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Lambda 8300 pros and cons

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 8:00 am
by mrtinb
Pro
  • Built-in sound
  • Built-in Joystick
  • Executes machine code above memory address 32k (no M1NOT problem)
Con
  • Not all hardware extensions work
  • No Hires or Pseudo Hires (WRX, G007, ARX)
  • No User Defined Characters (UDG)
  • External keyboard corrupts load from tape
  • Detection of NTSC/PAL on different I/O-port. Needs Lambda-customized ROM to work on PAL.
  • Character Set cannot be modified with ROM, as characters are stored in custom Lambda-ULA
  • Lambda-ULA replacements does not exist
  • No ':' or '?' characters available. They are replaced with gaming characters (butterfly, ghost).
Other
  • Black screen with white text. Depends on your personal preference.
  • "Checkers" characters are replaced with diagonal corners and gaming character (racing car)
  • £ character is replaced with gaming character (spider)
  • Works partly with ZXpand. 32 kB RAM is accessible. Loads programs. Screen is corrupted as Lambda-customized ROM is needed. (Work in blind, and end with CONFIG "X" to see screen.)

Re: Lambda 8300 pros and cons

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 1:14 pm
by dr beep
Martin,

can you explain why the Lambda is not capable of hires?
A quick look in the ROM suggests same method of display as on the ZX81, but perhaps it needs a different driver.

Re: Lambda 8300 pros and cons

Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 1:39 pm
by mrtinb
The hardware of Lambda 8300 has not been studied as much in detail as the ZX81. The pseudo hires routines for ZX81 does not work on Lambda 8300, as the ULA is different. The WRX hires modification does not work either.

If Lambda 8300 can be hacked into some kind of hires, it has not been discovered yet.