Different ROMs for Lambda 8300

[stefano]

I'm in touch to @olofsen, he shared his work and I'm merging as much as possible in the current z88dk tree.
I'm working on the emulators so I'm not totally sure that the updated code is still generating valid raster pictures on the real TV sets, 50hz and 60hz, but the rest of the library is surely improving.

[stefano]

I'm close to the end of a first pass on the z88dk libraries.
There's still a couple of very small differences between the lambda ROM (new type) and the cac3.
It's a very small difference regarding the number to string conversion, I'll looks closer to the zx Spectrum, it lacks the string termination but provides the character count in BC.
I'm still comparing the results just because I'm curious

EDIT:
nope, the difference (CAC-3 and NF300 only) is not on the string termination in variables but probably is elsewhere on the variable definitions.
This affects also the "zxbasic" function set on the numeric variables (integer/float, get/set).

[stefano]

I'm halfway in the process of tracking the ROM differences on the CAC-3 and NF300 models.
They're VERY similar, but apparently the NF300 is sensitive to the machine code included in a REM line, or perhaps the LOADed block, even if working, should be formatted slightly differently.
So, supposing we have a z88dk compiled program in memory on the NF300 it seems not being able anymore to pick the numeric BASIC variables correctly, while the string variables still work perfectly. This does not happen on any other ZX81 clone.

I don't seem to be able to solve it, so the NF300 won't be a good candidate for mixing BASIC and C compiled programs

I'm now investigating on the FP calculator, there could be another subtile difference also there.

[David G]

_
I see that the newly-renamed ROMs are available, so time to update the list

Changes in RED (from the last list)

• Original Lambda 8300 ROM
  • Lambda 8300 LAM10061.BIN
  • lambda8300.rom in EightyOne v1.40
    
    Additional commands to ZX81:
    • BEEP
    • NOBEEP
    • SOUND
    • TEMPO
    • MUSIC
• Updated Lambda 8300 ROM with color support (all files same byte-for-byte)
  • Lambda 8300.rom
  • Power 3000 ROM with colour kit commands.rom
  • Marathon 32 MAR14348.BIN
  • Lambda.rom in older versions of EightyOne
  • lambda8300colour.rom in EightyOne v1.40
  • 'Lambda 8300 (ZX81 revision)' embedded in NO$ZX 2.0 emulator
    
    Additional commands to original Lambda 8300:
    • INK
    • PAPER
    • BORDER
• CAC-3 ROM and NF300 ROM (both are different from Original Lambda 8300 ROM or the Updated ROM)
  • cac-3.rom (8EEC1EC6-cac-3.rom), similar but different to NF300.ROM
  • NF300.ROM (F8BBA9D8-NF300.ROM) similar but different to cac-3.rom
    
    Additional commands to Updated Lambda 8300 ROM with color support:
    • READ
    • DATA
    • RESTORE
• ZX81 compatible ROM for Lambda 8300 (all files same)
  • Power 3000.rom
  • Lambda 8300 ROM modified ZX81 compatible.rom
  • 8300.rom in older versions of EightyOne
  • 'Lambda Mod (patched ZX81 bios)' embedded in NO$ZX 2.0 emulator
    
    Additional commands to ZX81:
    • BEEP
    • IN
    • OUT

[Crayon21]

there must be a rom that adds the ? : and ' symbols. annoying using the wrong type of symbol. it should be she's not she,s

[mrtinb]

The Lambda 8300 is different than the ZX81 not only in its charset. But on the Lambda 8300 the charset is not in the ROM. The charset cannot be changed. The charset is inside the ULA. The ULA is also different than the ZX81 ULA.

[stroebeljc]

So, Martin, I know you say that you love the Lambda, but it's an odd beast. What is it that you love?

[mrtinb]

So, Martin, I know you say that you love the Lambda, but it's an odd beast. What is it that you love?

Love is a strong word.

It was very common in Denmark and Germany, as it was many peoples' first computer.

To its advantages it had 2k of RAM like the TS1000, but also included a speaker and joystick port, and a Spectrum-like keyboard.

The only reason it is frown upon today is that the ZX81 was more popular and better known. Thus the ZX81 has loads of software.

[stefano]

> The only reason it is frown upon today is that the ZX81 was more popular and better known. Thus the ZX81 has loads of software.

Also it was a barely legal chinese clone of the ZX81. Quite a fascinating machine though, and in the eighties the IBM clones were even more popular, not much compatible, and they sold quite well.
I never heard about the ZX81 clones at the time, I remember I saw a Timex 2000 in 1983 which puzzled me a lot.

[stefano]

> I don't seem to be able to solve it, so the NF300

I fixed a problem on z88dk recently which was creating a lot of trouble on the ZX81 and relatives. I'll try once more after the fix.