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Article View: comp.sys.atari.st
Article #30451

Mega Compatible?

#30451
From: Rick Flashman
Date: Fri, 05 Feb 1988 15:46
66 lines
3299 bytes
After having a long series of programs bomb out on our MEGA ST2 here at
the store, we decided to do a little testing.  We copied the ROMS in the
Mega (to make sure we have the SAME version) and placed them inside a 2.5
meg 520.  We then proceeded try out some software that crashed on the MEGA.

            MEGA ST2        520 (with 2.5 MEGS and SAME new roms)
            --------        ---------
Gaunlet       CRASH!          Ran great!
Eagle's Nest  CRASH!          Ran great!
A-Calc Prime  Some Prob.      Same.

And the list goes on...

Ending result?  It seems that 40% of all the programs that have problems
with a MEGA work fine on the 520 system.

What does this mean?

That something fishy is going on with Atari.  They claim that only the ROMS
changed and that the hardware is the same (appart from an invisible blitter).

Well, obviously it is not.  NEW roms are not was is making things non-compatible
instead something else is, something having to do with the MEGA design.

Our Atari Representative was simply as baffled as we were...how comforting.

On a related issue, our store has been experiencing a 50% failture rate with
the new mega's.  Just thought that was most interesting.

BTW, we got in the TECH SPECIALTIES 2/4 MEG upgrade board for 1040s.  DO NOT
BUY THIS UPGRADE.  It does *NOT* fit in a 1040, and the instructions are
WRONG.  If you cut the trace that they as you to, you DESTROY your MMU when
you power up, as a poor customer of us discovered.  (all taken care of now)

If you want to go to 2 or 4 megs and you have a 1040, wait for the AERCO
board, which should be shipping as I write this..(hopefully)...they have
worked on it for a long time..are aware of all motherboard revisions, and
basically have their act together.

GUNSHIP is supposed to ship in the next couple of weeks, and those who have
seen it say it is hot, watch for that one.

Anyone know when LASER C is shipping?

Anyone know what is the deal with Data Pacific.  They are starting to
remind me of many mail order places I love to hate.  This is what is
happening.

I called 3 months ago and ordered some MAGIC SAC PROFESSIONALS.  I asked
the lady on the phone "Are they in STOCK and shipping?!?!?" She said
"Yes, should go out tommorow."

To make matters short, 3 months later, we have seen nothing, and we call
them EVERY week...and EVERY WEEK...they tell us..."Just shipped."  Gets
kind of fishy after the 6th time.

Talked to David Small on GENIE who promised to look into it, since he is
also claiming that they are shipping.  Never got a reply.

Annoying part is, that this stuff was/is for a goverment BID.  You know how
those are picky on product delivery.  Well, we are still waiting...nd in
Rick Flashman

1040 N. Pleasant Street, #381, Amherst, MA  01002. (413) 549-0173
Flash@UMASS.BITNET   -or-    Flash%UMASS.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
                   R-FLASHMAN on GEnie
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Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!ukma!gatech!mcnc!decvax!ucbvax!UMass.BITNET!Flash
From: Flash@UMass.BITNET (Rick Flashman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Mega Compatible?
Message-ID: <880205103031DE1.AVLQ@Mars.UCC.UMass.EDU>
Date: 5 Feb 88 15:46:59 GMT
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