Update PIC on Minimig

[HenryCase]

straycat wrote:
@TheDaddy

ACube will also exchange your PIC for you if you contact them. I've been in touch with them but I might hold back until SD write access is sorted out - I'll be more worthwhile for me posting my PIC at that stage.

If you're looking forward to SD write access I'd keep an eye on this Minimig development forum:
http://gamesource.groups.yahoo.com/group/minimigtg68/
There is a beta version of adf write access being discussed now, but please note that it would need extra work to be ported to Minimig v1.1.

[HenryCase]

TheDaddy wrote:
So to reduce costs and bring down the final price these are the things that I have been forced to drop:

1) The switches for the reset and menu buttons..............gone :-(

TheDaddy, I think it is very sensible of you to try and reduce the cost of the case. However, I would not get rid of the switches for reset and menu buttons. It is the difference between having a Minimig box and a proper Minimig case, so please reconsider.

TheDaddy wrote:
So this means that you could have an Atari on a SD Card and an Amiga or C64 on others? :-)

Even better than that, if the PIC was upgraded with new firmware and the C64 (and ST, CPC, Megadrive/Genesis etc...) firmware files for Minimig were created then you could run all games from one SD card without changing the hardware.

[HenryCase]

bloodline wrote:
How Unamiga... Should not these functions be performed by the keyboard as is the Amiga way? I think so ;-)

D'oh! Got me there! However, I think my point still stands, as what happens when you create HDL-Megadrive for Minimig? No three finger salutes then eh?!  ;-)

[HenryCase]

bloodline wrote:

HenryCase wrote:

bloodline wrote:
How Unamiga... Should not these functions be performed by the keyboard as is the Amiga way? I think so ;-)

D'oh! Got me there! However, I think my point still stands, as what happens when you create HDL-Megadrive for Minimig? No three finger salutes then eh?!  ;-)

Very good point... Perhaps the PIC should handle such functions, thus the keyboard would always offer a menu and reset option.

That's a possibility, but it means keeping a keyboard plugged in all the time. What about when you want to take your Minimig around to your friends house to play a few games? Keyboard is a bit unnecessary then, you should be able to just have joysticks/joypads and the main Minimig unit itself. Which requires that you can use the Menu and Reset buttons on the Minimig, preferably without removing the case.

[HenryCase]

TheDaddy wrote:
@Henrycase and bloodline

The reset and the menu switch on the Minimig board are not that necessary. The keyboard can do what the Menu Switch does. The reset is slightly more important as when the Minimig doesn't answer to the three fingers salute the reset is the only option (together with unplugging the power). But implementing a solution for the case would mean making an expensive case, in the region of £75 (per unit in GBP), which in my opinion is too much. :-)

You are quite correct, £75 is too much for a Minimig case. As you say, you can always unplug the power if the keyboard wouldn't allow resetting another way, but it's a shame that a keyboard will need to be used to get the Minimig to do something useful (though I suppose this could be fixed if joysticks/joypads could control the boot menu and if the boot menu was made to load by default after the Minimig was given power).