New clone idea: How about a PC-G850VS or PC-E500 clone?

[robve]

(08-27-2024 02:38 PM)fy789 Wrote:  PC-1600 is the oldest, it has 2 CPUs, but limited user ram
and poor LCD screen. It was and is still very expensive if you
can find one with good condition on EBAY.

PC-G850VS has the best LCD screen, but very limited memory,
and poor keyboard.

PC-E500 is probably the most powerful one with a good file system,
versatile BASIC interpreter, and the largest user ram area (256KB).
However, the LCD is not that good.

When building a clone, why does the quality of the original hardware matter? These days we have inexpensive OLED screens and decent micro switches?

(08-27-2024 02:38 PM)fy789 Wrote:  So, if someone build a super PC-E500, with the PC-G850 LCD
screen and resolution, 1GB user ram (256KB for program and the
rest as ram disk), and USB connectivity. Will you buy one?

I think the biggest question is how popular any of these clones will be, from a nostalgic point of view. Availability and popularity of these machines differed a lot between countries.

I have all machines (2x PC-1600, 2x PC-G850VS, PC-E500 and PC-500S a 32K and a 256K). From a technical point of view, the PC-E500S (the S model) is heads and shoulders above the other two in terms of hardware and software capabilities. Second in my view is the PC-1600. Both are well engineered machines internally. However, the PC-G850 has a C compiler, assembler and text editor which is nice. The PC-E500S has the best BASIC, including double precision (20 digit mantissa + 4 guard digits). It has excellent file system support (both external and internal), same as the PC-1600. It also has well documented operating system calls, which makes it possible to write new applications in assembly like Forth500. It has the most addressable memory with 20 bit address registers (i.e. no need for bank switching calls). The 8 bit CPU ISA is excellent, kind of a mix of 6809 and Z80. That's why I use it and like it the best.

- Rob