Thierry Godefroy wrote: >>> No chance to get a "larger" (i.e. with more gates) CPLD that would fit >>> the same socket ?... Or perhaps by using a modern and larger (in both >>> size and number of gates) CPLD that would piggy-back on the old CPLD >>> socket via a small adpater printed circuit ?... >> >> I have considered that, but adaptors which fit into PLCC are >> prohibitively expensive and hard to get. > > Well, the mod could also involve unsoldering the PLCC (correct me if > I'm wrong but IRC, it's a through-holes one) and replacing it with > pinheads, for example, that would plug into the add-on board.
Yes. But that's work with some risk. >>> A native 800x600 resolution would be a definitive (and probably the >>> best) solution to the problem, so I think it would be worth investigating >>> some more its feasability... >> >> Still 800x600 would require change of all three operating systems > > These are extremely *minor* and *easy* changes (and SMSQ/E can already > cope with 800x600 screens)... Not sure how much sense QDOS Classic would make without the QL style screens, and how one would easily change it. >> and several pieces of application software! Moreover, software that directly >> writes into QL 512x256 would fail, like the beloved QL Chess. > > Frankly, such old pieces of software are probably best ran from emulators > if they can't cope with variable size/address display... They would also > fail to run on a QXL in (S)VGA mode or on an Aurora/SGC system too. I won't > call this an issue and I think this kind of "incompatibility" should not > limit and forbid us to get a better Q60 display... Well the Q60 is a retro computer now, and QDOS Classic running old software is part of the heritage. I'm reluctant to restrict the Q60 to newer QL software - the whole combination is no longer modern anyway! Also, some software like PQIV was optimized for the Qx0 aspect ratio and screen size. >> .../... >>> However, another issue with this solution could be the lack of room to >>> piggy-back a daughter board on the EPROM slots, especially with the 2 >>> ISA slots occupied and a heat-sink+fan on the 68060... >> >> It depends. Using SMD components, the board could be about as small as >> the ROM socket area. > > In this case, I think it's still worth a solution... Noted. >> Q68 runs about QXL speed, even without the cache I am working on. > > Not bad at all. > >> Features >> >> - Plain 68000 core, 68020 nearly complete >> - 32 MB SDRAM >> - PS/2 keyboard and mouse >> - Two fullsize SD card interfaces >> - SER >> - Ethernet >> - Battery buffered RTC (and yes, the battery is separate!) > > :-D I just saw that it is actually a capacitor, not a battery! The hardware design was done so long ago - I even forget the simple things. >> - Stereo sound >> - Up to 1024x768 VESA VGA, QL modes in hardware >> - 8x10 cm board size, fitting existing nice case >> - Single 5V power supply >> >> I demonstrated my Q68 at the "QL is 30" show, where someone took a picture: >> >> http://www.qlforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1087&start=10 >> >> Meanwhile I replaced the wired components you see on that picture by SMD >> for machine manufacture. QDOS Classic and Minerva are running, but >> issues with QL-SD driver and Pointer Environment. > > Sounds and looks good... The small size would make it an ideal "portable" > QL... Thanks. Who would best be able to port SMSQ/E? Peter _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List
