Andrew Gale wrote: > > I've often wondered whether there's an opening to use the SAM > ASIC in a simple single-board computer for electronics hobbyists... > It would use up those spare ASICs and perhaps encourage people > to devise hardware for the SAM bus. > > I was thinking of a stripped down machine on it's own pcb, with > a few (slightly modified) expansion slots -- it could have 256K > RAM (much more than any SBC usually has), an ASIC, a BASIC ROM, > monochrome video (needing just a transistor and a few resistors > to implement, rather than an MC1377P), no sound, and no MIDI - > thereby saving a few chips but permitting people to add them if > they like, and using a flash memory (approx 512K) for program > storage - much easier and cheaper than a disc drive. Oh, and > a Z80 too! Include a printer port, and use a PC keyboard, and > you'll have something much more fun to use than many of these > microprocessor trainers on the market - how many have video > output? And they all need connecting to a PC to program... this > could be programmed in-situ by lugging a TV and PC keyboard to > the installation. The whole component cost, excluding the > ASIC, could be less than 25 quid. > > Perhaps it could prolong the life of the SAM by opening it > up to a new market? > > Andy
It's a very good idea, and it's on that Bruce had done in at least one form towards the end of SAMTech - i remember seeing the prototype at ZX92.... remember seeing it Nev? Good idea. David
