Re: Super GS

["The Meikles" <action1@telusplanet.net>]

I agree that emulators are one way to go, but a 32bit  hardware emulator
would be so cool and IMHO would also be well received. They have just
announced over on the commodore boards that a company in europe is going to
start making the Amiga again and there is way more development over there
than in the Apple II world. We all know that the Apple is twice the machine
as the commodore (not saying I don't like the C64 as I have 2 of them)  The
Commodore world also has the super cpu add on for the c64 taking to spec
surpasing the GS. Instead of shrinking as most people think the market is
doing I know for a fact from my ebay sales that the market is growing.
Things like Bell and Howell II+'s go to collectors, but I sell lots of IIe's
to people wanting a computer that they can easily get started on. I honestly
think there is a market for a new machine, perhaps more so now than in 1994
when you worked on the Avatar. ( side note: I nearly cried when you didn't
release the Avatar. I bought all the Resource Central stuff on it to :)) The
increasing success of Linux, and several other alternative operating systems
shows that people want an alternative to windows And Apple sales numbers
indicate that its not them. There may not be loads of money in it, but I
think it would more than break even and it'll be fun.

Sheane


> The design was using a Xylinx gate array circa 1992-1994. Nowadays the
only
> hardware you would have to supply is a low-cost DSP to emulate the Ensoniq
> chip. Everything else could be emulated quickly in software using a modern
> CPU. Don't forget that the IIgs normally ran at 2.6 Mhz and CPU's today
are
> going at 500Mhz to 1000 Mhz. This means running in emulation, a zipped
IIgs
> is no problem.
>
> Even a low-life 66 Mhz 486 can emulate a standard IIgs.
>
> The best CPU to use today would either be a StrongARM or a PowerPC. I'd
shy
> away from the Intel line but there are several low-cost models you could
> use.
>
> The real issue is why would you build a machine? Emulators like Bernie are
> already available and can turn a PowerBook into a nifty IIgs laptop.
Unless
> you REALLY REALLY wanted to plug in your old hard drive cards or other
> peripherals, there is no compelling reason to build a computer from
scratch.
>
> On the other hand, doing a PowerPC processor board that plugs into a IIgs
> slot would be a neat trick.
>
> Burger
>