Nasta wrote:
>Yes, the original idea behing the GoldFire was to use the QXL version of
>SMSQ as the basis for it, as that is the closest related hardware.
I don't think so. The Q40 is *much* nearer to your earlier announcement
than the QXL. Think about memory map, interrupt structure, screen memory,
Qubide, IO chips and so on.
>The 040 would have to run at it's highest clock available (or close enough)
>to compete with a (at the time) cheaper 5102
The 68040 doesn't just compete, it clearly outperforms the 5102. It's a
pity that you have cancelled the GoldFire. I would have enjoyed to see the
Q40 win the benchmarks ;-)
>You have to understand that developing QL hardware is very much a passion
>for me, not intended for generating profit
That's really not hard for me to understand, as I am in the same position.
>The idea is really to cover the costs of manufacture, and of course,
>the necessary firmware, that's all.
If you cover the costs, you'll "earn" a lot more than I did.
>In that venue, any notion that I would be introducing new paperware to foil
>the success of someone elses hardware, is completely absurd.
Absolutely. I already said that I don't complain about your paperware. You
just provoked a comment, because you stated that your announcements mean no
competition to Q40 and Q60. I think they mean competition - why not?
>Also, the GF has not been canceled
Point of view. I remember well that you described the Coldfire 5102 CPU as
the very heart of the GoldFire and it's multiplexed bus as the most
essential feature that turned the project from fantasy into "must be done".
You also ephasized the importance of the smaller CPU size compared to PGA
chips.
Now this announced GoldFire CPU and its long promoted "must be" features
are gone! Why not admit that it is cancelled? Even if you re-use the
peripherals, your new announcement is something different than the
GoldFire, and has moved somewhat into the direction of the Q60. (Not a bad
direction ;-))
>To tell the truth, there is nothing I'd like more than cooperating in a
>design of the 'ultimate QL'...
On one hand it is nice to hear that you still have dreams. As long as there
are such dreams, the spirit of the QL is not dead.
On the other hand, I never had plans or hopes to build the 'ultimate QL'.
Because the 'ultimate QL' is a machine that will never be finished. (Which
does not mean that unfinished machines are the ultimate QL's.)
All the best
Peter
