This has gotten to be a pretty peculiar discussion. Initially the question was
whether to leave an unassembled kit in its original state or to sell it off and
buy an already built one with a portion of the proceeds, since the unassembled
kit apparently brings a better price than an assembled and working one.
Now it's become whether it's better to hack up and totally modify a system
that's not wanted in order to get what is wanted. Building up a Z80 setup with
a serial port, having designed it around one or another of the rather common
monitor proms avaiable for one or another SBC seems to look on ther order of an
afternoon's wiring, provided one's got the parts. I'm curious why one would
extensively modify a fully functional device in order to make it into something
it isn't when it's really less effort to build it from scratch by wirewrap, and
end up with something that IS wanted.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Glen Goodwin" <acme_ent_at_bellsouth.net>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2001 10:42 PM
Subject: ZX81 kits (was Re: Keep or assemble???)
> Tony Duell wrote:
>
> > Yes, but hang on a second. If I don't keep the BASIC (I'd prefer Forth,
> > and yes I know there was a forth ROM for the ZX81), I modify the display
> > (so I don't really use the ULA)
>
> The ULA does a lot more than handle the display ;>)
>
> > I replace the keyboard, and upgrade the
> > internal RAM, then all I am really using is the Z80. And those are not
> > hard to find :-)..
>
> Okay, you are absolutely correct given the FORTH. I use calls to the BASIC
> ROM routines from assembly and machine code, so I'm using more than just
> the Z80 MPU.
>
> > In other words, if I'm going to do that level of hacking, I might as well
>
> > start from scratch. Not that there's anything wrong in doing that, of
> course.
>
> Of course not ;>) But a ZX81 kit is still faster than starting from
> scratch.
>
> > If I start
> > with a pre-built unit I have to work around the existing parts.
>
> > Or desolder them (which is not impossible, generally).
>
> Try desoldering the RF modulator from a ZX81 board ;>)
>
> Glen
> 0/0
>
>
Received on Fri Sep 28 2001 - 04:51:09 BST