10 ? "Hello from Brazil": GOTO 10

[ice2642]

Hello,

First, my English is not the best, and sorry if any mistake.

I am from São Paulo Brazil, and I am very happy with this project Commodore X16!

I very like Commodore C64, Amiga, and others very cool computers. I am author of some games and tools founded in AmiNet, Like KidHTML, IceMemo, IceHex, Shazzan, M1-Robot, etc...

I download the emulator and plan make some games for this machine soon The yamaha chip for sound I think it was a very good option.

I like too the video VERA, good idea.

For Brazil, U$500,00 is a very big price, I hope the price go down because the tax for importation here that is over postage and item make this 500 go to more than 1500 easy. But if the price in future come down, I plan to buy one.

The PS2 mouse, here will be difficult to found this days that all are USB, I hope the PS2-> 2 ->USB can be used. Some boards not work with adapters like picomite (an other great projet(MMBasic)) Because the signal difference.

Best Regards,

Ice2642 aka "Marcio Esper"

[kelli217]

For a USB mouse to work with such an adaptor, it is best to have a USB mouse that is older, so that it has the capability to revert back to PS/2 mode of operation. If not then a much more expensive adaptor would be required.

[BruceRMcF]

A PS/2 mouse and keyboard come with the system. The cost reduced X16 console will be about US$200.

[kelli217]

A PS/2 mouse and keyboard come with the system.

Ah, yes, right. I was so attentive to the particulars of USB-PS/2 connection that I was unable to notice their irrelevance.

[Edmond D]

A PS/2 mouse and keyboard come with the system.

Ah, yes, right. I was so attentive to the particulars of USB-PS/2 connection that I was unable to notice their irrelevance.
[/quote]

Who would expect a modern 80's retro system to use all the latest connectors & protocols?

That being said, a keyboard that looks like a commodore style one is available. It might cost a little extra from the base unit, but it would be worth it, rather than stare at an Apple or Windows key. As for a mouse, well, in the eighties they were not common and shouldn't be needed for most things. A joystick is a definite requirement. Now if someone produces a great trackball I'd jump at the opportunity to get one and perhaps even try coding Centipede!

[DragWx]

Who would expect a modern 80's retro system to use all the latest connectors & protocols?

In a weirdly ironic way, the ability to go to a computer store, pick up a compatible keyboard and/or mouse, and be able to plug them into your 8-bit computer and have them work and not explode is pretty close to what your experience would've been in the 80s.

[Edmond D]

Who would expect a modern 80's retro system to use all the latest connectors & protocols?

In a weirdly ironic way, the ability to go to a computer store, pick up a compatible keyboard and/or mouse, and be able to plug them into your 8-bit computer and have them work and not explode is pretty close to what your experience would've been in the 80s.

Having gone through the eighties, all the home computers & terminals I saw and used had built in keyboards. Mice were a novelty moving to a norm for PCs, but not for 6502 machines I used.

[ahenry3068]

I was so sheltered from computers in my Teens...
I really only got into it when I got my hands on a Terminal....lol.
I was I think 22 at the time.

I never did the 8 bit scene at the time, except coding interesting stuff on
C128 displays at the store.... The first system I owned was
16 bit .... A Tandy 1000 TX. In another life I would still
own that original system.

[Edmond D]

I was so sheltered from computers in my Teens...
I really only got into it when I got my hands on a Terminal....lol.
I was I think 22 at the time.

I never did the 8 bit scene at the time, except coding interesting stuff on
C128 displays at the store.... The first system I owned was
16 bit .... A Tandy 1000 TX. In another life I would still
own that original system.

Computers as we know it will eventually disappear. We call a small portable computer a smart phone; some never actually make a voice call on it

The Tandys are also classic from that time. It would be interesting to see someone develop a 8086 based system like the PC/XT line these days, similar to how the X16 system is coming along. They could have bus wars (ISA verse MCA), mass media madness (HDs verse SD, verse CD/DVD and floppies) and video choices (MDA, CGA, EGA, Hercules, ...) The amount of threads & debates they could have while developing and sourcing the parts could be endless. The microcontroller argument would be mute, as PC keyboards used the 8048 microcontroller.

[BruceRMcF]

That being said, a keyboard that looks like a commodore style one is available. It might cost a little extra from the base unit, but it would be worth it, rather than stare at an Apple or Windows key.

The premium keyboard available separately has cherry mechanical switches -- of the buyer's choice -- while the customized Perrix keyboard included is a butterfly switch keyboard, but they both have the Commander "X" key and PETSCII characters on the associated keys.

As for a mouse, well, in the eighties they were not common and shouldn't be needed for most things. A joystick is a definite requirement.

The mouse is just a PS/2 mouse (I'd guess probably dual mode PS/2 and USB), but the included gamepad is an SNES "dogbone" style.

Now if someone produces a great trackball I'd jump at the opportunity to get one and perhaps even try coding Centipede!

It might be necessary to find someone who speaks Mandarin to track down a dual mode USB / PS/2 trackball ... the Chinese makers support PS/2 for the Chinese domestic market, they tend to assume all Western markets only care about USB.