Omnimaga

Calculator Community => OTcalc => Discontinued => Major Community Projects => [OTcalc] Z80-Hardware => Topic started by: alberthrocks on August 09, 2010, 09:00:57 pm

Title: OTZ80 Suggested Hardware Features List
Post by: alberthrocks on August 09, 2010, 09:00:57 pm
Here are the suggested features that we (both Cemetech and Omnimaga) will be voting on:

- Wifi POSTED POLL
- Backlight
- Mini USB or regular USB POSTED POLL
- 2.5 mm link cable or 3.5 mm link cable POSTED POLL
- SD card POSTED POLL
- ABCDE keyboard or old Alpha lock? POSTED POLL
- Screen size/resolution - old 96x64, or higher? POSTED POLL
  -> But with same actual dimensions, but better pixel density.
  -> Suggested high resolutions: 192x128, 240x160, 320x240
  -> Aiming at a 3:2 aspect ratio
- Memory size (need to do a bit of research before deciding on options, this is top priority)
  -> RAM, Flash ROM
  -> Note that eZ80 can only address up to 16 MB, any more needs swapping
  -> GOOD Flash chips, something that lasts for a VERY long time
- Sound? (NON-HARDWARE FEATURE)
- Linking: FAT filesystem emulation for easy, simple transfers (NON-HARDWARE FEATURE)
- Grayscale screen INCLUDED AS SCREEN FEATURE
- Internal rechargeable battery, AA battery or AAA battery POSTED POLL

Newly added ideas/features:
- Better keys/durability IMPROVEMENT, NOT FEATURE
- Backlit screen with ability to turn off the light POSTED POLL
- If going with the 3.5 mm headphone jack, it shouldn't be advertised as a headphone jack, but sound should be supported by the OS and will be easy to put in programs. (NON-HARDWARE FEATURE)
- Batteries charge when plugged into the computer (AA rechargeable ones, that is, plus a setting if battery type is unknown) (This is both hardware and software)
- Don't look too much like the TI-8x series (but enough for usability for students and compatibility with teachers) (NON-HARDWARE FEATURE)
- Touch pad vs arrow keys vs arrow keys with a small, flat joystick in the center POSTED POLL
- Battery indicator light POSTED POLL
- Low cost hardware (NON-HARDWARE FEATURE)

I will NOT be looking into the original thread for suggested features. It's kind of long, isn't it? :P
That means if you still have features to suggest, suggest them in the feature discussion topic.
Suggestions will close this Friday. (August 13th) Why? School is about to start VERY soon (for some, it already has), and
we really need a solid foundation before people start becoming busy and such.

Suggestions are closed. Voting will begin very soon.

Please do not post in this topic. This topic is meant for tracking features only.
If you want to discuss features, please go here: http://ourl.ca/6594 (http://ourl.ca/6594)
Title: Re: OTZ80 Suggested Features List
Post by: alberthrocks on August 11, 2010, 02:00:43 am
I've updated the suggested features list.
Please note that suggestions for the OTZ80 will end this Friday, which is August 13th.
If you still have some ideas, suggest them in the hardware discussion topic, which is here: http://ourl.ca/6594

(Yikes - Friday the 13th??!? Hopefully nothing unlucky/bad will happen...) :P
Title: Re: OTZ80 Suggested Features List
Post by: alberthrocks on August 13, 2010, 01:48:40 pm
Updated list with another suggested feature.

And just a reminder...
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO SUBMIT IDEAS! THE IDEA SUBMISSION WILL CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT!
Ideas should go here: http://ourl.ca/6594.new#new
Title: Re: OTZ80 Suggested Hardware Features List
Post by: alberthrocks on August 15, 2010, 11:56:10 am
I've updated the list. No features have been suggested at Cemetech, so this is the final list.

Adding features/ideas are now closed.
Polls and voting will be set up soon to decide on the final features of the calc.
This is NOT the exact hardware specs though. (Like which chip, CPU, etc.) They will be decided further on.

Thanks to everybody who contributed their idea(s)! :D

P.S.: DJ, could you please set up a poll section within the OTZ80 Hardware forum? I don't want to crowd this one with tons of polls! :)