What would you want in a new Atari?

[applekevin]

I know this topic has been probably done to death, but I didn't see any threads on it, so why not.

 

Basically, what features would you want in a followup to the ST/TT/Falcon series? I know there's the FireBee, but the price is so astronomically high, it will necessarily remain an ultra-niche product.

 

I have basically three things I would want:

1. Above everything else, an OpenHardware design. The Ataris and Amigas are living testaments to the danger of proprietary designs. This is even more a problem for low-volume things like a new Atari would be.
   
2. Under $100. I don't even know if this is possible, but then again, FPGAs are going down in price. . .
   
3. Can be made by hand. The circuitry should be such that it could be soldered by an individual with adequate skill. While I doubt it's possible, what would be even better is if the PCB could be made with only 2 layers, then even it could be DIY'd
   

[Sub(Function(:))]

One, or two of these maybe? http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=96

[GadgetUK]

"What would you want in a new Atari?" - an Amiga! Sorry I couldn't resist!

 

I would love another 68000 based system, maybe at 100Mhz or 200Mhz, with 128Mb RAM standard, with something similar to the Amiga Paula chip for sound, maybe 8 channels. Be nice to have scrolling and blitter support that the STe has, but stick with 320 x 240 resolution, maybe add some VGA modes 640 x 480, and 800 x 600. Other than that I would happy to keep existing I/O, keyboard etc. Maybe stick CD or DVD ROM drive in as we'll.

 

My reasoning is to try and keep retro look and feel of games but provide more power for more sprites etc.

Edited August 14, 2013 by GadgetUK

[applekevin]

I honestly think the best option would a Coldfire V4 + CK68klib. This is the cheapest way, IMO, to get a real 68k processor. They can be had for less than $10 (BGA only though).

 

For graphics. . .hmm, well, one kind of crazy option would be some sort of vector coprocessor. In fact, there is a BSD-licensed clone of the Cray-1 which apparently runs at about 50mhz (compared to the 80 of the original). There's also the SuperVIDEL, but it's closed source.

 

For sound, something on par with the Yamaha OPL4 might be nice.

[Fletch]

At this point, I'd really only care if it was Falcon compatible and could play ST games without modification. My days of wanting the ST to be a main machine have long passed. But having a solidly built, very compatible, under $500 machine would be a fun addition.

[Hatta]

At this point, I'd really only care if it was Falcon compatible and could play ST games without modification.

 

That's how I feel about the new Amigas. If it can't play original Amiga games without emulation, I'm not interested.

[Bill Loguidice]

Yeah, I agree, zero need for another new incompatible platform. We have enough modern Windows, Linux, Mac, Chrome, iOS, etc., to deal with. A fully classic compatible newly created system on the other hand always has great appeal, something that's a mix between the benefits of emulation with the "feel" of using the original hardware.

[oky2000]

Being Devil's Advocate I would say if you built an X86 machine inside a beautiful ST inspired case (be it ST/STF or Mega) and customised the GUI to look identical to say GEM desktop and then the OS had hooks for running ST PRG files either from floppy or hard drive directory./DVD then it would be sort of like the ST equivalent of the PPC based Amiga OS4 machines.

 

I could probably help with the GUI reworking if people were going to use XP Pro as the base OS to hide under. I also have about 50-60 XP Pro COA licenses too

 

I was going to customize some IBM 600X machines to make a fake ST Book machine because they kinda look similar and it's quite easy to hack the XP Luna theme to something less kindergarten looking!

[TwiliteZoner]

A competent management team.