23 Sep
2006
23 Sep
'06
10:07 a.m.
From: Jim Brain <brain at jbrain.com>
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 17:10:39 -0500
Subject: Re: Commodore keyboards and PCs
Technically, C=Key is designed to work inside a perfectly functional C64
or C128. If the 64 is on, it will convert PS2 inputs to C64 keypresses
(in combination with the current 64 KB). If the 64 is off, it will
convert the C64 KB actions to PS2 KB events.
I was thinking... isn't the PS/2 keyboard protocol simply a
low-bitrate serial protocol at TTL levels? Could the 6510 then not
act as the microcontroller?
That is, why not connect the user port to the PS/2 port and run a
program on the C64 to send the keypresses to the PC?
Of course, this runs dangerously into the direction of a "why use an
emulator if you have the real thing" kind of debate... :-)
Joe.
23 Sep
23 Sep
11:11 a.m.
Joachim Thiemann wrote:
It is, and it can. I think, though, cycle times are
50uS, which might
post some timing challenges.
From: Jim
Brain <brain at jbrain.com>
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
<cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 17:10:39 -0500
Subject: Re: Commodore keyboards and PCs
Technically, C=Key is designed to work inside a perfectly functional C64
or C128. If the 64 is on, it will convert PS2 inputs to C64 keypresses
(in combination with the current 64 KB). If the 64 is off, it will
convert the C64 KB actions to PS2 KB events.
I was thinking... isn't the PS/2 keyboard protocol simply a
low-bitrate serial protocol at TTL levels? Could the 6510 then not
act as the microcontroller? That is, why not connect the user port to the PS/2
port and run a
program on the C64 to send the keypresses to the PC?
If that was the main goal of
the 64, that would work. However, most
folks don't want to drag around a C64 PS to power the CPU and a 1541
drive to load the program, or make a cartridge to hold the program. uC
are cheap, and the 64 KB to PS/2 direction is a single chip implementation.
Of course, this runs dangerously into the direction of a "why use an
emulator if you have the real thing" kind of debate... :-)
Joe.
24 Sep
24 Sep
5:08 a.m.
You know, not to get into this debate really, but I have to say that I'm
loving emulation...and I'm not just saying that because I maintain an
emulation project. I can sit in my home office, which is in another part of
the house from my shop (where all of my gear is) and play a quick game on
the Mac using Basilisk or vMac or A2Oasis. I use emulators for Commodore,
Apple, Nintendo, and Atari.
So, it does indeed give you options, and saves you some walking in the
process. The only complaint I have in general is the keyboard mapping for
special keys and remembering them all. Maybe a Jim-Brain-type adapter is
available for the Apple II and Apple ADB keyboards...I dunno.
Rich
Rich Cini
Collector of classic computers
Lead engineer, Altair32 Emulator
Web site: http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca/~rcini/classiccmp/
Web site: http://www.altair32.com/
/***************************************************/
-----Original Message-----
From: cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Bryan Pope
Sent: Saturday, September 23, 2006 7:31 PM
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: Re: Commodore keyboards and PCs
And thusly were the wise words spake by Joachim Thiemann
Of course, this runs dangerously into the direction of a "why use an
emulator if you have the real thing" kind of debate... :-)
It just give you options! :)
Cheers,
Bryan
6709
days inactive
6710
days old
3 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
-
bpope＠wordstock.com -
brain＠jbrain.com -
joachim.thiemann＠gmail.com -
rcini＠optonline.net