The Sinclair QL Forum

t0nyt wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2024 9:42 pm Someone will correct me if I’m wrong but Qimsi Gold [edit] will work without a QL if you use PS2 keyboard/mouse and provide it with power

Is that true, can the Qimsi Gold basically become a Q68 (with less features -- i.e. no networking)?

It has networking too - you just need to connect the I/O pin to suitable small circuit - similar to how it works on Q68, you also get one serial port - no hardware handshaking - that will run at good speeds.

Pr0f wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 11:14 pm It has networking too - you just need to connect the I/O pin to suitable small circuit - similar to how it works on Q68, you also get one serial port - no hardware handshaking - that will run at good speeds.

I haven't done a spec comparison between the QIMSI Gold and the Q68. Can someone give the fundamental difference between the two of them if you use the QIMSI Gold as a stand-alone computer? In other words, what would be the advantage of now buying a Q68 if the QIMSI Gold doesn't only give you similar features but also has the option to expand a BBQL

bwinkel67 wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 11:51 pm In other words, what would be the advantage of now buying a Q68 if the QIMIS Gold doesn't only give you similar features but also has the option to expand a BBQL

The following comes to my mind:
1. Q68 connectors are full-size and through-hole wiring. More robust against mechanical strain.
2. Ethernet controller
3. Stereo audio output (not just mono speaker)
4. Dual full-size SD card sockets (not just single microSD)
6. Dedicated jack socket for power supply
7. Dedicated I²C socket (QIMSI I²C requires soldering pins of the realtime clock)
8. 8 bit extension bus, read-write master (QIMSI has only the read-only slave bus at the QL ROM port at this time)
9. Solid metal case available

They serve different purposes, and if you by one of each they can talk to each other

(No, I'm not trying to sell them )

My experience with both of these devices has been very positive, and the support has been excellent too. If you are coming back to the QL (like I was), then the Q68 is a good starting point as it gives you everything you are likely to need to use the software available. With the QIMSI, you would probably need at least an emulator to get it working, as you would need to prepare SD cards and load up relevant software to make use of it.

Hi bwinkel67

Can you expand on this:

bwinkel67 wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 11:51 pm I haven't done a spec comparison between the QIMSI Gold and the Q68. Can someone give the fundamental difference between the two of them if you use the QIMIS Gold as a stand-alone computer? In other words, what would be the advantage of now buying a Q68 if the QIMIS Gold doesn't only give you similar features but also has the option to expand a BBQL

What expansion are you talking about?

Derek_Stewart wrote: Fri Jul 26, 2024 9:09 am What expansion are you talking about?

By expansion I mean that you can plug QIMSI Gold into ROM slot of BBQL to speed it up and give it better graphics. I get that it presently doesn't support microdrives, but that's still a possibility. But neat that it can be standalone. I'm going to have to invest in one in the future as I always loved swiss-army-knife like devices that can do more than just one thing.

bwinkel67 wrote: Fri Jul 26, 2024 11:37 am I get that it presently doesn't support microdrives, but that's still a possibility.

It is even already a way to do it, but not a nice one.
You may have read about the bidirectional fast data link between the QL and the MiniQ68.
There are serial drivers for both sides of this link, so the MiniQ68 can access the QL side devices via SERNET.
But that requires to boot the whole OS on the QL side, instead of just loading the QIMSI Gold support ROM.
(Which undermines the simple way to handle keyboard data that we use at the moment.)
Also, accessing the microdrives via SERNET is slow.
The best would be to integrate microdrive support into the QIMSI Gold support ROM.

Where and when can one get hold of qimsi gold ?

SM7I wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:36 am Where and when can one get hold of qimsi gold ?

Same procedure as for the QIMSI.

I put you in the waiting list, 2nd batch is currently in production. Once you are on top of the list you will receive more information.

Best regards,

Stephan