RE: TI-H: New Calculator!!!

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RE: TI-H: New Calculator!!!

Okay, this proves WHY I occasionally think of leaving this list.  I just proposed this a couple of days ago!!!  I've been designing it over the past few days, and I already figured out most of the specs on my system.

256x128 LCD screen, Touchscreen overlaid, with an EL backlight
	if it's b&w, then 8K of video RAM, otherwise, more
Stereo sound output, with 2MB of PCM storage for the audio unit
1-4MB of system storage, with a 128K segment for TI emulation
RS-232, EPP, PCMCIA ports, keyboard output
handwriting recognition
ROM shadowing
TI-compatible link port (SPinterface w/ TI plug header)
Flash ROM
VGA output
TCP/IP stack in ROM
A GUI, crossed between the TI92 OS and Win95/MacOS (they're all starting to look the same)
Advanced math support with enhanced format output ("TI92 Pretty Print")

And other features, as I come to them.

But WHY is it that I always come up with an idea, get ignored, and then someone else does the same exact thing and everyone listens?  Check the archives.  I got ONE personal reply for my TI-clone idea, and this thing will be running on AT LEAST a 486 processor with a secondary z80 for TI-purposes.  I'm probably also adding a dedicated processor for sound and video, each.
Note:  If anyone does decide to take this idea AGAIN and manipulate it, DON'T use a z80.  Too slow for all of the added features.  The z80 is slow enough as it is.  The only reason I'm including it is for ICE (In Circuit Emulator) purposes, since I LIKE games such as Daedalus.
	As for the StrongARM, that means that I have to pop ANOTHER variety of ASM into my head, and I'm already starting to lose it. stick with the x86, and (although not a GREAT CPU) there are hundreds of people who can still write for it.  I can even write up the OS in Small C without a hitch.


Christopher Kalos
raptorone@geocities.com
VirtuTech Developer's Group
AOL IM: Raptor1CK

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From: 	Richard Piotter[SMTP:richfiles1@hotmail.com]
Sent: 	Thursday, March 05, 1998 11:54 AM
To: 	ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org
Subject: 	TI-H: New Calculator!!!


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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