The thing should be pretty cheap because almost everything will be implemented on the FPGA. It will be very similar to the minimig (FPGA implementation of an Amiga 500). A PIC microcontroller will act as a sort of BIOS. In the sense that it will load the FPGA's files (the FPGA is RAM-based) and that it will perform on-the-fly disk image (HD and Floppy) conversion. It will be maxed out on RAM and include a built-in excelerator so you won't have to worry about buying that. Also an SD/MMC slot will be included which will hold the firmware, the HD image files, and the floppy image files. All of the ports on the Apple IIgs will be included. We might be able to include IDE and Ethernet, however that might be kind of complicated because "fake" cards will have to be written in Verilog. Unless of course we could implement the designs already in existence. Also it will include a working Apple //e, as it that already been implemented. The final version will be in a portable form factor. If you have any requests or questions just reply to this post.
**DISCLAIMER**
I am NOT making any promises, so don't say I am. This may or may not happen. It depends or the amount of interest and other factors (i.e. my personal life
). I hope it will happen though!
. When I say portable I mean like the size of a newton. Hopefully it will include a screen but probably not to keep cost down. Also it should cost around $75 because the only main components are the FPGA and the PIC controller. However it might be less, I don't know.
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![[:)]](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif "Smile"){kind=icon}
Also I am adding a Poll to see whether or not its a good idea. For those of you who don't know too much techinical stuff : yes, the idea is to put it on a single chip.