SmartyKit Apple I replica

http://apple1.smartykit.org/

by bdcravens • 7 years ago

85 46 7 years ago

apple1.smartykit.org

randogogogo• 7 years ago

Is anyone else seeing OpenDNS security warnings on the headlone link to the site?

piccogabriele• 7 years ago

yes

pvg5• 7 years ago

I wonder why an Apple I? Are they perhaps concerned about IP-related problems with the ROM and other firmware in the II? They're pretty similar but the latter is still easily recognizable as a personal computer and the former not so much.

zcrackerz• 7 years ago

Wasn't the Apple I originally shipped as a kit that you had to put together? I think it's trying to recreate that same idea, but with easier assembly.

pvg5• 7 years ago

That could be it, although I guess they also have some earlier kit that seems to be capable of more. But maybe this can too - the 'screenshots' on that page show things an Apple I doesn't do as it is, like display lower case letters. I just have a hard time seeing how the end result can hold a kid's interest. An Apple II can be made to fill the screen with rude words in a line of code!

benj111• 7 years ago

Don't have to worry about a case?

If I ordered an Apple II replica I'd expect an apple II case and keyboard which might present IP and manufacturing issues.

pvg5• 7 years ago

I think it's intended to be a kit for children rather than a strict 'replica'. A no-solder kit that ends up pretending to be some ancient computer can pretend to be more or less any kind of ancient computer.

duskwuff4• 7 years ago

The Apple II is significantly more complex. In particular, its video output architecture is constructed around the DRAM refresh cycle, making it difficult to replicate without duplicating most of the original system.

csixty4• 7 years ago

It's a lot easier (not to mention cheaper) to get a working Apple II. Lots of folks out there want the chance to meet around with an Apple I for less than $100k.

pvg5• 7 years ago

It's supposed to be a kit for kids, not really a thing for collectors. It's historically important but I find it hard to come up with a more limited and boring computer of similar vintage. It's basically a prototype idea a few of which they managed to sell to hobbyists. What do kids or non-kids do with this thing after they've plugged it together?

comex• 7 years ago

The bottom photo shows an ATmega328P. So this is just a software emulation of an Apple I? What’s the point?

greatjack613• 7 years ago

was wondering the same. Just run an emulator on your raspberry pi, no need for a single use kit

michaelmior• 7 years ago

Even if it's an emulated Apple I, the kit looks like fun :)

sergpanarin4• 7 years ago

Thanks!) But it’s not emulated - it uses microcontrollers for keyboard&video and original CPU 6502 with ROM/RAM to do the work. Original Steve Wozniak’s code is on ROM. ROM chip is bigger then in the original and it’s possible to load BASIC interpreter or other programs and run them from ROM

jhbadger2• 7 years ago

I think it is just there for generating the video signal. This sort of thing is common. The earlier (solder-based) Briel Replica I Apple I clone used a Propeller chip for that. But it still had a 6502 for the actual computing, and I imagine this does too.

erik• 7 years ago

A lot of modern hobby computer projects use a FPGA, micro-controller, or dedicated modern CPU to bit-bang the video signal.

How did the original 8-bit computers do it? Did they have access to chips that are no longer produced?

phaedrus2• 7 years ago

I built a 6502 "laptop" (a 6502 SBC and LCD stuffed in a toy laptop case). I used a Propeller chip to generate a video signal, as well as to load a program into RAM and generate bus control signals. The 6502 was directly connected to all of the RAM address and data lines, but I could also interpose different values on the database.

Another Propeller enthusiast made a pretty good write-up here: http://dangerousprototypes.com/blog/2012/02/22/prop-6502-pro...

sergpanarin4• 7 years ago

Yep, I use ATmega just as video and keyboard controllers. All real work is done by 6502 - it communicates with memory and keyboard and video controllers. Just as in the original Apple I

spongeb00b• 7 years ago

It might also be reading the PS/2 keyboard input.

randrews3• 7 years ago

I'm really curious how they're doing video. That was the big roadblock I hit when making a Z80 computer a while ago (and what led me to FPGAs).

LeonM• 7 years ago

The photo is low res, so can't say for sure, but I expect it uses a microcontroller of some sorts to generate a composite video output.

randrews3• 7 years ago

That's a lot harder than it seems, so, I have my doubts. It needs to not only run fast enough to bit-bang the signal but also simultaneously respond to bus requests from the 6502.

sergpanarin4• 7 years ago

Yep, I use ATMega as a videocontroller. You could drop me a line and I’ll give you a pice of advice for your project

stevekemp• 7 years ago

Do you have any notes on your build?

I'm in the early stages of planning a Z80-based system. I hadn't really considered video, just serial-console I/O. Currently I'm using an arduino to emulate RAM and I/O. I'm at a stage where I can run simple programs, and have a working BASIC interpreter running on the processor.

The next step will be wiring up real RAM/ROM, along with serial I/O, making the system completely standalone.

sergpanarin4• 7 years ago

We also made our drivers open-source - here is video driver’s source code that we use. It’s code for Arduino that could be uploaded to Atmel 328P that we use - https://github.com/smartykit/apple1/blob/master/SmartyKitApp...

jquast• 7 years ago

I really enjoyed building and programming on the Briel Computers Apple I replica, http://www.brielcomputers.com/wordpress/?cat=17

jasoneckert• 7 years ago

Building, exploring, and programming the workings of early computers builds foundation knowledge that helps with a wide variety of newer technologies. It's good to see projects like this, in my opinion.

crumpled• 7 years ago

Serious question:

Do kids want to do this? Is this mainly for geeky adults.

Sendotsh• 7 years ago

Bit of both. Kids like making things with their parents, and geeky parents are more likely to spend the time making stuff with their kids if there’s a fun nostalgia trip for themselves at the same time.

I’ve done a lot of retro gaming projects with my kids because I get some nostalgia, they learn how to make things, and we all get to play some games at the end. It’s fun for everyone.

lisper• 7 years ago

Also worth looking at if you're into this sort of thing:

https://www.reactivemicro.com/product/replica-1-plus-from-br...

tyingq2• 7 years ago

Why so little information on this thing? It doesn't even mention if it's using a real 6502, which one, etc.

SmartyKit Apple I replica

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