Re: Apple II VGA Video Generator Card Project

[Mark McDougall <msmcdoug@no.spam.iinet>]

Michael J. Mahon wrote:

> But with all those different "wants", doesn't it seem likely that the 
> number of people who would acquire any specific thing is a little thin?

Yes, but I'm always surprised at how many people seem to be making a 
business out of selling hardware for retro systems - though perhaps they're 
not actually making any money out of it?!?

> This sounds like a very fragmented "market".  And, starting from a "user 
> base" many times larger, how many C-One's have been sold?

Sadly, I fear it is far less than what was originally projected. I've heard 
that one distributor has been stuck with a lot of stock and has been trying 
to sell it at a loss - still with no takers. Also, it does still appear to 
have teething problems with the firmware, and support is rather 'informal' 
at best.

Pity, because it's a great idea, and I've almost been tempted to get one 
myself. Trouble is, there are only a couple of (unfinished) cores available 
for it, including VIC-20, C-64 and Amstrad CPC (not exactly setting the 
world on fire). Also personally, I think the FPGA is a little small, and 
there's a 2nd closed-source FPGA on there to interface with Compact Flash, 
video and I/O which I think detracts from the appeal to home-brew developers 
somewhat.

> Of course, if someone wants to invest their time, effort, and money to 
> build something interesting *just because they want to*, I love it!

I'd be happy to develop a product if only I could be sure that I'd get my 
money back - or perhaps enough profit for a few beers! I don't mind doing 
this stuff just for the love of it!

Regards,

--
|              Mark McDougall                | "Electrical Engineers do it
|  <http://members.iinet.net.au/~msmcdoug>   |   with less resistance!"