Commander X16

I've watched the brainstorming on serial communications, and it occurs to me that some of this is a solved problem: namely, SD2IEC, and some sort of fastloader, perhaps in one of our ROM banks.

The "sunk" hardware cost is the price of the SD2IEC.  Call it $70.

That's the price point to beat, isn't it?

 

I've watched the brainstorming on serial communications, and it occurs to me that some of this is a solved problem: namely, SD2IEC, and some sort of fastloader, perhaps in one of our ROM banks.
The "sunk" hardware cost is the price of the SD2IEC.  Call it $70.
That's the price point to beat, isn't it?
 

Not needed as there is an integrated SD card which is orders of magnitude faster than SD2IEC. No sense in implementing a fast loader for legacy devices when firstly it can be done in software for the cases that need it, which realistically will be rarely.


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41 minutes ago, Lorin Millsap said:

Not needed as there is an integrated SD card which is orders of magnitude faster than SD2IEC. No sense in implementing a fast loader for legacy devices when firstly it can be done in software for the cases that need it, which realistically will be rarely.

Agreed.  Now I seem to recall that the SD card is on the VERA board, which would be inconvenient.  So I hope you mean there's an external SD card slot?

Agreed.  Now I seem to recall that the SD card is on the VERA board, which would be inconvenient.  So I hope you mean there's an external SD card slot?

The VERA card is exposed to the back of the machine. You just stick the card in. No worries.


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Ah maybe I misinterpreted, I thought you were saying the IEC bus could be a good way to enable getting data to/from the X16 and, say a PC?

Just now, Lorin Millsap said:

The VERA card is exposed to the back of the machine. You just stick the card in. No worries.

Thank you again!

Just now, m00dawg said:

Ah maybe I misinterpreted, I thought you were saying the IEC bus could be a good way to enable getting data to/from the X16 and, say a PC?

I don't know if it's a GOOD way (LOL!) but it is a solved problem.

Just now, rje said:

I don't know if it's a GOOD way (LOL!) but it is a solved problem.

Is it though? There's not yet a serial solution available, though given all the things discussed, I'm sure there will be one. I was thinking you were suggesting using the IEC bus as one of the solutions since it already exists. The idea seems to be, given the SD card is at the back of the computer, that one won't be removing it from the X16 all that often. But for active development, that could happen _a ton_ and likewise for sharing content made (you know like tracker files, demos, etc.) one will have to yank the card.

I have to do this all the time with my 3D print farm and it's a pain (as an aside, I do it this way because OctoPrint isn't as reliable for me as just printing right from the printers and it really sucks to ruin a customer print because Octo print disconnected from the printer, or the Pi just stopped working, etc.). So having a way to copy stuff back and forth without having to remove the SD card all the time is something that I think would have very high value.

44 minutes ago, m00dawg said:

I was thinking you were suggesting using the IEC bus as one of the solutions since it already exists. 

Yes.

And yes, I think a "bit-banging RS232 protocol" is *somewhere* in the mix.  Although I don't think my Mac can do RS232...?

Quote

... for active development [inserting and removing the SD card] could happen _a ton_ and likewise for sharing content made (you know like tracker files, demos, etc.) one will have to yank the card.

Yes.  When I develop stuff, I'm moving SD cards around quite a bit, because I'd have to get it off my Mac and onto the X16, and vice versa.

Another solution is perhaps a Wi-Fi SD Card...

Oooooooh.... how about SD2IEC with a Wifi SD card?   ?