Mega65

[Schlowski]

Just to not derail the The128RM thread anymore, I thought I switch over to a new thread to answer Orion:

Once again, I must admit I'm no open source, diy guy. I'd rather buy a ready-to-run machine, be it a fpga or a remake assembled with retro components. As for 128 more hw/sw, it's more than I imagined! Still, I don't like the idea of a three-in-one micro. It's like double face shirts or two-color shoes, a matter of taste

The Mega65 will be a complete, ready-to-use, out-of-the-box C65 once it's finished - hopefully in the near future (aka one or two years). One can use it right now with some developer FPGA boards, but the final version will be what you favour (and me, I'm in no way a hardware guy...)

Otoh even a C65 is a two-face-machine with a C64 and a C65 mode, similar to the C128. To make things even more complicated, a lot of the enhanced C65 features can be used in C64 mode - effectively creating a third machine/mode in some way...

[orion70]

Now THIS is good news
Thanks a lot for the information, I'll constantly keep an eye on the blog. As for the 65 being something like a 128-style switchable machine, it's more a proper 64 evolved into the next step: no crappy CP/M or exotic processors. Only a 64 with more features, more RAM, two SIDs, and a 3"1/2 inorporated disk drive. As far as I am concerned, the "improved 64 mode" is what should have been done circa 1984.

[groepaz]

dont forget "no software"

[Schlowski]

Yes, but every system starts with no software, that shouldn't be an argument against any machine. You have to start somewhere
I never used much existing software on my VIC as kid - simply too expensive for me, so I learned to programm and wrote my own games and utilities. The same goes with all following machines I had - and that where a lot. Nowadays I use my VIC (when I use it, very seldom in the last years, to be honest) to fiddle with little ML routines just because it's fun. I don't play the old games or use the old tools, so the Mega65 would make no difference in this direction.
For me it's the new and shiny machine I want to have - and ever would have wanted if I knew about it.

[groepaz]

every system starts with no software

actually pretty much every vendor does whatever he can to make sure that is NOT the case when a new system launches (even commodore did)

[eslapion]

The Mega65 will be a complete, ready-to-use, out-of-the-box C65 once it's finished - hopefully in the near future (aka one or two years). One can use it right now with some developer FPGA boards, but the final version will be what you favour (and me, I'm in no way a hardware guy...)

Otoh even a C65 is a two-face-machine with a C64 and a C65 mode, similar to the C128. To make things even more complicated, a lot of the enhanced C65 features can be used in C64 mode - effectively creating a third machine/mode in some way...

As the movie said... build it and they will come!

[RobertBe]

dont forget "no software"

CBM engineer Paul Lassa has the C65 Demo Disk. So, there is software.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
June 9-10 Pacific Commodore Expo NW 2018 - http://www.portcommodore.com/pacommex
Aug. 11-12 Commodore Vegas Expo v14 2018 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[Kakemoms]

Well software or no software, I will certainly buy one!

[groepaz]

CBM engineer Paul Lassa has the C65 Demo Disk. So, there is software.

yeah we have all seen this and had or 3 minutes of "fun" with it. now what? /o\

[Schlowski]

Mmh, I really don't get all this "there is no software, so this machine is useless".

Really, what do you want to do with such a new "oldschool" computer?

Retro gaming? -> Get any 80's computer brand or console and play for the rest of your life.
High end gaming?-> Get any PC or actual console, your game(s) of choice and you're done.
Office programs? -> Get any PC, your OS of choice and any office suite and you're done.
Videoprocessing -> for retro feeling get any Amiga, for state of the art get any PC.
Audioprocessing -> for retro feeling get any Atari ST, for state of the art get any PC.
etc.

If you want a computer with lots of ready-to-use software, there are more than enough available.

I think the Mega65 is not about recreating an existing computer and making lots of old software available, but to make a new "oldschool" computer available which is some sort of logical enhancement to the old 8 bit computers of the 80's. And to invent new software and tricks and demos and show, what can be done in a restricted environment.
That's btw. the reason why I'm so interested in Kakemoms SuperCPU, just to see what a 25MHz 6502 in a VIC can do. I'm sure I will have a lot of fun to experiment with it. I have fun with my Chameleon in turbo mode, but since the level of polish for C64 games is already way above my ability score, this is only for my private amusement. I'm sure too that I will not produce any ready-to-use software on the SuperCPU simply because I really hate the last 10% (bug fixing for edge cases, polishing, user interfaces) - that's my day-to-day job. When I'm fiddling with my retro machines it's just for the fun, for relaxation and for the good memories using a 6502 with it's nice and clean command set.

So for me the Mega65 isn't /o\ but \o/

[groepaz]

if tinkering with the machine is what you are after... sure. all power to you.

however, if you look at what people write about the mega65, and what they are planning to do with it - it very often involves running software they expect to be written by someone else - which is not very likely to happen.

[Schlowski]

Ok, that's a valid point - these people will be disappointed.

[RobertBe]

yeah we have all seen this...

When did you try it out?

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
June 9-10 Pacific Commodore Expo NW 2018 - http://www.portcommodore.com/pacommex
Aug. 11-12 Commodore Vegas Expo v14 2018 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

[groepaz]

When did you try it out?

about 15 years ago. there a couple more programs on zimmers, no less boring however.

[RobertBe]

about 15 years ago.

Ah, not the C65 Demo Disk from Paul Lassa.

there a couple more programs on zimmers...l

http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/c65/index.html

More than a couple,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network - http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan
June 9-10 Pacific Commodore Expo NW 2018 - http://www.portcommodore.com/pacommex
Aug. 11-12 Commodore Vegas Expo v14 2018 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex