Keeping a Retro Machine Alive

[mgarnett]

Hi All,

I came across a site today (http://www.microbeetechnology.com.au/premiumpluskit.htm) about a computer called the MicroBee, which was Australia's version of the BBC Micro in terms of it's popularity with educational institutions.

Anyway, the owners of the MicroBee technology are releasing a new "old" version of the computer, in that they are going to sell a machine designed around the old technology. They are using old technology where available such as Z80 processors) and where it is not, the replacing old parts with new parts and a board re-design to make it all fit together.

If this all works out, it will be like they are selling the original machine again, only newer and more reliable.

It made me thing that this would be a great idea for Amiga and Commodore computers. Unlike the new Commodore USA machine which is really just a Linux box, you would release the same machines running the same OS's (with appropriate extensions to take into account the new hardware) but with newer and more reliable parts and additional interfaces.

Wouldn't it be great to have a new A1200 or A4000T in the same cases running just like the original machines but with native SATA, or in-built flicker fixers and USB ports. Or a new bread bin C64 exactly the same as the old machine but with more reliable chips replacing flaky CIA chips etc with an in-build SD slot and more reliable RAM. Something more than the bare circuit board designs of the Minimig, which is a little too far removed from the original hardware, IMHO to be considered a classic replacement (although it is a good alternative).

I'm not sure if Natami is this machine (as far as the Amiga is concerned).

I can just see a situation in 10-15 years time, where the original equipment just isn't running anymore (or is very hard to come by) and there won't be an alternative except software emulation. I'm not too interested in the PPC machines and I'm just thinking out loud about how to keep the original architecture and "feel" of the classic machines alive.

Cheers

Mark

 

[r0jaws]

That looks like a fascinating piece of kit, and one I am very interested in.
The opportunity to build a complete system like that doesn't come up very often, and I think I may be very tempted to see if I can get hold of one myself.

Parallels with the retro community are interesting, but the problem is that there are as many different ideas about how any project should be revitalised and there will always be many detractors.
Look at how divisive the PPC argument is. Many still consider it to be "not really Amiga", even though it is contemporary, well integrated, and an attempt at evolving and expanding the life of the classic kit.

On the Amiga side, for the hardware enthusiats, we already have the MiniMig, and the possible introduction, in the future of the Natami.
For those who prefer software, there is emulation, or complete OS's running on modern(ish) hardware.

Personally, I like them all.

 

[Ed.D]

Hi All,

...
Wouldn't it be great to have a new A1200 or A4000T in the same cases running just like the original machines but with native SATA, or in-built flicker fixers and USB ports. Or a new bread bin C64 exactly the same as the old machine but with more reliable chips replacing flaky CIA chips etc with an in-build SD slot and more reliable RAM. Something more than the bare circuit board designs of the Minimig, which is a little too far removed from the original hardware, IMHO to be considered a classic replacement (although it is a good alternative).
...

I was thinking exactly the same thing whilst repairing my A1200 over the past week or so. It would be great to buy parts or a complete new system off the shelf, or even a complete kit of PCB and components to solder at home.

There are several Chinese electronics companies who still list the CBM integrated circuits(AGA chips), I wonder if the PCB's could also be manufactured again; the spec's and drawings must be available somewhere. However there is always going to be the legal side, copyrights etc and the supply and demand factor.

Personally I'd love to see an add-on, maybe a new daughter-board, which gave us 64 bit processing, SATA, USB, ultra SCSI, hi resolution graphics capabilities, wireless nic, the list goes on I suppose.

 

[mgarnett]

That looks like a fascinating piece of kit, and one I am very interested in.
The opportunity to build a complete system like that doesn't come up very often, and I think I may be very tempted to see if I can get hold of one myself.

Parallels with the retro community are interesting, but the problem is that there are as many different ideas about how any project should be revitalised and there will always be many detractors.
Look at how divisive the PPC argument is. Many still consider it to be "not really Amiga", even though it is contemporary, well integrated, and an attempt at evolving and expanding the life of the classic kit.

On the Amiga side, for the hardware enthusiats, we already have the MiniMig, and the possible introduction, in the future of the Natami.
For those who prefer software, there is emulation, or complete OS's running on modern(ish) hardware.

Personally, I like them all.

I too like all the alternatives, I would just hate to see the classic hardware, or machines in the same vein as the classic machines, die. I think the PPC direction is fine as far as modern operating systems are concerned, although it also is based upon a niche processor. I wonder if AmigaOS 4 would have had a much bigger take-up if it was based on x86 architecture.

One wonders where PPC based machines will be in a few years.

It will be a sad day if the only alternative for classic machines is software emulation.

I've also got an MCC (Multiple Classic Computer) that emulates an A500, C64, Atari 2600 and Apple IIe in FPGA in the same way as a Minimig. It's really quite an amazing piece of hardware, but using it is not the same as firing up the Amiga or C64.

Cheers

Mark