



INTRODUCTION

    Welcome to The A64 Package.  This manual assumes that you are
    familiar with the basic usage of the CLI and WorkBench.  If you
    are not please consult your Amiga user's guide or other books on
    the Amiga.  This manual also makes the assumption that you are
    familiar with using the Commodore 64.  If you want to learn more
    about using the Commodore 64 there are many good books available
    on the subject.

    Throughout this manual some names are used that we would like to
    clarify.  When you see the name "The A64 Package" we are
    referring to the entire package including all its utilities.
    When you see the name "A64" by itself we are referring only to
    the A64 program.  The names: "A64's hardware interface",
    "hardware interface" or just "interface" all refer to the same
    interface.

    Some parts of this manual get a little technical.  We did our
    best to try and explain things in a way that an average user
    would understand them, but it is not always easy to explain
    technical features simply.  If you don't understand a feature
    don't hesitate to experiment with it.

    We recommend that you fully read this manual before attempting to
    use any of the programs included with The A64 Package.


WHAT IS THE A64 PACKAGE?

    The A64 Package is both a hardware and software product.  It was
    designed to give Amiga owners the ability to access Commodore 64
    peripherals, programs and data directly from their Amiga.

    The hardware is an interface that plugs into the parallel port of
    your Amiga and allows The A64 Package to access Commodore 64 disk
    drives and printers.

    The software is a collection of Amiga programs that help bring
    the world of the C64 to the Amiga.  The main program included
    with The A64 Package is A64.  A64 is a Commodore 64 emulator.
    The word emulate means to strive to equal or excel, especially
    through imitation.  A64 emulates the Commodore 64.  This means
    that using A64 is just like using a C64.  There are literally
    thousands of programs available for the Commodore 64 and A64 will
    run a majority of them.  The A64 Package also includes several
    utilities that are meant to compliment A64.  These utilities
    serve a variety of valuable purposes like transferring files to
    and from the C64.




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    The A64 Package is especially well suited for C64 owners who want
    to upgrade to the Amiga.  Commodore 64 owners have spent hundreds
    or even thousands of dollars on their C64 peripherals and
    software.  Many of them would like to upgrade to the Amiga, but
    they do not want to lose their investment.  There is a solution!
    The A64 Package will allow them to continue to use their familiar
    Commodore 64 software and peripherals while they're learning how
    to use their powerful, new Amiga.

    Now bridging the gap from the Commodore 64 to the Amiga is easier
    than ever before.  The A64 Package helps to make the upgrade path
    a little easier to take.


WHAT DOES IT COST?

    You can get a complete version of The A64 Package by paying a
    registration fee.  The current registration fee is $39.95 plus
    shipping and handling.  Shipping and handling charges are:  $3.00
    for customers in the US, $4.00 for customers in Canada and $5.00
    for all other countries.

    The adapter cable needed for the A1000 is available for an
    additional $20.00.  If you order the cable with The A64 Package
    we do not charge additional shipping and handling, but if the
    cable is ordered separately then the following shipping and
    handling charges apply:  $3.00 for customers in the US, $4.00 for
    customers in Canada and $5.00 for all other countries.

    Connecticut residence must add 6% sales tax when ordering.


WHAT YOU GET

    When you become a registered owner of The A64 Package you get a
    complete copy of the software, a two disk set which includes the
    latest version of A64, The A64 Packages' documentation and all of
    the utilities.  The necessary hardware to connect your C64 disk
    drives and printers to your Amiga.  You will also be eligible for
    technical support and be notified when new versions of The A64
    Package are made available.












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HOW TO BECOME A REGISTERED OWNER

    Included with the documentation is the file "Registration.form."
    This file serves as a registration form for The A64 Package.
    Please print this file (See PrintFile in the UTILITIES section)
    and then fill it out and send it with your payment to:

                             QuesTronix
                          P.O. Box 340285
                   Hartford, CT 06134-0285 U.S.A.

    US customers can pay with a check or money order.

    Make checks payable to QuesTronix.

    Foreign customers can pay with either an international money
    order or cash.  If cash is used please send it registered mail.
    We can not be held responsible for lost or misdirected funds.

    Funds must be in US currency and payable through a US bank.

    US orders are shipped FIRST CLASS mail and foreign orders are
    shipped AIR MAIL.  Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.

    Please take the time to fill out the registration form
    completely.  The information you put on it will help us to put
    out better updates of The A64 Package.  Users without printers
    can substitute the registration form with a letter. 

























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WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE

    In the last couple of versions of The A64 Package we have listed
    what can be expected from future versions and we are happy to say
    that we added most of the features in V2.0 that were listed in
    the last manual.  We would like to briefly list them:

        o Sound support
        o A64Mon
        o Amiga printer support
        o Improved Amiga drive support
        o Improved transfer capabilities        
        o Improved modem support
        o File requesters
        o More A64 Prefs features
        o Completed Colors screen
        o Improved sprites
        o Support for multiple C64 fonts

    We also made countless other improvements in V2.0, but what we're
    trying to show is that we did what we said we would do.  And we
    did it for one reason only.  Because of the many people who
    supported The A64 Package by becoming registered owners.  Thanks
    to these people we were able to continue working on The A64
    Package and make it what it is today.  Which, in our opinion, is
    the best C64 emulation package currently available.

    The response to The A64 Package has dropped off considerably
    since the last release, but we hope that with the release of V2.0
    it will spark a new interest in The A64 Package.  And if the
    response does improve,  we have an all new list of features to
    add:

        o FAST LOADER support, especially GEOS
        o Support for C64 RAM expansion
        o More input devices
        o Complete A3000 support
        o Support for 1581 formats on Amiga drives
        o Better file transfer capabilities
        o The abilty to use C64 drives and printers with Amiga
          programs
        o Faster and more compatible (two areas that can probably
          always be improved no matter how good A64 gets)
        o Improved sprites
        o PAL support
        o Documentation and software translations for other
          countries

        And the list could go on and on...

    Remember, it is you who can help make The A64 Package the best


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    it can be.  Be either becoming a registered owner yourself or by
    helping to spread the software.  Our goal is to make The A64
    Package available to every Amiga owner who might benifit from its
    use.  We can not do this alone.  If you have some use for The A64
    Package, whether it be running C64 software on the Amiga or
    transferring files or just for the sake of nostalgia, become a
    registered owner.  And even if you don't have a use for The A64
    Package help spread the software by uploading it to a BBS or
    giving it to your local dealer or users group.  With your help we
    can reach our goal.


A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

    When I first released The A64 Package I contemplated making it a
    commercial product, but because of the reputation of past C64
    emulators I was afraid that most people would not give A64 a
    chance and would think of it as "just another emulator."  So I
    released The A64 Package as a shareware product so people could
    see for themselves that it is a quality product.  I do not regret
    this decision one bit.  We currently have registered owners in
    over 25 countries.  This is fantastic for any product, commercial
    or otherwise.  Because of this level of response I have been able
    to continue work on The A64 Package and it is now in its third
    release.  As long as the support continues I will continue
    working on The A64 Package and doing my best to provide the best
    possible C64 emulator at the lowest possible price.

    I would like to say thank you to all the people who have
    registered so far.  It is because of you that A64 V2.0 exists.

                                                       Best Regards,
                                                       Cliff Dugan




















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