Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 00:01 EST
From: ROBERT_BROCKMAN <CDBSDUC@grove.iup.edu>
Subject: Answers to "Internal grayscale on SE/30?" query
I recently posted a question to the net about the Micron card for the SE/30
that allows the internal monitor to display grayscale. I received a slew of
requests from folks wanting to hear what I learned, so what follows is the
main body text from the three messages I received.
> The condensed version is that the card is great,
> but a little tricky to install.
Personally, while I was collecting this data I decided my money was better
spent on Think Pascal 4.0 and QUED/M, so it doesn't look like I'll be buying
anything in the way of hardware any time soon, but a big THANK YOU to those
that helped me out.
Robert Brockman, CDBSDUC@IUP.BITNET or CDBSDUC@GROVE.IUP.EDU
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
I have the Micron system on my SE/30. I have had no problems at
all, although installing the thing was a little nerve racking.
I does take a little longer for startup due to the increased power
requirements.
There is a card in the slot that must be powered before the screen
can be started. It takes ~2 seconds more for the screen to appear
than for the '30 without the card. That's all.
From: NetMail%"EDW@cup.portal.com" 26-JUL-1992 22:07:21.00
Ed Wright
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I have been using a Micron Colour 30 with the GrayScale 30 internal adapter
in my SE/30 for the last 6 months. It actually works as expected.
The only problem I have found is the way Micron has chosen to solve a
problem with stupid programs. Some programs start by checking the screen
size and if it's 512 * 342 the program decides it must be 1 bit black/white;
the programs does not check to see if the screen is grayscale. Micron
chose set the screen size to 512 * 341 to force these programs to check the
screen more closely.
This unfortunately gives a few other problems, with some programs. I have
had programs complaining that they could not run, because the program
needed at least a 512 * 342 screen. Others decide that if the screen isn't
512 * 342 it must at least be 512 * 384 (Apple 12" colour) and start up
with a dialog, where all the buttons have been placed outside the screen;
most of these only need an OK, that can be reached by pressing the return
button, but I have seen a few where I had to press the reset button to get
my machine back.
All of these problems are results of sloppy programming of the programs, I
just wish Micron had found a way that allowed me to open a HyperCard stack
and use it directly, without first having to resize and move the stack
window.
This problem only turns up with a few badly programmed programs - most
programs use the 9" screen without problems.
If you connect an external monitor, or use Virtual Video to emulate a
bigger screen, this problem disappears.
I find the combination of the Micron video card and grayscale adapter to be
very good. The video is speeded, compared with the original video, and some
programs, including the operating system, actually sometimes think that the
machine is a Macintosh IIx. You get a lot for the price, and your machine
will suddenly be able to run a lot of programs, that it couldn't before. It
is also the most portable grayscale Macintosh.
Disclaimer: I have no connection with Micron, except for being a satisfied
customer.
From: NetMail%"holst@diku.dk" 27-JUL-1992 03:54:40.24
Bo Holst-Christensen
holst@diku.dk dikubhc1@uts.uni-c.dk FAX: +45 53 640 321
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I have purchased the Micron Xceed card and grey-scale adaptor. Yes, it does
work, but it's a real bummer to fit in. I agree it's a great concept.
However, I must warn you about a few things first. Since the adaptor runs
off the Xceed card, you can only run ONE monitor in greysacle or colour at
any one time. That means you only get greyscale on the 9" inch screen when
there is no external monitor running. If you have an external monitor then
your internal screen DOES work, but only in normal (1-bit) B&W mode.
I think it"s still worth buying, especially if you're tight of cash and can
onlyafford the card for now; you still get an enhanced SE/30 while you save
up for a monitor. What's more, if you buy a decent monitor you can use it
for your next Mac (although I think the SE/30 is the best ever madefor
personal use). You still then have a better than normal SE/30 which you can
sell (yuk) or keep for the rest of your days in greyscale.
Let me tell you a bit about the Xceed card. It is FAST, especially since
it's a PDS not a NuBus. I play the game Hellcats over the Pacific a lot and
the graphics on that are unreal, especially in colour. In the lab we have
IIcx's. They, of course, run at the same clock speed as the SE/30 and they
have Apple 13" RGBs. We also have a Quadra 700. I've played Hellcats on all
three types of machine and I can say that the SE/30 (with Xceed card and an
excellent Eizo T240i 14" Trinitron monitor) renders the Hellcats' graphics
at the same speed as the Quadra (with cache off).
A note of caution about the fitting of the grey scale adaptor- it's
difficult to do this yourself. You need at least one person helping if you
(like me) want to be really gentle with the motherboard. The adaptor
replaces the Apple CRT driver and connects with the motherboard, the Xceed
card and the internal video board, all using one 5 pronged
just-long-enough-if-it breathes-in cable. I was so relieved to hear that
satisfying startup tone when I'd fitted in the adaptor. Yes I got greyscale,
but no it wasn't quite right. There was a lot of ghosting of the image and
things were periodically in and out of focus. For one sleepless night I
thought I'd damaged the CRT. My mind was put at rest the next day when I
replace Apple's CRT driver- everything was okay. A (transatlantic) phonecall
to the helpfull guys at Micron (maybe only helpful because my English accent
delighted them so) revealed that there are tuning screw (s) on the adaptor
that need to be adjusted to make the card run properly. They recommend that
the adaptor is fitted by an authorisd dealer, not necessarily because of
invalidating warranties, but because of the technical knowledge required to
fit the thing in. Personally I don't like the thought of twiddling with
controls with the SE/30 cover open and the machine switched on.
You'd also need a helper or a mirror at least. So at the moment I've got an
unused adaptor.
Since I've bought the Eizo monitor (much better monitor than the Apple 13")
anyway, I'm not losing the benefits of the greyscale adaptor. When I've
saved enough to pay for the labour costs of getting the card fitted I will
do so.
As I'm sure you've noticed I can strongly recommend the Eizo T240i monitor.
I'm so happy with it that I could easily tell you what's so good about it,
but I won't unless you want to hear and ask me for the info. (I'm sorry
about the length of this message as it is). To sum up- go for the Micron
products (you get 5 years' warranty and some nifty software too), but get
someone to fit the adaptor (the Xceed card is a cinch) unless you're a
technical expert. You don't get internal greyscale when thereUs another
monitor attached. The SE/30 is a great machine and you get 2 monitors to
run. Excellent with sys7- use one for the finder and the other for apps.
Also with Daystar digital's new range of SE/30 accelerators which go
straight into the motherboard, leaving the PDS free, your SE/30 is as good
as any "new" mac and will be for many years to come.
I suppose I should say that I have no connection with Apple, Micron, Eizo,
Graphic Simulations or Daystar Digital. I'm just a Molecular Biology student
who saves up most of his stipend for his Mac addiction.
Feel free to ask further questions. I hope I haven't taken up too much time
and that I have been of some help.
From: NetMail%"JM144@MOLECULAR-BIOLOGY-1.BIOLOGY.CAMBRIDGE.AC.UK"
27-JUL-1992 08:41:40.03
Joe Makkerh
Wellcome/CRC Institute
University of Cambridge
Tennis Court Road
Cambridge
UK
FAX: + 44 223334089
Voice: + 44 223334109