Thomas Harte wrote: > (don't have a clue what mode 2 was all about though, thinking in > retrospect, was it something like Spectrum style with a higher colour > resolution?)
Yeah, similar to the Spectrum but with an attribute byte for each data byte, and without the annoying layout! ;-) > and, ummm, the size of the floppy discs! Standard format is the same as the +D: 800K, 780K available for data. > All I've found online is the unfinished technical manual at nvg, is > there anywhere else I can get information? I think that might be Simon Cooke's unofficial technical manual that you've seen. You really need to get hold of the original official technical manual for a description of graphics modes, keyboard, memory, sound chip, floppy drive, etc. It doesn't contain any on the mouse or clock (and other peripherals), but it's still the best SAM reference out there. Unfortunately, I'm not sure where you can a copy from now, but I'm sure someone else on the list will know. My first bet would be to try Bob Brenchley, if he's reappeared. > Judging by the state and number of the only available emulator compared > to the state and number of Spectrum emulators, I am assuming there is > some complex voodoo going on at some point, but there you go. I guess it's just because it's not as well known as Spectrum - there were an awful lot more Spectrums than SAMs! Only one person I know has heard of the SAM, and he returned it shortly after buying it (back in '89) because he wasn't happy with it! SimCoupe is really the only serious contender as a SAM emulator at the moment, and it's still being worked on, so watch this space... I'd say it's more difficult to emulate than the Spectrum, mainly (I'd say) because a lot of the software is very timing sensitive. Things like hi-resolution colour support can be optional in a Spectrum emulator but is really a must for the SAM, or not even the startup screen will appear correctly! > How does a Z80B differ to a regular Z80 anyway? And what about every > other aspect of the machine? It runs at 6MHz instead of 3.5MHz (for the Spectrum), but other than that's is about the same. RAM contention eats a chunk of the 6MHz for normal SAM running. > Any good online sources, or do I need to track down a copy of the > original, finished, technical manual? I'd start with the techincal manual, and maybe have a browse around the SimCoupe source code to learn some additional bits and pieces. To supplement that diet you can always ask questions here too... Si
