Re: VGA for Carte Blanche operational

[Nama <forums6000@mac.com>]

On Apr 20, 4:13 pm, Alex Freed <alex_n...@mirrow.com> wrote:
> Well, as I mentioned before I was working on an LCD friendly
> implementation of a VGA video adapter for the CB. What I had before was
> a piece cut out of a full FPGApple that didn't look all that great on
> anything but an analog VGA display.
> Now what I consider to be a main default application for the CB is done.
> It works well enough so I don't need to keep an extra composite monitor
> on the table any more! Look at the pictures:
>
> http://alexfreed.com/FPGApple/CarteBlancheVGA.html
>
> I optimized it for the text and I dare say the text is done right. I
> made another mode for 80 col text using 640x480 and 8x8 fonts but never
> used it as the more genuine looking Apple's own font is readable enough.
>
> The graphics could be improved in a number of ways:
>
> 1. Make a (soft ?) switch turning the color off for applications using
> text or monochrome graphics on hi-res screen.
>
> 2. Implement a different "filter". For example fill-in the dark pixels
> between 2 of the same color.
>
> 3. Implement color change detection as per Apple patent.
>
> I'm not gonna do that for now. Maybe later. Maybe somebody else will do
> it first if we start manufacturing soon enough. This project is also a
> good illustration of the size of the FPGA chip. Less than 2% of logic is
> used!
>
> -Alex.

I'm planning to get the CB for my apple II+ (or maybe even two
depending on price, hint hint).
I'm optimistic that many of your/the CB implementations will also work
on the II+, especially the VGA implementation. What do you think?
80 columns on the plus with good graphics implementation sounds like
great news to me, as I've recently been looking for a great display
solution, and this could be it.

Philip