13 Aug
2006
13 Aug
'06
12:36 a.m.
Jules Richardson wrote:
Don wrote:
But, you can make the move all the way "in that direction"
and just run an emulator. :> I.e. the appeal is having
the actual hardware. And, while PDP's are reasonably
commonplace, having a *tiny* one (imagine a 10x10x10 8/i
sitting on your COFFEE TABLE :> ) would be truly unique.
If you're going to build a miniature system out of modern components,
why not just use a FPGA? :-)
That was the point I made elsewhere. The novelty of
making a miniature system out of the same components
(more or less) that the original device was made with
just using newer packaging (e.g., SMT).
If an FPGA is fair game, then why not just use an
emulation?
Same reason that a miniature pinball machine is
"cool" while a "video pinball machine" quickly
becomes a yawner...
I think that skirts the appeal of a *real*
"miniture PDP".
E.g., why not just do the whole design in an FPGA? It would
be a pretty boring accomplishment.... :-(
Huh? I don't think so, at least not for me. I'm totally in love
with my SBC6120, which is at least a move in that direction. I can
run it 24/7 and just have it available on a serial port which I can
get to when I'm not home, for some OS/8 hacking when I get the itch. Once the decision's been made to not stick with
the original hardware,
then surely any construction technique is fair game?