RE: TI-H: New Calculator!!!

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RE: TI-H: New Calculator!!!

Definitely use a Flash ROM.  Also, you're making a pretty large subsystem here.  if you can keep it small, you MIGHT be able to shadow it, but anything over 128K on a hobbyist's design will be hell.
	Going back to mine for a minute...  There will probably be a dedicated audio drive in it.  Something like 2MB.  That's nothing on PCM.  Can anyone help me out for RealAudio or MP3 decoding?  they have similar compression ratios, and I think we can get away with 16 Kilobits / second.  it's decent audio quality, and this isn't exactly supposed to be a CD-quality player anyway.  It's starting to look like it will cost somewhere around $150-$200 dollars for the prototype, and that sucks.  In fact, it might even be more, but I'm trying to be as cheap as possible.
	And also, ever try writing the OS in C?  Just use a limited subset, and then, the real trick is to get someone to write a compiler for your platform.  The advantage is that once you're done, you can release a calculator AND a compiler at the same time!  In addition, OS updates would be a cinch!  Just make sure to write VERY tight code.
	
Christopher Kalos
raptorone@geocities.com
VirtuTech Developer's Group
AOL IM: Raptor1CK

----------
From: 	Richard Piotter[SMTP:richfiles1@hotmail.com]
Sent: 	Friday, March 06, 1998 8:21 PM
To: 	ti-hardware@lists.ticalc.org
Subject: 	Re: TI-H: New Calculator!!!


><< We could MAKE the next calc rather than modify the old 
> ones!!!
> 
> What does everyone think??? I have seen schematics of countless 
> computers, and I think it could be done!!!
> 
> Richard Piotter >>
>I would be interested and could help out on the hardware if Rich can't 
do it
>all. Also someone should contact the TIAssembly list and see if one of 
the
>programs could possabley help out!

I have no problem with hardware. I could draw up a basic block diagram 
or even a simple schematic in a matter of hours or a day or two. I'd 
just need to spend some time checking out addresses and the interfacing. 
For a final schematic, I'll need actual pinouts and information on all 
the parts I'd use. I'd design the hardware myself, but the ROM is the 
problem. We need to essentialy rewrite the TI-OS!!! Yes, every 
scientific and graphing function. Everything. Even the home screen!!! My 
recomendation is to base it on the TI-92 OS, but incude built in ASM, 
possibly an object oriented programming language, where you can actualy 
use the tools to draw objects and then compile them into object files 
that programs could use. I intend to use something that kicks the Z80 in 
the butt. If  make a calc, it won't be no cheap TI clone. It'll be the 
REPLACEMENT for the TI!!! I can't do much money wise, so I can definitly 
be sure the price will be LOW!!! If I can afford it, anyone can!!! (=

Where can I get information on the Strong Arm processor? How many bits 
is it? How fast. I've heard a lot of good things about it. Also, Grant, 
you're working on the EIII, and it uses SRAM. If you can give me any 
advice on what kind to use, I'd appreciate it! Also, what type of memory 
would be best for the ROM. If I do this, I might as well make it flash 
upgradable. I'm assuming plain old parralel flash memory. How do you 
rewrite it. Could a temporary "ROM" program be copied into the RAM and 
then the ROM is cleared and updated???

Like I mentioned before, the entire ROM would need to be programmed. I 
have ABSOLUTELY no expirience with ASM, so I may be able to do the 
hardware, but someone who's GOOOOOOOD will have to do the ROM. Like I 
said, the ENTIRE ROM needs to be prorammed from scratch. I can make the 
most powerful calculator imaginable, but that won't do any good unless I 
can find some DEDICATED programers to help. I want to make the device 
anyway. I suppose I can always get it programed later.

If people are interested in doing the ROM, let me know. It'll be a while 
yet though.  The hardware will be a cinch.

Richard Piotter
richfiles1@hotmail.com

The Richfiles TI Page
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/5081/Richfiles.html


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