Author Topic: 68k MacOS?  (Read 11554 times)

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Offline Logan P

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68k MacOS?
« on: April 15, 2017, 12:17:59 am »
Could we port the early 68K Macintosh System to TI's 68k calcs? We would need to use a very early version due to RAM constraints, but it would be possible. We could (barely) fit it in the archive on early TI-92 Pluses and 89s, and maybe even burn a ROM for non-plus 92s.

Offline Jonson26

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #1 on: April 15, 2017, 07:57:36 am »
The ROM-chip idea sounds very interesting to me (i own a ti-92 myself  :)). I just have one question: Do you think about installing the chip trough soldering or the expansion module slot?

Offline SpiroH

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #2 on: April 15, 2017, 09:27:37 am »
Could we port the early 68K Macintosh System to TI's 68k calcs? We would need to use a very early version due to RAM constraints, but it would be possible. We could (barely) fit it in the archive on early TI-92 Pluses and 89s, and maybe even burn a ROM for non-plus 92s.
Hi @Logan P  welcome to Omnimaga,

IIRC i've seen something like that, some years ago, here: https://www.omnimaga.org/news/mini-vmac-for-the-ti-nspire/
Not quite a 68k CPU but is a black-and-white MacOS port of sorts.
Have fun  ;)

Offline Logan P

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #3 on: April 15, 2017, 07:36:57 pm »
Not what I'm looking for, but thanks. I did use mini vMac for nSpire once. I think we should port early 68k Mac System to run directly on the 68K calcs.



The ROM-chip idea sounds very interesting to me (i own a ti-92 myself  :)). I just have one question: Do you think about installing the chip trough soldering or the expansion module slot?
Hmm... Does the community know how the expansion cards interface with the 92s? It is theoretically possible, but might just be easier to solder on the ROM. There also may be a limit to the amount the 92 can access in ROM.

Edit (Eeems): Merged double post
« Last Edit: April 28, 2017, 12:19:16 pm by Eeems »

Offline Jim Bauwens

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2017, 03:01:11 am »
Not what I'm looking for, but thanks. I did use mini vMac for nSpire once. I think we should port early 68k Mac System to run directly on the 68K calcs.
I had the same idea as you, several years ago, wanting to port the software for the Mac 128K. The first step would be to get the ROM of that machine running. However, that is already pretty hard on itself. You would have to reverse engineer the ROM and do lots of patching considering that the actual hardware of the Mac 128k is very different from a 68k calculator. In theory you could do some emulation, but I don't think a 68k device has enough resources for that.

I don't think it is impossible, it is just very hard, as you need extensive knowledge of both the Mac 128k and 68k calculator hardware.

Hmm... Does the community know how the expansion cards interface with the 92s? It is theoretically possible, but might just be easier to solder on the ROM. There also may be a limit to the amount the 92 can access in ROM.

There are community members that have made their own modules for the TI-92(II), there is information about it floating the web somewhere.

Offline Logan P

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Ideas
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2017, 04:01:16 pm »
For TI-92/II systems we might be able to make the module for system software and code our own version of the Macintosh ROM to solder to the board. It might be nice to have the ROM module as sys. software as well because we can change it out for others. It may or may not be feasible for a regular 92, tho. Maybe a 92II would work better. Flash-ROM calcs might work too, though they will be more difficult to use due to constraints on size.

Offline Jonson26

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2017, 08:33:22 am »
Quote
There are community members that have made their own modules for the TI-92(II), there is information about it floating the web somewhere.
Cool! :o Could you please give me some links?
Quote
Maybe a 92II would work better.
As far as i know the TI92II is the same TI92, only with a "II module". ;)

Offline Logan P

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2017, 06:42:29 pm »
True. Maybe we could make a "Macintosh compatibility card" for the 92 (no plus)? I may be getting a 92 soon, so I would be among the first to buy one if someone can custom-build it.

Offline Jonson26

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2017, 08:13:51 am »
I tried to find those custom modules, but i couldn't find anything!  ???
Could someone help me?

Offline Jonson26

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #9 on: April 27, 2017, 08:53:08 am »
Well...
Maybe it would be better to port MINIX http://www.minix3.org/, than Mac-OS?
Note that MINIX is open source and can run on the Motorola 6800 processor. The Mac-OS however, could pose some proprietairy issues, as it is owned by Apple.
Maybe, we could even make a wire going out of the module, to allow attaching a floppy drive or something...
Or simply make an sd card slot on it. :3

Offline Jim Bauwens

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #10 on: April 29, 2017, 10:07:20 am »
I don't know where the information is hosted anymore. Also, if you're looking into an unix like OS just use Punix as it was made for 68k calculators.

Offline Jonson26

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #11 on: April 30, 2017, 07:57:21 am »
I know punix.
There's just one problem with it: i've got a TI92 non-plus. This means: no flash memory, the os is stored on a rom chip. This implies me being unable to install another os...  :-\ No punix for me.
That's why i was looking for ti92 expansion modules. The problem with them is, that they're REALLY hard to find, and there's like zero information about them. That's why the idea of making a system-on-a-module (let's call it SOaM, or something) was so interesting to me...

Offline Jim Bauwens

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #12 on: April 30, 2017, 11:51:12 am »

Offline Jonson26

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Re: 68k MacOS?
« Reply #13 on: April 30, 2017, 03:21:47 pm »
WOW.   :crazy:
The only downside is the lack of pictures.
« Last Edit: April 30, 2017, 03:28:54 pm by Jonson26 »