ZX Spectrum Next

[Ian J]

ZX Spectrum Next playing with a SID music chip

 

[levi]

Presumably that's a digital approximation of an actual SID chip. I've not been able to dig out what bits of a real SID are analogue - at least the register bias used to play back samples is an analogue property (although it only really makes samples louder or quieter on different chips, which is largely undesirable), and I suspect the filters are based on traditional analogue filter circuits, as trying to do that using transistors alone is making a rod for your own back when you can just use capacitors.

 

[pmprog]

As much as I'm very much on the C64 side, this is looking quite a nice project that's making some good progress. I've very much tempted to back this...

 

[Ian J]

Hopefully the momentum of this will bring out some more next gen 8 / 16-bit goodness.

An FPGA C=64 or Amiga would really complete the collection.
[doublepost=1495038351,1495031505][/doublepost]The final stretch goals have been revealed for the Next and I'm a bit disappointed, a fancy box for the £625k and a 2nd joystick port for the £650k

I thought both of those should have been lower down the goals.

The 2nd joystick should have been on it anyway, even Sinclair released a joystick adaptor with 2 ports.

Hopefully now they'll also move the original joystick port as having it on the front of the machine spoils the look of it.

 

[pmprog]

Funnily enough, I almost commented that there was only one joystick port rather than 2 like I would have expected. I figured the ZX only had one unlike the C64, and they were keeping it to match.
If they do add a second joystick port, I wonder where they'll put it, because they the photo shows them installing the board in an original ZX case

 

[Ian J]

Well every stretch goal has been met.

I can't think of anything else they could have added to campaign.

Only 7 hours to go.

 

[vcoleiro1]

The Kickstarter just finished and they ended up with 3,112 backers that pledged £723,135

 

[Ian J]

I'm one of them.

Fingers crossed for a nice smooth delivery with none of the Vega+ debacle now.

 

[pmprog]

I didn't back this in the end, but I'll keep it in mind should it come to public sales, and whether any Commodore based devices come out first

 

[Ian J]

It was this or The 64, but The 64 didn't offer anything new.

 

[pmprog]

It was this or The 64, but The 64 didn't offer anything new.

I imagine the MEGA65 won't be too long before it makes an appearance (even if it's just the kickstarter). It will also have GEOS built in too. I've been meaning to get the bitstream loaded into my devboard to have a play, but not really found the time yet. The MEGA65 will be much more than just a C64 (faster speed, more memory, more colours, two SIDs), kinda like the Spectrum Next.

 

[Ian J]

Looks like work is proceeding on some Next specific games:

 

[pmprog]

The more I've seen of this, more I'm kinda regretting not backing it, but it'll still be available from the shop, so I can always dig in later

 

[Ian J]

Just had an update that the boards will be shipping out on the 27th.


Hopefully we'll hear some news about the cases soon.

 

[levi]

Hopefully now we'll see some software making use of the turbo modes and new graphics. And this is only three months later than the Kickstarter predicted, which must be some kind of record for this type of thing!

 

[Ian J]

Boards are on their way, can't wait to see some video's of them running stuff.

 

[Gren]

Hopefully mine will come today or tomorrow.
Unfortunately I don't have a case to house it in yet....

Also looking forward to demos and videos of what it can do.

 

[Ian J]

Excellent to hear someone else backed this.

I went for the full case version as I don't have a faulty board to swap out so I'll have to wait a while longer.

 

[Gren]

I was so excited by the prospect of the Speccy Next that I actually went for both a bare board and a cased one!
Bit crazy I know - especially since I have just taken VR after 28 years of employment at the same company

Will just have to find a suitable "cardboard box" container in the short term, so I can at least have a play with the bare version

 

[Ian J]

Interesting use of the bare board: