Now 68020+ command set is different, though testing and debugging can
be quite time consuming it is a much more reasonable amount of work.
Question again is, is it really worth it?
I think that the answer to this is yes - if the QL is to go forward, software needs to take account of the enhancements offered by the 68020 and later chipsets, so that it can configure itself to run at higher speeds on better hardware, rather than supporting commands and having to work around hardware which (lets face it) dates from the dinosaur era.
Unfortunately, there are still a lot of original QL users out there, who cannot see any need to expand beyond a disk interface - it is becoming ever more difficult to support these users, as many software writers no longer have access to a working original QL, and as keyboard membranes wear out, is there much point??
We need better apps which can show the true worth of Aurora, QPC and Q40 etc, and to do this, we need them both to support the same software and speeds. We have already had to face the incompatabilities built into the new higher colour display drivers and so any steps which can be taken to bring the range of facilities available into line with each other would be most welcome.
After all, how many people are willing to write software which must now come in several versions. This can be reflected in the upcoming Q-Word program, where, in order to make the most of graphics, we need versions for :
1) standard QL,
2) QLAY,
3) 256 Aurora colours
4) Q40 65536 colours
5) QPC 65536 colours
6) Amiga emulator
7) THOR XVI MODE 12
- any others anyone can come up with???
--
Rich Mellor
RWAP Software
35 Chantry Croft, Kinsley, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF9 5JH
TEL: 01977 610509
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/rwapsoftware
