[Coco] CocoRPi3 update

Thu Apr 13 22:42:04 EDT 2017

Hi Frank and Scott,

SD cards with faster speeds are the preferred way to go.

I personally use a 32GB card and it's very fast.  I believe slower cards
will impact the emulator performance (file I/O).  If slower loading of the
emulators are not an issue, card speed won't matter as much.  Once things
are loaded into memory, performance should be the same between Pi's.

My 16GB card order has been back ordered so now I'm looking for something
else.  I do have some 8GB cards (which will work) but they are only class 4
so speed will not be great.  I just tested one and it seems to work OK, so
I'll be bringing 8GB cards to the show.  I won't be charging anyone for the
cost of the cards either, but I'll only have 7 unless I can pick some up
before next weekend.  I wanted to get this into the hands of some folks at
the show as a courtesy.  I plan on bring my laptop so if others bring
cards, I can dump the image to them.

I will be posting the image and initial documentation sometime over the
weekend.  I'll post the links as soon as they are ready.

As an FYI (as I don't recall if I mentioned it), but local copy of
Drivewire on the image can be used to host files to the emulators
themselves as well as a real Coco - depending on what you want to do.  It
just requires a USB to serial adapter for use with a real Coco.

Looking forward to the show and hope to see a large attendance!

-Ron

On Thu, Apr 13, 2017 at 7:47 PM, Frank Pittel <fpittel at gmail.com> wrote:

> The local microcenter sells 16gig cards cost $1 more than an 8gig card. The
> bigger card is a much better deal.
>
> On Thu, Apr 13, 2017 at 7:27 PM, Scott Wendt <malfunct at msn.com> wrote:
>
> > I wouldn't say that.
> >
> >
> > A smaller initial image is good because it allows people who want to use
> > smaller cards to have that option, but raspbian can be expanded to fit
> > larger cards easily so if you want 16gb go for it.
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Coco <coco-bounces at maltedmedia.com> on behalf of Frank Pittel <
> > fpittel at gmail.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2017 4:44:17 PM
> > To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
> > Subject: Re: [Coco] CocoRPi3 update
> >
> > Does this mean 8gig microSD cards are preferred to 16gig?
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Apr 13, 2017 at 6:22 PM, Glen Hewlett <glen.hewlett at sympatico.ca
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I just posted this on Facebook too.
> > >
> > > This is great Ron <https://www.facebook.com/ron.
> > klein.9461?hc_location=ufi>,
> > > I'm looking forward to playing with the image you created.
> > >
> > > About a year and a half ago I 3D modelled a CoCo 1 and uploaded it to
> > > thingiverse. At the time I also hacked my model to hold a Raspberry Pi
> > 3! I
> > > found my STL file and I just uploaded it to thingiverse for anyone who
> > > wants to 3D print there own CoCoPi The link to the 3D model is:
> > > http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2247877 <http://www.thingiverse.com/
> > > thing:2247877>
> > >
> > > Enjoy,
> > > Glen
> > >
> > > > On Apr 12, 2017, at 3:55 PM, Ron Klein <ron at kdomain.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi Steve,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Wed, Apr 12, 2017 at 2:32 PM, Steve Strowbridge <
> > > ogsteviestrow at gmail.com <mailto:ogsteviestrow at gmail.com>>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> This is great Ron, are you going to be at CoCoFEST! again this year?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yes, I plan to be at CocoFEST again this year.  I live about an hour
> > > north
> > > > of there (in Kenosha, WI).
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> Will
> > > >> you bring one to demo? Love to see it, and I'd be interested in
> > getting
> > > a
> > > >> CoCoPi at some point if it was user friendly enough, I'm not
> hardware
> > > handy
> > > >> with soldering and assembly of boards and such.
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > > I'm bringing a few things this year and sharing a table by Brett.
> I'll
> > > > have a real Coco 3 and Roger's Nanomate (to use with Brett's
> > > > Fuzix/networking presentation).  I'm also bringing my RPi3 along
> with a
> > > > handful of 16GB SD cards with the CocoPi3 distribution ready to run.
> > The
> > > > RPi3 doesn't require any building.  Just add an SD card and power
> > supply
> > > > (unless you by a package that includes it).  Check out Amazon...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >>
> > > >> Now we just need John Strong to make a 3D CoCo shaped case for it,
> if
> > he
> > > >> hasn't already.
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > > Oh heck yes!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> What is the output? HDMI? What do you use for controllers? any
> > standard
> > > >> USB?
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > > Built-in HDMI.  It also has composite video available on the GPIO
> > header
> > > > block.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> How is the software selection and menu updated?
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > > It uses Raspbian as the base OS (Linux based).  I just add the
> > emulators,
> > > > menu and a few scripts to it.  The SD image I will be providing has
> > > > everything ready to go.  Copy the image to an 8GB (or higher) SD card
> > and
> > > > you're ready to go.  The RPi3 has built-in 100Mbit network jack,
> WiFi,
> > > > Bluetooth and 4 USB ports.
> > > >
> > > > I use a USB keyboard and mouse.  I also have a Nintendo Wii-U Pro
> > > > Controller that works perfectly with the Bluetooth.  Raspbian
> supports
> > it
> > > > right out of the box.  I chose that controller as it has digital and
> > > analog
> > > > controls.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> Is there a blog/project site for this? Love to add it to my CoCo
> links
> > > >> page.
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > > I do not.  :(  I need to think about setting one up.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >>
> > > >> Thanks for putting in the effort, what a cool project.
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > > Thank you.  I hope others find it interesting enough to try.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >>
> > > >> Steve Strowbridge, aka
> > > >> The Original Gamer Stevie Strow
> > > >> http://ogsteviestrow.com
> > > >> ogsteviestrow at gmail.com
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> On Wed, Apr 12, 2017 at 3:17 PM, Ron Klein <ron at kdomain.org> wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>> Hi just posted this on Facebook as well, but wanted to post here as
> > > well
> > > >>> (for those of you not on Facebook).
> > > >>>
> > > >>> The initial CocoPi3 distribution image has been created. It only
> > needs
> > > to
> > > >>> be downloaded and copied to an SD card. It will automatically boot
> > > right
> > > >> to
> > > >>> a menu system. A few things to note:
> > > >>>
> > > >>> The file system size came in just under 4 GB but would not quite
> fit
> > > on a
> > > >>> 4GB SD card. When I created the image, I did so from an 8GB card.
> > When
> > > >>> compressed (via zip) the download file size will be approximately
> > > 3.3GB.
> > > >> I
> > > >>> will continue to look for ways to improve the package and
> > distribution
> > > >>> system, but for now it is what it is.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> I have created some initial documentation to provide with the SD
> card
> > > >>> image. It will need updating and I'm sure I've missed things, but
> > > wanted
> > > >> to
> > > >>> make something available as quickly as I could. For those who are
> > > >>> interested in trying this distribution, I welcome any feedback
> (good
> > or
> > > >>> bad). I'm hoping others will find the project enjoyable and
> > > expand/modify
> > > >>> it as they see fit. It would be great to see other ideas, etc.,
> > shared
> > > >> with
> > > >>> the rest of this great Coco community.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> I've been contacted by a few people who were kind enough to offer
> > some
> > > >>> hosting options for me. I will make sure to provide links for the
> SD
> > > card
> > > >>> image and documentation soon.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> One final note - I've thoroughly enjoyed my time spent on getting
> > Coco
> > > >>> emulation running the RPi3. It's not perfect, but it's certainly a
> > very
> > > >>> good start to something I think may become more popular as an
> > > >> "alternative"
> > > >>> way to enjoy a Coco experience. I will still always prefer my real
> > Coco
> > > >>> hardware but this project may help expose others to the Coco world
> > and
> > > >> get
> > > >>> them more interested in our hobby. Perhaps enough to look for real
> > Coco
> > > >>> equipment. I realize that emulation can be run any many types of
> > > >>> workstations. The CocoPi3 projects provides a standard platform for
> > > >> running
> > > >>> the emulators -- using the exact same equipment, software., etc..
> > From
> > > a
> > > >>> community support perspective, it has it's pluses.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Thanks!
> > > >>>
> > > >>> -Ron
> > > >>>
> > > >>> --
> > > >>> Coco mailing list
> > > >>> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> > > >>> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
> > > >>>
> > > >>
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> > > >>
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> > >
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> > >
> >
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> >
>
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