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

["Stephan Schaem" <tthai@mindspring.com>]

"David Ogg" <davidogg@nc.rr.com> wrote in message MPG.13dd9c209377d2c989684@news-server.nc.rr.com">news:MPG.13dd9c209377d2c989684@news-server.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!

I dont think thats true. The transmeta chip only deliver a fraction of the performance
of a core like the thunderbird at the same mhz.
And you can go in a shop and buy a single chip for under 90$ (the 1.2 gigahertz part).
But then you can get a 750mhz similare core (Duron) for 25$... thats your price.
I dont see the point in using a much slower chip like the transmeta crusoe for a desktop/booksize PC.

just to give you an idea, a crusoe TM5600 600MHz running at max power usage deliver
46 sysmark2000 , a 500mhz P3 laptop deliver 115 sysmark2000.

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

No so sure about that...

>
> 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.

Their is already so many core running on the x86... From the most obscure to
C64 & amigas.

>
> 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/!

X86 would be a better choice at all level... Unless this is for a PDA form factor.

>
> 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. :)

Computer do alot nowdays in term of multimedia because of the power they have.
I'm not so sure intel/amd etc.. just develope for people to run half life at 500FPS.

> 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!

Why would you want to pay for low performance?
Run x x86 version of the major OS... run Ti calculator or c64 class stuff under emulation.

>
> 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.

You would need native code to do software encoding on that chipat a decent speed.
Who would write all that code?

>
> 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."

Cant that be said for the x86 platform?

Stephan