REMEMOTECH is implemented in a modern language, with modern tools, in modern technologies, exploiting the fact that Altera already put together a circuit-board with all the components already on it.
Of course its going to be smaller, faster, cheaper, better. But how much?
If you'll allow me the liberty of picking and choosing from the adverts of the day :-
| Configuration | MTX512 | MTX512 +FDX | MTX512 +SDX (SCPM ROM) | MTX512 +REMEMOrizer | REMEMOTECH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 50cm x 20cm x 6cm | 50cm x 20cm x 6cm 50cm x 30cm x 15cm | 60cm x 20cm x 6cm | 60cm x 20cm x 6cm | 16cm x 16cm x 3cm |
| Weight | Heavy, 2.6Kg | Heaviest | Heavy | Heavy, 2.7Kg | Light |
| Power | Some | Most | Some | Some | Least |
| CPU | Z80A 4MHz | Z80A 4MHz | Z80A 4MHz | Z80A 4MHz | T80 upto 25MHz (switchable) |
| RAM | 64KB | 64KB | 64KB+512KB = 576KB | 64KB+320KB = 384KB | 64KB+320KB = 384KB |
| Keyboard | MTX 79-key | MTX 79-key | MTX 79-key | MTX 79-key | PS/2 UK |
| Graphics display | TV (either PAL or NTSC) | TV (either PAL or NTSC) | TV (either PAL or NTSC) | TV (either PAL or NTSC) | VGA (50Hz or 60Hz, switchable) |
| CP/M support | no | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| CP/M text mode | none | 80 column card 80x24 | using VDP 56x24 | 80 column card 80x24 or 80x48 | 80 column card 80x24 or 80x48 |
| CP/M text display | none | Composite or RGB | TV (either PAL or NTSC) | VGA | VGA |
| Mass storage | Cassette | Cassette 1x320KB 5.25" floppy 256KB Silicon Disc | Cassette 1x640KB 3.5" floppy 512KB RAM Disc | Cassette Virtual cassette (2) 8x8MB SD card 320KB RAM Disc | Virtual cassette (57) 8x8MB SD card 320KB RAM Disc (pre-initialised) |
| Printer port | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Price | £315 | 315+995 = £1310 | 315+222 = £537 | 315+100 = £415 | £160 approx |
I'm not selling REMEMOTECH, but perhaps I should. :-)
You can make your own. Just buy a DE1 and download the REMEMOTECH collateral.
Notice how REMEMOrizer represents interesting middle ground between old real Memotech hardware and new fully re-implemented hardware, in terms of feature set and cost.
Of course, the price comparison is unfair. Back in 1984, the price will have needed to recover the costs of developing the hardware and the software. I am largely reusing the existing software.