Re: If you could design a $300 homecomputer today, what would you choose?

[David Ogg <davidogg@nc.rr.com>]

In article <PXD47.853$bl.47003@news.siol.net>, brankob@avtomatika.com 
says...
> 
> >
> > Besides, isn't the 6502 limited to 64kB chunks.  Apple simply
> > implemented some sort of paging mechanism to access the 128kB found
> > in later models (IIe/IIc).  Likewise for the 192kB card which I
> > have lying around here, somewhere.  (Though my understanding is
> > the 1MB card for the 8-bit machines used some sort of window into
> > memory.)
> >
> > Byron.
> 
> 
> Why not using 80386, then ? It has it all- MMU and segmented adressing, and
> one
> even gets a several 100's bytes of cache ? ;o)

How about Transmeta's Crusoe? This would outsell everything mentioned 
thus far I guarantee it. It can emulate anything, including x86 at 
native speed! 

Can you imagine UAE ported to Crusoe as its code-morphing layer? 
incredible.

Modules could be made for just about ANY old school CPU/platform, and an 
OS wouldn't need to be developed for it, as it could run these platforms
OS's natively, maybe even in addition to a custom OS.

Marketing would be a piece of cake, as you could use it from anything 
from a Kiosk to a webserver, an Amiga emulator to a Unix portable.
Webpad's, PDA replacements, hardware controllers, you name it, this 
thing would be /versatile/!

And the best part is it's /current technology/. Face it, if it can't run
Half-Life or get 200fps in Quake, your only buyers will be the people
currently reading this thread. :)

Linux Geeks would love it! (if only because Linus works for transmeta). 
Slashdot would pimp the hell out of it, you wouldn't even need to market 
it :)

Hell, I'd buy one and just run it as my mail/webserver and 
router/firewall. transmeta already has a custom linux distribution
available for it. Not only that, but it could be offered in several 
packages, you want WinXP on it? No problem!

The market could even be expanded to commercial vendors, it would be a 
viable replacement for say, the hardware TiVo uses now. Cable 
descramblers, Sattelite receivers, hell, I can think of very little
you couldn't make this thing do.

R&D required? very little, the hardware is ALL standard, and already
made, produced, and sold, not to mention it already has HUGE "geek 
mindshare."

--David Ogg
Then again, maybe not?