>
> > Just a few more thoughts on s/w and h/w...
> >
> ROM swapping is the trick that I'm going to use... it's SAM
> compatible in the way that the normal ports on the ASIC are going to
> be used as "transfer ports" -- ie they don't access the chips direct
> any more, but get stuffed into latches for the appropriate other
Good stuff. I was wondering how you were intending to cope with that without
any s/w traps.
> z80's to handle it.. only in SAM emulation mode though. The OS will
> be a DOS, with extension files on disc to hook it and bodge it if
> necessary -- if we can, we'll use EEPROMs so that upgrades can be
> freebies..
>
Yeah, sounds like the best bet, especially if you're not mass-producing.
> > But is the new machine going to jump straight into BASIC like SAM does, or
> > into a CLI or even a (shock, horror) GUI? I'm for the CLI, as you can do
> > whatever you like once you're there, tho that would mean you'd have to write
> > a fairly comprehensive OS if it's going to be any good.
>
> It'll probably be a menu, with a *really* fancy screen, and a choice
> of either 1) SAM, 2) CLI, 3) GUI or 4) BASIC... of course, using the
> CMOS battery-backed BIOS ram (in the keyboard processor section),
> you'll be able to make it start up in any mode you want --
> AUTOMATICALLY--. That's apart from bog-standard SAM mode, which you
> will have to SAY you want :) Possibly. It's just a matter of
> switching the appropriate ROM in really... there may be ways around
> it.
OK, or how about a standard boot-up into one of them, and you can change it
by holding down keys or mouse buttons or whatever. Look at the Amiga, for
example (apologies to anybody who doesn't like me going on and on about the
Amiga, but I happen to think it's a great machine) - on all but the earliest
ROMs you could access a boot menu by holding down both mouse buttons, which
allows you to select the boot device and also to disable any device you like,
if for example, it takes up a chunk of memory that you desperately need for
something else.
> > (Anybody out there who _likes_ windoze?)
>
> I do. It's better than nothing.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That's debatable :-)
> The Sound unit will work in this way:
> [ ]
With standard sound outputs, instead of a DIN plug? (please...)
> Si
Nige
