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From: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: A500 Monochrome?
Message-ID: <2077@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 8-Jul-87 03:48:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.2077
Posted: Wed Jul  8 03:48:56 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jul-87 04:24:38 EDT
References: <1236@ico.UUCP>
Reply-To: grr@cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins)
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 27

In article <1236@ico.UUCP> scottw@ico.UUCP (Scott Wiesner) writes:
> 
> I understand the A500 has some kind of monochrome port on the back that was
> not available on the 1000.  Does this mean if I buy an A500, I'll be able to 
> get good high quality (jitter free) 640 X 400 resolution on an inexpensive
> monochrome monitor?  
> 
> I've been considering buying an Atari ST (1040 or new Mega), but the pricing
> of the A500 is tempting, especially if I can get good monochrome output.  

Yes, the A500 has an RCA jack for composite monochrome output in addition to
the RGB output.  To my perception, it is essentially free of objectionable
flicker when used with a medium/long persistance green or amber monitor.  I've
seen suitable monitors advertised in the computer shopper for $75-150.

Note that different people have different threshold levels for flicker.  You
do need a longer persistance monitor - with "TV" speed phosphers it's not
much fun in interlace mode, although it's fine other modes.

Further note that composite monochrome is not the same a "PC Monochrome",
composite monitors were being sold for monochrome graphics output from a
PC CGA card a few years ago, but that's died down since the Hercules clones
made better PC graphics available...
-- 
George Robbins - now working for,	uucp: {ihnp4|seismo|rutgers}!cbmvax!grr
but no way officially representing	arpa: cbmvax!grr@seismo.css.GOV
Commodore, Engineering Department	fone: 215-431-9255 (only by moonlite)