David_P

I don't think your idea is what this thread is about. There are several "ready-to-go" serial clock hardware IC's available, usually RS232 related but can without too much effort modified to connect to the A8 SIO port. It's all about the driver. Adding things like a flash-drive would only make it much more complicated and there are already solutions for that too. That doesn't mean someone with a lot of time and knowledge may start such a project of course :-) Once we have added a microcontroller to the SIO line, checking for "Z" or "D" is relatively easy. Writing a driver to send a request for a single data frame to the Z: device on SIO (or to write the same) is easy on the 6502 - we offload the interface brain to the microcontroller. And since it's sitting on the SIO bus already, we can add flash memory, configured as a drive, with that Z: driver installed. The microcontroller routines (read/write a set size of data frame to/from SIO, read/write to/from I2C) would be common to both devices. Besides, who avoids projects on the Atari just because they are complicated ? The ATTiny has 2K program space, 128 bytes RAM - should be plenty :-)

How about a small microcontroller, an I2C clock, and a 128Kb I2C EEPROM, all plugged in to the SIO line? You get a real time clock and an SIO flashdrive all in one. There's a board at Futurlec (http://www.futurlec.com/ATTiny2313_Controller.shtml) that looks like it might do nicely - add a DS1307 RTC and a 24AA1025 (plus an SIO plug), and you're all but there - biggest challenge will be buffering 128 bytes for an SD sector in a device with only 128 bytes of RAM.

Anyone have the source code from Speedcalc in Compute or BCalc in ANALOG? I'm getting interested in spreadsheet programming, and thought those would be great references to start with. I found the BBK website (http://www.rts-software.com/8bit/bcalc.php) but can't find the source...

Looking around Ebay, I found a seller with two Donkey Kong carts that have non-standard labels; I suspect they could be protos or early review copies. Links: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390104650061&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp3907.m38.l1313%26_nkw%3D390104650061%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310170327070&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38%26_nkw%3D310170327070%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

To avoid starting another thread: If you're interested in a cheap way to build an SIO2PC (serial) cable, there are RS232 to TTL boards at http://www.futurlec.com/Mini_RS232_TTL_5V.shtml built arounda MAX232. With an SIO plug and a standard 9-pin to the PC you should be able to roll your own for $4.90 plus shipping.

A new one? I'm still waiting for the final version of The Last Word!

A quick check on Ebay finds a programmer that handles quite a list of devices for under $70 (shipped). http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-Universal-EPROM-FLASH-GAL-Programmer-AVR-PIC-uG1_W0QQitemZ190334883220QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c50d7d594&_trksid=p4999.c0.m14 ; the supported device list is at: http://www.gg-dl.com/ebay-web/G540-LIST.htm

Given the purpose I'm looking at, it was "good enough". But the one you pointed out on Amazon is "better". Many thanks! And now I must turn grumpy - Amazon doesn't list it with Amazon.ca, and Amazon.com won't ship it to Canada.

Given the purpose I'm looking at, it was "good enough". But the one you pointed out on Amazon is "better". Many thanks!

For those who have not visited their site, http://www.dealextreme.com is a consolidator, bringing a wide array of products manufactured in China together and sells them at remarkably low prices. I've just found a 3" monitor (runs off 12v DC) with composite inputs plus a speaker - and given the many XLs around and the lack of space for full-size monitors, I'm probably going to take the plunge and get one. See http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15001 for details.

A "New" Daimond GOS is really top of my list but there are several obstacles to overcome before I get started on it. I had hoped to get hold of the original source code but I'm still waiting on that and whether or not it materializes will have a big impact on which direction the project takes. I also need a proportional font rendering engine (and a way of transferring fonts in bulk from other platforms) but ideas and code contributions have been thin on the ground. Certainly the thing will be a community effort, since I'm not keen to write all the apps as well as the GUI. Compatibility with the original Diamond hooks and calls is a low priority in my opinion, because there were only two or three apps ever written for the system so it's not as if we have a large back-catalogue of software we need to be backwards compatible with. My only reason for suggesting backwards compatibility was to permit other developers to begin working on apps with a known interface in place, and not be sitting waiting for the new ("Zirconia"?) one to come out.

Hmm... how about a spreadsheet that reserves the 16K bank-switching area for data - so one sheet could be spread across multiple tabs, each one occupying 16K in memory? A Norton-esqe program would be nice - but I do worry that the software 80 columns in GR.8 takes away too much memory - the Flickerterm type display, though less pleasing to the eye does only require 2K (Screens) +1K (charset) + program overhead. I think Ken Siders put together an S: and E: package based on the Flickerterm concept that's on the web somewhere (with source code). Other thoughts: a "new" Diamond would be nice - one that doesn't require one of the few original carts (still can't believe I sold mine - what was I thinking?) or an Atarimax cart. Given that the programmer's guide defines the know subroutines, it should be possible to build a new version from the ground up that maintains backwards compatibility - and better yet, could be build on the GPL, permitting everyone to contribute to minor (and not so minor) upgrades and improvements. (So once Bob gets around to releasing that 65816 high-speed upgrade...)

I've bought from B&C a number of times (in Canada). Always prompt to respond to emails, reasonable in shipping, helpful - and if you ask questions, may even dissuade you from buying if they think you don't understand what you're ordering - a nice touch, as many vendors are all about volume and not about getting the client what they really want. In about 7-8 transactions, there was once a small error, and they went beyond the call of duty in sorting it out. I don't buy "new" often, but I have no hesitation about doing so from B&C.

I've got the XE cart of Blue Max and the "bug" is still there. Interesting. My cart lacks the bug - though now I'll have to spend several hours this weekend confirming that. Were there multiple releases of Blue Max on cart by Atari? Hmm... apparently, my cart does not lack the bug. Somehow I remembered it working last tiem I played. Mea culpa.

I've got the XE cart of Blue Max and the "bug" is still there. Interesting. My cart lacks the bug - though now I'll have to spend several hours this weekend confirming that. Were there multiple releases of Blue Max on cart by Atari?

Blue Max on cart fixes the "bomb your own airfield" bug from the disk version - the Display List no longer gets randomly reset when you destroy your aerodrome.

I'm partial to John Harris' MAE, if only for the 65816 extensions. Now, if only there was a source of cheap 65816 upgrades... say a PLCC 65816 tied with 512K SRAM that drops into the CPU socket... anyone want to put together such a beast?

Though I'm tempted to keep it quiet and snatch it up cheap for myself, too many collectors are looking for MULE, so here's a listing for fifteen 400/800 games including MULE - as of right now, it's going for $17.34. eBay Auction -- Item Number: 360171453279

I had a 1025. No graphics capability. Go with the XMM-801.

Understood. Looking forward to getting my grubby mitts on one someday, but I understand that this is a hobby for all of us, so the rest of life must take priority...

Trying not to be overanxious here. Any progress on this front?

I seem to recall that the disks for Richman's were reproduced so even the BitWriter could not copy them; is there a dump at AtariMania?

Might be an add-on to use an XEGS keyboard on an 800xl - tied into the keyboard circuit, I think. Anyone have an XEGS internal show to show how the keyboard is tied in?

Boot holding down option? I seem to recall it requires BASIC disabled.

As always, things I really want only pop up on Ebay when I can't afford them: eBay Auction -- Item Number: 200343842441 Not one, but TWO Corvus HDs, 6Mb and 10Mb.