Subject: REVIEW: AMOS PD CD
From: [email-masked] (M D Cox)
Date: 21 Sep 1994 18:55:13 GMT
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.reviews

PRODUCT NAME

	AMOS PD CD

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

	The AMOS PD CD is a complete archive of the AMOS PD Library disks.
These disks were also called APD and contain files for use with AMOS, a
BASIC-like programming language.

AUTHOR/COMPANY INFORMATION

	Name:		Weird Science
	Address:	1 Rowlandson Close
			Leicester
			Leicestershire
			LE4 2SE
			England

DISTRIBUTION

	Main places to buy the CD-ROM as far as I know:
	USA:

		Northwest Public Domain
		PO BOX 1617
		Auburn, WA 98071-1617
		USA
		Phone: (206)351-9502
		Email: [email-masked] (John McNab)
	
	UK/Europe:
		Weird Science, as listed above

LIST PRICE

	Suggested retail price is about $19.95 (US).

SPECIAL HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

	HARDWARE

		An Amiga equipped with a CD-ROM drive, such as the Commodore
		A570, CDTV, CD32 or any supported third party CD-ROM
		drive.

		No memory is recommended or required by the CD, but AMOS
		should have 1MB or more to work with.

	SOFTWARE

		AmigaDOS 1.3 or higher is required.
		Works fine with AmigaDOS 2.x and 3.0.
		
		Requires a suitable CD-ROM file system such as AsimCDFS,
		AmiCDFS, Babel CDFS, or Xetec CDFS.  Parnet and Sernet
		can also be used to access the CD ROM drive via the parallel
		or serial port.  

		AMOS is required if you want to view the source code and the
		special 'banks' that the programs use.  You can use 
		Easy AMOS, AMOS v1.36, and/or AMOS Professional v2.0.

COPY PROTECTION

	None.

MACHINES USED FOR TESTING

	Amiga 1200, 4 MB Fast RAM, 2 MB Chip RAM.
	465 MB hard disk (120 MB internal, 345 XDS IDE external)
	Overdrive CD ROM
	Paravision 1230XA 50/50 accelerator
	C= 1084 monitor
	AmigaDOS 3.0

	Amiga 500, 1 MB Chip RAM, 4 MB Fast RAM
	46 MB TrumpCard 500 hard disk
	A570
	C= 1084 monitor
	AmigaDOS 1.3

THE BASICS

	For those not familiar with AMOS, here is a brief introduction.
AMOS, written by Francois Lionet and sold by Europress, is a BASIC-like
language for the Amiga.  It includes many special commands that let you take
control of the Amiga's special capabilities.  The best part is that it is
very easy to learn and use.  With one command, you can have a sprite or BOB
flying across the screen.

	Unfortunately, official support for AMOS has stopped due to the
demise of Commodore.  There is a party of dedicated AMOS users, however, that
are looking for the rights to obtain the source code and continue providing
free PD upgrades.

REVIEW

	The CD is organized into groups of directories that span the entire
AMOS PD collection.  Each APD disk is placed in its own subdirectory so that
you can just copy the contents of a directory onto a bootable floppy disk
and distribute it to your friends.  Even the C, S, L, DEVS, etc. directories
are there.

INSTALLATION

	Simply place the CD into your CD-ROM drive.

CONTENTS

	As mentioned earlier, the CD contains the entire AMOS PD Library
collection (#1 - 620).  The library is run by Len and Anne Tucker and is
endorsed by Europress.  There are over 33,000 files.  There are 1600 AMOS
source files, 100 sprite banks, 260 CTEXT/TURBO PLUS banks, 800 audio
samples, oodles of music banks, and a few PD extensions for AMOS and AMOS
Pro.  Program categories are Eurodemos (Digital Orgasm), utilities
(Adventure Toolkit), music (Maverick music disks), games (Super Battlezone),
and many others.

	Also included are a few of the TOTALLY AMOS disk magazines, also run
by Len and Anne Tucker.

LIKES

	The best part of this CD is that it is so cheap and contains the
entire AMOS PD library!  If you use AMOS, this CD is a definite must.  The
source code is invaluable, and the banks are totally usable in your own
programs (as long as you comply with the author's wishes, if any).

DISLIKES AND SUGGESTIONS

	It would have been nice also to provide an LHA archive of each disk
so it could be placed on a BBS and/or downloaded to the crappy MSDOS
machines I have at work.

COMPARISON TO OTHER SIMILAR PRODUCTS

	The AMOS PD CD is just like the Aminet CD, except that it is geared
specifically toward AMOS users.  Even non-AMOS users may find a few nice
games, demos, and/or utilities that they like.

CONCLUSIONS

	If you have AMOS, you MUST have this CD.  It is the PERFECT excuse
to tell your significant other that you need a CD ROM drive!  Hey, it worked
for me!

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

	Copyright 1994 Michael David Cox.  All rights reserved.

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