Imagine the ultimate tribute to the 8-bit home computer of the 1980s.It might look like [David Murray] Aka 8-Bit Guy’s Commander X16.
As a core group of geeks, hackers, and developers, we long for computers when we are young. VIC-20s, Commodore Pets, 64s, 128s, Ataris, Apple IIes, etc. For many of us, our first experience with computers was with machines that are now called “retro”. Sadly, as demand increases and supply decreases, many of these artifacts become more and more expensive. Working examples are harder to find, and even those can crash. Original displays, peripherals and accessories are also becoming increasingly scarce. This is completely understandable when we consider that some of these classics are more than 40 years old.
What do we like about these old rigs that make them so attractive? [David] Decide what makes a classic a classic, and then turn that list into a list of specifications for what he calls a “dream computer”. He found that things like printed and spiral-bound manuals were an important part of the charm and practicality of these early home computers. Directly booting to the prompt and being able to directly control the hardware is another very desirable feature.
[David] Also take time to determine who do not Love these retro machines: quirky keyboard layout, composite video output and extremely slow storage. In 2021, as in 1981, it is not advisable to exchange multiple floppy disks to load programs or reload tapes. Who knows?
the result of [David]The researcher is Commander X16. Inspired by VIC-20, it is a new interpretation of a retro computer that uses only currently available components. You can see the first video in a series of videos about X16 development below.Please note that a a lot of Since the video was released in 2019, much progress has been made, but it still provides a good starting point for understanding the project.
The specifications of the X16 read like a dream list in the mid-80s: 256-color VGA, up to 2MB of memory, 8 MHz 6502, a large number of expansion ports, and even SNES-style controller ports. What else does this dream machine include? You guessed it: a spiral-bound manual!
It’s not possible to list all the powerful features of X16 in this space, so please check Commander X16 FAQ Know all the details. If this project upsets you, you might be interested to know that they need help with software development! The simulator can be used for development. The goal is to build a healthy software ecosystem when X16 is released.
You can also read other 6502 retro computer reports, such as the “Brain in a Tank” 6502 computer, or visit the birthplace of 6502 and Commodore 64 with our own Bil Herd.
Thank you till [Truth] The report of this excellent project was brought to us through Tip Line. Keep these tips!