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SukkoPera / MechBoard16

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This is a thing? #1

Open gordonfpanam opened 2 months ago

gordonfpanam commented 2 months ago

Not an issue, but thanks!

And here I was wishing I could adapt the Mechboard 64 to the Commodore 16 or LittleSixteen, only to find that you did it already!

What would you think about a version with an adjusted key layout, to be a closer match to the VIC 20 and C64 layout but also with inverted-T cursor keys? I posted about such a thing back on YouTube and there are images:

https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkxf3XBI6l7WTuqqhmcwCfsK5Tq5nBrCawD

This is part of a larger crazy idea I had of building a LittleSixteen variant that would fit in a 64c case, but also have a user port and a socket for an optional SID chip.

SukkoPera commented 2 months ago

The first version of this project is complete and working. It currently has the same layout as the original keyboard, but it has optional USB and individually-addressable LEDs.

It hasn't been released yet though, I first wanted to release V4 of LittleSixteen, which is exactly what you would like to build, i.e. a C16 mainboard with a built-in SID, userport, 512 kB RAM, ROM switcher, joystick switcher, ESD protection and more, that fits a C64 case. This is also tested working and almost complete. We have been testing it for over a year now, we have one issue left to iron out and it should hopefully be out before the end of the year. No promises though, we are always short on time. See this for some pictures: https://plus4world.powweb.com/forum/47104.

I've already been thinking about a second version of the keyboard with inverted T cursor keys. I have already come up with some alternatives, it's doable but there is no "perfect" solution if we don't want to leave empty spots or remove any keys. Anyway I plan to discuss these points with the Plus4World folks... one day! I have a lot of C16/+4 projects to finalize and release first, and that will take some time.