[Coco] The Tri-Annual CoCo 4 Thread

[Brian Blake]

Bill,

I personally don't see it happening. Unless someone is willing to go it 
alone, I doubt we'll ever see a consensus in this group about a next 
generation CoCo.
I'd love to be proven wrong on that. But at nearly every turn, 
conflicting ideologies have come to the internet version of a 
slobber-knocker before people got disheartened and stopped.
The CoCo-X is a great example of how people react. The biggest dust up 
wasn't even about it's functionality; rather where he was willing to ship.

I cannot comment on the email Steve received, but, I have no doubt his 
claims are legit.

There's been talk of making a drop it replacement for the GIME, but, i 
have no idea what, if any, progress has been made. John Kowalski 
designed a circuit for a 4MHz CPU upgrade for the CoCo3, but, again, 
nobody has done anything with it to make it practical.

As for current add-ons, the long awaited SuperBoard has much potential. 
Darren's CoCo SDC adapter (can't wait to test) offers functionality all 
other virtual disk devices and software fail to (i.e.: ability to handle 
software using funky DSKCON routines). There's a lot out there, but, not 
much that actually improves upon what the CoCo currently is, and nothing 
that can actually replace a bad motherboard or GIME chip.

 From my perspective, the DE-1 board is the best route to go at this 
stage, unless the CoCo-X makes a come-back and can garner the support it 
needs. Based on the results the first time around, I doubt it...



Brian


On 2/6/2014 3:36 PM, Bill Loguidice wrote:
> Is a true CoCo 4 even necessary at this point? The original idea behind the
> CoCo 4 (or CoCo 4s, more correctly) was to have a current platform for CoCo
> users to move to after the CoCo 3's demise. Obviously, that ship has long
> since sailed. Maybe we can agree that it's important to recreate the CoCo 3
> as closely as possible and offer "transparent" improvements, like a faster
> clock speed, improved audio-video modes, etc., that can optionally be taken
> advantage of. The need to replicate the CoCo 3 solves the problem of these
> machines breaking down and replacement parts no longer being available,
> helps the main platform spread in usage, etc., but can still do things that
> a normal CoCo 3 never could if one so chose.
>
> Of course, there are examples of modern "simple" add-ons for platforms like
> the ColecoVision (Super Game Module), Atari 7800 (XM), and the F18A, the
> latter of which is a simple drop in chip for the TI-99/4a, MSX, and
> ColecoVision/Adam platforms that is an FPGA-Based TMS9918A video chip
> replacement offering VGA modes and accelerated performance if programmed
> for. This community is probably a bit too small for something like that,
> and you still have the problem of needing to indefinitely maintain original
> hardware. I mean, even with the ColecoVision getting things like the Super
> Game Module and being able to use the F18A, etc., work is still being done
> on an FPGA-replacement that fits in the original case. In short, there are
> plenty of other communities we can look to for examples of how they're
> tackling the problem.
>
> The question remains, how will THIS community come to a general consensus
> of a direction to rally around?
>
> -Bill
>
> ===================================================
>   Bill Loguidice, Managing Director; Armchair Arcade,
> Inc.<http://www.armchairarcade.com>
> ===================================================
> Authored Books<http://www.amazon.com/Bill-Loguidice/e/B001U7W3YS/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_1>and
> Film <http://www.armchairarcade.com/film>; About me and other ways to get
> in touch <http://about.me/billloguidice>
> ===================================================
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 6, 2014 at 3:18 PM, Steve <6809er at srbsoftware.com> wrote:
>
>> Its been a good thread on what the different member of the CoCo community
>> want in the way of a CoCo 4.
>>
>> That been the problem all along, many different views on what it should
>> be.  Sometimes its about software running a PC or CoCo3FPGA camp that
>> pushes their agenda forward.
>>
>> But that is the problem,  It's more about how you want to make the CoCo 4
>> then what the CoCo 4 do!  There has been so much fighting over this point
>> that nothing can ever move forward. Because of fear that their dream of a
>> CoCo 4 will not happen they go as far to try and kill the  others idea.
>>
>> I know this first hand when I was trying to move forward on hybrid CoCo 4
>> that used a PC and some hardware to make a new CoCo 4.  But the hate mail
>> was so bad that it took all the fun out of the project.  So, i killed it.
>>
>> Till the CoCo community can unite on what the CoCo 4 should do, nothing
>> will ever get done.
>>
>> Steve
>>
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