[Coco] Any news on the so called CoCo4 or Next CoCo project that Bjork was heading?

[John Kent]

On 22/10/2010 12:36 PM, Aaron Wolfe wrote:
> On Thu, Oct 21, 2010 at 8:57 PM, Frank Swygert<farna at att.net>  wrote:
>> The FPGA solution ISN'T cheaper than an inexpensive generic P4 computer.
>> Even a new small basic computer has everything needed and is no more than
>> the Altera DE-1 board -- and it has everything needed including a hard
>> drive, unlike the DE-1.  Actually I'd start with something like this:
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119018
>> or this:
>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856107036
>>
>> I know, not complete systems. The only complete systems at NewEgg have the
>> OS (Win7 Home) with them, but are still not much more than the DE-1 and FPGA
>> at $299 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883114089,
> The Altera DE1 costs only $150.
>

There is also the power/performance issue. The DE1 board can be powered 
off the 5V 500mA USB power.
If you use something like a Beagle Board to emulate a CoCo, you may have 
low power but you are limited in speed.
If you use a desk top PC to get the speed you are using 100W for the CPU 
alone.
I don't think a PC emulator can perform at the speed of direct hardware 
emulation.

The DE1 board runs the CPU at 25MHz, which I think out performs most PC 
emulators.
I do have some 10" 800 x 600 LCD panels that could be interfaced to the 
DE1 board.
I picked them up at a local disposal store for about $50 each.
They have the usual horizontal and vertical sync inputs, display enable 
and direct RGB bits to drive the display.
The DE1 board has two 40 pin expansion connectors which would make 
interfacing the LCD displays quite easy.
The problem I have is making an adapter for the connectors.
TerASIC do have an LCD panel for the DE1 board although it might be a 
bit small for a CoCo3 display.
The difficulty is in getting laptop case that will fit everything in.

John.

-- 
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