Updated May 5th, 1994 EMPLANT received class B FCC verification August 24th, 1992. Information reguarding the product "EMPLANT" from Utilities Unlimited International, Inc. This information is freely re-distributable and may be used in any form as long as the contents are not altered. What is EMPLANT? ---------------- EMPLANT is a hardware/software product that is designed to allow the emulation of virtually any computer using the Amiga. A simple software driver and ROM(s) from the computer to emulated are all that is required. Features and software compatibility will depend on the software driver. About the hardware ------------------ The hardware holds the key to emulation speed. Every effort was made to make the hardware virsatile enough that we should never have to upgrade it to handle the emulation of forth comming computer systems. For this reason, we have included components that may never be used, however, this does insure the fact that we are prepared for the future. The MAC series of computers, although different from one another, share the same basic technology. We can replicate this technology by emulating the MAC's custom chips through a reliable hardware system. All timers, interrupts, and clocks are handled on a hardware level so that speed is identical (or even faster) than the real computer being emulated. Support for custom EPROMs, static RAM, and SIMM modules makes our hardware compatible with all existing methods of storing a computer's operating system. This versatility also allows us to create adapter boards if some new method of OS storage becomes available. The EMPLANT hardware has four empty 32 pin ROM/RAM sockets provided for use with operating systems that are stored in DIP format (such as 128K MAC+ ROMs are). These sockets can also be used to store your own utility software in EPROM format. We plan to release a utility package that will be literally "at your fingertips". Another option is to fill the four sockets with static RAMs, giving you up to 2 megs of extra RAM that you could write protect and make auto-booting, which would be handy for floppy-only customers. The hardware plugs into a Zorro II/III slots on your A2000/2500/3000/4000. You could also use the hardware with an A500/A1000 with the appropriate Zorro slot adapter. The Apple Nu-Bus expansion ports are not emulated through hardware because they are now RAM-based device drivers which operate faster than a MAC's own hardware. * AVAILABLE HARDWARE OPTIONS * HIGH SPEED MAC SERIAL PORTS/APPLE TALK SUPPORT The MAC serial port is not emulated, it is duplicated - using the exact same standard dual high speed serial interface IC. Apple Talk is completely supported through this port like the MAC, via a 8 pin mini-din connector. This dual high speed serial port can be used on the Amiga side as well, allowing the connection of two serial devices operating independantly. Communication speed on these ports are a maximum of 230.4K baud, which is the speed at which Apple Talk runs. Maximum modem speed is generally limited to 57.6K baud. SCSI INTERFACE A simple, non-autobooting SCSI controller using NCR53C80 high speed controller IC. Capable of pseudo-DMA transfers up to 1.75 megs per second. Support for up to 7 SCSI devices including CD ROMs, tape backup units, and hand scanners. This SCSI interface can be used on both the Amiga side and the MAC side. About the MAC emulation software ------------------------------------ FULL COLOR, MULTITASKING, MAC EMULATION! Up to 16 colors can be displayed using the standard OCS/ECS Amiga video output, and up to 256 colors can be displayed when using an AGA capable machine. Full color can also be emulated with various 8bit and 24bit video boards. Support for the Retina, Retina ZIII, Merlin, Picasso II, Piccolo, Vivid24, EGS-28/24 Spectrum, EGS-110/24, Rainbow II, Rainbow III, Visiona Paint, and OpalVision video boards allowing up to 16 million colors to be displayed!! We will support any video board that is suitable for use with the MAC emulation. 8 bit STEREO sound is supported through the Amiga's audio outputs. ALL emulation modules created for the EMPLANT system will share one very important feature...they will multitask with the Amiga's environment. That's right, just pull down the MAC screen, or flip to the back with LEFT-AMIGA-M/N and you still have complete access to your Amiga! ...and the MAC stays running at full speed! Speaking of speed, a 25Mhz A3000 runs the emulation at the same speed as a MAC IIci, and a 25Mhz A4000 runs the emulation at the same speed of a Quadra 900. The MAC emulation software is relatively simple since the majority of the emulation is done on a hardware level, giving both better compatibility and equally important, emulation speed. The software reads the MAC ROM SIMM module that is installed on the EMPLANT board, dumps the ROM image into a block of memory, and patches the image to run on your Amiga. One intelligent move on the part of Apple was to define "global" variables for their operating system. This makes it relatively simple to move the code around without a lot of hassles. Support for virtually ANY SCSI device such as hand scanners, Ethernet cartridges, hard drives, SyQuest units, Magneto-Optical units, DATs, film recorders, CD-ROMs, etc. is provided via the EMPLANT's SCSI port. You can also use AmigaDOS formatted devices (which become MAC formatted by the emulation). Amiga devices such as hard drive partitions, recoverable RAM drives (RD0, RAD, VD0, etc.), and MS-DOS partitions can all be used under the emulation. Up to 14 different devices can be used at the same time. The MAC 400/800K disk format is emulated by using a real MAC 800K floppy drive and 'AMIA' (our disk drive interface adapter). High density (1.44mb) floppys are supported via the CBM 1.76mb drives as well as 3rd party high density floppy drives designed for use with the Amiga. Future emulation ---------------- Since the EMPLANT's hardware is so versatile, a completely new and different computer can be emulated by just changing the emulation software patch and the ROM(s). Mega ST, Atari 400/800, and IBM AT (486DX) emulators are planned in the future. Price and availability ---------------------- Current retail price for the basic EMPLANT system is $279.95 + shipping. Basic EMPLANT system with High speed serial ports/Apple Talk support is $349.95 + shipping. Basic EMPLANT system with high speed SCSI interface is $349.95 + shipping. Deluxe EMPLANT system with both high speed serial ports/Apple Talk support AND high speed SCSI interface is $399.95 + shipping. All EMPLANT packages described above come with the MAC emulation software and necessary device drivers. The EMPLANT systems are shipping now, however, we are in a back order situation with shipment priority based on the order date. * Product specifications and prices are subject to change without notice * To be placed on a mailing for more information, please contact Utilities Unlimited at: 790 N.Lake Havasu Avenue #16 Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 (602) 680-9004 Orders Only (602) 453-6407 FAX (602) 680-9234 Technical Support (Mon-Wed-Fri from 10am-3pm Pacific) (602) 453-9767 24 hr support BBS (2400-14.4k) (602) 453-3909 24 hr support BBS (14.4K-28.8k) Usenet: j.drew@cryo.cryogenic.com GEnie: j.drew2 CompuServe: 72662,14 for email Type: GO AmigaVen, select Utilities Unlimited