Welcome to the APE WARP+ OS Info Page

The Warp+ OS is a direct hardware replacment for your existing OS, so clumsy drivers and OS patches are never required!

Your high speed I/O and power user features will always be available, even when playing games and using software that would make patches and drivers impossible!

The APE Warp+ OS is not required to use APE (APE has actually been around much longer!) but once you try it, you will wonder how you ever used your Atari without it!

Features

• Ape Warp+ 3X SIO: Built-in support for APE Warp+ 3X SIO at ALL TIMES. You will no longer need to use special DOS systems (i.e. Spartados) or OS patches to get the highest possible speed from your Atari. This means your disk images will boot at 3X APE+ SIO, ALL images, even games!

• Ultraspeed device compatibility: The APE Warp+ OS is also capable of full ultraspeed operation with all Ultraspeed compatible devices, such as US Doubler Enhanced 1050's. These devices will boot at full speed, and disks formatted with Ultraspeed sector skew will enjoy full ultraspeed performance at all time, even in games!

• Backward Compatibility: The APE Warp+ OS is backward compatible with all unenhanced devices, and will dynamically switch between enhanced and unenhanced operation if you mix such devices on the SIO chain!

• Coldstart on Demand: We all know that turning your Atari on and off every time you need to reboot will shorten the life of your computer over time.

  Now you can turn on your computer once, and never cycle the power again until you are really ready to turn it off! Just hold down SELECT while pressing RESET and your computer will COLD boot, just like turning the power off!

  The Warp+ OS will not interfere with the normal warmstart/coldstart behavior of your favorite software, the SELECT key just acts as an override to the normal behavior.

• Reverse BASIC: Tired of holding down OPTION to disable BASIC? You only need BASIC 1 out of every 100 times you boot? Now you can hold OPTION to enable BASIC! BASIC is by default DISABLED with the Warp+ OS!

• Compatibility: The Warp+ OS upgrade includes 4 complete operating systems for the ULTIMATE in XL/XE speed and compatibility!
  1. APE Warp+ OS
  2. Your standard XL/XE OS
  3. A public domain Atari 800 Compatible OS for running those 800 only disks and cartridges
  4. Your Standard XL/XE OS w/ Reverse BASIC Feature

  Switching between operating systems is simple and fast! Just throw the toggle switch to the position you want and boot!

  

  Benchmarks
  Just how fast is the APE Warp+ OS? How much time will shave off those long games loads?

  Check out these benchmarks!

  	APE Warp+ OS & APE	Stock XL/XE OS using APE (at normal SIO speed)	Stock XL/XE OS using 1050 disk drive
  Alternate Reality: The City	9.7 Seconds	26.7 Seconds	34.8 Seconds
  Agent USA	12.76 Seconds	32.13 Seconds	43.71 Seconds
  Run For It!	7.94 Seconds	21.13 Seconds	28.69 Seconds
  The Pawn	24.83 Seconds	48.92 Seconds	62.2 Seconds
  Donald Duck	11.36 Seconds	26.96 Seconds	36.71 Seconds
  Simple Minds	19.7 Seconds	46.6 Seconds	57.9 Seconds

  Speed increases above range from 252% to 361% over standard load times!
  Average increase in load speed: 320.5%
  

  Installation
  

  • Professional Installation: If you feel more comfortable having the OS upgrade installed for you, see the APE Order Form for pricing.

    Complete return shipping within the USA (via UPS) is included in the installed price. International customers please contact me for return shipping prices, you will need to pay only actual shipping less $6.

    When sending your computer for OS upgrade, you will need to send the keyboard section ONLY. Do not send peripherals, cables, or power supplies.

  • Kit Form: When you order the upgrade in kit form you will recieve the upgrade only partially assembled.

    The kit includes:

    • New OS Rom
    • 2 Toggle Switches
    • 1 Socket (required if your OS rom is not socketed)
    • A length of wire

    Tools Required:

    • Soldering iron
    • Solder
    • Desoldering iron or solder wick
    • Phillips Screwdriver
    • Needle-nose pliars
    • Drill w/ around a 1/4" drillbit

    Installation requires desoldering of the old OS rom, installation of a OS rom socket, making a few solder connections to the main PCB, and drilling and installing the toggle switches.

    A complete installation guide detailing the connections to make is included with the kit.

  

  Ordering
  The APE Warp+ OS upgrade can be order along with any of my other products, just hop on over to the APE Order Form!

  If you have any questions or comments, please to not hesitate to contact me:

  • Primary E-Mail: classics@nacs.net
  • Backup E-Mail: dh395@cleveland.freenet.edu
  • Telephone: 216-237-5308
  • Snail Mail: See the APE Order Form for address.