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| − | The Keyboard Component was a peripheral that combined with the [[Intellivision Master Component|Master Component]] to create a fairly capable computer. Mattel Electronics made a limited release of the Keyboard Component and subsequently offered to repurchase them when it decided not to release them to the wider market. As a result, there are very few Keyboards in the wild.
| + | Hey Wassup? |
| | + | I was searching around for <a href=http://www.milesgershon.com><b>Entertainment Center</b></a> or <a href=http://www.milesgershon.com><b>Wall Units</b></a> (I'm not really sure what the difference is LoL) and was wondering if you know any resources to explain what I need to know to make an informed buying decision. Any review is appreciated. |
| | + | Thanks |
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| − | ==Hardware Overview==
| + | Mary |
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| − | The Keyboard provided the following major components:
| + | Check out the link to this article I found about <a href=http://www.squidoo.com/ent3rtacn3tr><b>Entertainment Centers</b></a> |
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| − | <table BORDER=1> | + | <a href=><img> http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-19364734663496_2071_606467 </img></a> |
| − | <Tr><TD>[[6502]]</TD><TD>The Central Processing Unit (CPU) contained in the Keyboard</TD></TR> | |
| − | <TR><TD>[[TMS9927 CRT Controller]]</TD><TD>A text-only 40x24 display controller that gen-locks to the Master Component's [[STIC]]</TD></TR>
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| − | <TR><TD>[[CRT RAM]]</TD><TD>A text frame buffer for the [[TMS9927 CRT Controller|CRT Controller]]</TD></TR>
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| − | <TR><TD>[[Keyboard Shared RAM|Shared RAM]]</TD><TD>16K x 10-bit wide RAM, visible both to the Keyboard's CPU and the [[Master Component]]'s [[CP1610]].</TD></TR>
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| − | <TR><TD>[[Tape Drive]]</TD><TD>A block addressable, fully-CPU controlled tape drive, offering 2 digital and 2 analog tracks</TD></TR>
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| − | <TR><TD>[[6502 Cartridge Port]]</TD><TD>A second cartridge port for 6502-specific software, such as [[Keyboard Microsoft BASIC]]</TD></TR>
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| − | </TABLE>
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| − | Because the combined Keyboard Component + Master Component system is a dual-processor system with two completely unrelated CPUs, the resulting system has separate [[Keyboard Memory Map|memory maps]] for both the 6502 and CP-1610 sides of the system.
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| − | ==Architecture==
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| − | As the name suggests, the Keyboard Component operates as a peripheral to the Master Component. The Keyboard plugs into the Master Component's cartridge port, providing a pass-through connector of its own that allows other peripherals (such as game cartridges and the Intellivoice) to still connect to the combined system.
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| − | The Keyboard exposes two hardware features directly to the Master Component: A [[Keyboard EXEC|Keyboard-specifc extension to the EXEC ROM]], and 16K x 10-bits of [[Keyboard Shared RAM|Shared RAM]] through which the Keyboard's 6502 CPU communicates with the Master Component's CP-1610. Notably, the 10-bit wide RAM allows the Keyboard to load CP-1610 programs from cassette or other Keyboard-specific media.
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| − | It appears that by default, the Master Component runs the main application software, using the Keyboard Component as a smart peripheral. the 6502 sets up and maintains a series of software FIFOs in shared memory, as well as a buffer for [[Keyboard Remote Procedure Calls|Remote Procedure Calls]] (RPC). It continually scans the typewriter keyboard for input, enqueing the user's keystrokes into one FIFO. It also scans for data and commands coming from the CP-1610, generally in the form of RPC calls and data to print arriving by another FIFO. Finally, the Keyboard also implements a set of interrupt-driven state machines for managing the cassette drive.
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| − | The Keyboard Component can also run software primarily intended for the 6502, putting the Master Component in a passive role. The Keyboard's [[Keyboard Microsoft BASIC|Microsoft BASIC]] cartridge operates in this mode.
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| − | <I>This page is a stub, but I wanted to get at least something here. I will upload Keyboard Component related photos and docs later. --[[User:Mr z|Mr Z]] 18:45, 29 June 2006 (EDT)</I>
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