Now I really Build Hardware!

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It's been a busy few weeks here at the lounge. Many people have asked "what did you get at AmigaKit with your little nest egg? The truth is, I thought long and hard about the Subway USB adaptor, but I decided to do something else, something I have always wanted to do- BUILD a Computer from scratch! I have been assembling computers for over 20 years with "off the shelf" components, but as a hardware junkie, I always wanted to learn design and principle and make a computer "OLD SCHOOL", like they did at Commodore.
After a hunt on the net, I decided to order the NCS 2056T kit from APATCO Technologies.
I got it in this afternoon, and quickly went through the kit. The kit is based off of the 65C02 processor. It comes with 32K of RAM LCD screen, and a PS/2 keyboard adaptor. Infact the only thing that this kit does not have is a way to hook it up to a VGA monitor or a RS232 port to telnet into it. I will add these components later, as after I get this up and running, I plan to do a "wire Wrap" board, then a PCB final board (with the RS232 and VGA), but I have to learn to crawl first, before I can "RUN".
The kit starts with 3 printed manuals in full color. I was expecting some cheap photocopied and stapled manuals, but these are a good quality. The Technical manual has the complete history of the 6502, right up until modern day.
It comes with a nice quality "Bread Board" with a metal back plate. The only thing I can see missing is an actual "Power"Switch, as it look like you will have to unplug it every time. The IC chips were already installed before shipping, I am not sure if that was just for shipping, or to make it easier to assemble. I just layed in the LCD screen for the picture, it is not attached to the board just yet.
All the wires, and components are nicely sorted in this plastic, reusable, parts bin. I don't have to go hunting for each part.
There is also a CD included with all software, documentation etc. You even get 3 ROM EEPROMS:,

1) EEPROM 1 on breadboard is blank. Used in the assembly process.

2) EEPROM 2 with white dot is pre-programmed with the short assembly language program that the assembly manual has you attempt to program into the blank one. This is just incase you fail at the attempt. The small program simply counts from 1 to 255 using the LED's on the breadboard. This ensures that the breadboard computer is working.

3) EEPROM 3 with red dot is programmed with code to control the keyboard and LCD, and has usable routines you can use in your own programs. As well, it also contains a very basic monitor for programming memory locations using the keyboard.

At $180, this kit seems expensive, but when you actually see what you get in it, it is very apparent, the time and energy that went into making this kit right. I think it is well worth every penny. In fact, the ONLY complant is that the IC markings are hard to read, This is not APATCO's fault, but rather the (very Cheap) silk-screening on the individual chips themselves. There used to be a day when the blind could read the Chip ID's because the manufacturer was proud of it, including the company logo (remember, you could spot an AMD chip a mile away, in the dark even, because the silk-screening was so bright). I will update as I assemble this puppy.

Now, I also have one a VERY rare Commodore Item on Ebay over the week-end. It is one of the last Commodore machines I didn't have yet, and I had not made any mention of them here. Yes, Commodore had 1 more Commercial line of Computers, that they sold from 83 or so on until the went bankrupt. Now, other than a CBM II line, I have a representation of all the lines of computers that Commodore sold. I won't say what it is, but here is a Cryptic hint. This was a line designed in Germany for Business Clients only. Later, Commodore tried selling it to the home market, but renaming one of the models after a small horse. Needless to say that approach failed.
While, it didn't sell to home user's, it wasn't a bad machine. Not great, just a workhorse.

More on that when it comes in..