Re: 32k ain't enough. SFExp is one way, but how about this:
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Re: 32k ain't enough. SFExp is one way, but how about this:
Mel picked the chip because it did most of the interface work for him.
You would have to make a floppy interface to the Z80 over the
interface cable. It would require a large amount of custom chips and a
power source.
On 4 Jul 1997 19:23:31 GMT, "Reinier Zwitserloot"
<R.Zwitserloot@btinternet.com> wrote:
>Now that I got my link, and now that I can finally start running through
>assembler and all, I realize (even more than before) that the 32k isn't
>enough. Course, it's way more than enough for what the TI85 is for. (not
>games.). Anyway, that's not how (most of us) use it :-).
>
>Mel Tsai's SF Expander is cheap, fast, simple, and in general amazed me.
>
>Course, as most know, that special interface bubble chip isn't made
>anymore. Mel found a new one, but not as suitable.
>
>That gave me an idea. how about a portable diskdrive? They are sold
>en-masse for attaching to laptops. (parallel port.) It'll make a load of
>noise and will in general not be usable at all in class, but you can take
>it with you and load info to-and-fro. Furthermore, when the calculator is
>connected, the FDD can be used for data... that way games like MCMik and
>Daedalus will actually have a serious set of levels (MCM does, but that's
>one game where expansion at this point is not really possible due to
>memory... its 23k). Big RPGs with graphics and all will be a possibility
>too.
>
>The SF Expander is cheaper, smaller, silent, and faster, but such a
>solution will not run out of parts (I doubt they will stop making portable
>3'5" floppy drives anytime soon) and you won't have the problem of limited
>writes (bubble mem), and if you'd even run out of the 1MB on the expander,
>in the case of a floppy drive, you can stick however many disks in.
>
>NB: I just realized that if you'd have such a construction, a PC<->85 link
>won't be needed, since you can just swap disks.
>
>Course, I don't have a portable floppy....
>
>Did anyone think/try/have opinions about this?
>
>
>--
>-R.Zwitserloot@BTInternet.com
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