Most liked posts in thread: What's new Pussycat too?

Thanks to G-man for the 1MB CPC RAM expansion PCB and CLPD I now have a working RAM upgrade for both my 464 and 6128. Just need to build the ROM expansion now

 

A couple of years ago I was researching all the vintage 8-bit computers to see what other 8-bits compared well to the Atari, because any I consider "less" than the Atari I would be disappointed in and not get used and end up being a collector piece collecting dust. After all my research, I decided on the computers that are "on par" with my Atari over-all,and I would use. These include: MSX, Amstradt CPC, BBC micro, Commodore 64, Coco 3 (NOT 1 or 2) and Coleco Adam. Any other 8-bits would have to have a strong nostalgia factor for me to be interested, which leaves only the ZX81, since it and the Atari were the only 8-bits I ever owned back in the day. And even the ZX81 would merely be a collector piece as it's far to primitive, even with nostalgia, to tear me away from my Atari's.

I apologize to you Oric and Spectrum fans, I went back and forth on my decision not to bother, but I think even you know these machines are more primitive, as popular as they may have been, to those listed above.There were other "on par" 8-bit micros, but either a lack of software and support, or only for foreign markets in foreign languages and just not worth the trouble to consider.

I don't know if I'll ever own all I would like too, for lack of money, space and time. A C64 is at the top, the rest are undecided, but I have an very strange desire for an Adam just because I'm so intrigued with it's Turbo-tape drive system in a "PC" style case with detached keyboard, for some reason. It really doesn't even have much software for it beyond Colecovision cartridges anyway. and they certainly don't use the Adam's full abilities.

 

Apple II and TI-99/4A didn't make the grade for me either, along with the Coco 1&2 and Vic-20. I'd get an Oric Atmos or Spectrum model with a keyboard before any of them too.

 

I'd guess

That these would be easier for you to obtain especially the Apple ][ 's b it like BBC 'B's a national computer ..

I may have to check my spectrums see if they work or not, I also have two working and two non working BBC B's However priority is a very upgraded 800XL at the moment

 

The only 16-bit computer I'd be interested in getting again is an Amiga, but also, I'd want the expandable models like the 2000 I used to have. I've owned ST-STe's and even a Mega STe, and while I did prefer GEM and TOS over Amiga Workbench, I'm still partial to the Amiga because it's a Jay Miner machine. PC's have always been a means to an end for me and there's no interest or nostalgia in older ones either, especially the old CGA graphic models.

One thing a computer must have to attract my attention is good graphics for it's era, but I've always been indifferent about PC's from the beginning, and even after they got VGA and better graphics. I've always preferred proprietary and unique computers, and I even hesitate a bit when it comes to MSX computers because they were a "standard" like PC's, made by many manufacturers, and for personal reasons as I have a long standing hate for Bill Gates and his business practices, but if I can overlook that to own modern Xbox systems which are essientally just Microsoft PC's, I guess I can overlook my personal bias's for an MSX as long as it's a third party brand.

I've also mostly avoided anything made by Apple; Apple II's and Mac's in the 8/16-bit era just didn't have the graphics for me to be interested. And later Mac's were the Power PC's and no longer 68000 based, which I didn't like, so by then it was only the Falcon and later Amiga's I would have considered, had I had the money in the early 90's. I didn't, so I just skipped the whole generation and used my Atari in college and turned to proprietary consoles for my modern gaming, a cheap PC for internet and my still capable Atari 8-bit for all other application needs like finances, writing and record keeping.

I only got ST's and an Amiga to see what I had missed out on back in the day. These days any favorite games from those systems I just play on emulators I have for my Sega Dreamcast, or for the ST games, quite a few have been ported to work on my favorite console, the Atari Jaguar.

I do wish I'd kept the Amiga 2000 now, but getting another someday is questionable. Mainly because I'm a user and hobbiest, and not a true collector, and I have a finite amount of time, and I don't have enough timealready to enjoy the machines I already have as much as I want, so too many machines will just mean less time to enjoy each and I don't want to spend money on a machine that would mostly be collecting dust. So I'll probably end up owning only one or two more vintage micros aside from my Atari 8-bits and I've settled on a C64 as one, so I have to decide on possibly only one more, if any.

I have decided over the last few years that I have to be pragmatic about it all, and be very grateful for, and enjoy what I already have. Also the fact that I have to build an addition onto my house or another out-building just to have room for more than what I already have. Even the C64 will have to fight for real estate, but I'll squeeze it in.

 

Hi Richie
I hope this finds Sonia & Yourself in good health
I'm glad you got it all working o.k. as you know I'm not 100% with using CPLD's and prefer 74 series logic, however I'm slowly becoing a convert as the amount of space that can be saved over individual logic chips is a saving when trying to design something internally, and I'm inproving with using Win Cpul
I'll add that all the design was by someone else nothing; to do with me... However having spent £45 on a programmer and purchased a few spare CPLD's I've been playing with them .. also managed to re program two original U1MB card's as they use a bigger version of the same series of CPLD at 3.3V the 95144XL.. shame the pinout on the programming header isn't standard ... as I found out DOH!!
Good luck with your forray into buying from Japan, I hope it works out well as I may look for a Phillips NMS 8250/8280 if it works out

 

Wow certainly a big difference Andy; you and Bev must be welll chuffed.. (pleased Matt )
I know you have been going through it, as it's taken so long, but you have a nice space to enjoy and relax in. (well bar runnung up and down the stairs) The Kitchen inside you've shown looks loverly and great lighting as well. now the outside joins in.. all you need now is a nice homely 'shed' with power and heating down the bottom of the garden .. housing and Oric or two !!

Oh. And Pam's decided I need to update the bathroom ....

 

Certainly seems to be starting to come together Andy. That man cave will soon be taking shape!
I'll PM you my mobile number for when I head down t' Yorkshire way at the start of May. As luck would have it Bridlington CEX have a PS2 game I've been after for a while so it's a win win for me lol

On the what's new front, I just bit the bullet on a Gotek modded CPC 6128 via EBay. Now I just have to sell my VCS, Pacman mini coinop and a kidney or two to pay for it Pictures to follow when it arrives. That will make my computer collection complete I think - 800, 800XL, 130XE, CPC 6128, Amiga 500, 1040STFM. Less than half the machines I used to possess but much more manageable and should all get a play.

LIke Graham and others have said, it's funny how certain computers tickle you more than others. I love the BBC for its build quality and bright games. The Dragon because it was the first computer I ever tried (in a branch of Boots). And of course, the Oric Atmos as my cousin had one and it looked fantastic (like it still does).

Never been much of a fan of the Speccy or C64 for some reason but always loved the Amstrad as my best pal got one the same Christmas I received an 800XL so plenty of fond memories there.

Consoles and handhedls though, now that's something else altogether! Might need to take some pictures of them for the forum.

Have a good weekend everyone, it's lovely and sunny up here so must be our one weekend of summer

 

Hi, Al.

Naturally, I have not had a week like the one coming up since... before the 1st lockdown 14 months ago so I am gonna be knackered, bud.

I do aim to meet you though and looking at our PMs I think I suggested Tuesday 4th May as being the fave as I'll need to have an early night on the 5th to be up at crack of dawn on the 6th.

Yep, that will work out best so long as it's good for you, Al.

Btw, watch out for our parking meter at Sewerby as it is ALWAYS on the blink and will turn your pockets out if you don't feed it Oric tapes etc...(!?).

 

Good to see the house coming along Andy, careful getting Chris on camera and then the internet, could prove awkward when he goes to sign on

Ah the bad old days of unemployment and going to the job centre..Not fun, glad I didn't have to do it much..

Not been on much because I managed to crack a rib, how I did it is daft, all I'll say is it involved my chair and a Dell keyboard that I was taking apart..

Chest hurts like hell when I breath or move, what a putz I am..

Before I did that I managed to spruce up the man cave (a bit) and it shows even dirty old pirates buy games

Got visited by the Police yesterday, totally unexpected, two coppers at my door. Thankfully not to nick me for anything (I barely leave the house let alone get up to criminality), explained they were here to check up on me and see how things are going with the neighbour. Because I have mental health issues they are required to come and see me, which is nice. I explained that the neighbour was as mad and bad as ever and that I believe she was warned by the council (again). The lady Police officer says that she's out with a person who is in talks with the council re issues like this and she will have a chat with her. At that point the bitch comes down and eyes up the Police and gets her daughter who has been dropped off. They then go up and our chat continues about how bad it is and then BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM...bang bang BOOM BOOM BOOM of the kids stamping with no telling them off. The lady PC was shocked, the noise was so loud and I said its twice as bad when you are in the flat and again there's more booms. THe Lady PC shook her head and said she will make sure this is brought up with the other lady and she would witness the noise for her as appalling.I made sure to point out that there was no telling off and even was a laugh during it from her.

So I live in hope something more will be done now..What a loon that woman is..But perfect timing for me...

Hasn't stopped the child banging away though, true idiot....

Hoping everyone else is chipper..

Righty, got to motivate myself to go shopping, got to get water which is going to be a genuine pain for me but we need it and as Cindy is still not well I've got to do as much to help her as possible.

Here's the pic of the retro station (well one part of it)

 

My daughter got me this....

 

The newer consoles through that projector should look stunning but I'd not use if for 8 bit stuff (personally), I find overly pixelated screens to be a tad wrong looking. As I'd seen the games on a 14" Sony you could not really make out the individual pixels (well just barely), when I see them on a big screen it sort of ruins the magic for me. Something like a PS4 or 5 would look amazing...

 

Yes, the projector is solely intended for consoles, the oldest connected being the first 3D consoles from the 90's, and those through either video-to-HDMI or RGB-to-VGA converters/up-scalers. The 8-bit stay only on my monitors on the desktop. Eventually I may hook up my stock 1200XL (once repaired) to the projector for the occasional Space Harrier session or such, but that's it. Any consoles or computers from the 70s/80's not Atari 8-bit computers will eventually get connected to a vintage 19-25" Sony Trinitron CRT TV/monitor for "large screen" vintage console action.

But I really don't mind the the low-res textures and polygons from the first "next generation" 3D consoles like the 3DO, Jag and PSX, they still look amazing to me and much more immersive in their virtual worlds. I actually got my first projector years ago just for the 90's 3D consoles and a new one about every five years since (upgrading to higher def as projector prices fall). Anything Dreamcast and newer just look stunning.

In other news, my robot arm kit arrived today:

 

Well, I finally got around to ordering the retro Stylophone featured in a video in a thread around here somewhere, that I can't seem to locate. Didn't you create the thread on the Stylophone @Andy Barr ?

Anyway, I had the reproduction of the original saved on my Amazon list and while going through that list for more utilitarian items I'd saved and was ready to purchase, I came across the Stylophone again and decided to buy it on a whim. But as soon as I was in the checkout, they offered up another version, similar retro styling, the model Gen X-1 which includes some control features like envelope, delay, filter and more, and though it was twice the price, I doubled down on my whim. But I couldn't find the model GEN X-1 sold together with a case like the model 1 option, (or whatever it's called) so I then had to triple-down on my whim and splurged for a case for it. Which, of course, will arrive a week after the Stylophone, which I received today.

After I tire of it in 5 minutes, it will be perfect to go in my glass display case with my other 70's (and 80's) retro stuff like the Bally Arcade and the VCS. I'll probably do some project with it using my Atari though. It has headphone and auxiliary mini jacks, so I could always connect it to a sound digitizer on the Atari like The Parrot and digitize the analog synthesizer sound to use as sound effects in a program or as a musical instrument in a music tracker or something like that. I'll have to get a sound digitizer for the Atari though...I'm sure there's some PC app(s) that all the Atari programmers use to digitize stuff these days, like instruments, and convert them to sound files that can be used in Atari trackers or PC trackers made for producing Atari Pokey music, but you know I don't roll that way; I have to do it all on the Atari.

 

This little piece of retro tech is actually brilliant. At first I thought it was a piece of cow dung and I got ripped off, because I could barely hear it and it was cutting in and out. But after putting in freshly charged batteries and locating the volume control, I started sliding the stylus across the pad and spinning the controls left and right to see what effects I could produce, suddenly, I was listening to "music as played by Krell musicians over 16 billion years ago" and the next thing I know, I'm making all those cool futuristic-space-alien-background-sounds from a cult favorite of mine, 'Forbidden Planet' and there's suddenly Leslie Neilson is whispering in my ear "don't forget the Id." Now I just have to experiment and find the settings so it sounds like the Doctor Who theme song!

It has a little built-in speaker that sounds o.k., definitely good enough to recognize the instrument I am playing is the same technology as an analog synthesizer from the 1950's they used in that Disney movie. I'm sure theirs was the size of a stand-up piano though, not hand-held.
Luckily, it has both headphone and auxilary mini jacks so it can be attached to a more substantial sound system and speakers

.It will probably sound amazing through my 1980's JVC rack Quad stereo system with 500W amp and at least 12" woofer speakers, plus the 3 & 2" mid and tweeters. The speakers are currently disassembled and the cabinets being restored though, and I haven't gotten back around to finishing yet. I do have the JVC system set-up in the system cabinet, ready to be plugged in and rocked once the speakers are finished.



Once upon a time it had an equalizer component as well, but that was a casualty of the Texas storage robbery. Yes, you are seeing 2 separate cassette components there, each with different features and abilities.With both of them (instead of a dual-deck)and the equalizer is was a world-class cassette dubber, etc. I forget how it all worked together, but I think it may have required the equalizer as a manager of sorts. Of course way up at the top is the turn-table, which had a brand new needle installed in it before it got packed away about 7 years ago. I'll have to see if I can find the old manual for the system...and another equalizer component.

 

Don't let the knowledge that it was fronted by a paedo in the UK put you off

I brought a new release in a Charity shop a year or so ago...Still sounded good..

 

Well just as I moved my 2600 and Harmony Cart out the door I have picked up a refurbished 800XL. Now the 130XE has to go to pay for it! Don't have any emotional connection to the XE like I do with the 800XL which was my first computer. I've still got my original but want to keep that standard while doing various upgrades to the incoming one.

On other notes, picked up a fully boxed Pole Position for the 2600 (still got a 7800 that I can play it on) and a Scart adaptor (a freebie from CEX!) for my XBOX classic console. I've vastly trimmed down my computer and console hardware in the last while so now want to concentrate on picking up a couple of games, mags and books. I'm actually finding it good to have less systems as I'm enjoying spending what limited spare time I have at the moment fiddling with this more 'curated' collection.

Nearly forgot, rescued an old Nokia 14" crt and have the recent Amstrad 6128 acquisition plugged into that, gives a really lovely picture. I'll post up some pictures later this week if people want? It's not a looker like an Atmos, but is a very tidy computer nonetheless.

Also adding slowly to my recently renewed Subbuteo and Roy of the Rovers habits but I won't bore you guys with that too much lol.

Now thinking about a Stylophone - thanks for planting that seed Matt!

Have a good week everyone
Al.

 

Another Stylophone uber stylistic hit...

 

Couple of nice new acquisitions there, Matt.

The Atari Planetarium takes me right back to 86-87 and life in my batchelor pad flat on the coast and using that software to print out star charts to the Atari SMM804 and gaze up in wonder at the night sky and be able to name some of the stars for a change. It's a great bit of educational software and I believe it also has Halley's Comet data programmed in as it made its return that year.

I know nowt about Smart Watches though so does it do things like measure your pulse at rest and when you're playing Star Raiders II? Does it make a cuppa tea and help with musical notation?

We need to know more data, mister!

I've just bought a bloody star projector for £15...maybe they saw me coming, I'm not sure.

I'll feedback when the darn thing arrives but I just thought it would be "different" to create some kinda romantic light show ambience as we come up to our 2nd wedding anniversary as Bev said she did not want ANOTHER tape for our Oric collection...I just can't fathom modern wimmin, can anyone else on here?!?

Enjoy, Matt - great bit of truly educational software there and both items a great price to boot.

 

Atari Planetarium. Wow, a proper blast from the past.
Think I might need to add a copy to my A8 wish list

 

One is Mick Shannon (right)

Is the other Peter Lorimer?

The LED should not be an issue, meter the leads to it to see if the 5V is getting there and its a bog standard 5mm (?) LED, cheap as chips...

 

My 'what's new pussycat' entry for today is a bit of old junk I found in a junk bin and salvaged. It's an old Karaoke machine. It's missing it's microphones and the holders for them are broken, but everything else seems to work, even the B/W CRT monitor! I'll have to tune-up the monitor as it's vertical hold needs adjusting and the exterior controls are only horizontal hold, brightness and contrast.

I grabbed it for electronic salvage, but I have decided instead to repurpose the entire thing as the main torso of my robot. I've always envisioned a robot more like an R2-D2 droid than a C3PO robot, since even the corporations making robots still haven't perfected one that stand upright and move like a man. And I've no gyroscopes on hand anyway. It will certainly save a lot of time and trouble from building a torso from scratch, even if this cabinet needs some re-enforcing on the inside.

Of course there will be plenty of structural and aesthetic changes to this karaoke cabinet, as I build a robot around it, so it will hardly be recognizable as one in the end. Much more robot/droid looking and much less electronic cabinet looking.

Making use of the B/W monitor with the Atari 800 inside, I could make the monitor double as a graphic display for a face/mouth that moves with synthesized speach, like S.A.M, etc. as well as a "field screen" in case the robot's 800 brain crashes or something. I just thought it would be cool to have it on the robot.

Repurpose the buttons on the machine for control or settings or whatever on the robot, and repurpose any other I/O ports or install different ones in their spots. Make/add some new places to mount sensors and cameras, etc. I won't need the big speaker at the bottom, so I may use that area to mount the robot arm I have (may decide to mount the arm elsewhere like one of the sides or top too), and tracks underneath it all. The CD player on top will probably be tossed aside and use the space for something else or area to mount other hardware (like a head or laser gun), etc. Maybe just gut the CD unit and leave the spring-loaded hatch door for access to the inside of the robot.I haven't opened the cabinet up yet, but these things are usually mostly empty space inside so it should easily house the 800 mobo and more.

Currently, the machine stands about 20 inches tall. My robot arm will stand about 18 inches tall or long from wherever I mount it. I imagine the mobile tracks will be 6" or more tall, and then if I add anything on top of the karaoke torso, my finished robot will stand at least 26" tall with an 18" reach from wherever the arm is mounted (I might mount two arms in the end). It will probably end up being about 3-4 feet tall or about a meter, give or take.

Anyway, the ideas on using this salvage are flying at 100 miles an hour!

 

My latest acquisitions are a CoreGrafx-Mini from Amazon so I get to play some PC Engine favourites like Gunhed and Darius.
More relevant to 8-Bitters is my ARMsid chip, this replaces the 6581/8580. I was talking to Paul about it this week and it’s really very good. Commodore SID chip prices are going up and up and there are a few alternatives but I went with this one. There is a dual/triple SID version available as well but you need a dual SID socket in your 64/128 but the single SID was only €28 + shipping.

 

I say go with the contemporary look. I don't think my "XL Command Center" looks 70's at all, or 80's. To me it's a simple, time-less modern style. Honestly for myself, I always thought even these vintage computer systems looked much more out of place in a traditional or era room setting anyway. Computers, from the beginning have always looked out of place to me in 70's, 80's or even older era settings.

We remember with nostalgia, and that's what's drawing you, I think, to a 70's look, not because our vintage computers look right with the decor of the times, which they never did to me personally. Now the Atari VCS with the wood grain and switches fit right into the 70's style closest, but my honest opinion is that all computers, in fact most electronics, including stereo's and whatnot, have looked space age since the 60's, except for the odd wooden stereo console disguised as furniture of the era.

I especially feel that from the first micro/personal/home computers onward, all would have always looked more at home in an Arthur C. Clark film. I of course have decorations and other trinkets from the by-gone eras like a lava lamp and plasma ball, etc., but again, they look space age to me and always look better in modern/post modern decor than the traditional decor style we all grew up with as average blokes born with a tin spoon in our mouths.

Go with the contemporary white-gloss cube style, and if possible, do ambient floor lighting like in the end of 2001 I've dreamed of having that type of lighting and maybe some day...) , with just a smattering of classical art or furniture here or there for added sophistication. Like I did with my globe and more to come later.

By the way, I don't know if I've ever really shown a picture to you guys of the globe stand I got for my globe. It also now holds the Lava Lamp underneath. It's Cherry wood, to match the globe, with a marble top.

 

Bloody marvellous, Matt.

Yeah,some good observations and pointers there.

I know what you mean about computers lending a space age feel to any of the previous decades as they always seemed a little more progressive than the times they appeared in so getting a match for furniture at any point presents some interesting challenges.

I like your reference to Arthur C Clark and I'd also go for HG Wells and I guess the steam punk decor / style scene might even be able to lend some ideas to give us the 'quirky' feel that we all look to re-create.



Plenty of food for thought there, mate.

Cheers and have a top weekend, fellas.

Al's mentioned the football so I ask - will England flatter or deceive tonight in trying to fulfill their tournament winning ambitions as one thing they are very good at, over the years, is thinking they have done the hard bit (ie. beating Germany) then falling flat on their faces when faced with a so-called inferior opponent (remember Iceland!!!)

We will see.

Enjoy and I hope Graham&Pam, Rich and Paul are all feeling better - take it steady, guys and here's to some summer - as the ruddy nights start to pull in again!!