Re: TI-H: New Calculator!!!

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Re: TI-H: New Calculator!!!


Awesome idea!!!!!  If you think you can do it, go for it.

Jonathan Kaus
jkaus@coleman.k12.wi.us


Richard Piotter wrote:

> Why not make a whole new calculator!!! You could buy a standard, off the
> shelf Z80, add as much SRAM as you can fit into it, and use a large
> Nonvolitle memory chip in place or ROM. Make the board and everything!!!
> It can have built in solder spots for RS-232, Parallel, SPinTerface, and
> DBA! add a cheap PIA (Peripheral interface adapter) to it and you could
> have 3 8-bit ports to play with. Use a graphics module from Digi-Key or
> Mouser, designed with built in EL backlighting. You could even pick a
> small color one, or, you could use a VIC (Video interface chip) to make
> NTSC color output. use an NTSC compatible LCD and have a video out that
> could connect to a TV (great for presentations)!!! A SID (sound
> interface device) would make a GREAT sound generator (12 bit I think!!!)
> Even a simple MAX 038 wave form generator will work. Make it with a
> crystal, and include an IRdA chip on the RS-232. Either use AAs or have
> a high power battery. Big case, whatever!!! I have the skills to design
> the hardware (probably). If it's realy something everyone's interested
> in, who knows!!! The ROM could possibly look at the DBA (direct bus
> access) port, to look for ROM cartridges, then look at a certain address
> for internal ROM instructions, and then, finaly, if nothing is found,
> request data over the calc net via RS-232. There should be a standard
> link port added as well, if we can emulate the other calcs. Also, I
> remember a LONG time ago, someone mentioned the Strong Arm processor.
> Why not??? I heard it uses less power than a stock Z80 and is fairly
> cheap as well! Who thinks it's worth a try??? Maybe we could emulate ALL
> the calcs!!! One big calculator, with QWERTY keyboard and sound (sound I
> think is one of the things that is not allowed on machines to be uses
> for SAT tests). I don't know about emulation, but if we do it, we might
> as well go all out! We'd have to mold a complete case, keys and all, and
> we'd need to have them silk screened, but it would be worth it to have a
> color, strong arm, sound capable, QWERTY, and everything else
> calculator. We could MAKE the next calc rather than modify the old
> ones!!!
>
> What does everyone think??? I have seen schematics of countless
> computers, and I think it could be done!!!
>
> Richard Piotter
> richfiles1@hotmail.com
>
> The Richfiles TI Page
> http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/5081/Richfiles.html
>
> ______________________________________________________
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