Classic Plus Development Updates

mjelic · 06-04-2022, 09:26 PM

Ewan... Can you give us a "big picture" synopsis of what you are developing? What will its (likely) capabilities be? What OS will be on it? Is there still a link to a Z80 and previous Microbee software? Backward compatibility?

Sorry, not been here from the beginning of this new project so if you have a forum post or a link to a page that has all those details, I'll go read it up...

Ernest · 06-04-2022, 11:12 PM

(06-04-2022, 09:26 PM)mjelic Wrote: Ewan... Can you give us a "big picture" synopsis of what you are developing? What will its (likely) capabilities be? What OS will be on it? Is there still a link to a Z80 and previous Microbee software? Backward compatibility?

Sorry, not been here from the beginning of this new project so if you have a forum post or a link to a page that has all those details, I'll go read it up...

Hi mjelic,
This link should answer a lot of those questions https://www.microbeetechnology.com.au/classic-plus-kit-computer.htm

Regards Ernest

***MbeeTech*** · 03-05-2022, 01:25 AM

Hello All.

A quick post to update the status of the Classic-Plus.

I've now got the new FPGA board in place in the prototype baseboard.

I now have it loading up the boot rom (at this stage it's the Premium Plus' boot rom) and displaying
the boot menu correctly. This means that the screen section is all working nicely with the Premium
series (banked PCG) and colour. See the photo below :

[Image: CP_newFPGA-1.jpg]

Next to get working is the keyboard.

CheshireNoir · 03-05-2022, 11:33 AM

Oh man! I shouldn't get excited, but I'm getting excited :-)
BTW, will these have cases? No skin off my nose if they don't.

Chesh

***MbeeTech*** · 03-05-2022, 11:52 AM

Hi Chesh.
>BTW, will these have cases?
No, the Classic-Plus won't have a case. Either rubber feet on the bench, or replacing the innards of a Premium Series bee.
The same board though will be used in the 256TC-Plus with full case and new keyboard. The standard keyboard section of the
PCB will be left unpopulated in this build.

[Image: 256TC_Plus_bare_board_512.jpg]

The new keyboard :
[Image: TCPlusKB.JPG]

Mind you, I'll be changing the colours as the stark white doesn't really match the case that well.

***ChickenMan*** · 03-05-2022, 06:46 PM

Looking good Ewan, cant wait to see it all finished Smile

CheshireNoir · 04-05-2022, 11:40 AM

(03-05-2022, 11:52 AM)ejwords Wrote: Hi Chesh.
>BTW, will these have cases?
No, the Classic-Plus won't have a case.

Mwahaha. Time to break out the laser cutter :-D

Chesh
(When you have a laser cutter, everything looks like it should be cut with lasers)

greg221b · 04-05-2022, 11:44 PM

Hello chaps,

Chesh: Would you be tempted to laser cut a transparent plastic case for one of these new units? Smile

Ewan: How many of these units do you think you'll end up creating?

Greg

***MbeeTech*** · 06-05-2022, 05:55 PM

(04-05-2022, 11:44 PM)greg221b Wrote: Ewan: How many of these units do you think you'll end up creating?

Greg

The Classic-Plus (and 256TC-Plus) will be ongoing products.

Unlike the Premium Plus, these new models are designed around currently obtainable [new] parts.
One of the reasons why I moved the video section into an FPGA was to avoid using 30+ year old
parts (the CRT controller in particular) and not rely on finding reliable sources of hard to get components.

CheshireNoir · 07-05-2022, 01:38 PM

(04-05-2022, 11:44 PM)greg221b Wrote: Chesh: Would you be tempted to laser cut a transparent plastic case for one of these new units?

Greg

Hey Greg,
I'm doing a transparent case for my 128k, but with smoked over the keyboard area and nose, to mimic the classic Microbee colouring.
I'd totally port the design to a new Microbee.

(in fact, once I have finalised the case, and I'm pretty close, I'll release all the files so others can use my design to make their own cases. I'm a big fan of open sourcing my designs, as I am no expert, and others have often improved my work.)
Chesh