Re: Vintage Computing Advice

[PZ <skierpaul@yahoo.com>]

On Apr 28, 11:15 am, Jason <jasonb1...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On 2009-04-28 19:03:35 +0700, Steven Hirsch <snhir...@gmail.com> said:
>
> > Jason wrote:
>
> >> Video:  I'd like to use an existing LCD panel display I have (with VGA
> >> input).  I note that several companies manufacture composite video to
> >> VGA converter boxes for $40-$60.  Can anyone comment whether this
> >> produces an acceptable display?  I'd prefer to avoid dealing with an
> >> older CRT if I can avoid it.
>
> > I do not think you'll be very happy with the picture from a
> > composite-to-VGA converter.  This has been discussed to death on
> > earlier threads.
>
> I did a bit of digging with Google and found a few threads that touched
> on it.  I couldn't find any reference to something like this:  http://www.ambery.com/vitoxgacoscs.html It seems like the perfect
> solution to avoid using an old monitor or waiting around for some FPGA
> jockey to come up with a hack to read the display memory directly and
> then output a VGA signal.  The question is, does it work as well as the
> manufacturer claims?
>
>
>
> >> Program storage:  I understand some people may enjoy the swishing sound
> >> the Disk ][ drive makes when loading programs, but I can live just fine
> >> without managing a large stack of floppies and worrying about keeping
> >> them away from magnetic fields and wondering when they may go bad on
> >> me.  I see there is a CFFA adapter for the larger Apple // computers,
> >> and there has been some talk of creating one for the //c, but it is
> >> still presumably vaporware and some time off, no?  Are there any
> >> alternatives?  I see the 8-bit Atari platform has a nice adapter
> >> (SIO2PC I belive it's called) that allows the Atari to connect to a
> >> modern PC with the PC emulating many different peripherals
> >> simultaneously.  Is there anything analagous that will work on a //c?
>
> > The SVD is designed to connect directly to a Disk ][ controller.  
> > AFAIK, the //c has a different electrical interface that's closer to a
> > SmartPort (is this correct, or am I getting mixed up with something
> > else?)
>
> Folks around here seem to be FPGA-happy.  Might it not be faster (from
> a development standpoint) to use an inexpensive PIC or AVR
> microcontroller to interface an SD card to the //c or is the added
> flexibility of an FPGA really necessary?
>
> In the meantime, the SVD looks like just the ticket...
>
>
>
> > I have an SIO2PC for my Atari 800XL and agree that something of this
> > sort would be helpful for a //c.  It would have been ideal if the //c
> > had a functional LocalTalk interface.  There is some stub code in the
> > ROM for LocalTalk support, but I don't think it's complete or
> > functional.
>
> >  From everything you've said, I suspect you'd be happier with a //e
> > (although that does not solve the video issues).
>
> I always wanted a //c.  Given the lack of room in my tiny study, I
> think I'd be better off with a //c right now, though I suppose if I
> really get bitten by the vintage computing bug I might pick up a //e as
> well.  The //c+ computers are way overpriced these days and the //gs
> isn't my cup of tea either.
>
> --
> Jason

I have to second your opinion on the AVR's.  Especially when there are
C, Pascal and even Basic compilers available for them, they are
extremely easy to develop for. If you want tighter operation you can
use an assembler.  However, for timing critical issues like video,
then CPLD's and FPGAs are still the way to go.

- Paul