Test reports

Test reports

1. Test: Amiga emulator 'Amiga Forever Online-Edition' (by Maik Mettner)

»Preface

For all of you who don't know what Amiga Forever is: It is an emulator, that as the name says, emulates (replicates) our Amiga computer on a PC.

Installation

In the test version I have the Amiga Forever Online Edition is an EXE file with a size of approx. 6.5 MB, which unarchives all program parts and starts the installation assistant, which guides you through the really easy installation.

During the installation you actually have to set the installation path and decide, if you want the Amiga Explorer to be installed.

Program start

After all necessary files have been installed and rebooted the computer you can start Amiga Forever

This is done in a really easy way by entering the Start menu of Windows and start the LAUNCHER, that is in the meny entry - Programme - Cloanto - Amiga Forever. If you started it a comfortable menu box opens, whee you can start the already configured emulations from Amiga OS 1.3 to OS 3.0 or enter the configuration menu of WinUAE (remark: this Online edition of Cloanto only contains the Windows version of UAE, but you can download others e.g. DosUAE for free, later) or read the Documentation.

In the detailed configuration menu you can change all important settings per mouse click to adjust the emulation to the present PC system.

So you can set the size of Fast-RAM and CHIP-RAM the emulated Amiga should have, the Kickstart 1.3 or 3.0 (are already included as ROM images), emulate sound or not, the type of display of the emulation - in the window or as full screen -, input-/output devices, and so on. You really should try many configs to adjust the emulation to the equiptment of the PC.

As an experienced Amiga user you shouldn't have any problems with the configuration proggi (remark: You should give the emulation Z3 memory to avoid the computing intensive chunky-to-planar-conversion for the Amiga graphic display.)

Speed

Well, I tested the A-Forever on two systems: 1. P90, 2MB graphics board, 16 MB RAM, Win 95 - this system is to recommend only to people, who like raytracing on an A500. That means that it is possible to run the emulator, but it is very, very slow.

2.PII 350MHz, 16MB graphics board, 64MB, Win 98 - on this system I got a real Amiga feeling and I have to say, I had the feeling to work with my A1200/040.

Program package

The online edition I tested contained some useful progs, e.g. Personal Paint 7.1 (also from Cloanto), Tool manager, Picasso 96 as graphics driver system, AmiToRTF, DirDiff, the copmlete Amiga OS files and the AExplorer.

Regarding the AExplorer I have to say, that it (should?!) do data transfers via serial null modem cable or TCP stack between the Amiga and the PC. Unfortunatey I couldn't get it to transfer data in this in my test, even if PC2AM works fine with the serial port.

Conclusion

The Amiga-Forever-Online-Edition can be recommended to everyone, who has to work with a PC, but doesn't want to miss his Amiga.

I hope, this test helped all of you a little bit and please overlook my mistakes, because this was my first test.

CU Maik Mettner