Ned Konz wrote:
> On Tuesday 18 March 2003 02:24 pm, Alan Kay wrote:
> 
>>At 6:40 PM -0300 3/18/03, Jecel Assumpcao Jr wrote:
>>
>>>I have been learning a lot trying to fit Smalltalk into 15
>>>thousand gates (http://www.merlintec.com:8080/Hardware/Oliver)
>>>and feel that my larger projects will be far better because of
>>>this.
>>
>>Well, IIRC, the first ARM that Tim did so many neat things with was
>>only about 25,000 transistors (and the Alto was a lot less than
>>that).
> 
> 
> It used to be that you had to work for a big company to be able to 
> design high-performance processors and systems.
> 
> But today, with the average $1000 computer having considerably more 
> power than the CAD workstations of just a few years ago, we can do 
> these designs ourselves.
> 
> I wonder why we don't see more innovative processor/system solutions 
> coming from individuals now that the (financial) cost of entry for 
> making fast, capable systems is almost $0.
> 
> We can download free FPGA/CPLD design tools capable of dealing with 
> large devices, and the devices themselves are pretty cheap.
> 
> We can get free PC board design software.
> 
> We can get prototype PC boards made for around $33 each.
> 
> For instance, using the free ISE Webpack from Xilinx (Altera and 
> Lattice also have free software like this) you can program a device 
> like the Virtex XCV300E, which has:
> 
> 32x48 CLB array
> 6912 logic cells
> 411944 system gates
> 131072 max. block RAM bits
> 98304 max. distributed RAM bits
> 
> and is available in non-BGA forms (i.e. ones that can be 
> hand-soldered). You can buy them in single quanties for less than 
> $250.
> 
> Take one of these, connect it to some fast DRAM and I/O, and off you 
> go...
> 
> I know Jecel is doing interesting work; why don't we see more 
> Smalltalk machines coming out of peoples' garages?

I don't necessarily understand what you wrote above. :)

However, I would be willing to buy a board that I could build a 
Screamin'Squeak machine with. My primary desire would be good 
performance and ability to use commodity parts, ie: memory, sound, 
graphics, etc. And a reasonable price. Nothing above is a problem.

With that I think you could have a winner for people who think outside 
of the box.

Come on Squeak Machines Inc. :)

Jimmie Houchin