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Author Topic: Why I didn't buy a Pi  (Read 5161 times)

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Offline Kronos

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Re: Why I didn't buy a Pi
« Reply #44 from previous page: December 22, 2013, 11:45:22 PM »
Quote from: Iggy;755045

Instead of three crappy cpus, why not use one decent one?


Because that was NOT the point of the C128 project ?

You know C= did have some plans for a "16Bit" computer, that was canned when the purchased Amiga, the 128 was meant to the last&best of all 8Bits.

As such it needed compability with the C64 and it's massive SW pool, the Z80 was added to add "pro" level CPM-SW. The 3rd CPU was in the diskdrive, cos thats how all C= 8Bit floppies flew.

Was the whole concept smart ? Or maybe just a few years late ?
Doubt that was a decision Dave and the engeneering team could make, but for what was demaned/allowed by managment they sure came along with a hell of a puter.
1. Make an announcment.
2. Wait a while.
3. Check if it can actually be done.
4. Wait for someone else to do it.
5. Start working on it while giving out hillarious progress-reports.
6. Deny that you have ever announced it
7. Blame someone else
 

Offline kolla

Re: Why I didn't buy a Pi
« Reply #45 on: December 23, 2013, 12:30:26 AM »
Quote from: Kronos;754984
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Offline ElPolloDiabl

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Re: Why I didn't buy a Pi
« Reply #46 on: December 23, 2013, 12:35:52 AM »
If we are going to go off topic: The main drawback was a lack of hard drive and to a lesser extent the 880k floppies. Too much hassle for software companies. That was pre cd-rom era.
Also wouldn't you want to have jumped on the PowerPC bandwagon, but I think that was when C= was almost bankrupt.

@above The Amiga uses co-processors. Printers will have a cpu in them too.
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Offline takemehomegrandma

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Re: Why I didn't buy a Pi
« Reply #47 on: December 23, 2013, 12:55:55 AM »
Quote from: Iggy;755045
Instead of three crappy cpus, why not use one decent one?


Well, it was going to be an 8-bit computer, and it was going to have full C64 compatibility which certainly limited the CPU options, but it was also to be a sequel to the C64 (bigger, better, more) so a CPU with double clock frequency was developed (with a "slow mode" for C64 and VIC compatibility) and the CP/M needed the Z-80.

Sure, it was a hack, and the specs was never something the market had demanded/wanted (but neither something that was decided by the developers). The whole computer is improbable, it shouldn't exist. But it does and they got it together pretty well under rather extreme conditions, and it's working (although it was supposed to be able to run CP/M with the VDC chip as well, which would enable the full 4MHz of the Z-80). It's something highly unique, and IMHO it was sort of a suitable end for the 8-bit home computer era, the C128 ended it (some time overdue) with a big bang of extravaganza.

A Commodore 65 shortly after the first Amiga models should probably have made better sense than the C128, and it could possibly have sustained the 8-bit home computing platform a bit longer (1990 was too late IMHO), but this is in retrospect, and it's easy to be "wise" when looking back with all the answers at hand.
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Offline IggyTopic starter

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Re: Why I didn't buy a Pi
« Reply #48 on: December 23, 2013, 01:12:29 AM »
There we agree tmhgm, the C65 would have been an excellent machine.
The two show entirely different approaches.
The C128 was full of kludged add ons, where as the C65 was an nice evolution of the original.

And CP/M, why?
It was pretty much dead by then anyway.
And it doesn't use graphics or sound.
"Not making any hard and fast rules means that the moderators can use their good judgment in moderation, and we think the results speak for themselves." - Amiga.org, terms of service

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Offline IggyTopic starter

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Re: Why I didn't buy a Pi
« Reply #49 on: December 23, 2013, 01:16:23 AM »
Quote from: Kronos;755046
Because that was NOT the point of the C128 project ?

You know C= did have some plans for a "16Bit" computer, that was canned when the purchased Amiga, the 128 was meant to the last&best of all 8Bits.

As such it needed compability with the C64 and it's massive SW pool, the Z80 was added to add "pro" level CPM-SW. The 3rd CPU was in the diskdrive, cos thats how all C= 8Bit floppies flew.

Was the whole concept smart ? Or maybe just a few years late ?
Doubt that was a decision Dave and the engeneering team could make, but for what was demaned/allowed by managment they sure came along with a hell of a puter.

Gee Dad, hell is the only word were are in agreement on for this device.
And Commodore had a 16 bit machine, which they didn't develop that well either.
I mean, why is AGA so slow?
"Not making any hard and fast rules means that the moderators can use their good judgment in moderation, and we think the results speak for themselves." - Amiga.org, terms of service

"You, got to stem the evil tide, and keep it on the the inside" - Rogers Waters

"God was never on your side" - Lemmy

Amiga! "Our appeal has become more selective"
 

Offline Kesa

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Re: Why I didn't buy a Pi
« Reply #50 on: December 23, 2013, 12:47:27 PM »
Quote from: Kronos;754984
So when you wrote:
"But the British made the Vincent Black Shadow - the best motorbike of all time! "

You really meant:
"But the British made the Vincent Black Shadow - the best motorbike of it's time! "


Now you are assuming i am a rational human being...

Ps - red bikes go faster!
Even my cat doesn\'t like me.
 

Offline IggyTopic starter

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Re: Why I didn't buy a Pi
« Reply #51 on: December 23, 2013, 04:58:15 PM »
Quote from: Kesa;755082
Now you are assuming i am a rational human being...

Ps - red bikes go faster!

"red bikes go faster!"...than blue light in a vacuum.

And most ARM devices go faster than a Pi.
« Last Edit: December 23, 2013, 05:48:36 PM by Iggy »
"Not making any hard and fast rules means that the moderators can use their good judgment in moderation, and we think the results speak for themselves." - Amiga.org, terms of service

"You, got to stem the evil tide, and keep it on the the inside" - Rogers Waters

"God was never on your side" - Lemmy

Amiga! "Our appeal has become more selective"