SD2Iec Pocket 1541 for Commodore 64

August 13th, 2009 1 comment

Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.

Categories: C64/SX64, News & Rumors, Today

Commodore Disk Drive 1541C with drive mechanism by Alps Electric

August 9th, 2009 4 comments
Commodore Disk Drive 1541 with drive mechanism made by Alps Electric

Autopsy:

Click here for my collections of Commodore Floppy Drive and here the clones.

from Wikipedia:

The Commodore 1541 (aka CBM 1541, and originally called VIC-1541), made by Commodore International, was the best-known floppy disk drive for the Commodore 64 home computer.

The 1541 was a single-sided 170 kilobyte drive for 5¼” disks. The 1541 followed the previous Commodore 1540 (meant for the VIC-20). The disk drive used Group Code Recording (GCR) and contained a MOS 6502 microprocessor, doubling as a disk controller and on-board disk operating system processor. The number of sectors per track varied from 17 to 21 (an early implementation of Zone Bit Recording).

The drive’s built-in disk operating system was CBM DOS 2.6. There were two versions of the 1541 mechanics. Early models used a drive mechanism made by Alps Electric, distinguishable by its push-down drive door. Later models utilized a drive mechanism manufactured by Newtronics (Mitsumi), which used a lever release.

All but the very earliest 1541s can use either the Alps or Newtronics mechanism. Visually, the first models, of the VIC-1541 denomination, had an off-white color like the VIC-20 and VIC-1540. Then, to match the look of the C64, CBM changed the drive’s color to brown-beige and the name to Commodore 1541.

source: wikipedia

Unboxing DivIDE M’ / R’ Gal Chip (allram Support)

August 8th, 2009 2 comments
Unboxing new Gal's for my Divide

Unboxing:

The divIDE interface with new M’/R’GAL chip support also 16kB allram mode similas as MB02+ interface.

Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k ISSUE 4B with Video Composite Output.

August 8th, 2009 9 comments
Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k

Autopsy:

from Wikipedia:

The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd. Referred to during development as the ZX81 Colour and ZX82, the machine was launched as the ZX Spectrum by Sinclair to highlight the machine’s colour display, compared with the black-and-white of its predecessor, the Sinclair ZX81.

The Spectrum was released in eight different models, ranging from the entry level model with 16 KB RAM released in 1982 to the ZX Spectrum +3 with 128 KB RAM and built in floppy disk drive in 1987.

The Spectrum was among the first mainstream audience home computers in the UK, similar in significance to the Commodore 64 in the USA. The introduction of the ZX Spectrum led to a boom in companies producing software and hardware for the machine, the effects of which are still seen; some credit it as the machine which launched the UK IT industry. Licensing deals and clones followed, and earned Clive Sinclair a knighthood for “services to British industry”.

The C64 was a major rival to the Spectrum in the UK market during the early 1980s. The BBC Microcomputer and later the Amstrad CPC-range were other major competitors.

source: wikipedia

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A with some Extra Accessories

August 6th, 2009 1 comment
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A

Autopsy:

from Wikipedia:

The Texas Instruments TI-99/4A was an early home computer, released in June 1981, originally at a price of USD $525.

It was an enhanced version of the less-successful—and quite rare—TI-99/4 model, which was released in late 1979 at a price of $1,150. The TI-99/4A added an additional graphics mode, “lowercase” characters comprised of small capitals, and a full travel keyboard. Its predecessor, the TI-99/4, featured a calculator-style chiclet keyboard and lacked any provision for lowercase text.

The TI-99/4A’s CPU, motherboard, and cartridge (“Solid State Software”) slot were built into a single console, along with the keyboard. The power supply board (linear in early systems, switching in later systems) was housed below and in front of the cartridge slot under the sloped area to the right of the keyboard.

source: wikipedia 99er.net

Categories: Gallery, Texas Instruments

PET 2001-8 (6540 to 2716 ROM Adapters)

August 6th, 2009 1 comment

PET 2001-8 (6540 to 2716 ROM Adapters)This is a small adapter which replaces the unobtanable 6540 ROM chips used in the Commodore PET 2001-8 computers with a standard 2716 EPROM.

They will work as a drop in replacement for any ROM chip in a PET 2001-8.

source: 6540rom.com

Categories: CBM/PET, News & Rumors, Today

32.5 Degrees Celsius in my Computer Room ;-(

August 2nd, 2009 No comments

32.5 Degrees Celsius in my Room
I hate summer. I can’t wait for it be over. I hate the hot weather, I hate bugs!!! They scare me so much. Fall is my favorite season followed very closely by Winter. I am thinking of moving to the North Pole.

SD2Iec v1.2 KIT – PCB & Components

July 29th, 2009 5 comments
SD2Iec v1.2 KIT - Components & PCB

Autopsy:

SD2IEC is a hardware mass storage device using an SD/MMC card and interfacing with the IEC bus. It is based on the ATmega644 microcontroller from the Atmel AVR microcontroller family. The most prominent use of SD2IEC is emulation/replacement of a Commodore-1541 disk drive for a C64.

Hardware and the microcontroller’s firmware is available as open source (GPL).

source: sd2iec.de gitweb forum thread c64-wiki

Some Coleco Vision Games Cartridges

July 29th, 2009 No comments
Coleco Vision Cartridges

Autopsy:

Cartridges list:

  • Subroc by Sega.
  • Looping by Venture Line Inc.
  • PitStop by Epyx.

Euskal Encounter 17 Competition Results

July 28th, 2009 No comments

euskalEuskal Encounter is a computer party for computer amateurs and professionals seeking a knowledge exchange and willing to be involved for a few days in any kind of activity related to computers.

C64 – Mixed Graphics:

  • 1 Cauldron2 by JSL
  • 2 Loving Dream by Almighty God
  • 4 Classics Never Die by Stage7

C64 – Mixed Music:

  • 2 Funky Old Bones by SIDwave
  • 4 Sunshine Dreams by A-Man
  • 5 Boogie 8580 by NecroPolo

source: noname.c64.org euskalencounter.org

Categories: C64/SX64, News & Rumors, Today

LCP 2009 Demo & Photo are online

July 28th, 2009 No comments

lcp2009Most of the compo stuff is now up in the archive. You can also find some photos there.

source: lcp.c64.org

JiffyDOS Kernal Roms & Manual

July 27th, 2009 14 comments

JiffyDOS is a Disk Operating System (DOS) enhancement which gives your VIC-20, C-16, PLUS/4, C-64, or C-128 the disk access speed it has always needed.

A chip-for-chip replacement for the Kernal ROM in your computer and the DOS ROM in your disk drive(s), JiffyDOS achieves levels of performance and compatibility unmatched by other disk speed-enhancement products.

Download:

TRY and BUY the original copy.

source: cmdrkey.com

ROM-el PCB ready to test

July 26th, 2009 No comments

ROM-el PBC boardsfrom Homepage:

The PCB house shipped the first two ROM-el boards for inspection and testing.

Once they are assembled and testing, I will release the design to production. As one can see, the PCB is a merged set of 4 designs.  The tabs between the designs are designed to be broken, separating the individual units after assembly.

source: jbrain.com

MCC: Multiple Classic Computer Platform

July 26th, 2009 2 comments

Multiple Classic Computer Platformfrom Homepage:

This Multiple Classic Computer Platform lets dreams come true.

The Classic Computer and Classic Arcade fans are just waiting for a device which allows them to go back to the good and easy operation and gaming experience from the past.

Many people still have unique software and programs which are still unbeatable when it comes to user friendliness. The reconfigurable and generic design will allow an easy switch between multiple different realizations and representations of classic computers.

When we look to the 80ies and 90ies, names like Atari ST, Sinclair’s ZX-Spectrum, Commodores VC20, VC-64 and the whole Amiga Series 500, 1000, 2000 come to mind.

main Features:

  • Old Joystick interfaces allow the usage of classic input devices.
  • A stereo/audio output allows the connection to each TV set, amplifier or computer monitor to explore enhanced sound.
  • Different versions for PAL and NTSC regions allow seamless usage and compatibility.
  • All this paired with the newest available hardware and new interface, like SD-Card, S-Video and RGB Output, improve the picture quality and the openness of the systems.
  • An internal memory enables the permanent storage of favorite games and applications, the menu overlay allows for easy selection of the application or game and the desired Classic Computer.

source: arcaderetrogaming.com

Lemonade for VIC-20 (require 16k memory expansion)

July 26th, 2009 No comments

LemonadeThis is a Conversion from Commodore 64 of a classic Lemonade Stand managing game. Your goal in this fun little game will be to make as much money as you can within the 12 summer weeks.

Play it in 40 columns!

source: Denial (The Commodore VIC-20 forum)