Reply to: ZX Spectrum Next - Unboxing

[Platypus]

I’d start the school's PDP-8/e by inputting the machine code bootstrap for the high-speed punched paper tape reader in binary, via the toggle switches on the front

I was always an Acorn guy myself

Are you sure we didn't know each other back in the day?

Although at my school it was a Data General Nova, which I'd start by inputting the machine code bootstrap for the high-speed punched paper tape reader in binary, via the toggle switches on the front

Then I went to work at Acorn for a short while... Lion Square

[Zigenare]

Farnell don't sell Z80s any more but RS still carry them.

I sit corrected.

[unixman]

Or the 68008.

I find it odd that the Z80 is still in current production whereas the 6809 died the death 25 years ago, and the 68008 about 10 years ago.

It's a funny old world.

It is odd. At Sunderland Polytechnic in the late 80s, I was learning assembler on a 6809. Even then it was seen as more modern than a Z80. But the Z80 goes on. ICs appear to be like that - eg. you can still buy 555 timers and 741 op amps, products that were common when I was still at school.

[unixman]

As a vic20 and then commodore 64 owner i cant relate to this post.

The only nostalgic thing about this is the "256 x 192" resolution.

Also the max resolution of my Dragon 32.

[LondonManc]

Still got my Spectrum and a shedload of games, just no tape player.
Instead, I head off to worldofspectrum.org which has pretty much everything that you'd want.

[DoctorStrangelove]

Farnell don't sell Z80s any more but RS still carry them.

[Zigenare]

Well, special production. I think it’s the same reason you can buy boxes of sherbet dips, cola bottles and assorted other sweets from the 80s and 90s. There’s a market among the 40-50 somethings who have money to spend and remember that stuff. It’s a bit of fun.

The Z80 isn't special production, neither is the 6502. You can buy enhanced versions but they didn't suffer from the "Bigger, Faster" fever that gripped the 80x86 and 680x0 family of processors subsequently killing off the older versions like the 68008.

The Z80s and 6502s are available from mainstream distributors like RS, farnell, mouser etc.

My latest project uses a Z180, 512KB of RAM, 1MB of FLASH, has a compact flash a micro SD interface and runs FUzix. I've ported "FreeScott" so can run the old Scott Adams games - on two terminals!

[Zigenare]

Or the 68008.

I find it odd that the Z80 is still in current production whereas the 6809 died the death 25 years ago, and the 68008 about 10 years ago.

It's a funny old world.

The 68008 was found in a few "cheaper" VME boards - I use the term "cheaper" as relative.

A little bit of trivia, Alan Parsons used an ST in his studio. On that note, "Lucifer" used to be my favourite track by TAPP. Now it's "Old and Wise". Maybe one day...

Anyway, I didn't invest in the "ZX Spectrum Next" - but I've put my name down as an EOI for the next batch.

Well done NF, be interested to see if you do anything with it other than play games.

[jamesbrown]

Or the 68008.

I find it odd that the Z80 is still in current production whereas the 6809 died the death 25 years ago, and the 68008 about 10 years ago.

It's a funny old world.

Well, special production. I think it’s the same reason you can buy boxes of sherbet dips, cola bottles and assorted other sweets from the 80s and 90s. There’s a market among the 40-50 somethings who have money to spend and remember that stuff. It’s a bit of fun.

[DoctorStrangelove]

Looks a lot like the Sinclair QL ... without the built in microdrives

Or the 68008.

I find it odd that the Z80 is still in current production whereas the 6809 died the death 25 years ago, and the 68008 about 10 years ago.

It's a funny old world.

[portseven]

Looks a lot like the Sinclair QL ... without the built in microdrives

[TestMangler]

no.
i lived in norf lahndahn by then

Ah, 91-93, before I left thE civil service and started contracting, I had an Atari stall at the Barras, doing just music software and midi files :-) I wor a proper dodgy geezer then.....

[BR14]

Did you have that dodgy 'from the barras' version of Cubase registered to 'Mike Hunt' ???

no.
i lived in norf lahndahn by then

[TestMangler]

cubase was the dogs cojones.
<i've had a parallel career in IT and music>.
the atari really was a fecking breakthough in bringing digital mixing to small independent studios.

sorry nick, a bit off topic.
i'll shut up now

Did you have that dodgy 'from the barras' version of Cubase registered to 'Mike Hunt' ???

[Hobosapien]

Still waiting for a genuine quantum leap in computing.