>> Not true of the ZX81 - the processor worked full-time outputting NTSC- >> compliant pulses to the video connector -- no real buffer in there at >> all -- and only ran commands during the blank spaces between frames. >> The processor's clock speed was "just right" to work with NTSC video. >> >> I knew that part of the ROM pretty well, since I wrote some machine >> code (NOT Assembler, mind you, but Machine Code! With my bare hands! >> Through the snow! You young-uns are so soft these days!) Back In The >> Day. You could take over from the ROM and send your own shapes, crude >> fonts, or whatever to the screen. Or you could shut off the video >> output completely so your programs ran more quickly. I always did >> this for my sorts (then, of course, turned the video back on when the >> sort finished). >> >> Ahh, you be bringin' back memories, laddie! I cut my teeth on one of >> those beauties.
Instead of the ZX81 I built, my first computer was almost an ELF. I had the board, and alot of parts but when I saw the ZX81 kit, I had to have it. I actually keep my ZX81 in the original box it shipped to me in. Perhaps I will bring it to a meet. -- I'm a PC AND I RUN LINUX!!! David Letterman - "Sometimes when you look in his eyes you get the feeling that someone else is driving." --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NLUG" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nlug-talk?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
