1000's to install up to two Kickstart ROM's and boot from either. Like the "MultiStart II" board (see below), the KwikStart II installs with no external wires or switches, yet permits the user to switch from one ROM to the other, upon reboot. And like the "MultiStart II", users must supply their own ROM chips. MCP-4 Motor Control Board ($695), by Advanced Control Systems, can control up to four stepping motors at the same time. It is capable of up to 16.7 million steps per move with up to 10,000 steps per second, so acceleration (or deceleration) can be included in its control program(s). The unit can operate independently or be controlled by the Amiga, by way of the serial port. The motors it operates must be of the 4-phase (2 amps/phase) var- iety, while its controller inputs are mutually isolated for less interfer- ence. Last, the board contains nonvolatile memory for controlling motion, and indicator for the end of motion, and mutually isolated power and con- trol sections, to reduce further the chance of noise. MultiStart II ($99.95), by DKB, is a board for A500's or A2000's that allows booting from one of three Kickstart ROM's, which the user must furn- ish. The board also allows one to switch from one ROM to another when rebooting (no external switches or wires are needed). Now that WorkBench 2.04 is available, owners can enjoy both the benefits of the new operating system, while not losing the ability to run software that is compatible with only 1.2 or 1.3. RCU-200 Industrial I/O Control Unit ($995; $695 for board only), by Advanced Control Systems, furnishes the user with 24 input/output control ports, with eight lines for each. Enclosed within a plastic housing, it connects to the Amiga by way of the serial port, and though primarily intended for control by a remote controller, the unit can be customized to be an independent controller. It contains all necessary power supplies, its inputs are diode-protected and filtered, its outputs are also diode- protected with 50V/.6A drivers, and the ratio of inputs and outputs can be set by the user. SecureKey ($124.95), by DKB, is a board designed to restrict access to the A2000 or A3000. Upon boot-up, the SecureKey asks the user for a password; if it is not entered correctly within three attempts, the computer must be turned off to try again. If the correct password is entered, the Amiga will then boot normally. Tommy Gun Rapid Fire ($14.95), by Micro R&D, adds a rapid-fire capacity to any mouse or joystick, and comes with a one-year warranty. >>>EXPANSION HARDWARE: STORAGE Diamond Store 20 ($599.95 internal; $799.95 external), by TTR, is a "Flop- tical" disk drive that stores up to 20 MB on a single 3.5" ultra high capa- city disk. What is more, the drive is also able to read and write standard double-density and high-density 3.5" disks for MS-DOS and AmigaDOS usage. DMI Floptical Disk Drive ($649), by Digital Micronics, is a 20 MB floptical drive compatible with all Amigas (including their IBM or Mac emulators). Like the "Diamond Store 20" (above), the DMI Floptical stores up to 20 MB on a single 3.5" disk. Available only as an external drive, the package includes all necessary cables, a 100/260v autoswitching power supply, one Floptical disk (others are available for about $20 each), and a one-year warranty. =============================================================================  NEWS FROM THE STATES - S.M. Oakland =============================================================================