Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!husc6!mit-eddie!mit-amt!adam
From: adam@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Adam Glass)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: 32 bit QuickDraw
Message-ID: <509@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>
Date: 17 Aug 89 13:55:37 GMT
Distribution: comp.sys.mac
Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 45

paulm@nikhefk.UUCP (Paul Molenaar) writes:
> jnh@ecemwl.UUCP (Joseph N. Hall) writes:
> >...
> >The new issue of MacUser features an ad for a new RasterOps 24-bit board,
> >for a 13" monitor (the Applecolor monitor is fine), and it includes some
> >hardware for NTSC output (though you might need to buy some additional
> >minor hardware).  The price is a jaw-dropping $995.  That's right, three
> >digits.  That's about the same as the Apple 8-bit color board.  You can
> >call for information (I did but haven't received it yet).
> >
> 
> I'm seriously considering to buy that Rasterops 24-bit videocard
> (hell, I sold my SE to buy a IIcx just to be able to use the card ;)
> but I'd like to hear other people's experiences. Anyone using it now?
> Have there been reviews in the Mac press?
> And: will it, in some future, support PAL output? (I'd prefer HD-MAC
> output, but then again...;)

Not to be pessimistic, folks, but encoders (RGB->NTSC) cost a lot. I mean,
more than $600 and at least $700 or $800 for a good one. And that's only to
convert to NTSC. Then there's the cost of the video board for the computer,
which, for a 24 bit board, runs expensive (about the $1000 that RasterOps is
charging for this new one (anyone who says "That's right, three digits" about
RasterOps' price is kidding themselves)). I saw the picture of the RasterOps
board in MacUser, and I thought I remembered both a) seing a place where an
NTSC or PAL conversion board would snap/solder in, and b) reading something
about the NTSC/PAL board being optional.

Of course, the $1000 RasterOps board is a great price, and then the $800
or so (this is, of course, just speculation...) on top of that still makes
an NTSC/PAL equipped RasterOps board a great price. for $1800 or so, you get
genlocked NTSC/PAL and 24-bit, 32-bit QD compatible color. Not bad. Color
boards cost a lot, and genlock boards cost more, so the $1800 price is far
more than reasonable. But I think it's overly optimistic and unrealistic to
think that RasterOps could sell an NTSC converting 24 bit color board for just
$300 more than an NTSC encoder.

By all means, I could be wrong. But it just doesn't seem likely/possible.

Adam

--
"Offer me anything I ask for..."      (mail address in message header)
"Anything you want."                                                   "Moof!"
"I want my father back, you son of a bitch." - The Princess Bride