Fun seeing this posted - I'm the creator of the project. While it's meant to be a generic IDE/ATAPI emulator the two main use cases I envisioned for the project are in the area of retro computing: CD-ROM under MS-DOS and Windows 9x, where software-only virtual drive emulation options are lacking or nonexistent, and IDE hard drive emulation on early IDE machines where the drive geometries are fixed.
Since the project has been announced, lots of people have come out of the woodwork with other fun potential use cases, such as CD-ROM replacement in arcade cabinets and the Dreamcast, and hard drive replacement in multitrack recorders and samplers.
How does the PicoIDE compare with the ZuluIDE? Are they direct competitors or are there different use cases?
I've been on the fence about getting a ZuluIDE for a while because of the price and because I don't exactly need one... I'll wait and see how the PicoIDE is priced.
This is really cool. I'm glad people are out there making this stuff even if I'll never have a use for it.
What are the use cases for this? I'm guessing retro computing and possibly very old machines tied to very obsolete hardware that can't be virtualized (e.g. manufacturing controls).
This is most useful for retrocomputing, and that’s gonna be the target demographic.
While it’s true that industrial and manufacturing sometimes have really old hardware, that’s usually less due to them not having newer options and more due to preferring something tried and true (it “just works” for their workflow) or the sheer economics of upgrading; in most of those cases, there’s already a flow for interfacing with newer technology (FTP or USB 1.0/2.0 commonly). So this device wouldn’t offer much benefit, if any.
Tangential question: does anyone know if there's a ~similar device to replace/upgrade a Toshiba T1100's floppy drive?
A friend found a T1100 for me and I'm just trying to think of the best way to boot it. Alternatively... I could get a USB floppy disk drive and a fresh floppy, and write old-school DOS to it, at least to get started?
There is a Gotek floppy emulator hardware, about $50 USD.
A USB floppy drive will be cheaper, maybe $20.
I think the T1100 has standard 34-pin IDC connector, but Plus variant uses 26-pin so the Gotek will need an adapter (and probably doesn't fit cleanly).
This is really cool! I like the attention to detail on the front panel, it's something I'd be proud of showing on a carefully built retro PC. I could see using this over CF to IDE adapters which work well but this is a cleaner solution.
Good luck with your launch, I'll be happy to order one!
Personally I think the half-melted (literally) rough 3D-printed look is rather ugly, and would prefer a stamped steel plate --- like this (floppy emulator): https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=28
On the contrary, I think you’ve done a fantastic job with the enclosure. Far from looking “half melted”, you’ve made good use of the bed texture, and the design is top notch.
Well sounds like I may have jumped the gun yet again. I managed to nab a IDE Simulator v3 by Tattiebogle in Sept. Maybe I should have waited for this. This has happened to me before so I wonder if maybe word got out that this was coming so others got their products out asap?
Currently, it implements the ATAPI READ SUB-CHANNEL command and fully supports the current position data format code. Other format codes like ISRC and UPC currently return dummy data, but wiring that up would be pretty straightforward. Supporting image formats like CloneCD's .ccd/.img/.sub that store arbitrary subchannel data also seems doable, but would definitely be more work.
The annoying part of .ccd files is the lack of support in the specifications for DPM data. It was officially used just for some old Karaoke machines and VDJing mixers, but more importantly for retrogaming aficionados, it was used by SecuROM and Starforce copy protections.
Can't think of an open format with support for that, IIRC not even CHD files store them.
CDEMU/libmirage support both CCD et al and MDF/MDS images. Mixed modes, etc - the whole shebang. How good the copyright protection emulation is I cannot say tho.
I could be utterly wrong on this, but AFAIK the "emulation" in tools like Daemon Tools or Alcohol was only required when the disc image was created with partial or missing DPMS/subchannel data; If the virtual drive provides transparently the required stream the copy protection should be none the wiser on the actual drive emulation.
Fun seeing this posted - I'm the creator of the project. While it's meant to be a generic IDE/ATAPI emulator the two main use cases I envisioned for the project are in the area of retro computing: CD-ROM under MS-DOS and Windows 9x, where software-only virtual drive emulation options are lacking or nonexistent, and IDE hard drive emulation on early IDE machines where the drive geometries are fixed.
Since the project has been announced, lots of people have come out of the woodwork with other fun potential use cases, such as CD-ROM replacement in arcade cabinets and the Dreamcast, and hard drive replacement in multitrack recorders and samplers.
How does the PicoIDE compare with the ZuluIDE? Are they direct competitors or are there different use cases?
I've been on the fence about getting a ZuluIDE for a while because of the price and because I don't exactly need one... I'll wait and see how the PicoIDE is priced.
The price will definitely be lower, and another difference is that PicoIDE will be entirely open firmware and hardware, while ZuluIDE is not.
Good to hear. Thanks for replying.
ZuluIDE uses FPGA, PicoIDE is beautiful $1 rp2350 + buffers.
rp2040/rp2350 are the best things that raspberry pi ever released. From bitbanging HDMI to 400Msps logic analyzers https://github.com/gusmanb/logicanalyzer?tab=readme-ov-file#...
<inconsequential webpage bug report> First few images link to the full size version of the _next one_ </inconsequential webpage bug report>
You moved up to IDE while Im playing with RLL and investigating EDSI and SMD :) https://github.com/raszpl/sigrok-disk
You know, with couple differential transceivers on a daughterboard you could support everything this https://www.drem.info does :)
This is really cool. I'm glad people are out there making this stuff even if I'll never have a use for it.
What are the use cases for this? I'm guessing retro computing and possibly very old machines tied to very obsolete hardware that can't be virtualized (e.g. manufacturing controls).
This is most useful for retrocomputing, and that’s gonna be the target demographic.
While it’s true that industrial and manufacturing sometimes have really old hardware, that’s usually less due to them not having newer options and more due to preferring something tried and true (it “just works” for their workflow) or the sheer economics of upgrading; in most of those cases, there’s already a flow for interfacing with newer technology (FTP or USB 1.0/2.0 commonly). So this device wouldn’t offer much benefit, if any.
I have seen EDM machines with floppy interfaces. A great upgrade for those is a floppy emulator.
Where can I find the picoIDE schematics & code? All I find is picoGus.
The repo will be made public when the hardware is launched. Should be a few weeks.
Tangential question: does anyone know if there's a ~similar device to replace/upgrade a Toshiba T1100's floppy drive?
A friend found a T1100 for me and I'm just trying to think of the best way to boot it. Alternatively... I could get a USB floppy disk drive and a fresh floppy, and write old-school DOS to it, at least to get started?
Thanks!
There is a Gotek floppy emulator hardware, about $50 USD.
A USB floppy drive will be cheaper, maybe $20.
I think the T1100 has standard 34-pin IDC connector, but Plus variant uses 26-pin so the Gotek will need an adapter (and probably doesn't fit cleanly).
https://archive.is/gFVNm (medium post, shows the adapter)
https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy/issues/549 (somebody had issue with high 5V rail causing Gotek to not work)
Thank you, I really appreciate it!
You can also do stuff like https://github.com/acemielektron/fddEMU if you want a custom form factor.
Here's some more information: https://www.hackster.io/news/ian-scott-s-picoide-turns-a-ras...
Based on RP2350. Perhaps because RP2350 provides more GPIO pins?
Oh my god this is like the ODE (optical drive emulators) that people use on retro consoles!
Hopefully this can work on PS2-based Namco System 246 systems, would be amazing if it can.
This is really cool! I like the attention to detail on the front panel, it's something I'd be proud of showing on a carefully built retro PC. I could see using this over CF to IDE adapters which work well but this is a cleaner solution.
Good luck with your launch, I'll be happy to order one!
Personally I think the half-melted (literally) rough 3D-printed look is rather ugly, and would prefer a stamped steel plate --- like this (floppy emulator): https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=28
A stamped steel plate is not possible at my planned price point. But one thing I will note is that this 3D printed front panel is only a prototype.
On the contrary, I think you’ve done a fantastic job with the enclosure. Far from looking “half melted”, you’ve made good use of the bed texture, and the design is top notch.
The one you linked looks ugly. Horrible seams, odd and too-long red buttons, unaligned slots.
Well sounds like I may have jumped the gun yet again. I managed to nab a IDE Simulator v3 by Tattiebogle in Sept. Maybe I should have waited for this. This has happened to me before so I wonder if maybe word got out that this was coming so others got their products out asap?
Is CD-ROM subchannel data accurately emulated for both audio and data modes?
Currently, it implements the ATAPI READ SUB-CHANNEL command and fully supports the current position data format code. Other format codes like ISRC and UPC currently return dummy data, but wiring that up would be pretty straightforward. Supporting image formats like CloneCD's .ccd/.img/.sub that store arbitrary subchannel data also seems doable, but would definitely be more work.
The annoying part of .ccd files is the lack of support in the specifications for DPM data. It was officially used just for some old Karaoke machines and VDJing mixers, but more importantly for retrogaming aficionados, it was used by SecuROM and Starforce copy protections.
Can't think of an open format with support for that, IIRC not even CHD files store them.
MDF/MDS isn't open, but could possibly be reverse-engineered enough to read the DPMS data.
CDEMU/libmirage support both CCD et al and MDF/MDS images. Mixed modes, etc - the whole shebang. How good the copyright protection emulation is I cannot say tho.
I could be utterly wrong on this, but AFAIK the "emulation" in tools like Daemon Tools or Alcohol was only required when the disc image was created with partial or missing DPMS/subchannel data; If the virtual drive provides transparently the required stream the copy protection should be none the wiser on the actual drive emulation.