[Coco] Why do a next Gen CoCo? was Any news on the so calledCoCo4 or NextCoCo

Fri Nov 19 11:41:40 EST 2010

Steve
I totally agree with you
The idea is to conserve the magnificent efforts of many people in programs 
and systems that can still give us ideas and emotions

a good emulator will be perfect

we could improve roms and other peripherals maintaining compativilidades

all and all would enjoy from

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Steve Batson" <steve at batsonphotography.com>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 12:51 PM
To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
Subject: Re: [Coco] Why do a next Gen CoCo? was Any news on the so 
calledCoCo4 or NextCoCo

> I agree with Steve on this. I've followed this thread and others on the
> topic for quite some time. I've commented a few times in the past.
>
> I really do think a good, solid emulator is the best option and here's my
> reasons.
>
> 1) Can run and millions of available boxes that most people already have
> and are cheap
> 2) Can be made "Extensible" so that add-ons can be created for it to
> continaully improve it. Can also be easily and cheaply upgraded without
> constantly spending more on hardware.
> 3) A card or USB device could allow simple connection to the PC to connect
> to Coco specific devices
> 4) Can take advantage of PC hardware, memory, storage, etc.
> 5) Replacement parts are in abundance
> 6) Emulator will live on much longer than the hardware.
> 7) Software is much easier to mass produce the hardware and certainly much
> easier and cheaper to distribute.
>
> Yes I know some whant the look and feel of a "Real Coco". Well then get a
> netbook, package it in a coco case with a Coco I/O interface device to 
> hook
> up all the ports too. With the speed and power of today's processors and
> hardware, there's absolutely no reason a well done emulator could not run
> so well you would know it wasn't the real thing. William's Arcade Classics
> that Jeff Vavasour worked on.
>
> I could go on and on. I'll just close this message with this. With the
> disagreements of hardware vs. emulation, the hardware side always seems to
> go to either look and feel of the "Real Coco" or some specialized board or
> CHIP(s) that can be used. The big issue with the hardware is, that
> eventually there won't be anyone with the knowledge of the Coco or the
> desire to keep on creating solutions in terms of products or designs that
> people can do themselves if they have the skills. If someone is dead set 
> on
> designing and building some hardware solution to meet their needs and
> taste, more power to them. There's no reason that there must only be one
> solution. Still, I think Emulation is the best choice for the reasons I
> mentioned and some I'm sure I've missed.
>
> My 2 cents! :)
>
> ----------------------------------------
>
> From: "Steve Bjork" <6809er at srbsoftware.com>
> Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 2:50 PM
> To: "CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts" <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Subject: [Coco] Why do a next Gen CoCo? was Any news on the so called 
> CoCo4
> or NextCoCo
>
> I've been watching everyone speak their minds on what the next gen CoCo
> should be. Pulling in four directions is getting nowhere, as some have
> pointed out.
>
> But you are putting the horse before the buggy, literally.
>
> I don't hear is what you are planing to use this next gen CoCo for? In
> other words, what will use it for when you are done?
>
> Are you trying to build a faster CoCo to run programs on?
>
> Oh, there is some talk about FPGA board approach can run programs about
> 10 times faster. Big deal! I can build a Linux box for the price of a
> FPGA board that will run software 1,000's times faster with better
> graphics, sound and the Internet to boot. But the FPGA board has no (or
> little) interface for CoCo hardware. (if I reading the messages right.)
> Nor will it use any modern computer technology directly. Not much of a
> next gen CoCo.
>
> Or are you trying to make modern technology accessible to the casual
> CoCo programmer?
>
> This was one of the main goals of the CoCo4.com project. (Besides
> making a CoCo emulator that could run on cheap modern computers.)
>
> The Super CoCo 4 BASIC was to support the new display graphic modes of a
> modern Digital TV along with better and easy to use sound system. Add
> in an easy to use (and understand) Internet command set (under BASIC) so
> you can use the internet like a hardcore net programmer.
>
> As you can see, the CoCo4.com project was all about unlocking modern
> computer technology in the same the computers did back in the 80's.
> Something that modern computer designers just don't do any more.
>
> All I'm saying is to layout just what you want the new computer to do
> before you put that time and $$$ into it.
>
> Steve Bjork
>
> On 11/18/2010 1:07 PM, jdaggett at gate.net wrote:
>> Frank:
>>
>> This is my observation of where the COCO4 concept is at this point:
>>
>> The COCO4, what ever it is or will be, is like a person with ropes tied
> to each arm and leg
>> with four horses pulling in all different directions. Right now the DE-2
> FPGA board approach
>> is winning out and the rest is going to be left behind. Rip to shreads
> and the pieces left for the
>> buzzards to pick.
>>
>> Any other idea or suggestion will probably meet with some resistance and
> really is not totally
>> worth persueing. Unless it solves a personal niche, it probably is no
> longer worth persueing.
>>
>> just my thoughts
>> james
>>
>>
>> On 18 Nov 2010 at 9:41, Frank Swygert wrote:
>>
>>> Still two camps -- hardware (FPGA) and software )streamlined
> emulator/OS
>>> combined). I'm of the software camp because it would be easier,
> cheaper,
>>> and quicker to accomplish. If you bought all new hardware cost would be
>>> comparable, but even an old Pentium 1I computer can be had for a song
>>> and would still have the computing power to emulate a CoCo at a
>>> relatively high speed -- though there's no reason to go so far as a P1
>>> when even P4 machines are relatively cheap now. And most of us have an
>>> older board that would be great for this at little to no cost.
>>>
>>> What I really advocate is both -- do the streamlined emulator with an
>>> advanced DECB and use it to develop a higher level Nitros, then put the
>>> resulting "machine" in an FPGA hardware configuration. Both would be
>>> compatible software wise, but for those who needed/wanted a compact
>>> board it could be done. Of course the emulation/OS combo would run
>>> easily on something like an ITX or embedded Intel board too.
>>>
>>> -------------
>>> It's the attempt at a "coco4" by Steve b. that's dead. The dream lives
>>> on!! :-)
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Nov 17, 2010 at 08:29:28AM -0800, Steve Batson wrote:
>>>
>>>>> I know many would love to see a CoCo 4 come into existence, but I
>>>> thought
>>>>> the project was dead. Says it's dead on coco4.com
>>>>>
>>>>> Is there new info or activity on this, or just more discussion?
>>>>>
>
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