🚀 go-pugleaf

Brandon.Vanevery@launchpad.unc.edu (Brandon Vanevery) writes:


>Is there ANY KNOWN METHOD of doing 24-bit graphics under OS/2 2.0?

>I'll even take suggestions about displaying in a DOS or Windows shell.

>Are there ANY MANUFACTURERS WHATSOEVER working on 24-bit drivers for OS/2?
>Any expected release times?

>Brandon Van Every

>--
>   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
>     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
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	This is an important concern for me, also.  I'm happy to say
that OS/2 hasn't let me down in this area.  Any DOS program which
works with the Hicolor of my ET4000 works fine in an OS/2 fulls screen
DOS session.  Better still, I was able to install an old Windows
driver into Win/OS2 -- so while I'm in my OS/2 session, I am provided
the benifits of faster 256 color display, but where I need it
(painting programs under Windows), I am afforded a full 32000 color
palette!  Nice, huh?  The best of both worlds, I'd say.  Note that IBM
doesn't recommend this, but if it works, I'm not gonna argue! 

Rene

Brandon.Vanevery@launchpad.unc.edu (Brandon Vanevery) writes:

> Is there ANY KNOWN METHOD of doing 24-bit graphics under OS/2 2.0?
>
> I'll even take suggestions about displaying in a DOS or Windows shell.

I've used Persistance of Vision (Ray Tracer) in DOS (and on other non
ibm platforms) to produce some fairly nice looking .tga (24-bit
uncompressed) files.  A viewer (also a dos app..) VX386 version 1.0,
which is specific to the Diamond SpeedStar 24x (A darn nice
pre-loading/decoding for slideshows viewer I might add) MIGHT work in a
VDM.. I haven't tried it yet.
Halo Desktop Imager (windows 3.x) is supposed to be (haven't installed
it yet, it was bundled with the Diamond 24x) a 24-bit capable program.
Eventually, Halo might work in Win-OS2..  I just hit a snag with my
Diamond 24x and OS/2 setup.  (Reverted to GA + Misc fixes.. SP fouled
me up BAD in this ONE regard.. The 24x has a Western Digital chipset..
and the SP either doesn't know about too many WD's.. but if it knows
about more than one.. it picked the wrong one.. Win-OS2 is/was
completely disfunctional after SP.. (which pains me to admit.. I fixed
by installing (wasting 15M in the process) Win3.1 again for Windows
apps..))

> Are there ANY MANUFACTURERS WHATSOEVER working on 24-bit drivers for OS/2?
> Any expected release times?

Diamond is 'considering' drivers, but I'm not certain if they are to
include the 24-bit (or even HiColor for that matter) support.  Perhaps
only (which would still be better than existing) 256 color drivers.
There is a questionaire on their bbs which is rather fishy.. its asking
if (or how much) support is desired.  If you want to consider the
Diamond 24x.. you might wish to rattle their chain a little (It won't
hurt my cause.. getting drivers too either!) and give their bbs a
ring.. The number is 1-408-730-1100 (V.32bis, running 'Major BBS'.. (Be
prepared for wierd system compared to PCBoard or WildCat)

I personally am preparing to return this wonderful card (I have about
20 more days to fully decide) if drivers aren't at least promised.
baustin