Date   : Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:43:12 +0100
From   : info@... (Sprow)
Subject: modern BBC remake

In article <469E8496.7040202@...>,
   Jules Richardson <julesrichardsonuk@...> wrote:
> Sprow wrote:
> >    Jules Richardson <julesrichardsonuk@...> wrote:
> >> I have a feeling that Sprow's MiniB is tied to using the LCD, and has 
> >> no 'full' expansion support (just the 1MHz bus), so it can't be 
> >> expanded with 
> >> additional hardware to make it look like a full BBC.
> > 
> > True, but that's by design rather than because it can't be done.

> Sure... but I meant that I don't think the functionality is quite there in 
> MiniB because (correct me if I'm wrong) it lacks a full 6502-esque 
> expansion 
> bus, so people can't go randomly adding extra beeb functionality to it 
> which would appear to be 100% compatible at the OS / application level.

Ah right. I did change the CPLD in the last version to output nPGFE on a pin
(SHIELA, to go with nPGFD and nPGFC) so someone could add an Econet
interface via a flying wire.

Plus there are 7 spare flash ROM slots (one is used for the system ROM) for
filing systems etc... 

> In other words, it's not possible to shortcut the process by taking a 
> MiniB, [..to end..] up with an instant 100%-compatible "modern" BBC micro. 

Not really, no, especially as laying out a PCB is probably about 2% of the
overall task,
Sprow.