... but it seems to be a very long term project.
In a few words:
I was there, in Croatia, in May 2004 and Summer 2005. I intend to go
again this summer. My project is: I want Nasta to make a very low
cost QL. At this moment I am not really interested to see a QL
based on the very latest fastest possible Coldfire, but this would be
a beginning. And I am ready to invest more than 1000 Euro. And I
believe other people would also invest some money in a well prepared
project.
The fact is that Nasta is certainly our man to do the hardware, but
right now he must live and he has already too much to do for his
employer. Because he currently develops electronics not based on his
knowledge of the QL and he regrets it. However his employer is also
quite interested in a low cost QL for his own use, this is sure.
The second problem that he explained to me is not design of a board
but industrialisation. As a matter of fact there is a mechanical
problem: modern surface mounted chips require toolings and machines
that is readily available in the far east, but there they are not
interested by low production batches. So he wants to find a supplier
interested and able to manufacture small batches in Europe. And even
possibly in Croatia. Last summer this seemed to be his major problem
even if he had an idea...
In the meantime Nasta had told me that we could try to find some sort
of development board, pay it and lend it to Marcel to try to adapt
SMSQ/E to the Coldfire (Coldfire emulator of the 68k). But IRC he did
not go very far into this direction as a board made by Freescale (I
believe) would be usable from a software point of view, if only the
connectors were bigger to be able to adapt monitor, keyboard, serial
connection etc.. Mechanical problem again.
AND anyway I do not know if Marcel could be interested. Marcel?
So you see, there is some hope. However I must also say that, after 2
years, if nothing comes out of this, I will try to find a better paid
job in my world company, and if this happens I would not be very
available for this project any more (In France my employer is forced
to take me back at the same wages as long as 2 years later if
creation of a company fails, the sort of advantage our youth is
fighting for in the streets).
Arnould, Paris, France
On Sat, 08 Apr 2006 16:32:40 +0100, Tarquin Mills wrote
The lack of any sounds on this list suggest that Goldfire,
even in planning form, is not ready and never will be,
probably thanks to being based on the Coldfire CPU. While I
look forward to being corrected, my hopes have faded :-(.
Tarquin Mills (Chairman)
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