Continued from my previous post.
My followup to the Commodore 64 would have debuted at the 1984 Summer CES, as the Commodore 256. It would have been based on the spec of the Commander X16, except as follows:
1: all the previous video modes of the PET, CBM Number Series, VIC, and VIC II
2: New Native Resolution Modes for VERA would be 288x224 ( 8 bit pixels, 256 Colors per CLUT), 320x224 (6 bit pixels, 64 Colors per CLUT), 576x224 (4 bit pixels, 16 colors per CLUT), 576x448 (2 bit pixels, 3 colors + transparency per CLUT), and 816x612 (Monochrome). This is to maintain as close to 3:4 aspect ratio as possible, while keeping the addressing math fairly even and confined to 64K, and allowing more options for sprite and tilemodes. VERA will be able do display a maximum of either 128 4-bit sprites, 96 6-bit sprites, or 64 8-bit sprites, or any combination in a ratio of 4-3-2, respectively, with free mixing between pixel densities onscreen in 288x224 resolution.
3: Scrolling registers for the bitmap, and better integration of the bitmap (at 6 bit per pixel or lower) with tilemodes.
4. Since Yamaha will not sell the YM2151/3012 combo for love or money in 1984, I will have to settle for the YM2203, YM2412, or YM2413. I'll pick the middle: it's a four channel, four operator chip with eight possible waveforms and a fairly flexible tone generation system.
5: I will use the previously developed 6280 as the basis for the CPU core, with a max clock speed of either 8.195 or 8.925 MHz.
6: If Bob Yannes insists on leaving, I will put the 6280's wavetable channels back into the chip. If I can get him to stay, I'll put in the DOC (Ensoniq ESS5503, used in the Apple IIGS, several Ensoniq keyboards, and the Ensoniq Dragon sound card, and the predecessor to the sound chip in the Advanced Gravis UltraSound card). This is to compensate for there being no PCM source available. (The Okidata MSM chips are rather dinky, except for the 6295, which is merely up to the capabilities of PAULA).
7: There will also be a SID II, with either 9 or 12 channels, and the octave range increased to 11 (to cover all complete tonal range of a piano).
8: The controller ports will feature native support for up to 16 digital and 4 analog inputs, with 2 new input to Atari CX-9 dongles packed in with the computer itself.
9: The base model will feature 128K System RAM and 128K Video RAM (Hence the Name). I am toying with a horizontal upright or monitor tower form factor version with 512K and GEOS in ROM, a CPU Core based on the
Nintendo SA-1 but with the addition of the 6280's mass move instructions, and a two or three button mouse for (much) less than $1,000, called the 640.
10: It will feature BASIC 10, as rewritten to take full advantage of the new graphical and sound hardware, and a
very well written sound stack, just in case the generation after this one I want to change Yamaha FM chip series.
also,
@rje, what's so funny about my post?