Last update on GitHub was 4 days ago. Several other repos were updated recently as in the garrettsworkshop organization.
WarpSE: 25 MHz 68HC000-based accelerator for Mac SE
- Thread starter Zane Kaminski
- Start date
I myself can't think of anything elaborate
, but I can understand a little bit how he feels.
When a lot of hard work doesn't pay off right away, unless it's work, you might want to leave it alone for a while.
We are too greedy and in too much of a hurry. This is a device that can be used with computers that are over 30 years old, so we can't complain even if it takes about 10 years from now.
Just waiting for him to turn around and smile
, but I can understand a little bit how he feels.When a lot of hard work doesn't pay off right away, unless it's work, you might want to leave it alone for a while.
We are too greedy and in too much of a hurry. This is a device that can be used with computers that are over 30 years old, so we can't complain even if it takes about 10 years from now.
Just waiting for him to turn around and smile
Very true, Jeff. Of course, as you and I discussed in your thread, the crackling audio issue might matter to people interested in gaming. Zane was working on solving that problem. And that's really a huge deal because a large number of SE accelerators back in the day had audio issues that were never solved. I think nobody cared back then because most people must have been using Word, Excel and other business apps rather than gaming.
The SpeedCard I have currently installed in my SE Reloaded machine also has audio issues, which is frustrating. The upside is I can use the programmer's switch to disable the SpeedCard and just boot via the 8MHz SE motherboard CPU, but that kind of nullifies the meaning to have the accelerator.
This is really why I've been so excited about Zane's amazing project in this thread. There's really no better accelerator for the SE out there, now or back in the day. The specs are truly incredible!
So looking at that update to the repo @JDW it looks like its fixes for the sound thing you are talking about. or at least sound related. Which i just thought it was funny because you brought out how thats an issue.
heh.
i think zane said previously that they don't always follows this thread. but is still working on it.
edit: i mean to say it appears to my untrained eyes that its sound related code change. i don't know if it fixes it or tries to at all. just that it looks like it has something too do with sound. it is very much a guess on my part....
heh.
i think zane said previously that they don't always follows this thread. but is still working on it.
edit: i mean to say it appears to my untrained eyes that its sound related code change. i don't know if it fixes it or tries to at all. just that it looks like it has something too do with sound. it is very much a guess on my part....
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Crackling/distorted audio "was" an issue in the past, but Zane at one point said that it should be easy to fix. Below are a few highlights from past discussions in this thread, for people who don't want to re-read everything...
1. I started posting in May 2022 on page 7, and Zane replied back to me saying "Real Artists Ship." Some people in the past day or so probably think I was the first to use that maxim in my previous post on page 20, but no.
2. After that, I mentioned to Zane about @Kay K.M.Mods having discovered audio issues on his Carrera accelerator when used in an SE/30. Zane then kindly posted a detailed reply about how work on fixing that had been done a few months prior in March 2022.
3. We had some fantastic discussions after that; and then in April 2023, Zane confirmed the WarpSE at that point in time still had the audio issue.
So it's great to hear that the Repo has the updates for the audio issue, Patrick.
Honestly, much of this thread is a worthwhile read. I know some people consider all that work "just a hobby," but reading the earlier posts shows the enormous amount of time, effort, blood, sweat and tears that Zane has put into this. Zane put more work into this accelerator than most people put into their day jobs! And let's not forget that Steve and Woz were once mere hobbyists too. Steve persuaded Woz to take it beyond the hobby. Circumstances were different then, I know, but had Steve never taken it beyond a mere hobby, Apple would not exists today, and none of us would know each other.
I have no idea what the future will bring, but I do hope this amazing effort will ultimately result in something spectacular.
I am really sadden that this project has stalled. This thread was started at the end of 2021 and now we are into 2024 with no accelerator in sight. I passed up a few opportunities for a Mac SE accelerator in the hopes this one would become available. Now I regret doing that. If another opportunity comes along, I am going with it. I am not willing to wait any longer.
One thing that should be very clear to people is that these projects are often being done in spare time - not active, commercial products. Developers of these things are just as human as the rest of us - personal life often gets in the way. Personally, i've not done any reverse engineering or even so much as picked up a soldering iron in over a year - because real life takes priority. I imagine Zane is in the same boat - other priorities come along.
Also remember, Retro computing is a very niche area to specialise in for products, it may be a great idea, but not financially viable as a product to sell.
Also remember, Retro computing is a very niche area to specialise in for products, it may be a great idea, but not financially viable as a product to sell.
I beg to differ in this respect. This was presented as something that was going to be sold on Tindie and eBay with tentative release dates given. It then just dropped off the radar. I would have at least appreciated a heads up that other things took priority or they were not going to follow through with the accelerator. That is all I was expecting and why I am disappointed.
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Looks like there were a few commits on GitHub in the last months, so progress is probably just very slow..
Let me restate my case and this may not be popular, but I feel it needs to be said. A product was announced intending to be sold by a for profit business. The only thing I was expecting was to be afforded the courtesy of some updates from time to time. I and everyone else in this thread were not given that courtesy. The total lack of communication is what I find to be in question here. I cannot make it any more clear than that.
Zane - given that Xilinx have announced the discontinuation of the entire XC95xx line of CPLD's, is this now going to require re-implementation in an FPGA? Looks like CPLD's are not long for the world, now, as there's no plans to directly replace the XC95 series with any other CPLD. The ones that are left look like they'll need level shifters, too, adding more complexity.... Unless you bulk buy a load before May/June when they're slated for last orders.