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It seems fairly accepted that OCM will almost certainly never appear as purely commercial venture. Why then don't the community look at something like the TRex. It could provide a new standard level which offers modern needs like word processing, web browsing and email, while also providing a backwards capability for old msx games and other software.

A lot of people would love to have such a 'gadget', but the real problem is coming up with something that's worthwhile. Most of us have either a souped-up MSX2(+), or an MSX turboR. To spend a lot of cash on a board that gives you basic MSX2 functionality then makes little sense. In other words, you'd want to make at least a nice MSX2+, preferrably a turboR, for it to be any phun at all. The problem then becomes finding a board with a big enough FPGA chip on it, not to mention all the connectors you'll need. I've seen boards that look 'ideal' enough to make an MSX out of, but none of them have anything near the amount of LEs needed to make an MSX2+. The OCM was already on the small size with 12k LEs. Finding something bigger seems almost impossible, unless you're willing to spend 500 eurii on a board, which most people aren't. Anyhow, it's either crossing your fingers and hoping MSXA manages to get the board produced (ASCII decided not to when they only recieved 3500+ pre-orders of the 5000 they wanted) or hoping maybe someone like Sunrise decides it might be worth the gamble...

Finally here is a new preview:

http://www.symbos.de/files/symbosmsx2793.zip

Please note:
- currently it will only work with a WD2793, so it may crash on machines with other FDCs
- I could only test it on my VG8235 with single side discs. In the emulator it works with double side discs, too, so I hope the same is on real machines.
- there is an autodetection for the Sunrise IDE interface implemented. I hope it will work on real machines, too. Now it shouldn't matter in which slot the IDE interface has been placed.
- as IDE partition 4 is still pre-configured you can try to start the control panel from disc now and configure another partitions if needed. To do that double-click "Mass storage" in the control panel (appcp.exe), select "C-IDE Device" and choose another partition below.

Please report any problems. Thanx a lot!

Let's see:

As you say, the TR machines hangs when trying to execute from floppy...
On the Philips NMS8245 the new version works fairly well, there're noticeable slowdowns when the floppy is accessed; but that's logic, isn't it?. I've played a bit and find two strange behaviours:

1) The OS runs out of memory very quickly, only one app can be opened at a time. Initially, 99Kb of memory are used (looking TaskManager) and 29Kb are free, seems that there'is no room even for MineSweeper.
2) The next is a minor one. When SymAmp is playing, the "Browse" button on the "Run" dialog doesn't works. IIRC running other apps the button still works.

I've run also SymbOS from floppy and with CF-IDE inserted and with SymCommander I can even browse the A: and C: units!. This one will be a killer app very soon!.

Congrats Prodatron!

Wow! Now running well SYMBOS in my MSX 2 I will try it with 512 KB external ram.

Thanks!

1- With 512 KB works like a charm! NO memory problems There are some little slowdowns, but it's because of floppy reading, don't worry.
2- "Save settings" doesn't work, so I must configure settings every time I start symbos.
3- I don't have the jltursan problem: I can use "browse" with Symamp playing a song
4- This is more than a dream: is great!

Indeed!. I've tested it with a 4Mb external expansion and you can run (near of) anything you want!. The "Browse" button issue is not present (as spl says); so it must be memory related. With 128Kb doesn't works.
I'm starting to dream with how good could be the 16 colors version....yum!

Being an alpha some apps hangs sometimes (I couldn't close SymSee or Symamp was playing well the song, but I wasn't able to stop it and close the app, but next time I have been able to open near every app running perfectly) but it works very well I miss the command but everything is extremelly fast!

I saw something on my 2-drive MSX: The LED of the 2nd drive lights after loading symbos...

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there're noticeable slowdowns when the floppy is accessed; but that's logic, isn't it?

Yes, I have to disable the interrupts while accessing the disc. On the MSX this is even a little but more than on the CPC, as I have to disable them really everytime when the FDC is accessed because of its memory mapping (while its ports are memory mapped task switching would crash the system). But in general it feels the same like on the CPC.

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1) The OS runs out of memory very quickly, only one app can be opened at a time. Initially, 99Kb of memory are used (looking TaskManager) and 29Kb are free, seems that there'is no room even for MineSweeper.

You should be able to start two small apps at the same time. As an example, I can start the display settings, load a background picture and then additionally start the task manager (which shows 3KB free memory then).
Btw, the current version still uses the CPCs memory map. #c000-#ffff is not used yet (that's the area, where the CPCs vram is placed). So one of the next version will use this area, and you will have additional 16K free.

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2) The next is a minor one. When SymAmp is playing, the "Browse" button on the "Run" dialog doesn't works. IIRC running other apps the button still works.

That's because of the memory. The browse dialogue needs to reserve some memory for the directory list buffer. So if you don't have enough, it's not possible to open this dialogue.

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I've run also SymbOS from floppy and with CF-IDE inserted and with SymCommander I can even browse the A: and C: units!. This one will be a killer app very soon!.

I am really happy, that this version is working now. I was a little bit frustrated during the last 2 weeks, but now I am very motivated again

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2- "Save settings" doesn't work, so I must configure settings every time I start symbos.

Indeed, there is a bug! First I thought disc writing wouldn't work, but I could copy files on a disc, so there must be a bug anywhere else.

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Being an alpha some apps sometimes (I couldn't close SymSee or Symamp was playing well the song, but I wasn't able to stop it and close the app) but it works very well

Hm, strange, I will try to reproduce it.

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I miss the command but everything is extremelly fast!

Please wait for SymShell. Currently it wouldn't run on the MSX, because the fullscreen and the alternative font features are not implemented.

Thanx a lot for your tests, they are helping me a lot!

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I saw something on my 2-drive MSX: The LED of the 2nd drive lights after loading symbos...

Does your machine have a WD2793, too?

Yeah, it's a 8250. Symbos itself seems to run fine, but the 2nd drive LED gets lit. That's all.

Ah, ok, maybe I am setting some LED bits in the wrong way. So disc access works for both drives?

Great news! I'll try to fire up the old emu to check things out!

Fortunately I bought a 8250 on Ebay today, and he will add a second drive, too.
Btw, most times it seems to be impossible to get something else than a MSX2 from Phillips in europe, right?? (so no chance to test another FDC than the WD2793 on a real machine...)

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Fortunately I bought a 8250 on Ebay today, and he will add a second drive, too. Btw, most times it seems to be impossible to get something else than a MSX2 from Phillips in europe, right?? (so no chance to test another FDC than the WD2793 on a real machine...)

It's fairly easy to get a Panasonic MSX2+ or turboR as well. They're just a little more expensive. If you look on ebay or even the trading section of this site regularly I'm sure you'd be able to find one with a little patience. There's two turboR's on ebay.es right now, worth every penny, but if you'd rather buy something a little cheaper you could also consider a Panasonic or Sanyo MSX2+ which tend to go for 75-100 eurii. Those just have 64kB RAM tho, as opposed to the turboR's 256 or 512kB. The Panasonic WSX has a Z80 compatible CPU which can be switched to 1.5x the normal clock, the turboR of course has the famous R800, which blows away any old overclocked Z80 (it's about 5-8x as fast). Both CPU's are 100% compatible with the Z80 btw, and can be switched to 'normal speed' (in the turboR's case to the Z80) so don't worry about compatibility issues.

Yes, I know how to write a short link
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