Prevue (ESQ)

Prevue Grid displaying an ad

Prevue Grid, also known as "blue grid", was the final iteration of the Prevue software, used from 1993-1999. Like Prevue List and EPG Sr., Prevue Grid ran on the Amiga platform. There were many differences between these three Amiga-based software editions, however. Whereas Prevue List displayed a list of what was currently on on each channel, then what would be on in the future at different times, the Prevue Grid showed what was on each channel currently and in the future at the same time.

The Prevue Grid software had 3 different names over the course of its history: Prevue Guide, Prevue Channel, and lastly, for just a few months, TV Guide Channel. Only one version of the Prevue Grid software, which is thought to be the final version, is currently known to be on the internet. This is version 9.0.4, with TV Guide Channel branding.

YouTube clip: Blue Grid example

The Blue Grid software initializing (with a custom serial number)

Specifications

This version of the Prevue Grid software requires the following minimum specifications:

• 2.04 or 2.05 Kickstart ROM
• Chip RAM: 1.0MB
• Fast RAM: 1.0MB
• CPU: 68000
• Chipset: ECS

When running it under emulation, it's a good idea to make the window size 760x480 - this causes the image to be perfectly centered in the window. To create screenshots with the proper aspect (to simulate what you'd get from a video capture on a real Amiga), crop the 760x480 screenshots down to 740x480, then resize it using a bilinear algorithm to 640x480.

Common Amiga Guru Meditation error produced by Prevue Grid

This particular Guru Meditation error is caused by insufficient chip RAM. Insufficient fast RAM will not cause a Guru Meditation, but it will cause the software to throw an ER011 error and freeze up. It is not compatible with Kickstart 3.1 - the software will boot, but there are major graphical problems. It is compatible with the AGA chipset, but requires softkicking with a 2.x ROM in order to avoid the glitches.