MagiC v4
Kev "Copperfield" Beardsworth takes a look at MagiC v4 - the current UK
release version...
Every other mainstream platform offers multitasking as standard and you
could be forgiven for wondering if our mid-eighties designed machines
are up to the task - the good news is they are but the implications of
MagiC go way beyond offering multitasking, read on!
I first saw MagiC in action at an Atari show in Manchester over two
years ago. It was running on a TT and I desperately wanted a copy for
my Falcon. I couldn't believe it was incompatible with the Falcon and
after a two year wait during which time MagiC appeared for the Mac
platform and a PC version was rumoured to be under development I began
to believe Falcon owners had been left in the wilderness. Happily I was
wrong and MagiC v4 finally appeared, was it worth the wait?

The main MagXDesk Install Application dialog
MagiC is a complete replacement for TOS. It's doesn't come on ROM chips
like TOS instead there's two double density floppies and an A5 sized 48
page manual. Uhuh, just 48 pages to describe an OS - and most of that
relates to using MAGX Desk which seems a waste.
Happily it's reasonably well written - the usual couple of sentences
betray its German origins but it does tell the average user everything
necessary to get up and running. I guess since developers will have to
look elsewhere for details.

Just some of the 100 MagXDesk icons
Installation is a stress free affair and only takes a few minutes.
Double click on the install program, fill in the registration dialog
and that's about it. The most difficult part of the whole procedure
comes down to re-ordering the Auto folder. The MagiC install program
doesn't do this automatically and MAGXBOOT.PRG needs to run first. It's
easy enough to move manually or using a boot manager and after a reboot
MAGXBOOT reboots the machine a second time, presumably to replace TOS
then the boot process proceeds as normal.
After the usual delay the MAGX desktop appears. The only clue MagiC is
running being the small curved double arrow MagiC logo in the top right
hand corner of the menu bar. After a while boredom set in until in true
Jekyll and Hyde fashion I launched every program I could find until I
ran out of memory - that's more like it, after waiting two years I
needed to do that!

Assign files for each application here
Confession
I couldn't wait two years for multitasking and have been using Geneva
for ages. I only mention this now because Geneva registers each
application in the Desk menu under the desktop accessories. I had to
refer to the manual to discover a left click over an empty area in the
menu bar displays a popup containing all the currently running programs
along with some useful functions. Tidy up, redraws the screen - which
comes in handy when a program gets confused and leaves garbage over the
desktop. Start program, calls the MagiC file selector to launch new
programs. A Hide function helps cope with cluttered desktops by hiding
programs running in the background - in contrast to a similar function
in Geneva hidden software under MagiC keeps on working, the windows are
moved off-screen outside the visible area, a neat trick! To bring
programs back into view there's an Unhide function and using these two
functions together applications can be hidden or revealed individually
or en masse as desired. Finally a free memory indicator plummets
towards zero at an alarming rate!

The MagiC 4 program popup
Apart from using the popup it's possible to switch between programs
using a keyboard shortcut. A tiny dialog appears centre screen and
cycles through each program name -release the key when the desired
application is displayed and it's topped.
Compared to TOS MagiC has a lot to offer. Pre-emptive multitasking (See
boxout) with up to 64 open windows, ten applications and six desktop
accessories (or 16 programs without desktop accessories) running
concurrently - so longs as there's enough memory. The six accessory
limit seems a bit strange but in a multitasking environment most
desktop accessories become redundant. In any event most desktop
accessories can be loaded and terminated on the fly so there's no real
problem. Output from TOS and TTP programs into a VT52 terminal window
which is at least a step up from the white screen under TOS.
MagiC is written in assembler and optimised for speed. TOS was written
in some leisurely C code - the result is MagiC runs faster than TOS
(see benchmark results).
Enhanced dialog features including cut and paste, flying dialogs,
windowed dialogs, program iconify and popup menus are all built-in so
that's another handful of utilities made redundant!
Programs can be forced to run in single tasking mode which usually
persuades dinosaur programs to run but for some reason, desktop
accessories are greyed out.
So what's new?
Most of the above features were in earlier versions of MagiC so what's
in this version for users of earlier MagiC versions?
The biggest change is the aforementioned Falcon compatibility, but
there's more. MagiC 4 has a sporty 3D look and supports coloured icons.
The 3D look isn't as crude as TOS 4.0 and although it takes a while to
adjust I prefer it.

You can install four programs to use with MagXDesk here
Floppy disks can be copied or formatted in the background, so long as
you use HD Driver v4.5 or later. Alternative file systems can be
loaded, which holds out the prospect of long filename support in the
near future. Files can have aliases, which means large files can be
stored in one location and accessed from several other places which
sounds useful, although I haven't figured out a sensible use for it
yet. There's also an adequate font selector, a brain dead file selector
and a revamped MAGX Desk.
The desktop

Another CPX allows you to change various attributes - handy for
customising your MagiC set up
MagXDesk supports all of MagiC's new features along with a few tricks
of its own. Tiled backgrounds are supported and some nice samples are
included along with 100 colour icons. Kobold can be used for file
operations and non-modal (non-blocking) disk copy, file copy and search
routines have been incorporated. Desktop windows feature an auto
locator - enter characters on the keyboard to select files.
MagXDesk can assign an external file viewer, text editor, batch file
CLI and a print utility which saves memory and provides flexibility. Up
to ten items can be inserted in the Objects menu which is the ideal
place to stash small utilities which don't deserve a desktop icon.
MagiC symbolic links are supported and resolutions can be changed on
the fly.
I did encounter a problem in the Install application dialog which threw
up a buttonless alert after I tried to install the same filetype twice
for two different programs. This locked up the system requiring a
reboot - nasty!
Although MagXDesk doesn't offer the sophisticated
features available in other desktops it's ultra compact, well thought
out and recommended for anyone who regularly runs short of memory.
MagXDesk can be replaced with any of the multitasking desktops
including Thing, Ease and Gemini. Installing another desktop is
straightforward and involves editing one line in the INF file - but it
isn't point and click.

The MagXDesk preferences dialog
One new feature brought a smile to my lips. Since the arrival of Windows
95 I've taken great pleasure in winding up my PC using friends as they
wait for permission to turn off their machines. Imagine the shock on my
face the first time I noticed the Quit option in Thing had been
replaced with Shutdown! Yes, Atari users now need permission to
shutdown as well. It is a sensible precaution because it makes sure all
programs are terminated and all files closed - which should help avoid
losing hours of work or risking file corruption. For some odd reason
the Shutdown function in MAGX Desk is the Options menu - go figure...

The MagXDesk menus. What is Shutdown doing in options?
MagiC is an exceptional product which turns any Atari (or Mac, or PC)
into a new computer. The whole system feels more responsive and there's
a general feeling of stability. If a program crashes you are usually
informed by a friendly dialog and it's the attention to detail which
delights. Almost all the programs I use regularly worked without
problems. A couple had difficulties finding their files but this was
easy to correct by setting some environment strings in the INF file. In
summary, I won't be returning to TOS.

MagXDesk search, can search for files without blocking other
applications
Pre-emptive multitasking
Multitasking is an ability to carry out more than one task at a time.
There are two main types of multitasking and MagiC can provide them
both. The most powerful is pre-emptive, the other is co-operative. Most
home computers have one CPU. How then is it possible to run many
programs at once? It isn't, multitasking in an illusion. The CPU
carries out a few instructions from each program in turn. It does this
so quickly it appears several programs are running at the same time.
Co-operative multitasking means background applications only get
processor time when the topped application makes a system call or is
standing idle. Pre-emptive multitasking forces the topped application
to give time to background tasks - in other words processor time is
shared between all running programs. This is achieved by "time
slicing".

This CPX allows you to fine tune the time slice and enables switching
between pre-emptive and co-operative multitasking
Alternatives
We're not short of choice when it comes to multitasking operating
systems for the Atari platform. Apart from MagiC there's MultiTOS,
Geneva, N.AES, SMS2 and Omen.
In the UK MagiC's main competition comes from Geneva. MultiTOS is
generally considered too slow on a standard ST or Falcon, N.AES isn't
available and SMS2 and Omen can't run TOS or GEM software.
Geneva will even run on a 520ST from floppy disks. Geneva offers co-operative
multitasking or pre-emptive multitasking when used in conjunction with
MiNT. Geneva features a 3D interface, custom file selector and low
memory overhead. No desktop is included and although you can be away
without one, most people opt for NeoDesk 4 because it's from the same
programming team.
Gembench copyright Ofir Gal 3 March 95
Gembench results. |
Standard Falcon. No NVDI, No FX, No MagiC |
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Standard Falcon running MagiC 4 |
Falcon 030 TOS 4.01 |
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Falcon 030 MagiC 4 |
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AES v3.31
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AES v3.99 |
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GEMDOS v0.48
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GEMDOS v0.25 |
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MiNT not present |
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MiNT not present |
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Blitter Enabled |
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Blitter Disabled |
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NVDI not present |
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NVDI not present |
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Video Mode: 640*480*16 |
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Video Mode: 640*480*16 |
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LineF FPU installed |
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FPU cookie value=$60000 |
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Run and Malloc from ST RAM |
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Run and Malloc from STRAM |
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Ref: F030 + FPU, 640*480*16 |
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Ref: F030 + FPU, 640*480*16 |
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GEM Dialog Box: |
5.525 |
83% |
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GEM Dialog Box: |
3.935 |
117% |
VDI Text: |
5.665 |
84% |
|
|
VDI Text: |
2.465 |
194% |
VDI Text Effects: |
14.575 |
70% |
|
|
VDI Text Effects: |
5.345 |
191% |
VDI Small Text: |
5.585 |
82% |
|
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VDI Small Text: |
1.645 |
279% |
VDI Graphics: |
21.760 |
52% |
|
|
VDI Graphics: |
7.795 |
147% |
GEM Window: |
2.575 |
85% |
|
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GEM Window: |
6.235 |
35% |
Integer Division: |
3.560 |
87% |
|
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Integer Division: |
3.195 |
97% |
Float Math: |
0.390 |
94%
|
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Float Math: |
0.385 |
96% |
RAM Access: |
4.010 |
63% |
|
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RAM Access: |
3.380 |
75% |
ROM Access: |
4.155 |
51% |
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ROM Access: |
3.385 |
63% |
Blitting: |
4.015 |
91% |
|
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Blitting: |
20.625 |
17% |
VDI Scroll: |
7.330 |
92% |
|
|
VDI Scroll: |
10.835 |
62% |
Justified Text: |
6.260 |
86% |
|
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Justified Text: |
6.385 |
84% |
VDI Enquire: |
2.160 |
81% |
|
|
VDI Enquire: |
1.230 |
142% |
New Dialogs: |
7.615 |
76% |
|
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New Dialogs: |
6.945 |
84% |
Graphics: |
80% |
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Graphics: |
122% |
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CPU: |
73% |
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CPU: |
82% |
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Average: |
78% |
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Average: |
112% |
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As you can see a marked improvement. Add NVDI to the equation and
you'll have quite a snappy system.
Publisher: System Solutions
Contact: 0181 693 3355
Price: œ69.95
Requirements: Any ST with 2Mb memory or more, TT or Falcon with TOS in
ROM
Pros: MagiC multitasks, it's fast and it's most excellent dude
Cons: A 48 page manual isn't enough!
Score: 90%
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