[Coco] Future CoCo discussion (was CoCoNet)

[Frank Swygert]

Didn't really mean to hi-jack the CoCoNet thread, so replies will be in this new thread: 

You weren't "shooting me down" James, I really think I understand. Those just wanting to play games and such from their youth probably won't mind emulation at all. Those true "retro" computer admirers prefer the hardware as well. 

The only partial hardware solution is the FPGA idea. Some of the hardware will have to be emulated, but the thing could have a CC3 mode and an enhanced mode, including faster hardware. If something like the old "512K BASIC" could be implemented in DECB that would be fantastic, but then backward compatibility would be lost. I liked the ease of programming the CoCo in BASIC, though there's hardly a point now. With the FPGA unit you can just "throw some mgHz" at the problem of speed. Doesn't help memory access, but that can partially be addressed with programming, especially with RAM drives and such that lots of memory make available, and faster drive hardware. 

I wrote a program once that used a RAM drive on a CC3 -- it took a bit to load from disc, but ran fast once loaded. To reduce a power interruption from causing data loss, data was still written to disc. The main program was mostly a menu that called other programs to do specialized tasks then return to the menu.

Emulating the entire system is doable NOW with relative ease and little expense. A software package designed to take over a PC entirely (or rather mask PC identity) could be run on any old cheap Pentium PC. I had wanted to set my old 486 HP Omnibook laptop up that way using Keil's DOS emulator, but HP used some strange screen drivers and such that aren't 100% compatible without special drivers, and there are no DOS drivers, just Windows 95/98. No point in setting it up with all the overhead of Windows. 

I don't find the hardware issue as that important, not when 100% of the existing hardware can be emulated. I can only see the absence of a cartridge port as a block to those who want to use the emulated CoCo for one of it's strengths -- interfacing with the real world. Either a ISA/PCI card could be designed and programmed to emulate a cartridge port or the PC parallel port could possibly be reprogrammed to act in a similar manner. 

We have to face the same fact that Motorola did when they went from 6800 architecture to 68000 -- there can't be 100% backward compatibility if you want a lot more power. 80-90% CoCo3 software compatibility (which would mean 60-75% CoCo 1/2 compatibility, I think) should be an acceptable figure. All the hardware is so old (with the exceptions of Cloud-9's stuff, and a few other exceptions) in age and technology that there's no real reason to lament hardware compatibility. It could be possible with either method, but is it that necessary? 

--------------
From: James Dessart <skwirl42 at gmail.com>

On 12/27/08, Frank Swygert <farna at att.net> wrote:


> > What I find ambiguous is ... that the emulators do the same thing, only run on a PC
> > also. While the idea is to make the PC a slave to the CoCo instead of the
> > other way around, it just seems like a lot of trouble for nothing. I suppose
> > it's good for sharing files between the two systems, or using the PC to
> > download DSK files then install on the CoCo. I suppose those who have a CoCo
> > and PC both set up at and in use at the same time will find it more useful
> > though. The PC can easily serve the CoCo while still doing other things.
>   

The idea is to avoid too much extra hardware, and yet still allow the
PC to serve up files to the CoCo...<snip> Perhaps the CoCo has been set up
with a Drivewire/CoCoNet ROM of some sort, and can boot directly from
the serial port.

In the case of CoCoNet, you could even have your CoCo boot directly
from nightly Nitros-9 builds put up by someone on the internet,
theoretically.

As for an emulator, even a dedicated one, with CoCo "compatible"
hardware, it still wouldn't be a real CoCo, and I don't think the
enthusiasts of real CoCo systems would be interested. The people who
are willing to use an emulated CoCo will just use a PC with an
emulator.

Not to shoot you down or anything, I'm just trying to explain why this
is probably a preferable solution.

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)