Omega-TI Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 Checking on the status and wants for this device in the community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMole Posted September 28, 2014 Share Posted September 28, 2014 I voted no, because the reason I come here and code for the TI is not because it's such a wonderful productivity platform (let's be honest, it isn't by any stretch of the imagination). For all of the RTC-related use cases that I can come up with there is a better implementation on my PC, my laptop my smartphone and my tablet readily available today. My time with the TI is really about nostalgically filling in the ambitions I had as a kid where I was hell bent on demonstrating that my computer could run games just as impressive as those C64's and Ataris that all the other kids were playing on. I was going to show them, with spiffy graphics and arcades-speed gameplay. Unfortunately, I never learned assembly and that severely limited those ambitions . Now, many years later I do have the skills to show off what the system can do and that's what I enjoy the most. From creating the graphics in Gimp, to writing the code and designing the levels. I only used the TI for two things back in the day: programming and gaming, and those are the only things I use it for today as well. I really don't see a lot of reasons to use TI Writer, Multiplan or dbase when MS Word, Excel and MySQL (or any other RDBMS) are available. Now, a high resolution timer to do benchmarking would be neat though! But a battery-backed clock? Nah... Just my personal humble opinion and use cases of course . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted September 28, 2014 Author Share Posted September 28, 2014 (edited) We all have our own different reasons and goals when it comes to the old Classic Computer hobby. Sure, the boring appliance-equipment of the day can run circles around the old TI, but for me a good portion of my enjoyment is see what I can make the old gal do. So, while you are correct, anyone one of those things you mention are good, I just get a blast out of using the TI because it's more fun and I don't have to worry about my APP being spyware or being hacked by some creep. How are you going to hack a TI? There are a few things I prefer to actually do on the TI, because believe it or not, it's faster on the TI! Really, it is. For instance if I want to check my appointment calendar/schedule, I can turn on the TI, and have Remind Me! loaded up and running in no time. For what it does, Remind ME! serves me quite well, (although it would be even better with a RTC). If I wanted to do that on the PC, I'd have to wait while the damn thing took it's sweet time booting up before I could ever think about checking the schedule. With the TI, I'm in and out. Just because the girl is old does not mean she no longer has any useful utility. Just my personal humble opinion and use cases of course . Yep, that's the beauty of the hobby, it can be different things to different people. Just look at how many possible expansion configurations there are for the TI. I think the TI is one of the BEST platforms out there for personal 'self-expression'. It's actually one of the reasons I enjoy looking at photos of peoples systems so much as most of them are different in some way. Now me, I'm on a personal quest to expand my TI until the day I die, who knows what the next item will be? Just looking back at the TI in it's heyday, when we could never even imagine some of the stuff we are enjoying today. I mean really, super duper mega-carts that have everything except the kitchen sink in them? Virtual disk drives, Internet accessibility, inexpensive plug in VGA boards. ** EDIT ** And not to forget the totally AWESOME games coming out today that make most of the original TI games look like crap. To me the golden age of the TI is not behind us, WE'RE LIVING IT NOW! Edited September 28, 2014 by --- Ω --- 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willsy Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 To me the golden age of the TI is not behind us, WE'RE LIVING IT NOW! Amen. Brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMole Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 Yeah, don't get me wrong. I have tremendous respect for people that still use the TI for practical real-life purposes even today, all the more power to them. I just wanted to share my personal reasoning as a way to maybe get some discussion going and getting other people's insights. After all, we're a diverse group with opinions ranging from "everything needs to run on unexpanded real iron" to "let's put a Raspberry Pi in a TI shell and run an emulator on it" and everything in between. And that's great, 'cause it makes sure we get to see our little ecosystem expand in all sorts of interesting directions! But it could be good to get a feel as to where the majority sits on that scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 Upon closer inspection of the numbers... We've on;y had 13 votes, but 6 of the 13 voters ALREADY HAVE A CLOCK and four of them decided they do not need another, quite understandable. That means nearly half of the people without a clock that voted actually want a clock for their system. If the 4 who voted yes got one, and added to the 6 that already do, that would mean 10 out of 13 voters, or the MAJORITY of users that voted would have a clock. IF you've ever thought that a clock might be nice, now or for a future program, this is your time to make your voice heard. Who knows, if someone out there sees a need, they might step up to the plate and fulfill your desires. If you say nothing, and let the opportunity pass you by, you may never have the opportunity to change your mind later. Also, these statistics are deceptive with so few votes, so, pro or con, please vote so we'll have a truly representative answer. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dphirschler Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I used to have a realtime clock. I am pretty sure it was part of my FDC, but I honestly can't remember. But I used to love putting a clock on the screen while I was in Extended Basic or just browsing the BBS. There was a simple call that put it up on the screen. But I am not sure I would buy a standalone RTC card. It's a nice feature to have, but I think I would want it built into the TI console somehow. Darryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iwantgames:) Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I voted yes, as I'm all for having added functionality to my TI. Plus the more people that have one the more reason for programmers to use the feature for adding new features to programs. there's at least a few games I can think of that used sunlight or time as a feature, with the use of a RTC programmers could for instance make a CRPG with day/night cycles where enemy's are more plentiful and powerful after a certain time So this could not only add productive use to the TI, but could also potentially be used to add unique functionality to games Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 ...I think I would want it built into the TI console somehow. Hmmmmm, I never considered that option. It would probably require quite a few soldering connections, unless it was modeled after one of the first PC XT clocks that were socketed under the CPU. I wonder if a kit similar could be developed? All the connections could be pre-attached to a thru-socket, just remove the CPU, plug in the socket, then put the CPU in the socket. If it was easy to install, a device like that would be of value to anyone with or without a Nano-PEB or P-Box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dphirschler Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Now *that* is something I'd be interested in! Can you do it? Darryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 The TI CPU is soldered in, it's not a trivial part to remove. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 The TI CPU is soldered in, it's not a trivial part to remove. Well, yet ANOTHER ONE (idea) BITES THE DUST! Okay, let me ask you this.... If a PGRAM+ card was to be made today, how much do you think it would cost, figuring assembly and a little profit of course. I not suggesting it be you, but you and people like arcadeshopper have been involved in multiple projects, so I figure you are knowledgeable enough to give a ballpark figure. While a RTC by itself is not as popular as I'd like it to be, I'm thinking quite a few people might like to get their paws on a PGRAM+ card as they sound VERY useful. So, I'm thinking this might be a good time for a GROUP BUY and a chance to raise all ships so to speak. Not only would people get a great and useful card, they would never again have to read about me wanting a clock! Surely THAT'S worth something! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+InsaneMultitasker Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 The MBP method, which is a "simple" memory-mapped device residing in the 8xxx range would probably be the best bet for adding to the console. I thought someone even did this mod long ago, maybe it is in the Chicago TI UG compendium. FWIW, a group buy of the IDE card would also net a clock - and one that is integrated into a disk peripheral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 My problem with the IDE card was that the IDEAL firmware was incompletely debugged, and the source code did not exist. Fred's DSR port probably goes some way to helping that. I don't know much about the PGRAM+ card and couldn't really estimate it for you, but the GROM cart we're releasing should do everything it does except replace the console GROMs..? (And be flash based rather than RAM, so limited on the number of rewrites). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Somehow, in a way I can't explain, I believe the golden age of pre-pentium systems is yet to come. Come, it will. And I believe it will be driven partly by curiosity and partly by genuine need. But mostly by historical curiosity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 The TI CPU is soldered in, it's not a trivial part to remove. Ohh nonsense, all you need is a good solder/desolder station. Recommended for anything more complex than 8-pin DIPs or beyond the casual resistor replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dphirschler Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Even I have one of those. :-) It's a sucker bulb on a hollow-tipped soldering iron. Love that thing. So useful. Darryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 I don't know much about the PGRAM+ card and couldn't really estimate it for you, but the GROM cart we're releasing should do everything it does except replace the console GROMs..? (And be flash based rather than RAM, so limited on the number of rewrites). Huh?!? Should do everything... Where do I find more information on this thing? I must have overlooked this somehow, because I cannot believe I left a stone un-turned in my "holy quest" for a RTC, which the PGRAM+ has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Okay, it doesn't have an RTC. An RTC is no good without software that uses it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 Okay, it doesn't have an RTC. An RTC is no good without software that uses it So true. We have a few programs already. But you know, if I ever want to get a Telnet BBS running on my TI, it'll need a clock first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 So true. We have a few programs already. But you know, if I ever want to get a Telnet BBS running on my TI, it'll need a clock first. Why? I ran a BBS on my TI for over four years without a clock and nobody complained. That said, if you /need/ one, are they really that hard to come by? Do you need it to be compatible with old clocks? Which ones? At the hardware or DSR level? (Classic99 has a DSR-level clock, but it doesn't seem to work with much). It's not as simple as just 'we need a new clock device', the software market for clocks is a little fragmented and there's not likely much new coming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 Why? I ran a BBS on my TI for over four years without a clock and nobody complained. That said, if you /need/ one, are they really that hard to come by? Do you need it to be compatible with old clocks? Which ones? At the hardware or DSR level? (Classic99 has a DSR-level clock, but it doesn't seem to work with much). It's not as simple as just 'we need a new clock device', the software market for clocks is a little fragmented and there's not likely much new coming Yes, sadly they ARE that hard to come by! I believe a modern 'remake' of the CorComp clock could be done for about the same price as one of those cool new cartridges than have been coming out lately. A cartridge with SMT components would not have to be much larger than Greg's new speech interface board which would help keep costs down as well. Interest is so low though that I doubt it'll ever happen as a 'clock only' device. It's not like the software has not already been copied. To answer your question, yes, I do need it to be compatible with old clocks because there are a couple of GREAT PROGRAMS that actually use the clock already, if available. The "BOOT" program which a lot of people out there have, uses the clock, and one my most used programs on the TI is "Remind Me!" and it'll use the clock too. So, I'm thinking, why reinvent the wheel, right? I've given up trying to get a clock only device. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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