[me=nILS Podewski]sobs[/me]
Don’t get a 2x20… Why do people limit themselves to 2x20s for no apparent reason, if they can go get 2x40s which simply show more information ???
aesthetics perhaps 
hehehe, but 2x40 requires a change in the source right?
so maybe that is the limiting factor right now (I may be wrong).
unless there’s a pre-compiled 2x40 hex file somewhere.
Changing from 2x20 -> 2x40 <= 30 seconds. If that’s the only change you want/need I’m pretty sure there’ll be tons of helpful people here who’d even do it for you, if you asked them nicely. Yes, that was an offer. As I mentioned before - the 2x40 will work right away, even if you don’t change the source, so you can test all you want and troubleshoot and use and do whatever with the box. And then one magical day you change those 6 lines in the setup_*.asm and you have 10 menu items. Now, how cool is that. Basically my point is: Not wanting to change the software / being scared of asm / not having the toolchain installed is absolutely not a reason to not go with 2x40.
Changing from 2x20 -> 2x40 <= 30 seconds. If that’s the only change you want/need I’m pretty sure there’ll be tons of helpful people here who’d even do it for you, if you asked them nicely. Yes, that was an offer. As I mentioned before - the 2x40 will work right away, even if you don’t change the source, so you can test all you want and troubleshoot and use and do whatever with the box. And then one magical day you change those 6 lines in the setup_*.asm and you have 10 menu items. Now, how cool is that. Basically my point is: Not wanting to change the software / being scared of asm / not having the toolchain installed is absolutely not a reason to not go with 2x40.
Indeed. I’m also offering my help to create a hex file.
Dear Nils and Swindus,
You are both correct. It is the reticence to changing the code that would limit my creativity here. However, your offer, Nils, and yours, Swindus, are much, much appreciated. :) Indeed, given the current circumstances, I will definitely opt for the 2x40.
So, Nils, if it would not inconvenience you in the least, I would be most obliged if you were to find the time one day to create the file that would enable me to use the 2x40 display. I do not know how difficult it would be to grant the following request as well, but would it be possible for you to include a bit of text that would appear whenever my SIDBox powers on? I would like for it to say the following (the message may change in the future, for the list may become longer)…
“Nessy 101… created by TK, built/designed by Dad and The Wood, with the priceless assistance of Nils Podewski, Swindus, Frailn, Buhler, and /Tilted/.”
This would be an alternative to etching/engraving the screen names of all forum members who have helped me onto the back panel of my SIDBox. I always thought that this would be a cool way to remember the names of those who helped me along the way.
If it is possible to do this, I would greatly appreciate it. That would be my greatest tribute to all of you who have helped me, and continue to do so, as time goes by. Every time the Nessy 101 powers on (yes, that would be my SIDBox’s name, as it shares the nickname I gave my fiancee ;D), your names will scroll across the screen. Without the generous assistance that I have received from all of the aformentioned, the Nessy 101 could not be built. ;)
Nils, I can imagine that your time is of the essence; when it is free, I am sure that it is your most prized and sought after commodity. If you are unable to help due to unforeseen circumstances, I would understand perfectly, for your offer is what I appreciate the most. Thanks again. 
Swindus…
Thank you very much. I am confident in your ability to create the file should Nils’ schedule not permit it. I hope that my humble gesture - to include your forum name along with those who have helped me so much in a bit of text when the Nessy 101 powers up - is a suitable representation of my gratitude.
It is important to remember those who help you along in life, and to be grateful for their efforts and friendship. I am a man of many faults, but gratitude is certainly not one of them. It is my sincerest hope that this is evident.
Best regards,
XTheWoodX.
p.s, three 6581 SIDs received in the mail, one more to go! Then come the parts from SmashTV.
Dear Cavey,
Man, you must’ve been reading my mind! Those were exactly the reasons why I was ready to settle for the 2x20!
Cheers,
XTheWoodX.
As I said changing from 2x20 to 2x40 is a matter of seconds. Just send me a PM with your eMail address and I’ll fire it your way. Adding the funny little boot message is a bit more complex as it actually involves programming
Try to not limit your creativity by some needless fear of editing some tables or constants. It’s really much simpler than it may seem to you right now. Replacing “some_variable_name 12” with “some_variable_name 15” doesn’t involve any voodoo. Once you have the working core and SID modules and *before* you work on the CS, just play around with the settings a bit. You can’t break anything - the worst that can happen would be that you’d have to re-download the original source code
Optimize your SID as much as you want - when you think you’re done, post your ideas here and have some people with a bit of SID experience look at them. If there’s anything that’s really hard to do, you can always leave it out.
Quintessence : Don’t be scared of changing some settings in the source. It’s a piece of cake.
About gratitude (and I think I speak for everyone here): Get that thing to work, have a great time with your dad, show some pictures when you are done - that’s all the gratitude we need.
Dear Nils,
Thanks again, my friend. Well, I will burden you with that PM (I’m assuming that I can do that by clicking on the thought bubble below your name) in about a month or two. My father and I are working on this project rather slowly. Time constraints as well as our patience ensure that we will proceed as such.
I will definitely post pics of the final product. It would have been a shame to limit the Nessy 101 to the 2x20 display only because I am a bit apprehensive when it comes to computers. Thank you, and remember that if I can help you in any way, you need only ask. ;D
Cheers,
XTheWoodX.