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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : One for Microbee owners
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James_From_Canb Senior Member  Joined: 19/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 265 |
According to a Microbee forum I belong to, the Microbee is being re-released. Announcement I can't help think they've misread the market. Now I have a Maximite I can't see the point of getting another Microbee. James My mind is aglow with whirling, transient nodes of thought careening through a cosmic vapor of invention. Hedley Lamarr, Blazing Saddles (1974) |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Wow. Wait and see. I remember when the Microbee came out. I had used TRS80's at school, and some of my friends had System 80's, but the Microbee was the new kid on the block and I wanted one bad. The Microbee had a lot more power than a TRS80. 512*256 graphics, more RAM ( with battery backup ), faster loading off tape, advanced BASIC, etc. At the time it was the sports car of the sub $500 market. I still have mine in a box, but its looking old, the case has gone a yuk brown colour and I doubt it would work anymore. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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donmck Guru  Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1313 |
Microbee was a fine computer for nearly 30 years ago. But so was the TRS-80 and a whole bunch of others at the time. To come up with this now that the Maximite is kicking off, seems like a very wrong move, and a gross mis-calculation of the market. If they are talking about releasing ROM images, then they are talking about a Z80 platform, and expecting people to build them, or to get them built. I feel it would make more sense to get it rewritten for the Maximite hardware, if they really want a Microbee work-alike. I can totally understand their passion, but feel they would be far better off re-writing MM-Basic to suit their needs for a 99% software compatible machine, and at a reasonable hardware price. Cheers Don... https://www.dontronics.com |
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vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
I would like very much to have CP/M on Pic32 as here. Unfortunately, no code was released :( . Vasi Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| donmck Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1313 |
I didn't fully read the article, but I take it there is a Z80 emulator written in C. Source of this not available? That would open up a few possibilities with the Maximite hardware I would think. Cheers Don... https://www.dontronics.com |
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Nick Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 512 |
Why stop at a Z80 emulator? How about a complete Microbee emulator! Would give the Maximite a whole new personality and we may finally have some software to run on it. This new microbee will more than likely be based on a PIC32 or equivalent programmable chip. |
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| donmck Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1313 |
I figured if you had a Z80 emulator, then you throw it at a ROM image, and out comes whatever you want. Isn't that the way it would work, or am I dreaming? 
Cheers Don... https://www.dontronics.com |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Found it (another one) on this page. It needs porting, of course, Read the license. Vasi -------------- Edit: Well, 8080 emulator runing CP/M here. And here is a project for ARM based on it. Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| rhamer Senior Member Joined: 06/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 174 |
I guess in their defense, if they have been working on this for more than 2 years as stated in their release, then they were possibly on the money back then. Long before the Maximite was born. Regards Rohan Rohan Hamer HAMFIELD Software & Hardware Solutions Makers of the Maximite Expander. http://www.hamfield.com.au |
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| Nick Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 512 |
You need to also emulate the individual computer itself... video display hardware, sound hardware, all I/O, etc. The Z-80 is only half the emulation. |
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| donmck Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1313 |
Oh yes sure Nick. But half way is almost half way there.
Cheers Don... https://www.dontronics.com |
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haiqu Senior Member Joined: 30/07/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 152 |
I thought once you had 95% of a project done there was only the other 95% to go, isn't that right? Rob unzip, strip, touch, finger, grep, mount, fsck, more, yes, fsck, fsck, fsck, umount, sleep |
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| donmck Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1313 |
And just in case anyone reading this thread misses the information about z80 emulation on a pic32, read: http://www.thebackshed.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3937&PN =1 Cheers Don... https://www.dontronics.com |
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| staticmem Newbie  Joined: 18/08/2011 Location: Posts: 2 |
The Maximite looks interesting but I'm not sure if it would be capable of emulating a Microbee. I had a look at the Maximite circuit again to refresh my memory. It could possibly do most Microbee emulation but the biggest draw back is the low resolution video it provides. I don't think it could support the high resolution video that the Microbee had for it's time which was capable of 640 x 270 (actually 300+ down is possible) and was available with colour. Is the Maximite able to do 640 x 270 video? |
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| Nick Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 512 |
I reckon it can. But color is a no-go currently. You can scan double the 640x270 to 640x540 so that it still works on a VGA display. Maybe this new microbee is a Maximite with new firmware (microbee emulation)?
It would be quite possible to do the non-premium microbee on the Maximite. A few people I know are showing great interest in what this Microbee will be. Could become a Maximite beater, especially to the non-hardware types. |
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VK6MRG Guru Joined: 08/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 347 |
Nick, A bit off topic but, how did you go with the colour vga for the Maximite? Its easier to ask forgiveness than to seek permission! ............VK6MRG.............VK3MGR............ |
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| staticmem Newbie Joined: 18/08/2011 Location: Posts: 2 |
You can find out more about the launch and the Microbee below: Microbee Technology Website Launch announcement http://www.microbee-mspp.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=3 67 |
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Keith @ Senior Member Joined: 19/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 167 |
Hey Guys try this link as the one above goes nowhere http://www.microbeetechnology.com.au/ looks good reminds me of my days with the microbee and BBS Keith The more we know, the more we know we don't know ! |
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| VK6MRG Guru Joined: 08/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 347 |
And this http://www.microbeetechnology.com.au/premiumpluskit.htm I just hope I get one. And at $399.00 and a forum full of old software for the Microbee, it will be a lot of fun. 
Its easier to ask forgiveness than to seek permission! ............VK6MRG.............VK3MGR............ |
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djuqa Guru Joined: 23/11/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 447 |
The question arises! WHY? Yes the MicroBee was a great computer (30 years Ago) and the Zilog Z-80 is Legendary but Why release this Revamped MicroBee? Just make a clone / emulation using one of the many excellent MCU boards already available. The MaxiMite has real-world usage. The Arduino has real-world usage. the DuinoMite has real-world usage. The MicroBEE revisited is just a SAD Concept. Whats next, the AMSTRAD CPC 464 Re-hashed. VK4MU MicroController Units |
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