This is little confusing. Desktop is SW running as some kind of shell - providing basic file operations, starting of APPs, some settings of computer, and like. I don't think to install lot of ACC, cpx and similar is good idea. Considering mentioned APPs - If you want to run some SW, like WEB browser...

If someone want to make this test on his config, here are files: 80.zip Depack it on your Atari disk, media , Then create some new SUBDIR, or use existing one, different from source SUBDIR, and copy there DIR 80 . Start clock after copy dialog appears, in same moment when clicking OK or press ENTER....

Yeah, PIC should do it well. I have no experience with programming it, and I hate C :D In last time did not see much mentioning of PIC, so almost forgot about it. I think that transfer from serial to SRAM should happen during reset pulse active. If it is not enough long then can make longer. But 256...

Yes, you are very right with that many files in 1 DIR slowdown. On Atari, it is enough to have 1000 files in 1 SUBDIR, and it may need minutes to open. Actually, all this started with 4200 files, what I needed to check, and remove those with improper value in it. I used speed up of Steem, of course....

That's good idea in fact. And actually, you need to reprogram not at every boot, but every power on only. OK, you probably meant that. Only that first time it needs somehow to get proper content :D And in case of some data corruption. Indeed, transfer from serial to SRAM is what is hardest part here.

I had a similar idea a while ago, but my idea was a bit diffrent. My plan was to use flash eprom to store the OS, and a MCU for programming them. Using flash gets around the issue of writing new os on each boot. The only thing needed to change the OS would be a special piece of software to write to...

Nothing forces some new Windows, Internet user to keep active all channels for 'distraction' . My e-mail client don't alerts when new mail arrives. I check it when I want. Same is with FB, Skype, etc. I can focus really 100% while I'm in Win, and Firefox has some 90 tabs opened. All it can run in ba...

Usually transfer speed is what is measured in case of hard disks/Flash card adapters, and sometimes access time - what is little more complicated case, but certainly is much better with Flash cards, since no mechanic - in range of 1mS by faster solutions - on Atari STs . I will now give some real wo...

Things are now different, than 26 years ago. Now accessibility of CF socket is a must, and that's of course good. Although, 160 MB IBM 2.5 inch drives gone dead so fast, that I should use them externally too :lol: 3 of in less than 1 year gone . While 2 60 MB WD 2.5 inch still work . Just reminded m...

While you're at it, check the 5V Regulator, these things were not very reliable. In my Speccy 128k I have replaced the 7805 with a L78S05CV, which allows more current and is cooler at the same time. My "toastrack" is now only a handwarmer ;) ... I don't think that it is possible that some other vol...