[Coco] Re: Color Computer 3 prototype

[Andrew]

Hi all!

Just catching up on some email...

Wow! To see the CoCo 3 prototype - I don't think we even got to see this 
back in the Rainbow days! This is amazing! I hope it still works, or can 
be made to work. That whole thing looks very daunting to me - especially 
the lovely "rat's nest" on the backside.

The possibilities this opens up! Decoding the GIME (if it is in 
"discrete" form there - crossing my fingers) - figuring out if a 256 
color mode really exists, etc.

Regarding this - the documentation I have seen (SockMaster's stuff) - 
indicates that the "enablement" of the 256 color mode was something 
really funky and timing based - not just a few simple "pokes", but 
rather "pokes" done at certain "times" in a certain order. At least, 
that is how I read it....

What about the possibility of being able to get this prototype figured 
out, the "bugs" worked out to match real CoCo 3 systems - then reducing 
it down to today's silicon? Say to an FPGA or something? Ala that "C=64" 
joystick/game combo unit (but, something a little more useful rather 
than just games)? How would Microware respond? Or Microsoft for that 
matter? Or Tandy/RS? Would they care? Would they help?

One last thing - I haven't looked at the scans, but if they are of 
high-enough resolution, you can load the images into an editing program, 
then do flood-fills on the traces to trace lines between the chips. This 
would probably be worthless on the backside, though, what with all of 
the rat's nest of wires and such. Using a good scanner with the board 
flat on in, the images can be really nice and very useful from an RE 
standpoint.

Please, please! Keep all of this on here, or if you must move it 
off-list, let us know where it is going so we (those of us who are 
interested) can continue to follow the progress of the project. I would 
just like to see the thing come back to life...

Andrew Ayers

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> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. Re: Mac mini (Allen Huffman)
>    2. Re: "Historic" CD-i development systems... (Richard E. Crislip)
>    3. Re: "Historic" CD-i development systems... (Richard E. Crislip)
>    4. Re: Commodore Monitors (Richard E. Crislip)
>    5. Re: Looking for old software (Richard E. Crislip)
>    6. [Color Computer] Re: Looking for old software (Richard E. Crislip)
>    7. Re: Re: [Color Computer] Floppy drives on E-bay
>       (James C. Hrubik, Sr.)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2005 22:04:21 -0600
> From: Allen Huffman <alsplace at pobox.com>
> Subject: Re: [Coco] Mac mini
> To: daveekelly at earthlink.net,	CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> 	<coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Message-ID: <DCA4E723-6CF3-11D9-9B7D-000A95983AB4 at pobox.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
> 
> 
> On Jan 22, 2005, at 6:03 PM, Dave wrote:
> 
>>The desktop I am using to type this was purchased at Frys in July for 
>>$149.
>>The LCD monitor from Staples was $199 with rebates.
> 
> 
> It's not about the price as much as the form factor.  I really don't 
> like those huge towers, which is why I never repacked my CoCo :-)
> 
> 		-- Allen
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 00:21:39 +0600
> From: "Richard E. Crislip" <rcrislip at neo.rr.com>
> Subject: [Coco] Re: "Historic" CD-i development systems...
> To: Allen Huffman <alsplace at pobox.com>,	CoCoList for Color Computer
> 	Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Message-ID: <yam9884.1985.276206168 at smtp-server.neo.rr.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain
> 
> Hello Allen
> 
> On 01/22/2005, Allen Huffman wrote:
> 
>>On Jan 22, 2005, at 12:44 AM, Richard E. Crislip wrote:
>>
>>
>>>There was another out there at the same tine too. It was called the 
>>>CD32 by
>>>Commodore. It was base on the Amiga. With a couple of upgrades it 
>>>bacame an
>>>Amiga. Also before, that Commodore came out with another that was base 
>>>on
>>
>>Yes inndeed.  I never saw a CD32, but read about it.  BUT, I did have 
>>the CD based Amiga that came BEFORE the CD32 -- anyone remember that 
>>one?  I borrowed it from a friend (with a keyboard and mouse plugged 
>>in).  The only thing I remember about it was it had a genlock built in, 
>>and I used it for some VHS home movie titling.
>>
>>
>>>Maybe it was because they couldn't record to it.... whaddaya thnink?
>>
>>Price and marketing.  I mean, you can't record on DVDs and look at them 
>>today -- fastest adoption rate.  VCDs would have done the same if you 
>>could have bought a $100 VCD player.
>>
> 
> 
> True to a degree. With the right software you can record DVDs. At the time
> the CDI and the older Commodore box came out (still can't remember its name
> but it was balck and designed to look  like part of a component home
> entertainment system) CD recording wasn't available to the average
> consumer. I do agree that they high prove tag discouraged folks too. It
> discouraged me 8-).
> 
> 
>>The CoCo and other 8 bit machines ended up being more clunky and 
>>expensive when you bought all the external serial ports, disk drives, 
>>etc. that once "cheap PCs" became the norm even if the 8-bits had been 
>>better (they sure were better than the PC and much of what the AT 
>>offered), pricing would have won out.
>>
> 
> Yeah, I have to agree with you here. I was always trying to find ways to
> hide the mass of cabling required by my tricked out CoCo system. I'm pretty
> sure I paid $399 dallars for my first floppy drive and I paid $299 for the
> second to run on my $256 CoCo 2. Doesn't take long to realize I could have
> bought an AT for about the same money, but I wouldn't have had as much fun
> and I probably would not have gotten to know you fine folks either.
> 
> 
>>Hrm. I miss the days of all those competing systems.  Much more choice 
>>back then.
> 
> 
> AMEN!! It was the golden age of computing. It's such a shame we don't
> recognize those time until they are past.
> 
> Regards