1131 on eBay, can a non-collector grab it so we can continue making emulation better?

[tschak909]

Can someone who isn't a dim witted collector with more dollars than sense grab this, so that a working #grid #compass emulator can be made, and we can show and preserve these unique systems?

Grid Systems Compass 2 1131 - Vintage Computer - Main Unit Only - AS IS - READ | eBay

MAIN UNIT ONLY, NO ACCESSORIES, NO POWER CORDS. UNIT ONLY. Powers on, can only get 2 screens to come up. Quite the rare piece based on some research. Selling as is. Will require signature upon delivery. Will come fully insured.

www.ebay.com

 

[vklachkov]

Prices on eBay seem to exist in some parallel reality... But that's just an emotional remark.

What's wrong with the current Compass emulator in mame64? As far as I know, it's quite decent. There are bugs, specifically with the emulation of the 2101 and 2102, which I haven't had the energy to fix yet. But what else?

 

[NeXT]

Can someone who isn't a dim witted collector with more dollars than sense

Can you not be rude for one day? It's Christmas.
Also, the material you are requesting from the Compass has already been archived, curated and is indexed/available online directly with other materials available on request (like the headers, the SDK and the API reference you already received) from said individual you have repeatedly insulted not just here but elsewhere online. Speak nicely to Tr0n and he will gladly help you because I can assure you he has not spent the last decade spending tens of thousands on GRiD stuff to line a shelf. He also spent that decade archiving what little remained of the Compass so it could be shared.

Edited: I'll buy the Compass for you if you pay me the $4100cad first.

 

[tschak909]

No, it hasn't completely, this is why there are two stalled emulator projects due to gaps that need answering.

I do admit my breach on this was rude, but I am awfully sick and tired of collectors mopping everything up and making it a living hell to move such efforts forward.

As for tr0n? Yes. We collaborated and that collaboration is the reason we have working development tools now. Oh, and a C binding for CCOS system calls, which did not exist before

What have you contributed?

 

[NeXT]

What have you contributed?

Well, politely I will say that I have contributed nothing towards the Compass as that is a system above my typical pay bracket and have admittedly remained with the later GRiDcase products where I have been testing and documenting hardware substitutes, mapping DC-DC module capacitors, photographing boards and collaborated with 0xDEADBEEF to design and test a modern battery replacement. I guess in that case (no pun intended) I've strictly been a hardwre person. Klyball however is also a fellow Compass owner that might be able to assist you.

 

[vklachkov]

This message will probably also take a very long time to pass moderation due to the holidays. I don't quite understand the point of the discussion. The Telegram chat and the VCF live their own separate lives...

But since I now have a GRiD Compass 1109, I can at least help with some simple things. While getting to know the laptop and developing blackgpib and gridrepository, I've read and seen a lot. So if there's a desire to collaborate and do something big and cool, let's do it.

If we're talking about the GRiD's legacy, I would finish collecting all the source code, software and documentation. I started this work and gathered everything I could find on gridrepository.org (except for gridpad/palmpad, that research is temporarily on hold). Still no frontend, but a lot of useful stuff in one place. If I could get in touch with tr0n, I would like to merge his wiki and my gridrepository into a single site (or at least create cross-references).

If you want to complete the emulation, I don't understand problem. I thought everything was fine with the Compass emulation. There are issues with the 2101 and 2102 emulation. But what else? What's wrong with the emulation? How can I help? I understand that mame64 doesn't emulate the laptop completely and in detail. It will never replace the real laptop. But still. If there's a demand, let's improve it.

I fully share the love for these devices. I only have the Compass 1109, GRiDCase 3, and a bit of GRiDPad and PalmPAD. But as long as I have free time, I'm ready to invest it in these gadgets.

 

[JDat]

No, it hasn't completely, this is why there are two stalled emulator projects due to gaps that need answering.

I do admit my breach on this was rude, but I am awfully sick and tired of collectors mopping everything up and making it a living hell to move such efforts forward.

As for tr0n? Yes. We collaborated and that collaboration is the reason we have working development tools now. Oh, and a C binding for CCOS system calls, which did not exist before

What have you contributed?

Both emulators are stuck because... I don't have time my emulator and motivation. Things changed, I am another proud Compass 1101 owner now. So, problem isn't Compass or research. It's time and motivation now. 2nd emulator? Well I have problems compiling ame, but other people, including @vklachkov and @usernameak looking on that. They also have problems with time.

Fujinet here, Fujinet there, Fujinet everywhere. If you want, you can add Fujinet to Compass yourself. Fujinet on Compass is super low priority for me.

Higher priority for me is to get ELKS on Compass if possible. So if you can add Fujinet for ELKS, that half of road completed.

PS: send greetings to Mozzwald from me with text: "I am still into Zipit Z2"

 

[0xDEADBEEF]

Well, politely I will say that I have contributed nothing towards the Compass as that is a system above my typical pay bracket and have admittedly remained with the later GRiDcase products where I have been testing and documenting hardware substitutes, mapping DC-DC module capacitors, photographing boards and collaborated with 0xDEADBEEF to design and test a modern battery replacement. I guess in that case (no pun intended) I've strictly been a hardwre person. Klyball however is also a fellow Compass owner that might be able to assist you.

Hey, there is also this https://github.com/86Box/86Box/blob/master/src/chipset/grid1520.c and I have some code on my drive to make approm emulation but it needs ability to turn cga mapping on/off so I am not sure it is upstreamable. The next step is GRiD CGA emulation. But I have been busy with other stupid projects lately.