Jockey Room 1 - the CommVEx v9 room

Looking toward the front of the room

Looking toward the rear of the room

For the curious, this is what Jockey Room 1 looks like, sans Commodore and Amiga decorations. It was set up for us today, Wednesday, in preparation for this weekend's CommVEx. Of course, it won't look this neat when everything is thrown in. :)

Truly,

Robert Bernardo

Fresno Commodore User Group

http://videocam.net.au/fcug

July 27-28 Commodore Vegas Expo v9 -

http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex 

C128 VGA prototype adapters (right) from 2012

Well, when I went to the TOGA meeting the other day, I was hoping the C128 VGA adapter project engineer had news to tell me, like whether a new 2013 prototype would be show at this year's July 27-28 CommVEx.  Nope.  However, he has made significant progress in nailing down those elusive color values.

Truly,

Robert Bernardo

Fresno Commodore User Group

http://videocam.net.au/fcug

The Other Group of Amigoids

http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

July 27-28 Commodore Vegas Expo v9 -

http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

Commodore power supplies upgraded

What looks like an ordinary p.s. ...

...is really upgraded with modern components!

An upgraded p.s. put into a larger casing

The tech from The Other Group of Amigoids can take a Commodore 64 power supply and upgrade it to have the latest, more powerful, and more reliable components.  He goes over to surplus electronics stores, like HSC Electronics and Weird Stuff, and digs through the parts' bins in order to the components he needs. I showed the p.s.'s to Ray Carlsen, C= tech extraordinaire, and he measured the power coming out of them -- very clean 9V AC and very clean 5V DC at about 2.5 volts.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 27-28 Commodore Vegas Expo v9 -
http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

VIC-VODER Views

The box as it came in the mail

Inside the box when first opened

Inside the paper bag, there's a plastic bag.

Notice the warning near the connector.

A prominent LED

Back side of the VIC-VODER case

Released on June 24, VIC-VODER is a new voice synthesizer developed by Richard Melick.  It works on the Commodore VIC-20, Commodore 64, and Commodore 128.  Last Friday I ordered one for $99.95 US, and it came in the mail today, July 1.  Above are pictures of the VIC-VODER.

For more information, look at VIC-VODER website at http://www.geocities.ws/cbm/vic-voder/vic-voder.html and at the discussion thread at http://sleepingelephant.com/ipw-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=6529&start=60

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 27-28 Commodore Vegas Expo v9 -
http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

SUX 6400 v2 ?

Though there are still a few Sound Ultimate Xpander 6400's still in stock ( http://retro-link.blogspot.com/2011/07/sound-ultimate-expander-6400-audio.html ), I talked to the project engineer on Thursday morning.  We bounced around a few ideas, just in case I decide to do another production run of the SUX 6400.  A version 2 of the SUX 6400 would have improvement(s) to the components, a microphone input... maybe even memory!

Would there be improvements to the Digimaster 64 and Digimaster 128 software?  I'd have to talk to the software engineer about that, but I believe that he is busy on other projects right now.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 27-28 Commodore Vegas Expo v9 -
http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

Commodore and more at 2013 Maker Faire

Packed with people most times of the day!

C64C running graphics programs, A2000 running games

Another view of the C64C and Amiga

How well can you sketch with Super Sketch and a C64C?

Krik Klein (left), organizer of the exhibit, explains his Apples.

"Six" lets a youngster play on her modded Atari 1200XL.

A view toward the Atari 2600 and HP computers.

R2D2 wants to play, too!

This is what he wants to play!

On May 18-19 I spent 12 hours a day manning the Commodore/Amiga section of the Nostalgic Computers area at Maker Faire.  We were packed with hundreds who visited each day.  Above are some of the photos of the exhibit.  I've been invited to come again next year.  Perhaps we will have even more floor space!

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 27-28 Commodore Vegas Expo v9 -
http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

Multicart 64 is now available for sale

The Multicart 64 in all its glory!

Inside Multicart 64

Multicart on-screen

What you see on start-up 

A pile of Multicarts waiting for assembly

Assembly station

I just received my Multicart 64 from Charles Gutman of 8-Bit Designs, and it comes with a slew of programs. Here's the list of 63 programs: Alien Sidestep, Astroblitz, Attack of the Mutant Camels, C64 Diagnostic, Calc Result, CCS Mon, Centipede, Checkers, Close Encounters, Cosmic Life, Dance Fantasy, Diagnostic C64, Dot Gobbler, Dot Gobbler 2, Facemaker, Falconian Invaders, Financial Advisor, Fraction Fever, Frog Master, Frogger, Graf64, Gridrunner, Hop Along Counting, Jaw Breaker, Juke Box, Kids on Keys, Kindercomp, Laser Zone, Magic Mon, Marios Brewery, Memory Manor, Minnesota Fats Pool Challenger, Moondust, Mr Cool, Mt TNT, Number Nabber Shape Grabber, Omega Race, Pac Man, Pipes, Pitfall, Princes and Frog, Retro Ball, Save New York, Sea Speller, Song Maker, Space Action, Space Ricoshay, Spitball, Stix, Super Smash, Tank Wars, The Fourth Sarcophagus, The Mutant Spiders, The Pit, Threshold, Trashman, TSI Cycles, TSI Maze Man, Turbo Maze, Tylers Dungeon, Ultrex Quadro Maze, Up and Addem, and Up for Grabs.

For more information on ordering a Multicart 64, go to

http://www.commodore.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9635&p=13608#p13608

Video of Multicart 64 is now at  

http://youtu.be/Rd5KZte2p_Q

Truly,

Robert Bernardo

Fresno Commodore User Group

http://videocam.net.au/fcug

July 27-28 Commodore Vegas Expo v9 -

http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex