Commander X16

There are only two issues preventing the product from being released right now.  One is the keyboard problem, which is being worked on.  Even the official X16 keyboard doesn't work with the system.  Lots of PS/2 keyboards just don't work, or only work at certain CPU speeds.  We have decided to move the keyboard to a microcontroller. It's not a new part to the computer, we already had a microcontroller handling the power management of the system.  So we're just giving it one extra function to handle, which is the PS/2 input.   The data can then be read by the CPU through I2C.

The second problem is the lack of components.  For example, the FPGA that we were using for the video chip is now unavailable due to chip shortages.  The soonest any distributer has said they can get any supply is March of 2022.   Most are saying November 2022.  And it's not just that chip, there are 3 others with similar problems.



Crowdfunding is also a problem because at this point it is almost impossible to estimate what the parts will cost when they are available.  So it's really hard to set a price for a product when you can't get pricing info for the parts.  



So the short of the story is, the project isn't dead.  But it also isn't going to be released any time soon.  

Great to see some insightful input. Obviously the title was provocative for a reason so please excuse my forum skills as I'm out of practice.

I work in R&D and NPD (New Product Development) - have done for 28 years mainly in the UK , India and Australia. I started my own company 7 years ago and consult to my previous clients but also to many everyday people just trying to realise an idea. I'm stating this only to give some context as I am not a software or hardware developer (had to look up what FPGA actually was). I am however a supporter of David's channel and this project.

This kind of timeline is very common, even without supply chain hiccups. Again, all the best to the team and fingers crossed they get a break in the near future.

 

 

 

 

 

Glad to hear it is full speed ahead. Luckily the project I'm working on has no supply shortages except PCB companies who will make a PCB from an image file. The Z80 CPU, latches, and generic memory chips and counters are pretty much the only things used. If there was a PCB company who'd come to the party, we could prototype the SVGA output from this wizardry. The X16 is as good for games, but when the coming zombie apocalypse disrupts supply chains, look out ! Real chips like the Z80 will be the only thing to power the 150 foot high Mobile suit Gundams required to repel the raging hordes, if my calculations prove correct.

Topic locked. David answered the question. And please don't market any other projects on here. It's rude.