Space saving QL hardware

[Peter]

Pulling over Dilwyn's quote from "Software & Programming" to "Hardware":

Well, I'm still on Derek's waiting list for a Q68, so I can dream.

Great that Peter is thinking along these lines with QZero and continuing to develop when he has time.

Sounds like it would be small enough to fit inside a modern monitor if we find one with a small amount of free space inside, maybe (or attached to one at least) to provide an all-in-one "QL". Nothing wrong with emulators like QPC2 and QemuLator of course, just that it's nice sometimes to use a QL system which isn't an emulator.

Being somewhat lacking in desk space here, I'm really looking forward to a small footprint system. Maybe I could attach it to one of the PC monitors here so that the monitor is shared between PC and QL just by switching monitor inputs. A little bit like the old Intel Stick plug in PC I have at my son's house.

I already tried a Q68 (with connectors not soldered on the PCB) inside a monitor, so the even smaller Qzero would certainly also be suitable. Of course some tinkering is involved, but depending on how many peripherals are required, it doesn't have to be a lot.

However, the Qzero mainly targets "embedded" applications, not being a Q68 successor as a desktop machine. So some Q68 features are not onboard. For example the Qzero VGA output is uncritical for tinkering, but it supports 8 colors only. This was to save space, while keeping components large enough for me to handsolder prototypes. Highcolor is only supplied via HDMI, which requires an external capacitor array and high-frequency considerations, probably not easy for a tinkerer.

When saving space, wouldn't a keyboard be even more suitable than a monitor to carry a board? I thought that to be a more convenient place to change (micro)SD cards. I even designed the Qzero to fit two available PS/2 keyboards. That's why it is 2 mm smaller than a RPi Zero.

On the other hand, the back of a monitor is a better place to hide something, allowing something with less perfect optics.

By the way, it's funny how different people think about space. Recently someone criticised the Q68 as too small.

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi Peter,

At first thought the Qzero could be integrated into a Mini Keybaord, PS/2 or USB and be the same form factor as the PI400.

The Q68 being too small???

The Raspberry PI is about the same size that sold millions of PCBs with cases, is that too small.

[Peter]

At first thought the Qzero could be integrated into a Mini Keybaord, PS/2 or USB and be the same form factor as the PI400.

Do you have a link to that keyboard?

The Q68 being too small???

Yes, a larger board was desired for separate keyboard/mouse connectors, onboard QLNET, and better access to the extension bus.

[dilwyn]

When saving space, wouldn't a keyboard be even more suitable than a monitor to carry a board? I thought that to be a more convenient place to change (micro)SD cards. I even designed the Qzero to fit two available PS/2 keyboards. That's why it is 2 mm smaller than a RPi Zero.
On the other hand, the back of a monitor is a better place to hide something, allowing something with less perfect optics.
By the way, it's funny how different people think about space. Recently someone criticised the Q68 as too small.

Of course building it into a keyboard would be better from the point of view of changing SD cards, plus it maintains the ethos of a "QL" built inside a keyboard, and a keyboard is more transportable than a monitor too. I was thinking more in terms of hiding it inside or behind a monitor, but inside the keyboard achieves the same thing, if not more.

Anyway, I look forward to getting my hands on the Q68 in due course.