Subj : Re: The C64 Mini
To   : Andreas Kohlbach
From : Keith Matthews
Date : Wed Apr 04 2018 12:48:10

  Re: Re: The C64 Mini
  By: Andreas Kohlbach to Geo on Tue Apr 03 2018 17:30:25

 > On Tue, 3 Apr 2018 20:54:51 +1000, Geo wrote:
 >
 > >   To: Shaun Bebbington
 > >   Re: The C64 Mini
 > >   By: Shaun Bebbington to comp.sys.cbm on Tue Apr 03 2018 02:00:10
 >
 > >  > From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm
 >
 > >  > Hi,
 >
 > >  > I've got one of these devices; it's alright. One thing I like about it
 > >  > is that my daughter likes programming it, and making PETSCII art with
 > >  > it.
 >
 > >  > I've had to buy a USB hub to run a pen drive and keyboard at the same
 > time,
 > >  > and I've found that AC adaptors running at 2amp is best for multiple
 > devices
 > >  > like this.
 >
 > >  > A shame I can't licence JiffyDOS on it to help with the emulated drive
 > >  > speeds. --- Synchronet 3.17a-Linux NewsLink 1.108
 >
 >
 > > I was pretty disappointed to see that the KBD is not real, but then again
 > > at that size I guess it would have less usable that even a Spectrum 8-)
 >
 > The 8bitguy reviewed it on Youtube. And when he asked the company
 > producing it they said if the C64 Mini is a success they will create one
 > with a real keyboard in the future.
 >
 > [...]
 >
 > > I'm thinking about getting an Ultimate 64 board instead! 8-)
 >
 > Although I am retro too I would not go with any of these. In my opinion
 > they are just an emulator with a modern CPU (usually ARM), running on
 > Linux in a fancy box. And like in the case of the C64 Mini not even have
 > a functioning keyboard.
 >
 > You can go then with any emulator, like VICE, running it on your modern
 > PC.
 >
 > It would be okay for me though if someone recreated the main board,
 > mounted a 6510, VIC II and SID (I heard they are hard to come by). And
 > may be some logic to output a HDMI signal and have USB connector to
 > connect a keyboard and joystick.
 > --
 > Andreas
 >
 > My random toughts and comments
 > https://news-commentaries.blogspot.com/
 >

Hi Andreas,

The Ultimate 64 is pretty much what you describe. it is not emulation because
it is FPGA which is real H/W. Gideons intent for it is as a replacement board
for broken C64 motherboards, so you can still have a real C64 case and Kbd etc
, but with modern motherboard.

There are other people working on C64 motherboard replacements that you do
actually just swap chips on, but unfortunatly, it is more often thatn not the
PLA that dies, and they are impossible to obtain. Hence FPGA. 8-)

Regards..Geo
ooooOOOOoooo
--- SBBSecho 3.04-Linux
 * Origin: The Dungeon BBS Canberra, Australia. (3:712/620)

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