XANTRONIXDec 6, 2023
Presenting the XANTRONIX Computer Inc. Z32 prototype: The most industrious 32-bit desktop computer for the most demanding workloads. #retrocomputing
Show threadKevin Karhan Dec 6, 2023

@xan Looks like a spin on the #SinclairQL and subsequent #ZXspectrum+ series...

TBH, I'd love to see a "#Pi532" [a @Raspberry_Pi #CM5 with 32GB RAM in a keyboard case like the #Pi400 but with like a 100% / 122+ -key layout...

Show threadXANTRONIXDec 6, 2023
@kkarhan That's exactly it! The top case is reverse engineered from and modelled precisely to fit onto the bottom case of a ZX Spectrum+.
Show threadKevin Karhan Dec 6, 2023

@xan I think it looks gorgeous...

Do you really got your hands on a #CM5? or just retrofitted a #Pi400 board into it?

Show threadXANTRONIXDec 6, 2023
@kkarhan Neither; it's an empty shell right now. I'll be working on a custom board for it around a 68040 when I'm in the mood.
Show threadKevin Karhan Dec 6, 2023

@xan uwu.

I hope that in the meantime you got some #Arduino or #Teensy to make it useful as a #Keyboard with #TMK / #QMK...

Show threadXANTRONIXDec 6, 2023
@kkarhan I do intend to use a Pi Pico for that purpose actually! I don't feel like futzing with somebody else's firmware so I'm using just enough of the TinyUSB stack to get that going.
Show threadKevin Karhan Dec 6, 2023
@xan #PiPico is a good choice too, and even cheaper and wider available as well...
Show threadXANTRONIXDec 6, 2023
@kkarhan I have so many of them.
Show threadKevin Karhan Dec 6, 2023

@xan at €5/piece single and less than €2,50 on reel as board [or €2/piece as IC and less than €1 for the same on reel] they are really a no-brainer.

@fuchsiii got herself a @Raspberry_Pi #PiPicoW to experiment with because this thing really wipes the floor with #Atmel #ATtiny and the like whilst being cheaper and not requiring expensive #DevKit|s to get started.

Show threadXANTRONIX
@kkarhan I mean, stuff I'd otherwise use a CPLD or FPGA for is quite feasible with the RP2040's PIO block, it's crazy
Dec 6, 2023 at 5:22pmWeb
Show threadKevin Karhan Dec 6, 2023

@xan Yeah and it's like really affordable, extremely-well documented [as common for @Raspberry_Pi ] and just works.

Something that all those "#RaspberryPi #Competitiors" suck at because they don't do proper #documentation nor #support their stuff beyond some OS images...