TOS Family: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:GEMDesktop.png|thumb|GEM [[Desktop]] familiar to users of [[TOS]] machines. TOS version 1.62 is shown, as seen on [[STE]]]]
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[[Image:Atari_TOS_1_0.png|thumb|GEM [[TOS_2.06_in-depth_user_guide#TOS_2.06_overview|Desktop]] of TOS 1.0 familiar to Atari users. TOS 1.0 is shown here.]]
   
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The '''TOS Family''' of machines represents those personal computers manufactured by [[Atari]] from 1985 to 1992 which used the [[TOS]] operating system and [[GEM]] graphical user interface. All members of the family were based on the [[680x0]] family of [[CPU|CPU's]], and also shared certain fundamental components of the chipset (sometimes for backward-compatibility), such as the [[YM2149]] and basic video hardware. Different generations of the family were also enhanced with additions to the chipset, such as the [[blitter]] in the Mega ST and STE, and the [[DSP]] in the [[Atari Falcon|Falcon]].
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The '''TOS Family''' of machines represents those personal computers manufactured by [[Atari]] from 1985 to 1992 which used the [[TOS]] operating system and [[GEM]] graphical user interface. All members of the family were based on the [[CPU|680x0]] family of [[CPU|CPU's]], and also shared certain fundamental components of the chipset (sometimes for backward-compatibility), such as the [[Yamaha YM2149|YM2149]] and basic video hardware. Different generations of the family were also enhanced with additions to the chipset, such as the [[blitter]] in the Mega ST and STE, and the [[Digital signal processor|DSP]] in the [[Atari Falcon|Falcon]].
 
The [[ST|ST Family]] is the major subset of the TOS family.
  
The [[ST|ST Family]] is the major subset of the TOS family.
   
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==Generations of the TOS family==
  
==Generations of the TOS family==
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*[[ST]] - 130 ST, 260 ST, 520 ST, 1040 ST
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*[[Atari ST|ST]] - 130 ST, 260 ST, 520 ST, 1040 ST
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*[[STF]] - 520 STF, 1040 STF
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*[[Atari ST|STF]] - 520 STF, 1040 STF
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*[[STM]] - 520 STM, 1040 STM
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*[[Atari ST|STM]] - 520 STM, 1040 STM
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*[[STF]] - 520 STFM, 1040 STFM
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*[[Atari ST|STF]] - 520 STFM, 1040 STFM
 
*[[Stacy]]
  
*[[Stacy]]
 
*[[Mega ST]] - Mega 1, Mega 2, Mega 4
 
*[[Mega ST]] - Mega 1, Mega 2, Mega 4
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*[[Falcon 030]]
  
*[[Falcon 030]]
 
*[[Falcon 040]] (prototype)
  
*[[Falcon 040]] (prototype)
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*[[Transputer]]
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*[[ABAQ ATW 800]]
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==TOS clones==
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As well as computers made by Atari, a number of [[TOS clones]] were produced by other companies such as [[Hades]], [[Medusa]], or more recently the [[Firebee]] Coldfire project.
   
 
==Family Specification Summary==
  
==Family Specification Summary==
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! style="background:#e0ffef;" width="80" | Comments
  
! style="background:#e0ffef;" width="80" | Comments
 
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|[[ST]]||68000||8mhz||130kb to 512kb (standard)||16 bit||[[TOS]] 1.0,GEM ?||320x200x16 colours, 640x200x4 colours, 640x400 monochrome||[[YM2149]],[[WD1772]],[[MK68901]]||1985||First model of ST introduced
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|[[ST]]||68000||8mhz||130kb to 512kb (standard)||16 bit||[[TOS]] 1.0,GEM ?||320x200x16 colours, 640x200x4 colours, 640x400 monochrome||[[Yamaha YM2149|YM2149]],[[WD1772]],[[MK68901]]||1985||First model of ST introduced
 
|-
  
|-
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|STF/M/FM||68000||8mhz||512kb to 1024kb (standard)||16 bit||[[TOS]] 1.2 to TOS 1.4,GEM ?||320x200x16 colours, 640x200x4 colours, 640x400 monochrome||[[YM2149]],[[WD1772]],[[MK68901]]||1987||'F' indicates internalised floppy drive, 'M' indicates internal TV modulator
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|STF/M/FM||68000||8mhz||512kb to 1024kb (standard)||16 bit||[[TOS]] 1.2 to TOS 1.4,GEM ?||320x200x16 colours, 640x200x4 colours, 640x400 monochrome||[[Yamaha YM2149|YM2149]],[[WD1772]],[[MK68901]]||1987||'F' indicates internalised floppy drive, 'M' indicates internal TV modulator
 
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|-
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|[[STE]]||68000||8mhz||512 to 1024kb (standard)||16 bit||[[TOS]] 1.6 to TOS 1.62,GEM ?||320x200x16 colours, 640x200x4 colours, 640x400 monochrome||[[Blitter]],[[YM2149]],[[WD1772]],[[MK68901]]||1989||'E' stands for "enhanced". Features 16bit PCM replay, hardware scrolling, [[DMA]], [[Blitter]]
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|[[STE]]||68000||8mhz||512 to 1024kb (standard)||16 bit||[[TOS]] 1.6 to TOS 1.62,GEM ?||320x200x16 colours, 640x200x4 colours, 640x400 monochrome||[[Blitter]],[[Yamaha YM2149|YM2149]],[[WD1772]],[[MK68901]]||1989||'E' stands for "enhanced". Features 16bit PCM replay, hardware scrolling, [[ACSI, SCSI and IDE#DMA|DMA]], [[Blitter]]
 
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|[[TT]]||68030||16-32mhz||2MB to 4MB ST ram (standard), up to 32 TTram||32 bit||[[TOS]] 3.02 to TOS 3.06,GEM ?||ST modes, ??||[[YM2149]],[[WD1772]],[[MK68901]]||1989||Aimed at business market. Keyboard external to case, internal hard drive
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|[[TT]]||68030||16-32mhz||2MB to 4MB ST ram (standard), up to 32 TTram||32 bit||[[TOS]] 3.02 to TOS 3.06,GEM ?||ST modes, ??||[[Yamaha YM2149|YM2149]],[[WD1772]],[[MK68901]]||1989||Aimed at business market. Keyboard external to case, internal hard drive
 
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|[[Falcon 030|Falcon]]||68030||16mhz||1MB, 4MB (standard) or 14MB ||32bit||[[TOS]] 4.01 to 4.04, TOS 4.92 (beta),GEM ?||ST modes, TT mode, High colour mode||[[DSP]],[[YM2149]]||1992||Last TOS computer, most multimedia capable
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|[[Falcon 030|Falcon]]||68030||16mhz||1MB, 4MB (standard) or 14MB ||32bit||[[TOS]] 4.01 to 4.04, TOS 4.92 (beta),GEM ?||ST modes, TT mode, High colour mode||[[Digital signal processor|DSP]],[[Yamaha YM2149|YM2149]]||1992||Last TOS computer, most multimedia capable
 
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|}
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[[Category:Atari computers]] [[Category:TOS Clones]]

Latest revision as of 17:23, 28 January 2012

GEM Desktop of TOS 1.0 familiar to Atari users. TOS 1.0 is shown here.

The TOS Family of machines represents those personal computers manufactured by Atari from 1985 to 1992 which used the TOS operating system and GEM graphical user interface. All members of the family were based on the 680x0 family of CPU's, and also shared certain fundamental components of the chipset (sometimes for backward-compatibility), such as the YM2149 and basic video hardware. Different generations of the family were also enhanced with additions to the chipset, such as the blitter in the Mega ST and STE, and the DSP in the Falcon. The ST Family is the major subset of the TOS family.

Compatibility

Generations of the TOS family were compatible with each other to varying degrees. Cleanly written software which used operating system functions and calls as they were described in (sometimes lacking) Atari documentation is very likely to run on all members of the family, and even on newer third party-built TOS clones or heavily modified Atari machines.

Software which directly addresses the hardware (as many programmers did in order to gain speed) with limited dependency on the speed of the components being addressed (ie highly synchronised is also reasonably likely to run on most members of the family.

Programs less likely to run on all members address the hardware at a very low level in a synchronised way, and use features of the chipset exclusive to the machine on which they were developed.

Generations of the TOS family

TOS clones

As well as computers made by Atari, a number of TOS clones were produced by other companies such as Hades, Medusa, or more recently the Firebee Coldfire project.

Family Specification Summary

There could be a number of tables like the following with more comprehensive information on each model, smarter grouping of models to save duplication etc. Work out how to do text alignment of tables...

Model CPU CPU Speed Memory Architecture OS Graphic modes Notable Chipset Features Year Comments
ST 68000 8mhz 130kb to 512kb (standard) 16 bit TOS 1.0,GEM ? 320x200x16 colours, 640x200x4 colours, 640x400 monochrome YM2149,WD1772,MK68901 1985 First model of ST introduced
STF/M/FM 68000 8mhz 512kb to 1024kb (standard) 16 bit TOS 1.2 to TOS 1.4,GEM ? 320x200x16 colours, 640x200x4 colours, 640x400 monochrome YM2149,WD1772,MK68901 1987 'F' indicates internalised floppy drive, 'M' indicates internal TV modulator
STE 68000 8mhz 512 to 1024kb (standard) 16 bit TOS 1.6 to TOS 1.62,GEM ? 320x200x16 colours, 640x200x4 colours, 640x400 monochrome Blitter,YM2149,WD1772,MK68901 1989 'E' stands for "enhanced". Features 16bit PCM replay, hardware scrolling, DMA, Blitter
TT 68030 16-32mhz 2MB to 4MB ST ram (standard), up to 32 TTram 32 bit TOS 3.02 to TOS 3.06,GEM ? ST modes, ?? YM2149,WD1772,MK68901 1989 Aimed at business market. Keyboard external to case, internal hard drive
Falcon 68030 16mhz 1MB, 4MB (standard) or 14MB 32bit TOS 4.01 to 4.04, TOS 4.92 (beta),GEM ? ST modes, TT mode, High colour mode DSP,YM2149 1992 Last TOS computer, most multimedia capable
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