Mastodawn

Now the #Modular64, due to its modular nature, is a bit sensitive. And I need to re-solder a few spots before I will use it again.

In the meantime, here's my original #Commdore64 #mainboard from 1987 in a nifty new black case and the #1541Ultimate attached. And it has got a blue power LED!

I always thought the #C16 looked dead cool, all black case and light gray keyboard. So 39 years later (thanks to Individual Computers) I can finally have it my way.

Macross マクロス Mar 11

A post to gush about new and old toys, because most of my local friends don't give a fuck:

Two weeks ago after the release of the incredible #assembly64 client for mac/winders/linux from Hackers With Style, I was so impressed with the software, I ordered a cartridge based, cycle-exact floppy drive emulator PACKED with extra features called the #1541Ultimate II+ from #Gideon's Logic.

For those not directly plugged in to the Commodorkosphere, Gideon is the genius who's creations from which the re-re-re-resurrected #commodore brand built their flagship products.

So the 1541U2 arrived two days ago. I got it set up on the C64c I've been playing with since the 1980s and connected to it from Assembly64 on my macbook over ethernet and everything worked perfectly, first try. Awesome!

44 years worth of music, graphics, demos, games and tools is a staggering amount of material to sift through, but with this combination of software and hardware, it's all at my fingertips to use immediately on real hardware by simple double-click.

This is key because as with anything, when there's a lot of it, a lot of it sucks. Instead of hours wasted scavenger hunting and unpacking disk images or even actual disks, it's all a double click away. If it sucks, no sunk cost, no frustration, just clicky clicky on the next thing and it copies over, loads and launches.

(or it can be routed to a local emulator, too... or both. Why not both? )

Anyway it's the most fun I've had with my C64 since my dad let me start using the modem back in 1990. Also no more frustrations from 40 year old floppy drives giving up mid-access, neither.

Hell this 1541U is so great, I decided to order the C64 Ultimate instead of continuing to invest in clever hacks and sketchy fixes for my ever-aging collection of OG Commodore hardware. I'm not holding my breath but it would be amazing if it showed up in time for this year's #revision easter democene party.

Anyway that's my #retro #commodore ted talk for today. If you're on the fence about buying new hardware for old computers, I can tell ya Gideon's products are worth every euro.

resources:

ultimate64.com/

assembly64.hackerswithstyle.se/assembly/index.html

www.commodore.net/

So how about you? On board with the new hotness yet? Do you love it?

-///

Ultimate64 - Home Page

The Oasis BBS Jan 19

C64 REU Covers: Run Stop Restored Brings Modern Game Music Back to Real Hardware
#C64 #Commodore64 #C64Ultimate #Ultimate64 #REU #1541Ultimate #Breadamp #Chiptune #8bitMusic #RetroComputing #RunStopRestored
https://theoasisbbs.com/c64-reu-covers-run-stop-restored-brings-modern-game-music-back-to-real-hardware/?fsp_sid=741

The Oasis BBS Jan 13

Ultimate64 Manager update: v0.3.2 brings smarter streaming control
#Commodore64 #Ultimate64 #1541Ultimate #RetroComputing #C64 #SIDMusic #Homebrew #FPGA
https://theoasisbbs.com/ultimate64-manager-update-v0-3-2-brings-smarter-streaming-control/?fsp_sid=472

Harry Sintonen Jul 28, 2023

I once was asked if I would like to pick up a #C64 that had been found from a basement of a newly bought house. I agreed to this, but failed to arrange the pickup. Despite this, I later was handed the #commodore duffel bag after an event we both attended – A proof that inactivity is in fact awarded eventually.

The system had been stored in the basement for number of years and the status of it was unknown. I took to the gear to the office and inspected the system and found out that 9-key had been sheared off by the stem, likely due to being hit by the famously heavy power brick. Opening the system up revealed no major visual issues such as excessive rust or similar. I also measured the PSU for overvoltage (high, but not yet alarming - I later obtained a replacement aftermarket PSU). @dist was happy to help with the broken key stem by #3dprinting a couple of new ones. Only a moderate amount of sanding was needed to make the stem run smoothly.

The included datassette still had a game tape inside it - which presumably had been sitting there for decades. I rewinded the tape, typed load and proceeded to hit press play on tape. The game loaded without a hitch. It turned out to be Battleships, which I immediately proceeded to test the joystick with. Unsurprisingly some directions in the Quickshot II joystick were dead, a very common mode of failure.

Later I also replaced the raspy 6581 #SID chip with FPGASID and added a #1541ultimate II+ cartridge from Gideon’s Logic BV, and brought over a vintage TAC-2 and a SpeedLink Competition Pro reproduction joysticks. The picture in my profile banner is of this office C64 system. #retrocomputing

Frantic Freddie Jul 1, 2023

If I have two drives attached to my C128 (1541U as 8 and uIEC as 10), how can I use DS$ to read the error channel of both? By default it reads device 8 but I can't manage to read device 10. Any ideas? #c128 #1541u #1541ultimate #uIEC