Cruising down Memory Lane
For ZXUno+
Discovered ZXUno+ a few days ago, hunting for alternative FPGA-based emulation devices.
Found that you can actually buy it. And a VGA/DB9 (Joystick) adapter, and a case. Nice! Decided to give it a go.
The small parcel arrived in less than a week (today) here in the Netherlands where we live, very carefully packed. Opened it - the ZXUno+ is assembled and ready to use. Extra nice touch: in the package was also a USB-to-PS/2 adapter. Many thanks!
(This saved me a lot of hunting in my 'lair' for my own. And I had only one, so now I can even attach a mouse! Yay!)
OK. First boot, device connected to a VGA monitor: no image ('frequency out of range'). Device is probably set up for TV (50Hz), my old 4:3 VGA monitor does not like that frequency. Second boot (with an AV-to-HDMI adapter on my main screen) - yes, we have an image! Go into settings (yes, this thing actually has a BIOS setup screen!). Amazed about the number of cores and ROMs. Sooo much to explore! OK. Advanced, Video, VGA, 59.5Hz. Save and reboot. Nothing. Hm. OK, power-cycle. Yes! We have a rock-steady screen image on VGA. Neat!
Must try the Jupiter Ace - I made a core for a Papilio One 500 some time ago, this is the first time I can try my TZXDuino adaptation on the ODROID-GO for tape-in on something that I did not make myself. Worked on first try!
"Big Scroll Demo" runs butter-smooth, the graphics are just perfect, no tearing, no artifacts.
Compliments: this is a much better Jupiter Ace core with VGA output than my own. Looks like I can learn something about FPGA adaptation from its source code! Great! :-)
Hm. There is a Commodore PET core? Tried to update the core. OK, it really needs its specific filename (CORE17.ZX1). But then it worked. It replaces the VIC-20, very good. I call it PET2001.
Power-cycle. Green text on black. Very crisp. Neat!
Then it hits me: "It is 1981. You stand in front of a CBM4016 that is sitting on an overhead projector trolley. This is the first day you are in the after-school computer group. You enter your first BASIC program."
I like the device: the build quality, the amount of thought that has gone into the design, the manual, the BIOS, and the many supported cores and ROMs. This is a device that lets you explore retro computers (not only - but also - games), on modern hardware, with a bit more comfort than in 'the olden days'. Because it emulates the hardware, it feels genuine.
Highly recommended!
The ZXUno+ team have done an amazing job here. You made my day! Many thanks to you all!
(Edit: added country of residence.)
Response from aitorgomez.net | May 3, 2021
Thanks for this review, and I'm glad you like it and that you really enjoy it.