Commander X16

Posted: **Wed Sep 22, 2021 5:36 pm**

36 minutes ago, Edmond D said:

Look at the VIC 20, Atari 800, or even the Timex Sinclair - non of these devices had the benefit of mass marketing

Is this a joke? All three were mass-marketed, and had substantial budgets for prototype development and marketing from established corporations.

Posted: **Wed Sep 22, 2021 5:46 pm**

12 minutes ago, SlithyMatt said:

Is this a joke? All three were mass-marketed, and had substantial budgets for prototype development and marketing from established corporations.

Good point. I think what was intended (at least what I inferred) was that they didn't utilize a viral marketing campaign through modern social media / online channels. They definitely had mass marketing, and the media of the day sprung up around them (magazines, shelf space in stores, BBSes...)

Posted: **Wed Sep 22, 2021 5:53 pm**

For IO, keyboards and monitors are okay I guess, but not everyone can afford a teletype. I'm thinking paper tape or punched cards for input. For output I had thought about a single blinky LED, but maybe a relay would be better. It wouldn't actually be connected to anything, but the audible click pattern would provide all the feedback a person could possibly need. How fun would a first person shooter be if all you had was echolocation, amirite?

Posted: **Wed Sep 22, 2021 5:54 pm**

1 minute ago, Scott Robison said:

Good point. I think what was intended (at least what I inferred) was that they didn't utilize a viral marketing campaign through modern social media / online channels. They definitely had mass marketing, and the media of the day sprung up around them (magazines, shelf space in doors, BBSes...)

Yes - sorry for not being clear in my humour. Those computers didn't have the benefit of the internet for their success.

I feel any retro computer really needs that support these days to be successful. Hopefully this community helps make the X16 become a "thing."

Posted: **Wed Sep 22, 2021 5:56 pm**

1 minute ago, Edmond D said:

Yes - sorry for not being clear in my humour. Those computers didn't have the benefit of the internet for their success.

I feel any retro computer really needs that support these days to be successful. Hopefully this community helps make the X16 become a "thing."

Yeah, I'm slow because I didn't get the humor until the 4th or 5th reading when I finally realized the Star Trek Q / Qommodore connection. I didn't pick Qommodore because of that, but it makes me love it even more now. ?

Posted: **Wed Sep 22, 2021 5:58 pm**

6 minutes ago, Scott Robison said:

For IO, keyboards and monitors are okay I guess, but not everyone can afford a teletype. I'm thinking paper tape or punched cards for input. For output I had thought about a single blinky LED, but maybe a relay would be better. It wouldn't actually be connected to anything, but the audible click pattern would provide all the feedback a person could possibly need. How fun would a first person shooter be if all you had was echolocation, amirite?

The guy with the loudest keyboard (Cherry MX Green) would be the first to go (if the system had a keyboard)! ?

Posted: **Wed Sep 22, 2021 7:22 pm**

3 hours ago, Scott Robison said:

That's just crazy enough to work!

I do remember the PE "Champ" 4040 machine which was built on veroboard ....

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:01 am**

I'm not in love with that but it was fun to make. ?

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2021 1:25 pm**

8 hours ago, Scott Robison said:

I'm not in love with that but it was fun to make. ?

The name might not have an IP problem, but that label seems like it would, which would further increase the incentive to run the project away from the internet.

Posted: **Fri Sep 24, 2021 2:46 pm**

It's nothing intended to be used in an actual product. Just playing around with the alternate universe.