Should we create an 8-bit Hardware Development Subforum?

[Albert]

Someone has posited that we create a separate Atari 8-bit Hardware Development forum, as there is a fair bit of hardware development and that can get lost among the other threads. 

 

Thoughts?

 

Thank you,

 

 ..Al

[+Stephen]

I think that would be a fairly busy forum.

[Albert]

6 minutes ago, Stephen said:

I think that would be a fairly busy forum.

I agree, I think it'd be worthwhile, but I wanted to take a pulse here first. 

 

 ..Al

[SS]

I have a hard enough time keeping track of all the forms now!  

[Albert]

2 minutes ago, SS said:

I have a hard enough time keeping track of all the forms now!  

That's why I don't willy-nilly create new forums. 

[+DrVenkman]

Robert Redford approves of this idea.

 

[jaybird3rd]

Sounds good to me!  I'd be glad to help move hardware-related topics into the new subforum, if it would be useful.

[Justin Payne]

Yep. Great idea. It would be a great place to look for new hardware project and possibly repair questions and tip.

[Mathy]

Hello Albert

 

Would this new forum be a subforum of the Atari 8 bit computers forum, just like "Atari 5200 / 8-bit Programming", "8-bit High Score Club" and "RespeQt SIO2PC Software"?

 

Sincerely

 

Mathy

 

PS seems like "remove link" doesn't do what it should do.

 

[Albert]

1 minute ago, Mathy said:

Would this new forum be a subforum of the Atari 8 bit computers forum, just like "Atari 5200 / 8-bit Programming", "8-bit High Score Club" and "RespeQt SIO2PC Software"?

Yes.

1 minute ago, Mathy said:

PS seems like "remove link" doesn't do what it should do.

That does appear to be broken.

 

 ..Al

[+Mr Robot]

An 8-bit hacks sub forum would be good too, it's pretty conspicuous by its absence in the hacks forum

[Albert]

Are there enough hacks for the 8-bit computers to justify such a thing?

 

I can add an Atari 8-bit Hacks section to the upcoming Downloads module that I'm working on now.

 

  ..Al

[+mytek]

Answering question: Should we create an 8-bit Hardware Development Subforum?

 

As a person that has done a fair share of unique 8-bit hardware enhancements, I think it would be a very cool place to hang out, as well as a much better arena for me to have discussions about the stuff I've been involved with.

 

I say go for it 👍.

 

 

 

[+toddtmw]

it appears (as usual) I am in the minority.

 

I'd love to have a list of all of the hardware mods and custom software linking to the threads talking about them, however...

[Albert]

44 minutes ago, toddtmw said:

it appears (as usual) I am in the minority.

 

I'd love to have a list of all of the hardware mods and custom software linking to the threads talking about them, however...

Do you prefer to have all these threads in the main Atari 8-bit Computers forum?

 

 ..Al

[+Mr Robot]

1 hour ago, Albert said:

Are there enough hacks for the 8-bit computers to justify such a thing?

 

I can add an Atari 8-bit Hacks section to the upcoming Downloads module that I'm working on now.

 

  ..Al

There are quite a few and people like tix are adding new ones all the time. They tend to get lost in this forum or the 5200 hacks sub forum. 

[Rybags]

Sounds good - and it could be populated with old threads for the likes of VBXE, Ultimate 1 Meg, SIDE, IDE +2 etc etc.

 

Just for easy retrieval sake when I need info on such items, it would make finding it a whole lot easier.

Some related software development could probably go there as well.  And the sale threads for when production runs have occurred or will be happening.

[Heaven/TQA]

I think I mentioned it at some point...  when I mentioned that first page of forum was full of hardware dev threads  so I would appreciate.

[emkay]

A sub forum for non stock /expanded Ataris would do better.

[TGB1718]

👍 Great idea

[+kheller2]

I think the sub forum is a good idea.  My confusion will come from where do I go for "my 1030xe doesn't boot" and "my 1050 doesn't work" threads, or are we talking specifically about new/non-Atari made hardware?  Where would new multi-carts go?  I just want to make sure its clear that a new forum would be for enhancement things, vs diagnostics & troubleshooting of what I just found at the local dump. Or would that all go together now?

[Rybags]

It'd be for custom modifications (e.g. add chroma to 800XL) and 3rd party hardware addon/modifications like Ram expansions, IDE class devices etc.

 

Standard hardware problems should stay where they already are, in the main 8-bit forum.

[ijor]

My personal opinion is that I'm not sure it is a so good idea. Of course that the topic is cool and there is enough interest. The question is if better to have a separate forum (subforum or not doesn't matter too much), or keep the topic in this generic 8-bit forum. IMHO, unless the volume is too high that you would better separate, I'd prefer not.

 

[flashjazzcat]

59 minutes ago, ijor said:

My personal opinion is that I'm not sure it is a so good idea. Of course that the topic is cool and there is enough interest. The question is if better to have a separate forum (subforum or not doesn't matter too much), or keep the topic in this generic 8-bit forum. IMHO, unless the volume is too high that you would better separate, I'd prefer not.

 

I find myself agreeing with this point of view.

[SS]

1 hour ago, kheller2 said:

are we talking specifically about new/non-Atari made hardware?

I *think* so but this is a good question. It seems like it would get pretty confusing if the sub-forumn was a mix of new and classic built hardware. I feel that classic hardware talk would only belong in the sub-forum if the discussion was about adding the new hardware to it. Or maybe I am just stating the obvious.