Re: Another New Hardware Thought

[Roger Johnstone <roger@roger.geek.nz.removethisbit>]

In <09jsg4-pdn.ln1@escape.goid.lan> Charles Shannon Hendrix  wrote:
> 
> Of course, what I would really like to see is a new small computer
> designed and sold.
> 
> Current "home" systems are far too complex to learn inside and out.  
> The GPU alone on my current PC is more complicated than an entire 
> mainframe of 20 years ago.
>
> It would be nice to have useful small machines where newbies could 
> learn them inside and out like we did the 8-bit systems in the early 
> days.
>
> Take a good look at any kid who grew up with computers recently.  They
> might do a lot with them, but they know almost nothing about them.

Forget PCs. If you want a simple 8-bit computer system that's still 
being actively developed and sold buy a microcontroller developer kit. 
Some of the kits are available for very low prices, the documentation is 
generally excellent and freely downloadable, and for many there are free 
BASIC and C compilers available. If you program it in assembly you'll 
even have the advantage of getting to know what every memory bit and 
processor cycle is doing :o)

-- 
* Roger Johnstone, Invercargill, New Zealand -> http://roger.geek.nz
* PS/2 Mouse Adapter for vintage Apple II or Mac
* SCART RGB video cable for Apple IIGS