[Coco] Future CoCo discussion (was CoCoNet)

[Frank Swygert]

We are definitely thinking along similar lines! One thing I noticed when looking at the mini X86 compatible boards is that a lot of the smaller ones don't have much I/O on the board itself, but on expansion cards. I only looked at those with video built in (standard VGA monitor), as that would be imperative. But it might be acceptable to use a standard CoCo as a terminal to one of those, or connected via something like CoCoNet. I really like the old Ampro "Little Board", but they are still expensive (over $500... the LB is in 5.25" drive format, a full computer could be built in a single full height drive case). PC/104 types are cheaper. 

I really like the idea of using USB storage devices, that would be a nice addition. CoCoNet gives that access though. Which brings me back to using a mini X86 compatible in a case with a hard drive with CoCoNet. Add a USB connector to it and you could even have printer emulation built in, solving all the storage and printing problems in one piece of hardware connected to the "useless" bit-banger port. 

Too bad I can't program anymore! I only had a decent knowledge of DECB, and even then had to rely a lot on notes/books to struggle through a good program! The only thing I ever wrote that was really good was "The CoCo Family Recorder" (I think that's the name...) genealogy database. I cehated on that one -- I started out trying to port a DOS program, but had to re-write 80% or more of it for the CC3. I did credit the other program though, in the title screen I had "based on" that program. It was a LOT more than a conversion -- only the menus could more or less be converted, everything that really did something had to be extensively re-written. Still, I had a nice "road map" to follow, which was extremely helpful! 

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Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:14:28 -0500
From: jdaggett at gate.net
Subject: Re: [Coco] Future CoCo discussion (was CoCoNet)

Frank I tend to agree with you in that there are those that want emulation 
and those that would like hardware. 

Hardware route using an FPGA is best taken using existing boards. The 
problem there is no one board is "prefect" for a Coco4. Ones that would be 
near perfect also exceed the $500 price tag. Virtex/5 boards can exceed 
$1000.  

designing one exclusively for Coco4 may not be a viable cost alternative. 
Any large FPGA is going to require an 8 layer board as the chip will be in 
BGA package. Better to use a less perfect development board that has 
sufficient expansion capability and add boards to the expansion ports. 

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