New C64DTV Tech...

Slartibartfast

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Nov 20, 2005, 9:30:17 PM11/20/05

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Ok, just noticed this from Jeff's DTV Hacking forums today. It seems
that Curt Vendel, one of the Atari Flashback dev team, has revealed
that a company in the Netherlands is working on a c64DTV into a
keyboard?

Not Nick Coplin's hack, this seems to be a commercial enterprise:

As Curt said in this thread -
http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78664

"Actually the Commodore C64 and assets are now owned by a company in
the Netherlands and they are working on a C64 in a keyboard."

Now I'd say this is just a misguided rumour based on incorrect
information, although it comes from someone who is reputable. Very odd,
has anyone else heard any talk of c64 and dtv tech being sold to a
company in the Netherlands to be made into a custom keyboard?

That was on November 5th, and there's been no further info forthcoming.

Sounds like something from the Tulip era, although if this is true then
it could be just what we're all waiting for.

Dr. Thomas Radtke

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Nov 21, 2005, 2:52:26 AM11/21/05

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Slartibartfast schrieb:

>
> "Actually the Commodore C64 and assets are now owned by a company in
> the Netherlands and they are working on a C64 in a keyboard."
>
> Now I'd say this is just a misguided rumour based on incorrect
> information, although it comes from someone who is reputable. Very odd,
> has anyone else heard any talk of c64 and dtv tech being sold to a
> company in the Netherlands to be made into a custom keyboard?

I'm confused, isn't Yeahronimo a dutch company?

Thomas

Slartibartfast

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Nov 21, 2005, 3:39:31 AM11/21/05

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Well, exactly. Dutch and American anyway.

This rumour does seem to be just a misguided bit of misinformation. I
still hold out hope tho, it would be a very good thing if true.

Jason

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Nov 21, 2005, 6:54:46 AM11/21/05

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Slartibartfast wrote:
> This rumour does seem to be just a misguided bit of misinformation. I
> still hold out hope tho, it would be a very good thing if true.

No idea if the rumour is true but one slight tangent springs to mind... what
would it be loading off...? All manner of interesting possibilities spring
to mind! =-)
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Slartibartfast

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Nov 21, 2005, 8:24:21 PM11/21/05

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Jason wrote:
> Slartibartfast wrote:
> > This rumour does seem to be just a misguided bit of misinformation. I
> > still hold out hope tho, it would be a very good thing if true.
>
> No idea if the rumour is true but one slight tangent springs to mind... what
> would it be loading off...? All manner of interesting possibilities spring
> to mind! =-)

So, this is interesting, Curt just posted:

"Give me a few weeks and I'll post more info..."

Now, that sounds like he does have insider information.

Possibly this could save us all from hacking the PAL C64DTV with it's
messed up colours.

bud

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Nov 22, 2005, 1:11:46 AM11/22/05

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Maybe it's 'RuudBaltissen A.G.' ;-))

salaam,
dowcom

To e-mail me, add the character zero to "dowcom". i.e.:
dowcom(zero)(at)webtv(dot)net.

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Christian Brandt

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Nov 24, 2005, 12:14:21 AM11/24/05

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Slartibartfast schrieb:

> Ok, just noticed this from Jeff's DTV Hacking forums today. It seems
> that Curt Vendel, one of the Atari Flashback dev team, has revealed
> that a company in the Netherlands is working on a c64DTV into a
> keyboard?

Hm. Sounds interesting but there are caveats.

Is it just DTV with two sticks and a keyboard?

Everything in one case? That would ruin usability a lot.

Sticks and Keyboardcomputer seperated?

Maybe with ports for old joysticks?

Maybe with an serial IEC-connector?

With the last three suggestions it would pretty much rock. But then
you can get complete C64-Systems (computer, floppy, monitor) for €50 so
thats a really narrow margin.

For the casual c64-gamer a DTV is good enough, maybe with a connector
for another joystick in the DTV. But I don't see the benefits, there are
not very much multiplayer-games for the C64 (Pitstop II and Wizball
being the only ones coming to min).

For the Power-User I could imagine a more nifty system, basically a
C64 in a Keyboard-Case with connectors for joystick, monitor, floppy and
a slot for Flashcards like MMC64. In addition of emulating a true CBM64
I dream of an integrated RR64 and maybe a higher clock and the option to
map parts of the Flashcard to C64-memory thus allowing to do
"interesting" memory-mappings or even full access to the ASIC. This
system would be quite cheap to produce but still hold enough features to
be a true 2005-C64 worth easily €50-€0.

Christian Brandt

pbde...@spamnuke.ludd.luthdelete.se.invalid

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Dec 12, 2005, 8:36:36 PM12/12/05

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Slartibartfast <idig...@gmail.com> wrote:

From what I recall on the schematics it's useing resistor arrays to encode
video signal levels. And that is a compromise I guess on quality/price ;)

agi...@netscape.net

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Dec 12, 2005, 11:57:02 PM12/12/05

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pbde...@spamnuke.ludd.luthdelete.se.invalid wrote:
> From what I recall on the schematics it's useing resistor arrays to encode
> video signal levels. And that is a compromise I guess on quality/price ;)

I thought it was that they did a worse job in picking the resister
values than in the NTSC version.

It sure is a compromise on quality/price ... at the price of doing it
better, the quality would be 0, since there would be no units on the
market.