Comments on: Building my first computer http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/ Reliving the past 8 bits at a time Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:23:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: OldSkoolBlog » More on the Micro-comp http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/#comment-332 OldSkoolBlog » More on the Micro-comp Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:45:36 +0000 http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/#comment-332 [...] I finally foung the magazine containing the details of the Micro-comp so I can now give you some more details. The magazine was a one-shot, called Six BD 679 Projects, and the first half contained details of six electronics construction projects based around the BD 679 Darlington power transistor, with the Micro-Comp taking up the remainder of the magazine. (I am at a loss to explain why the Micro-Comp wasn’t featured more prominently on the cover or in the title, but Talking Electronics is a weird mob…) The magazine was published in 1994 and reprinted articles and projects from the Talking Electronics magazine. Talking Electronics is a local electronics hobbyist company based in Melbourne. Back in the early 1980s (IIRC) TE launched an electronics magazine, which saw some moderate success despite its irregular publishing schedule. In all, fifteen issues of Talking Electronics were published and TE also published a number of one-shot magazines, including six Electronics Notebooks (similar to Forrest M Mims’ notebook series), a two-part Learning Electronics, Digital Electronics Revealed, numerous model railway and FM bug books and a few compilations of popular projects form the Talking electronics magazines. The magazines were generally pretty good and I learned a lot of my electronics chops by studying and building the projects presented therein. On to the Micro-Comp… [...] [...] I finally foung the magazine containing the details of the Micro-comp so I can now give you some more details. The magazine was a one-shot, called Six BD 679 Projects, and the first half contained details of six electronics construction projects based around the BD 679 Darlington power transistor, with the Micro-Comp taking up the remainder of the magazine. (I am at a loss to explain why the Micro-Comp wasn’t featured more prominently on the cover or in the title, but Talking Electronics is a weird mob…) The magazine was published in 1994 and reprinted articles and projects from the Talking Electronics magazine. Talking Electronics is a local electronics hobbyist company based in Melbourne. Back in the early 1980s (IIRC) TE launched an electronics magazine, which saw some moderate success despite its irregular publishing schedule. In all, fifteen issues of Talking Electronics were published and TE also published a number of one-shot magazines, including six Electronics Notebooks (similar to Forrest M Mims’ notebook series), a two-part Learning Electronics, Digital Electronics Revealed, numerous model railway and FM bug books and a few compilations of popular projects form the Talking electronics magazines. The magazines were generally pretty good and I learned a lot of my electronics chops by studying and building the projects presented therein. On to the Micro-Comp… [...]

]]> By: arb http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/#comment-331 arb Thu, 17 Aug 2006 06:38:24 +0000 http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/#comment-331 Well, with the lack of memory (effectively just the Z80 registers), the lack of input (two buttons) and minimal output options, there's not a great deal it <em>can</em> do. However it was a great way to learn about microcomputer design and operation. The EPROM that came with the kit contained a handful of simple programs, ranging from scrolling text displays on the 7-seg LEDs, to reaction timers, to a two player "quick draw" game. If I can find the manual I will post more details about how it worked and what it could do. Well, with the lack of memory (effectively just the Z80 registers), the lack of input (two buttons) and minimal output options, there’s not a great deal it can do. However it was a great way to learn about microcomputer design and operation.

The EPROM that came with the kit contained a handful of simple programs, ranging from scrolling text displays on the 7-seg LEDs, to reaction timers, to a two player “quick draw” game.

If I can find the manual I will post more details about how it worked and what it could do.

]]> By: Stefan http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/#comment-330 Stefan Thu, 17 Aug 2006 06:21:31 +0000 http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/#comment-330 What can this computer do? What can this computer do?

]]> By: arb http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/#comment-329 arb Mon, 24 Jul 2006 02:22:49 +0000 http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/#comment-329 Well... You haven't seen the solder side. ;^) I started back on the electronics kick earlier this year, but my work room has been crowded out with too much junk. I really need to sort that shit out and get back to my work desk. I have a few unfinished projects that I want to get done... Well… You haven’t seen the solder side. ;^)

I started back on the electronics kick earlier this year, but my work room has been crowded out with too much junk. I really need to sort that shit out and get back to my work desk. I have a few unfinished projects that I want to get done…

]]> By: Rob http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/#comment-328 Rob Sun, 23 Jul 2006 16:24:29 +0000 http://oldskoolblog.com/2006/07/23/building-my-first-computer/#comment-328 Nice, neat job! I never had the patience to be neat--I always wanted to see the thing work, so I rushed through it. Man, I should get into building boards again for fun; forgotten all the hardware stuff. Shoot, I need my own little lab or something for this kinda stuff. Nice, neat job! I never had the patience to be neat–I always wanted to see the thing work, so I rushed through it. Man, I should get into building boards again for fun; forgotten all the hardware stuff.

Shoot, I need my own little lab or something for this kinda stuff.

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