[Coco] CoCo4! 50% done!

[billg999 at cs.uofs.edu]

> I would rather have a clone of a Coco 2 or 3 like the Replica I Apple I
> clone, or the clones of the Altair 8800 and other systems.
>
> Once that is debugged and available, it could always be expanded with new
> features.
>
> It doesn't have to fit in a Coco 3 case.
>
> All the chips in a Coco 2 can still be purchased, or scavenged from a Coco
> 2
> with a bad keyboard, etc...
>
> I remember seeing that someone reimplimented the GIME using discrete
> logic.
>
> I won't spend a dollar on a generic FPGA board that requires giving up
> features or ports. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I want a reproduction that
> has all the same ports and expandability as the original.
>
> Add a faster serial port dedicated to DW? Fine.
>
> Add a PS/2 Mouse and Keyboard port that transparently works like the
> originals? Great!
>
> Add a VGA or HDMI video out? Fine.
>
> Add more RAM that can be bank switched in? Great!
>
> But keep the cost low, so lots of people will buy one to play with old
> software again. Then, make a revision with new features, or include an
> expansion connector that will accommodate add-ons.
>
> Just my .02.
>

Looks to me like the biggest need is some way to hook carts up
through the external ports.  Why do I have the feeling that may
not be as hard as people are making it?  guess I'll learn when
I get my DE-1.

Oh yeah, and learn VHDL. :-)

bill