Ze_ro
03-12-2004, 01:09 AM
I imagine a lot of people around here have probably already heard of the C-One (http://c64upgra.de/c-one/), but hopefully this topic will introduce the idea to at least a few new people...
The C-One was originally intended to be a "modernized" C-64... it would be as compatible as possible with original software, yet provide many new comforts like a faster processor (20 MHz 65C816), VGA output, USB, PCI, IDE, as well as many other crazy upgrades. The whole thing would have been aimed at hobbyists, of course... but it still seems like a wet dream come true for us C-64 fans.
Since then however, they're done something even more interesting by turning it into a "reconfigurable" computer. Instead of using actual sound, video, I/O, and other chips, they use FPGA's, which can be programmed to act like whatever circuit you want. If you program the FPGA's to behave like the C-64 hardware, then you'll have a C-64... if you program the FPGA's to behave like a Sinclair Spectrum, then you'll have a Sinclair Spectrum. In fact, you could program this machine to be whatever you wanted it to be, including a completely unique machine of your own design if you wish.
Imagine if instead of "emulating" a system, your computer simply transformed itself into that system on the fly... or, instead of executing a difficult, time consuming task, your computer reorganized itself into something that was capable of completing that task in a much more efficient manner. The possibilities are endless.
Frankly, I think this is a revolutionary idea, although sadly, it's probably one of those idea's that'll end up failing because it's years ahead of it's time... Go check out their website (http://c64upgra.de/c-one/) for more information. Unfortunately, the only C-One's available so far are intended for developers only, and not really suitable for unwashed masses like ourselves... and even the developer boards are priced at 269 Euro (provide your own ATX case, keyboard, monitor, and mouse of course). I really hope this project comes to fruition someday.
--Zero
The C-One was originally intended to be a "modernized" C-64... it would be as compatible as possible with original software, yet provide many new comforts like a faster processor (20 MHz 65C816), VGA output, USB, PCI, IDE, as well as many other crazy upgrades. The whole thing would have been aimed at hobbyists, of course... but it still seems like a wet dream come true for us C-64 fans.
Since then however, they're done something even more interesting by turning it into a "reconfigurable" computer. Instead of using actual sound, video, I/O, and other chips, they use FPGA's, which can be programmed to act like whatever circuit you want. If you program the FPGA's to behave like the C-64 hardware, then you'll have a C-64... if you program the FPGA's to behave like a Sinclair Spectrum, then you'll have a Sinclair Spectrum. In fact, you could program this machine to be whatever you wanted it to be, including a completely unique machine of your own design if you wish.
Imagine if instead of "emulating" a system, your computer simply transformed itself into that system on the fly... or, instead of executing a difficult, time consuming task, your computer reorganized itself into something that was capable of completing that task in a much more efficient manner. The possibilities are endless.
Frankly, I think this is a revolutionary idea, although sadly, it's probably one of those idea's that'll end up failing because it's years ahead of it's time... Go check out their website (http://c64upgra.de/c-one/) for more information. Unfortunately, the only C-One's available so far are intended for developers only, and not really suitable for unwashed masses like ourselves... and even the developer boards are priced at 269 Euro (provide your own ATX case, keyboard, monitor, and mouse of course). I really hope this project comes to fruition someday.
--Zero