49 replies to this topic

[BillC]

 Stormbringer, on Fri Jun 1, 2012 8:10 AM, said:

I almost hope this doesnt work for a 400, I'd have to switch my vote for 2... heck, maybe 3 - one spare...

The Icognito will definitely not work for the 400 because it doesn't have a personality board, the OS ROMs plug into the main board.

Any similar upgrade for the 400 would need to use the single RAM board slot, with additional cables to the OS ROM sockets.

There is also the issue that the RAM board on the 400 is within the shield without an access panel, so changing a CF card would be a major undertaking unless a slot was made in the shield or some type of extension cable/socket was used. A slot through the shield under the cartridge door and behind the cartridge area, positioned so the card wouldn't interfere with cartridge insertion/removal would probably be the good option for such an upgrade.

[rdea6]

Well 25 votes are in and this needs a bump to keep the thread near the top of the page.  I voted for one, but might get two...
I presume that the beta test went well, but is the testing now over.

[JamesD]

I only have one 800 so I voted for 1.

[Fox-1 / mnx]

Voted "yes".  Even if I can't connect my Black Box, it has enough features left to make it an interesting project.  Maybe an MSC IDE interface can be used.  Will find out.

[candle]

in theory you can use any pbi compatible interface, but the one already there is fully blown pbi disk interface already, and it even reads ATR files directly from FAT32 partition

[tschak909]

Please for the love of god make a run of this. This basically catapults the 800 into holy shit territory, leapfrogging just about everything else.

[Fox-1 / mnx]

 candle, on Fri Jun 1, 2012 3:43 PM, said:

in theory you can use any pbi compatible interface,

As we talked on irc...  The MSC IDE is supposed to be a true PBI device.  It even has jumpers to set the PBI ID# and one can connect multiple of those to the same A8.  I must say I never used the interface since all I use is SCSI but it would be a nice solution to use SD cards when using an IDE<>SD adapter.  No idea how it'll perform or if it runs at all with IDE<>SD adapters.  Only one way to find that out.

 candle, on Fri Jun 1, 2012 3:43 PM, said:

but the one already there is fully blown pbi disk interface already, and it even reads ATR files directly from FAT32 partition

Too bad the SD cards I use on the Black Box can't be used with any other interface.  These aren't FAT32 and neither is the MSC IDE.  Well, you can't have it all.

[Faicuai]

So here are some basic take-rate stats:

• ~640 views
  
• 37 boards taken (seems critical mass is already there)
  
• If we assume a linear (and proportional) ratio, we are talking about a ~5.785% of Take-to-View rate.

That means that, by the time this thread hits 3,000 (which IT WILL), you will have approx. 150-180  boards on-queue.

And if you actually look at the TOTAL views of the main thread (where Incognito is discussed), the actual # views is FAR, FAR larger (which indicates the captive audience for this product may be large enough to go way, way beyond 3,000 view, provided that ENOUGH life-time is given to this or the final pre-order thread).

All-in-all, I would recommend upgrading this thread (effective immediately) to Pre-Order-level (with reasonable / realistic production time-frames), and let it live as long as possible (maybe a year, and 50-units per production batch).

Most likely, this board should be able to reach the stratosphere, where it actually belongs.

My 0.02c

[wood_jl]

Ha ha!!!    I admire your enthusiasm for this project, Facuai.   I share in it, of course!

[rchennau]

Candle: I have a spare 400 I can send for donation to the cause if true end result is a personality board.  But let us hold that topic for the future

[Defender II]

I'd like two, but due to low cash I will limit my request to one.
Please put me on the list when this does switch to a pre-order.

[Faicuai]

A little bump...

[Faicuai]

Quick status:

Forrty-five (45) boards, already, and we are on the fith/sixth day of this thread, with 1,000 views, so far.

Not bad, at all.

[Faicuai]

Another quick bump, to this GREAT project!

[FastRobPlus]

Looks like we;ve topped out at about 50.  Not too bad.  Once boards are made there would be a lot of folks coming in late asking if they can get one too.

I hope this board sees the light of day.  I should be selling off all my XL computer stuff this weekend.

[sloopy]

Interesting, maybe this project will shift the whole community so that everyone dumps XL's and XE's and people will only want Atari 800's!

;'D
sloopy.

[Tempest]

Well since I was the one who started the original 'Make an XL/XE compatible 800' thread all those years ago it would be stupid not to buy one now wouldn't it?  Count me in for one.

[mimo]

Just been showing off my prototype board to an ST fan.
He was impressed to say the least

[wood_jl]

Candle: You must build this.  If you build it, they will come.  You will be Slashdotted and you will go down in Atari history if you make this.  You will make Atari's original flagship computer (800) king of the hill after all the dust has settled, 30-something years later.....  King of the hill ass-kicker Atari8 computer that it was originally intended to be.  That will give you a nice place in history, in my opinion.   I think you should make it!!!! Be famous!

Edited by wood_jl, Fri Jun 15, 2012 1:41 PM.

[orpheuswaking]

 FastRobPlus, on Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:13 AM, said:

Looks like we;ve topped out at about 50.  Not too bad.  Once boards are made there would be a lot of folks coming in late asking if they can get one too.

I hope this board sees the light of day.  I should be selling off all my XL computer stuff this weekend.

Sweet, send all your XL Stuff my way

[beamer320i]

This is WAY too good to miss out on. Please count me in for one board, thanks.

[Firedawg]

Count me in for one Sebastian!

[1NG]

I voted for one. I would love to use my good old 800 instead of the xl.

[skr]

Just do it. Please.

[mimo]

He did, you need the pre order thread