Sprinter-97

Hello dear All and all the rest!

Sprinter-97
Hardware capabilities.

1. Processor Z84C15 - 14MHz/3.5MHz
2. Main RAM - up to 4Mb.
The memory distribution scheme provides
compatibility in the organization of pages from ZX-Spectrum 48 to
Scorpion ZS 256 and Peters 256. Additionally a new
memory distribution circuit has been created that has four page ports
connecting any of the 256 memory pages in any of the four
16K processor blocks.
3. High-speedvideo RAM - 192Kb.
4. Video modes:
standard ZX Spectrum 256x192 pixels with two colors in one place;
text extended mode 80 characters per 25 lines with
IBM CGA text quality with setting the color of each character;
graphic mode G256-8 - 320x256 with 256 colors per pixel selected from a palette of 16 million colors;
graphics mode G16-16 - 640x256 (512 in INTERLIVE mode)
with 16 colors per pixel selected from a palette of 16 million colors;
programmable screen size (the number changes pixels
vertically and horizontally from the standard 256x192 to 640x256);
the ability to divide the screen into areas with different
modes and different palettes (two palettes for the G256-8 mode,
one for the G16-16 and one for text modes.)
Modes can be mixed!
multiple screen pages: from 2 per mode G256-8 up to 22
conventional Spectrum screens.
5. Flexible port distribution scheme, allowing you to change
the port configuration by reprogramming the ROM, and not
by changing the computer circuit. Currently, it is possible
to write four different configurations into ROM (for example,
PENTAGON, SCORPION, etc.) and recall them at the request of
the user. In the future, it is planned to switch to placing
information on the distribution of ports fromROM to RAM. The presence of this circuit brings the computer closer to the Plug & Play standard. Any
new devices developed for Sprinter-97 will
connect without any problems with incompatibility on
ports.
6. Possibility of connecting both a 5.25" drive in the
720Kb mode and a 3.5" drive in the 720KB/1.44Mb mode.
7. Keyboard IBM-AT. (ZX-Spectrum keyboard emulation/
direct scan code input.)
8. Built-in IDE controller, which makes it possible, if drivers are available, to connect both a hard drive and a CD-ROM.
9. Two built-in serial ports, allow
to connect a serial mouse, an external modem or other devices.
10. Two built-in parallel ports of the Centronix type for
connecting printers.
11. System bus in the ISA-8 standard (3 slots), give
the ability to connect an internal modem, Soun Card or
other devices.

Software capabilities.

1. When you turn on the computer, the program
recorded in the Sprinter-97 ROM and allowing:
to work in all graphic and text modes;
to organize from 1 to 16 RAM disks of arbitrary size
in the range from 16Kb to 3.5Mb;
to manage the port distribution scheme;
to use memory distribution functions up to 4Mb;
to work with floppy and hard disks in MS-DOS format,
presenting the MS-DOS file asvirtual TR-DOS, which
retains compatibility with TR-DOS and removes the 1Mb limit
from disks;
work with an IBM-AT keyboard, mouse, printer.
2. When switching to ZX Spectrum mode, the Sprinter-97 ROM
is replaced by RAM pages with standard
BASIC and programs written in them TR-DOS, which allows for maximum compatibility with old software.
3. Currently, a full-fledged OS for the new computer is being developed.

The computer will be offered for sale in several
configurations: the basic one includes a motherboard with
built-in controllers for peripheral devices, RAM 1Mb,
mini-tower case, 5.25" or 3.5" drive, keyboard
IBM-AT. At the buyer's request, you can increase the amount of RAM to
4Mb, install a hard drive or other peripherals.
The Peters company will consider any proposals for
improving the hardware and software of the new
computer. Send your suggestions to the following address:

198320 St. Petersburg, Lenin Ave. 77, office. 332 "Firm "Peters"
tel. (812) 132-05-86, 327-35-31.
2:5030/435.12 @ fidonet

We invite individuals and legal entities to cooperation.
It is planned to present Sprinter-97 at ENLIGHT-97.

With With respect Denis.

P.S. Forwarding to allinterested
echoconferences.

P.S.S. The next all-meeting with programmers is planned for May 31st. It will discuss issues of the new OS and BIOS.

-+- ZX Word 2.5+
+ Origin: It's still just beginning! (812/08.16)

-+- SpbZxNet2msg v 0.41/DOS
+ Origin: ZxNet=>FIDO Gate (2:5030/362.11)
=============================================================================================

Get msg, All!

With warm regards, Glory.

mi in one place;
text extended mode 80 characters per 25 lines with
IBM CGA text quality with setting the color of each character;
graphic mode G256-8 - 320x256 with setting 256 colors
s for each pixel, selected from a palette of 16 million colors;
graphic mode G16-16 - 640x256 (512 in INTERLIVE mode)
with 16 colors per pixel selected from a palette of
16 million colors;

All this is of course good, and about the palette of 16 million colors, and about a bunch of graphic
modes - this only makes me happy. But if we approach the issue from the economic side?

1. As far as I know, Sprinter will presumably cost around 900 thousand.
With simple arithmetic calculations, you can find out that this amounts to
approximately $150. Tell me, what will prevent me from buying a 600 Amiga
for the same money (which, by the way, has a lot of software)? Or the same 486dx2-66?
2. Who will write a P/O for this “monster”? Even if not 1-2 groups of enthusiasts take on this, but say 5-6 (which is very unlikely), then the first fruits
will appear no earlier than in a year. Will potential users really wait that long? Even if he had been released 3-4 years ago, would the situation have improved
? (An example of this is ATM-TURBO... It also seems that the graphics mode is there and the OS is - only
for some reason hordes of coders did not rush to write Dunes and Warcraft with
Dooms for it).

3. There was a lot of talk here about exchanging old cars for new ones. What if I don’t want to change
my proven equipment? Why is there no mention of the possibility of purchasing separate boards? And if a person lives in Karaganda? What, should he drag himself to St. Petersburg (it’s quite problematic to send a parcel)?

4. And one last thing. Many will agree with me that writing new software isYou can only get a new car if you have a guaranteed salary. If Peters is ready to pay
immediately so that we do not fly over, then I will be among the first to produce
new software for this SpectrumAmigaIBM.

With respect, GodFather.

29 May 97 11:36 -- Denis Markelov told Vladimir Larkov about Sprinter-97:

DM> (An example of this is ATM-TURBO...It also seems like there is a graphics mode in the OS -
DM> but for some reason hordes of coders did not rush to write Dunes and
DM> Warcrafts for it Duma).

ATM is a brake. By the way, a preliminary calculation on the fingers shows that
theoretically, duum is possible on the subject (even in high resolution)

With warm greetings, Slava.