computer
- Thread starter technokid
- Start date
hippy
Ex-Staff (retired)
There is also this -
http://www.picaxe.com/Project-Gallery/PUP-Graphics-LCD-Hand-Held-Console
That's a games console rather than a pure computer but there could well be similarities in parts of the design.
The best place to start is in deciding what you want your computer to be able to do and what you want it to look like.
http://www.picaxe.com/Project-Gallery/PUP-Graphics-LCD-Hand-Held-Console
That's a games console rather than a pure computer but there could well be similarities in parts of the design.
The best place to start is in deciding what you want your computer to be able to do and what you want it to look like.
A Picaxe may not be the best choice for making "computer". However if you are willing to jump through a lot of hoops and spend money on a serial VGA display (4Dsystems?) you can probably do it. An alternative text only display could be done with VT100 codes and a Terminal Application like TerraTerm. The Picaxe does not support mass storage devices such as SD Cards so that will have to be done with SPI (or bit banged) and will be pretty slow due to processing overhead. Then there is interfacing a keyboard....
Tell us what you are wanting to do ( features, etc ) and more help/advise can be offered.
Tell us what you are wanting to do ( features, etc ) and more help/advise can be offered.
A PICAXE is designed to do a lot as is. But making a full computer out of a PICAXE is like turning two motorcycles into an automobile. Sure you can bolt them together with a frame and add a shell and windows around them and spend months making it all work together, but why not just buy a car?
The PICAXE is much like a motorcycle. It comes complete with everything needed to do specific jobs, but that attribute makes it awkward for it to be used as a generalized computer.
The PICAXE is much like a motorcycle. It comes complete with everything needed to do specific jobs, but that attribute makes it awkward for it to be used as a generalized computer.
Technoman
Senior Member
Check out for a retro computer. It could be fun. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn7mT_R2UYU
westaust55
Moderator
There have been a few past threads on using a PICAXE chip for a home designed computer.
As some reading try:
http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?18748
The second post links to these still active webpages by Chris Fenton:
http://www.chrisfenton.com/diy-laptop-v1/
http://www.chrisfenton.com/diy-laptop-v2/
As some reading try:
http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/showthread.php?18748
The second post links to these still active webpages by Chris Fenton:
http://www.chrisfenton.com/diy-laptop-v1/
http://www.chrisfenton.com/diy-laptop-v2/