🚀 go-pugleaf

> 
> I haven't been able to verify the rumor that the new ST's can't address
> more than 512K of memory, but this sort of shenigans is typical of Atari.

as a 1 meg ST user allow me settle this, if 1 meg chips weren't so
expensive you could upgrade your ST to 4 meg and it would address it
just fine.

> I am really getting sick of the childish messages on this list that make

*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***

and what i am getting sick of is silly and irresponsible rumors, the
$400 cray was far more entertaining than your cheap character
assasinations and unconfirmed rumors
-- 
----
			god bless Lily St. Cyr
			 -Rocky Horror Picture Show

Name:	James Turner
Mail:	Imagen Corp. 2650 San Tomas Expressway, P.O. Box 58101
        Santa Clara, CA 95052-9400
AT&T:	(408) 986-9400
UUCP:	...{decvax,ucbvax}!decwrl!imagen!turner
CompuServe: 76327,1575

> 
> I haven't been able to verify the rumor that the new ST's can't address
> more than 512K of memory, but this sort of shenigans is typical of Atari.

Speaking of shenigans, it appears that most if not all computer companies
stoop to such standards.  Years ago I purchased a 16k pet with the idea
of upgrading it to a 32k.  Upon opening it up I discovered that the board
had been drilled through with 3/8" holes to destroy that area of the mother
board where the extra memory chips would go.  Nice huh?  
By the way, and I hope Commordore is listening, I was able to upgrade not
only mine but other peoples as well.  

ray

> > 
> > I haven't been able to verify the rumor that the new ST's can't address
> > more than 512K of memory, but this sort of shenigans is typical of Atari.
> 
> as a 1 meg ST user allow me settle this, if 1 meg chips weren't so
> expensive you could upgrade your ST to 4 meg and it would address it
> just fine.
> 
> and what i am getting sick of is silly and irresponsible rumors, the
> $400 cray was far more entertaining than your cheap character
> assasinations and unconfirmed rumors
> -- 

For your information, I've gotten responses back from people you have NOT
been able to update their 520ST to 1meg.  So far no one has been able to
verify if the mmu has changed or not, in the other peoples machine the
drams had a metal cover (unremovable) on them so you couldn't piggy back
the chips.  I would guess that you might be able to replace all the chips
but I don't know.

I put the previous rumor on the net because I felt it was important to
put up a warning flag. I, for one, don't want to spend $1000 on a machine
only to find it can't be upgraded.  I fail to see how this falls into the
"silly and irresponsible rumor" category.  I hope the rumor is false, but
isn't that why we read this net to find answers to questions we have, and
to pass along some information that might be usefull? 

I talked to a local dealer who will be getting some new 520s this week, he
said he'll check it out (he also does upgrades), and I'll report back when
I hear from him.
-- 

   Ray Roux
	{ucbvax|decvax}!trwrb!trwspp!spp3!rroux 

> 
> For your information, I've gotten responses back from people you have NOT
> been able to update their 520ST to 1meg.  So far no one has been able to
> verify if the mmu has changed or not, in the other peoples machine the
> drams had a metal cover (unremovable) on them so you couldn't piggy back
> the chips.  I would guess that you might be able to replace all the chips
> but I don't know.
> 
> 
>    Ray Roux
> 	{ucbvax|decvax}!trwrb!trwspp!spp3!rroux 

I would like to add my experience to these rumors. Having an early 520ST
(rev A) I was able to upgrade to 1Meg. Now the bad news: The now avai-
lable ROM version of TOS will ignore this upgrade. It will still work if
the additional DRAMs are in but without using them. Furthermore if you
change the appropriate system variables to update top of memory and 'MMU"
configuration byte the system will NOT work after a reset. One has to turn
it off and on again. I haven't found the routines yet who make it appearently
impossible to utilize a selfupgraded 520ST (any hints?)

Some remarks about the ROM version:
The ROM version seems to be more stable when recovering from a system crash.
It boots up in ~less than 10 seconds (still reads the *.INF and *.ACC files
from disk). The 'MUSHROOMS' were replaced be the pictore of little bombs (they
DON'T explode).

Stephan W. Wendl

A couple of general questions for the group: the January BYTE hinted
that Atari was coming out with an 8 slot expansion unit for the ST
in the first part of '86. Any truth to this? Anyone know anything
different?

Also - this may be a moot point, since I already sent in my order
two weeks ago - does anyone know anything about Metacomco?
Specifically: I am curious about their Macro Assembler, their
ISO PASCAL standard ("Meta Pascal"), their screen editor and their
linker. Any comments on their stuff would be GREATLY appreciated.

For anyone who is curious: I am the proud owner of an IBM XT, and I
just recently purchased an Atari ST. I am impressed so far by what
I can get it to do - which isn't much since I am lacking compilers,
assemblers, and other goodies. They are on order, but mail order 
stuff takes such a depressing long time to arrive.

I also purchased one book from ABACUS Software - it is AMAZINGLY
INFORMATIVE - and plan on purchasing another. (One of these books
has already been reviewed here.) They are also cheap. ($19.95 apeice,
as opposed to the $300 for the developer's kit from Atari...)

Since this is my second computer, I don't want to spend a lot of
money on it right away....

...it does, however, look like fun....


-- 
                           --- Rob DeMillo 
                               Madison Academic Computer Center
                               ...seismo!uwvax!uwmacc!demillo


     "...I suppose you find the concept of a 
         robot with an artificial leg amusing?"

                    -- Marvin, the Paranoid Android
 

>I would like to add my experience to these rumors. Having an early 520ST
>(rev A) I was able to upgrade to 1Meg. Now the bad news: The now avai-
>lable ROM version of TOS will ignore this upgrade. It will still work if
>the additional DRAMs are in but without using them. Furthermore if you
>change the appropriate system variables to update top of memory and 'MMU"
>configuration byte the system will NOT work after a reset. One has to turn
>it off and on again. I haven't found the routines yet who make it appearently
>impossible to utilize a selfupgraded 520ST (any hints?)
>

>Stephan W. Wendl

I think the problem you are having is probably more related to the fact that
you have a Rev. A board.  I just put in the ROMs on Rev. B board and I still
have 1 MEG of memory that works just fine.  Are you sure you have the final 
ROMs and not the EPROMs that were available early?  

Barry Locklear
AT&T Information Systems Labs
Denver, CO