Derek_Stewart wrote:<>
I do not think that comparing a system that runs at Ghz with multiple CPU cores againist a single core CPU running at Mhz speeds is fair.
Im not trying to be fair, Im trying to ascertain facts! Im also not trying to denigrate the Q68! One man designing his own computer from scratch is a significant achievement! Not to mention the one-man show that builds them by hand at home! Kudos!
However, these efforts are limited by the components available, and theres little they or we can do about that except hope that developments continue and that those able to work the magic may long continue to do so!
Compared to the original QL, Q68 is a massive improvement, but when, in about 2000, the new extended colour versions of SMSQ appeared, hardware implementations of the QL started to lag behind, as they simply did not have the
oomph to
comfortably implement those improvements.
What I mean by comfortable is that when hardware and software are in tune, the look and feel of the interface should not get in the way of what your trying to do. A machine may calculate a spreadsheet quickly or slowly, but the user will be attuned to that, knowing that a very large spreadsheet will take time, while the machine will rapidly zip though a page or two of calculation. But if the machine struggles to move a window from A to B, then that feels annoying. That is not comfortable.
For what I use my QL for these days, the Q68 is mostly plenty fast enough to do the calculations, compiling, assembling, etc. But the interface lags behind. And with 16 bit colour one wants to do other things, like simple picture manipulation, and for that too, it is rather too slow (to my mind - and with no disparagement of technical achievement of those who designed or built it intended or implied!)
I really do like that Q68 runs on the "bare metal" without the middleman of some other OS getting in between. That is a true achievement of the hardware and software people behind it. Different transistors, different microcode; whether it runs on true Motorla or other cherished chips is irrelevant to my mind. Its all emulation in the final analysis.
The RasPi is a compromise. It has advantages and disadvantages. When Im doing my thing in QL-land, it doesnt really bother me that there are two additional layers of emulation underneath (Java and Linux) except that every now and again they break through and one has to go into that foreign land full of hostile natives and deal with some issue, bible in hand, in a foreign tongue. After throwing around some spells and many curses, one may again slip back into one's reasonably comfortable home environment. If one wants a quiet holiday away from it all to see how the other 99% live, it is just a few clicks away to get one's news fix or relax with a movie..
And the nice bit is that, touching the tiny grey box it feels warm, but not hot, theres no whirring of fans, ie it uses little power but still does a great job. Im not ready to jump ship yet, but may slowly migrate and see how it goes. Early days..
Yup, Im that old fashioned; I still sometimes watch DVDs.)
) but methinks some kind of graphics card (with as a minimum block drawing and scrolling functionality) might work and make all the difference. Another thing: Have you ever considered Buffee? They claim their product will be a MC68040 drop-in replacement (when its finally ready). The "microcode" will be ARM assembler - no Linux middleman.
