Commander X16, MSX, 8-bit Microcomputers

Since I am of a 'certain' age, I can say that for me, computing stopped somewhere between the end of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s. And yet, I worked in the 'either-called' IT field for almost 40 years. I stuck with boring IT all these years :-(

I obviously started with 8 bits, unfortunately I entered 'professional' mode at the time when 16 bits (Atari, Amiga) were starting to emerge. I found these machines fantastic compared to the IBM 'dung' and other compatible machines of the time.

I must say that for me, the computer cannot be seen as an object of mass manipulation as is the case today, but as an object allowing the expression of a certain art, and must therefore be to this service, and not the other way around.

OK, this being written...

I've long thought that 16-bit recreations would eventually create an alternative market. Actually no. A few FPGA creations from Atari STs or Amigas and then, nothing very concrete.

On the importance of community! A few years ago, I became interested in the MSX standard. Because it was the only architecture resembling a sort of 'standard', used in the world and open enough to allow a single person to create thanks to and with this type of machine. 

So I made a copy of Sergey Kiselev's MSX Omega computer. And, one thing led to another, I found myself creating material around this machine.

I also watched with great interest the videos of The 8-Bit Guy aka David Murray and his concept of a dream computer.

Wikipedia

After several years of questions, controversies and prototypes, an electronic board is finally available. At the time of these lines, this is the second version :

So I received a small package containing an order placed at the end of last year.

The content contains the bare minimum:

I must admit that I did not expect to order a PS2 keyboard and mouse more than 30 years later!

As for the motherboard, I must say that it is absolutely professional quality. I remember the first PC and PC-XT motherboard. This has nothing to do with. And I love the three ISA type connectors allowing the construction of various expansion boards.

In my opinion, this is what is missing from the MSX standard. But that can change ;-)

The Commander X16 is a machine in the spirit of the Commodore 64/128 based on 6502. The MSX is based on Z80. I think I'm going to stop at these two machines, it already represents a lot of work developing on these two platforms!

There is also the AgonLight machine, but I must say that it interests me less. It doesn't really have any means of extension. I find it too closed, but that's my personal opinion. If a new version is developed with what I consider to be the bare minimum, I might be interested in it.

In this post, I have only touched on the subject. These three machines involve the efforts of many people. I thank them here for their inspiring 'work'.