I have one of the "new models" (at least parallel and serial.... cga or VGA, I will have to find out when it arrives) on its way to me!
I'm really happy to supply a bios dump, if somebody could advise what I should use (on the device) to do it.
DZT Store is stocking it on AliExpress as of today: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005528944 … .4ed81802y4WFOi

I wonder if there could be any renewed interest in something like the Xircom Pocket Ethernet III concept, with compact 10Base-T RJ45 on the parallel port now.
I've ordered a solution which most say works on an XT class for now - the ISA breakout of course, a Netgear EA201 network card (Netgear claim 8-bit compatible and was BNIB), and then a Vonets VAP11N-300 Wifi bridge, which I will attach to a USB power bank. For something that's a laptop that's a lot to carry around for using mTCP suite!
Does anyone know of a less convoluted setup than this for 8-bit? Cost-wise, people seem to go with this setup (it's about £50 overall).
I understand there are lots of Realtek 8019 chips out in the wild, maybe for someone technical a niche hobby.

Parallel PLIP cable is pretty good choice, works with 9x and XP internet connection sharing and ms networking. Of course it ties you to the machine that interfaces it. There is an ESP 8266 or 32 based PLIP one for the Amiga but not sure if it uses 4 bit PLIP which would be PC PLIP compatible or uses the Amiga only 8 bit.

BitWrangler wrote on 2023-09-20, 01:44:

Parallel PLIP cable is pretty good choice, works with 9x and XP internet connection sharing and ms networking. Of course it ties you to the machine that interfaces it. There is an ESP 8266 or 32 based PLIP one for the Amiga but not sure if it uses 4 bit PLIP which would be PC PLIP compatible or uses the Amiga only 8 bit.

Thank you for the nice idea. Unfortunately my only other computer here at uni halls is a Windows 11 laptop, so it would have to be USB converted to ???.... and I understand that this doesn't work with PLIP is that right?

Ugh yah, 11 might be a stretch too far. I think I've had ICS working through a USB serial on win7, not sure about USB parallel behaving good enough. I think you could probably do a serial connect through USB still, but I doubt the book 8088 will keep up over 19.2kbps or so.

BitWrangler wrote on 2023-09-21, 14:11:

Ugh yah, 11 might be a stretch too far. I think I've had ICS working through a USB serial on win7, not sure about USB parallel behaving good enough. I think you could probably do a serial connect through USB still, but I doubt the book 8088 will keep up over 19.2kbps or so.

I guess the question is whats my goal - I'm thinking perhaps downloading code over tftp from my laptop "just for fun" or tying to set up remote boot, and I think a major goal for me is accessing BBS's if that's possible somehow.

Did the serial modem emulator device ever get adapted for PC's?

86Box just gained serial passthru in version 4, DOSBox had it for a long time.
Norton Commander Link v3/4 runs on anything, DOS Navigator real mode version should also run on 8086 and has Navigator Link.

I see the Kermit might well be the solution for me.

I think I just missed out on vga option.

I had a thought about it - I've ordered a VGA card, for the ISA card, if I ever really need it. A Trident TD9000I-3 card, as it has a specific 8/16 bit jumper. VGA to HDMI cable from that.

OK, this is getting cool - you can get VGA as an add-on module now: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006074049 … .77ecf19cpFAfOv
I've ordered, so it must have a separate VGA BIOS.

If it is a Cirrus Logic GD542x card that gets shipped with all of the VGA modules, I've found a DOS / Windows 3.0 driver which allows 256 colours and resolution switching.
http://www.vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?file … 0&menustate=0,0

I'm just wondering, has anyone dumped an image of the included CF card as yet?
Anyone received the new model? Is anything different about the model or is a VGA BIOS initialised separately?

@nOp has given me the go-ahead to produce chips with his BIOS (1.0.2) flashed and I now have the equipment here in the UK.
I would charge for this but hopefully you'll feel its a fair price compared to buying your own equipment. DM if this service is helpful to you.
nOp is unable to offer this himself due to his geographic location.

I think this is what I saw.... PicoGUS for the Hand386.... ergo potentially the Book8088 at least physically?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWUtMPxmKD8

Well the updated VGA module arrived, it's a Cirrus GD542x which is a solid choice, some are Trident 9000i I think.
From looking up the chip I think it even has 512k of memory which means it has decent Windows 3.0 prospects - I wonder if the screen can do 800x600.
The Book8088 (which I ordered with CGA as it was the week before VGA was released) is taking a little longer to arrive.

hi, i got a ver 2 book 8088 coming and cant wait. All the vga ive seen have been cirrus chips. i also have the first version and am waiting for some parts to "fix" 🤣 . got a couple lcd screens to try as mine has a green pixel stuck and also viewing angles crap. and new speakers as mine seems to crackle/vibrate.

betamax80 wrote on 2023-10-09, 20:53:

Well the updated VGA module arrived, it's a Cirrus GD542x which is a solid choice, some are Trident 9000i I think.

Cool, they're classics. ^^
Some have mode utilities and can be set into CGA, EGA and Hercules emulation modes.
Higher text-mode resolutions, too.
See Re: Realtek realtalk, is it the best VGA for CGA? What is?

vga version arrived tday and the screen has a stuck green pixel like version 1 🤣 what luck also screen has more blue tint than ver1, oh well will try other lcd when they arrive. only ran few games so far but vga is good. need to get serial mouse as my serial to usb adaptor not work.

seems some games have screen issue where the image is moved to left, lure of the temptress, seem like the lcd driver tries to auto calibrate but cant lock it in properly. Seem it the lcd adjustment issue where in the manual says to type mode 80 or press fn +f7, but cant do any of these in games to correct.