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Suggestion: Microbee Cross Compatible Retro z80 computer. - Wayne - 19-02-2024
Hello,
I have become interested in doing a retro style computer, but have been unwell and only have time to do a forth misc chip based one with innovative io and graphics, someday.
However, I noticed a lot of early Z80 systems share largely, the same major chips, and compatible graphics modes. So, I was thinking of another computer, which I can't get to do. So, I am putting it out there to see if anybody around the world, might like to give it a try commercially? It would make an excellent idea for the MicroBee lineup here, as long as it's priced right overseas. It would be compatible with many of the old major z80 machines, like TRS-80 monochrome machines, Sinclair ZX-80 and 81, Microbee, and even the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad PCW and CPC. As a new version of these machines, based on original parts and TTL chips for the enthusiast, and a cheaper version with the processor and fpga.
I was looking at innovative IO, case and graphic mode modifications to the original modes.
The proposal is to have an GUI OS, which would be setup to recognise which system an executable is from and select control lines to reconfigure how the hardware works, in order to run the programs on it natively. This switching system can be used to multitask between the different systems. As such, maybe some of this switching and configuration logic could go on a cpld leaving bare minimum logic out on board.
The thought of the prposal, is not so much a successor machine, but a common Z80 successor machine to a lot of machines.
I've been thinking up some display mechanisms to give much better graphics like the generations after it. As one non microbee example. I noticed that they could have added a 4-16 colour 128*96 palleted mode to the zx81 (256 colour, and 256*192 4 and 16 colour modes, and 512*192 for spectrum, and indeed there are various modes like this out there on compatibles, so sobe software support). With innovative multi coloured character modes on the zx81. If you look at the simple graphical games colourised by the chroma84 interface, they look quite charming, by setting a colour for a individual character. The same could be done on the Bee.
The compact case design was inspired by the zx81, but with proper keyboard and other functions. But as a cross compatible machine with the full set of logic chips, it would be in a modern bigger keyboard case.
It's meant to reflect an authentic machine which could have been done at the time. The CPU stays in the FPGA version, as an expression of acknowledgement and love for the machines based on the Z80. Never got to own a Bee, but the Amstrad PCW, was one of my favourite machines. The simple addition of 4 grey scale graphics, added a new dimension over Hercules B&W monochrome graphics. It brings most z80 users under one system (as apposed to the 6502, PC and 68000 camps).
Thank you
Wayne.