[A83] Re: Linux
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[A83] Re: Linux
> OK, heres a question, after installing Linux/Dos, would the calc have
> any memory after the install to be able to use it?
Would we want a *full* DOS??? I mean with prompt, etc.
Using your calc as a text-editor is already 'pain-in-the-ass', so typing
every command will be, hmmm... erm... think of something yourself...
> and besides that, we would
> have to worry about the graphics modes? lets just think about this,8 bits
> per pixel, 64000 pixels(320x200) that comes out to be...512000 bits!
Why would we want 8-bit graphics if we only have black&white???
Okay, we CAN do some very flickering greyscale (4 layers, whoowww).
But would we really want that? And would we use 8 bits per pixel... (2 bits
per pixel would be enough for 4 layers of grey)
Of coarse, we could say "Ti must not only build-in a DOS, it should also
build-in a color screen!". But think about the enormous power consumption,
most color-PDA's with Lithium-ionide batteries take only 2-4 days to drain
it...
Gonna need a LOT of batteries. (I know Li-batteries are rechargeable, but
you'll need some spare ones, for if your calc dies under a math-test...)
Color-displays are more difficult to make, so your Ti would get way more
expensive...
Besides that, the Ti-83(+) (SE) has only 62x94... Would we want an emulated
bigger screen, so you need to scroll around that? Okay, we could say "well,
Ti should also build in a bigger screen!".
It would use some extra power, and -indeed- bigger displays are more
difficult to make, so your Ti would get way more expensive... (hey, have
heard that before ;)
> now, I'm not
> sure if the ti's have enough ram to just hold the current amount of data
> for that, none the less have the pointer specs. If i'm not mistaken, TI
> would have to upgrade the ram, just to hold it, and that means that it
> then moves the pointer out of range(the ram would go past 0xFFFF)
> and if they did raise the max, how would it access the extra ram?
> (after all the max any combo of registers can go is 0xFFFF if i'm
> not mistaken)
Hmm, well if you WOULD like to have 8-bit color then you'll need 64000
bytes (62,5kb), which is almost the maximum adressing range of the Z80
(64kb)
You would also have to transfer that data to the display, which would be
very very slow... (Yes, memory mapped LCD, okay... but also then it would
be a bit of a 'no go')
Henk Poley
> I'm sure this also goes for Linux, though i'm not sure.
> Well anyways, thats my bit of wisdom when it comes to dos oh well.
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