ZX Spectrum - return of a legend Bashny.Net

I want to tell you about the revival in a new form of the legendary folk computer - Spectrum. On the territory of our great country he had many names and many more external performances attracted their games and music. Many thought he was gone forever. That's not true, it's back!





Part I. Lyric

I was lucky - I had quite poor but happy childhood. Playing soldiers, running down the street in any "voynushki" catch-up and construction of huts in the woods in the summer, and in winter dens of snow and ice. How many were - you name it and no longer remember. Somehow it turned out that the memory of his childhood and youth erased like an eraser, layer by layer, leaving only scraps once complete and vivid memories. But some bright and joyful moments of my childhood and youth, I hope, will remain with me forever. One of the key moments was meeting with a computer.

... On the street winter, soon will knock 13 and we sit with my dad at his old friend. I show a little nondescript blue box with buttons, whatever is connected to the TV, which stands next to the tape "Spring" and two plastic joystick. I say: "This is - the computer! Called Spectrum! ".
Son of the owner spends some manipulation of the keyboard puts the cassette in and the apartment is filled with nasty squeak download programs, and on the TV screen at this time there is a picture in the frame of shimmering multicolored stripes. Five minutes of hearing the executions, and here I shoved into the hands of the joystick along the way explaining the rules of the game to download.
While the adults were drinking vodka in the kitchen, we played different games, which have names other than Breakout-but I do not remember. The owner explained to me how to play, how to download games, where a screwdriver to turn the VCR to the game loaded for sure.

Of course, this was not my first encounter with a computer before this year two we were running in the summer with friends in the schoolyard computer class that is located in a separate building. There were two dozen BK0010, where paying 25 cents aunty-teller, it was possible to play for half an hour or BolderDash LodeRunner. But there was a queue, and a few games of all comers. Immediately, a couple of hours we played in about ten toys, quietly and slowly.

The games were different, a tiny keyboard - oak, joystick all cracked and creaked - in short, everything that was great! And when we left, I was suddenly thrust into the hands of a package from which protruded wire this wonderful computer. (It turned out that a friend of his father had got a better computer from IBM, and this for a notional amount given to us). I had the joy of full pants! I remember when I was flying home as an electronics week waiting to rewire something in our TV in order to connect it the computer. Weeks of waiting - and here I am a happy owner of the ZX-Spectrum-compatible computer, soldered on the knee local urban geeks.

Himself a geek I did not, but since computers have become part of my life, largely influenced her.

Further, it was a lot of interesting things: a lot of nerves spent on searching and rewriting audio cassettes with games (this is not Moscow, baby) used to these games more and dropped at the last moment the long process of loading; Search and rework optimal tape for all this ugliness; timid attempts to sloppy programming in BASIC on an old tattered book. On the computer I'm not obsessed, fascinated and other things, waiting for something more (after watching the new program Sergei Suponeva "Dandy - a new reality"). After two or three years of the expectations come true - at another of my father's friend, I saw a Scorpio ... No, wrong, Scorpion ZS 256+! Engineering marvel Petersburg developers in a healthy housing unit, with a clock and a bunch of buttons and connectors on the case. At that moment he struck me hard enough.
He struck by three things: the presence of the drive that quiet creaking ship all in a matter of seconds with a healthy diskettes; cool music (my Spectrum, as well as at the Eagle, the Companions and other machines with the sound of my friends were all bad).
Then I included some t. N. "Demo". The screen flashed a color animation of the speakers poured beautiful music, and became the apotheosis of all this dancing to the girl. Look and listen when it all fascinating, and it was the third reason that I wanted to own this machine.
Using my delight, the owner of Scorpio advantageous to us this computer shoved gleefully rubbing his hands. Ran himself (probably) order his 286 or 386 already AyBiEm-compatible computer. I, entirely happy, push my home computer.
About pisishki I hear more two years later, but for now I will write simple programs, play games, read e-magazines and watch Demo, listening to music home computer users.

Over time, all of my Spectrum and BKashki successfully lost (and there were many), Scorpio gave friends and I went to the "adult" long-awaited platform PC. It would be desirable, of course, I get hold of a computer early, but I bought it only to first year at college, so very not cheap if it was worth, and the crisis of '98 hard then hit the country.
I have a computer, the years went on, growing degree of nostalgia. In moments of aggravation I put emulators and I ran the commemorative toys and demos. Then I was "let go", and after 5-6 months, I again remembered about the brainchild of Sir Sinclair.
So probably lasted six years. One time I even gave ads in the newspaper - he wanted to buy some old machine that still have people lying around in the garage, waiting for the way to the dump. \ Yes, people called. But, as he wrote Lebedev people we greedy - a thing in the trash, or sell at exorbitant prices, the average is not given. So I do not buy it. And then, in 2013, I was presented with my same Scorpion ZS-256, shabby, without the monitor and drive. Unfortunately, the specialist for repairs and was not found. It lies, the poor, in the garage, waiting for an hour of his rebirth.
Of course, in addition to the network and read about modern Spectrum clones, gathering a few years some of them buy. One day, still decided to stay on the ZX Evolution, national development team «NedoPC». Once awake, and remembering his rule of life - "Dreams should be executed!" I NedoPC product team decided in the end to buy ... PART II. The first acquaintance with ZXEvo

So, I was ordered welded and fully operational board computer ZX Evolution of NedoPC - widely known in narrow circles of a group of technicians and developers.

The main argument in favor of its acquisition were:
1. Most of the authenticity of the original Spectrum clones early 90's (the original processor, sound chip, drive controller).
2. A convenient form factor that allows placing the card in any body form factor Mini-ITX
3. Reasonable price assembled and tested products.
4. Ample opportunities to change the configuration, which allows him to transform, for example, in the legendary «Scorpion ZS 256" or go to the next stage in the development of the computer (so to speak) by setting the configuration ZXEVO TS.

Write that the computer has incorporated a lot of good, while retaining the spirit of the original brainchild of Clive Sinclair. And it kept the old silicon and AY-tube sound. Let's see.

What we offer:
· Processor Z80, operating at frequencies of 3.5 / 7 / 14MHz;
· 4 MB of RAM, 512KB ROM;
· Form Factor miniATX (172x170mm);
· Compatibility with the original program for the ZX Spectrum;
· Compatibility with the Pentagon and ATM Turbo;
· Interfaces drive, IDE, SD interface and support Tape (tape input / output);
· Video outputs VGA, RGB, Composite;
· Audio interfaces AY, Beeper, Covox;
· PS / 2 keyboard and mouse interface;
· Support mechanical keyboard and joystick;
· Flexible architecture based on FPGA (Altera EP1K50);
· Peripheral controller ATMEGA128;
· Volatile clock / calendar, 2 slots ZXBUS. The long-awaited day has come, and that's already sending the recipient. Computer sealed in sufficient volumetric box, all packaged low cost, but high quality. The board wrapped in an air-bubble film, the top and bottom cushions are made from crumpled newspapers.



Open.



Sealed charge.



Small PC board 17 by 17 centimeters.



Package Includes: board itself, print "User's Guide" sticker on the computer case and set of stickers on the keyboard. Let me remind you, ZX Evolution works with the usual PS / 2 keyboard. Optionally, you can connect a PS / 2 mouse.



Stickers on a standard keyboard.



The board is made qualitatively, the level of soldering also at altitude. Can not be said that the computer soldered manually.



View of the fee back.



Let us study it in more detail.
The main computer chip:
· Z80 processor in 44-pin QFP package;
· Programmable logic integrated circuits ALTERA EP1K50QC208 implementing job ROM and
ability to change the firmware;
· Controller K1818VG93 providing work 5.25 "and 3, 5" floppy-disk drive;
· Microcontroller ATMEGA128, providing work peripherals - keyboard, mouse, and so forth.
· Musical coprocessor AY-3-8910, which gives us the same sound.



On the rear panel displays the following connectors:
1. PS / 2 keyboard and mouse ports
2. SD-card slot
3. Port RS232, to connect communication equipment (modem), or another computer
4. mini-USB connector for reprogramming the computer
5. VGA video output for connecting a monitor or TV
6. Audio output for connecting speakers / headphones. He may be a tape recorder input Tape IN.



Building a computer is performed according to the attached "User's Guide».
Location, purpose and pinouts of ports and connectors in the manual are described clearly and in detail. A separate section describes the installation of motherboard to the chassis and connect all the cables, buttons and indicators. Building a computer is not difficult, everything is simple.
For the computer was purchased miniITX housing standard wired keyboard and mouse.



For the computer was purchased miniITX housing standard wired keyboard and mouse.



Set into the body.



First, set the board into the chassis, connect the power cables, put the battery. Then loops Button «Reset» and «Power», trains indicators, keyboard and mouse (optional). All!



After 15 minutes you have on the table is a great Speccy-compatible computer.

Posted in [mergetime] 1392056857 [/ mergetime]
Left stick stickers, prepare a USB flash drive and learn how to use it. How? And here are some problems begin ...
In addition to managing the computer is in electronic form description of the scaffold system «EVO Reset Service». Booklet, shall we say, not very - nedostrukturirovannoe not always clear description of menu items and features (try SCL file, for example, run). No more documents to a computer for the average user is not attached, no formal instruction, no FAQ. More than a dull official forum also gives little information layman. Amazing! Such a great car and the complete absence of clear instructions detailed!
By and large, more or less clear information about the machine can only be found on the website zx.pk.ru, and that is not right. In short, you need a FAQ.



... Let's go back to the first run. The machine is assembled, flash drive with samples of games and programs stuck into, the headphones are connected. 10 minutes of surface exploration (figured out how to run the TRD and TAP) and here it is a childhood dream - dancing girl from megademo LYRA II, brings me back to the carefree childhood. That's great, thanks guys!



The first visible impression on my ZX Evolution described below.

Advantages:
· Excellent, high-quality design, quality manufacturing and installation;
· Opportunities for further expansion of those who need them;
· Spectrum emulation of the original and fundamental clones, in Vol. H. Of perspective;
· Easy installation: "unpacked, stuck, earned»;
· The ability to download software from a flash drive;
· The ability to download programs from the hard drive, floppy disks, audio cassettes;
· The ability to connect to a regular TV via SCART or video-RCA connector by installing
additional charge;
· Extensive interface capabilities (setting expansion cards, plug in a joystick, a native keyboard, printer).

Disadvantages:
· Picture on the screen is worse than the original machines, but it is not the fault of the developers fee, here it is in itself an LCD monitors,
say on ELTshkah picture super;
· Lack of clear documentation, manuals;
· Somewhat confusing menu.

Old dream fulfilled. SPECCY, I'm back!

To be continued in "Part III. Learning and understand »...

Source: bellofuturo.livejournal.com/

Subject is not advertising a particular product and / or development. The purpose of this paper is, first of all, the return of interest in once-forgotten nespravdelivo computer.
The author plans (if appropriate opportunities) write reviews of major contemporary Russian projects in this area.

Source: