ZX Spectrum Next Kickstarter will add Amstrad CPC core at £2.5M stretch goal

[seanmcmanus]

It says you might have to add your own ROMs so I don't know how easy that will be, but it's great that the CPC is now included.

[eto]

It says you might have to add your own ROMs so I don't know how easy that will be, but it's great that the CPC is now included.

Probably just a download from CPCWiki or CPCPower.

[salvogendut]

Honestly? I don't like the idea. Speccy is speccy and CPC is CPC. What would be your say if they did the same with C64? But I am glad that it reached the target. It's gonna be interesting to see this new platform and explore its potential

[Gryzor]

Btw, I didn't remember that SymbOS was ported to the Next... Now it's going to run on CPC on the Next as god intended😁

[eto]

I am tempted...

I don't see a point to replicate a system that I have anyway and due the downsides of not having an expansion port or the right keyboard layout (for me) it doesn't really make a difference compared to emulation. Sure it's not emulation - but it feels like emulation.  

but at the same time the Next core is an 8bit system I would have dreamed of in the 80s. 

Btw: is the keyboard quality good? 

[andycadley]

Honestly? I don't like the idea. Speccy is speccy and CPC is CPC. What would be your say if they did the same with C64? But I am glad that it reached the target. It's gonna be interesting to see this new platform and explore its potential

They are also doing it with the C64 (and ZX81 and Sam Coupé).

The more interesting general concept might be that future versions of the Next board could be housed in different casings. It wouldn't be that much of a stretch to put it inside a 464 style case (or perhaps a 6128 plus which is a bit more compact). 

[Gryzor]

A bit off topic, but not crediting Prodatron for SymbOS on the campaign page is kinda lame

[Prodatron]

it doesn't really make a difference compared to emulation. Sure it's not emulation - but it feels like emulation.

It's a very compact and high quality machine with a great design, so when visiting 8bit meetings, it won't use too much space, but still feels good. Now with all the new cores it has another big advantage IMHO.

Btw: is the keyboard quality good?

I would say yes, it's very good. You can see it in real, if you visit the Classic Computing this year 
Only issue with the keyboard is, that somehow all keys are shifted by one to the right due to the ZX Spectrum + like design, so you need a little bit time for getting used to it.

[Prodatron]

A bit off topic, but not crediting Prodatron for SymbOS on the campaign page is kinda lame

Not a problem at all, Henrique and his team are great guys, it's all fine

[Gryzor]

A bit off topic, but not crediting Prodatron for SymbOS on the campaign page is kinda lame

Not a problem at all, Henrique and his team are great guys, it's all fine

Oh I'm not saying they 'stole' it or something, but since they went out of their way to list other contributors on the campaign page, it would make sense to include your... 

[GUNHED]

And now imaging which great kind of CPC-new-generation we could have for all that money! 

Shouldn't we form a CPCng team for us too?

[Bread80]

I don't see a point to replicate a system that I have anyway and due the downsides of not having an expansion port or the right keyboard layout (for me) it doesn't really make a difference compared to emulation. Sure it's not emulation - but it feels like emulation. 

I'm not sure how the keyboard connects. It looks like it goes into a GPIO header block. But as long as there's enough pins for the CPC's 18 or 19 pins then it should be possible to reconfigure things for a different keyboard (if you're willing to go without the case).

And the CPC's expansion connector has 50 pins versus the Spectrum's 56. So reconfiguring the pinout should make it easy plug in an adapter board to take CPC peripherals.

If i understand correctly the project is open source, so a redesign to fit within an Amstrad case should also be possible.

[aWaKeNiNG]

Confirmed! The core will be the 6128 (with good prospects of becoming more!)