MNBIOS demo available for download

by Latok on 17-03-2004, 16:30
Topic: Software
Tags: Utilities
Languages:

Over the months, we have kept you updated on the MSX Non BASIC Input Output System, in short MNBIOS, a new OS for the MSX2. This new OS increases the capabilities of the MSX2 hardware without the need of directly addressing the hardware. Without modifying the hardware, MNBIOS supports a graphical screen mode with 341 sprites at a size of 16x16 and a screen of 85x35 characters, giving characters a text and background color, similar to SVGA. MNBIOS is a multitasking system which supports 1Gb of RAM paged and can manage 7 Z80 CPU's parallel working on single expansions.

At first, people didn't really believe all these features, there was only a spanish manual available, no website and nothing to download. This has changed. As you probably all know, there is a dedicated website right here and also an english manual has been written.

The author, Guillermo R. Flook, also known as flyguille, has finally put online an MNBIOS demo on his website. You can download the demo right here and we encourage you to start talking about it in our forums.

We want to be corrected if this is wrong, we believe MNBIOS still does not support all Floppy Disk Controllers, but only the external Daewoo/Talent DPF-550. This interface is extremely rare in Europe and Japan. This means you probably can only try the demo using an MSX emulator supporting this FDC. Flyguille has given extensive support to openMSX on his website already.

Relevant link: MNBIOS Official Website

Comments (8)

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

anonymous's picture

17-03-2004, 16:59

I think it's better to talk about MNBIOS as an OS (Operating System), than as a BIOS.
Because in MSX the BIOS is just a collection of routines used by the MSX-BASIC OS, the term BIOS has a bad name.

By Latok

msx guru (3959)

Latok's picture

17-03-2004, 17:05

Cheers GuyveR800, I decided to edit it in the initial posting.

By anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

anonymous's picture

17-03-2004, 17:11

Oh yeah, I just tried MNBIOS on openMSX 0.3.4 (the latest stable release) and it works great!
The screenmodes are graphical, not text, so there are lots of nice colors Smile and the display speed is very good!
I'm looking forward to further development on this.

By flyguille

Prophet (3031)

flyguille's picture

17-03-2004, 17:34

i not say some things on README file

for get 85 columns windows on initial status write:

LEFT 1
WIDTH 84

(you can write LEFT 0 + WIDTH 85, but exist a tiny problem with the draw-routine of the window frame).

for get 35 lines

you can write
SCREEN -h2
UP 1
HEIGHT 34

(same thing as LEFT 0 problem) , but using vertica size 6 pixel for each CHR you need mount a new set of chr-patterns.

By Manuel

Ascended (19676)

Manuel's picture

17-03-2004, 21:00

I think it works with all diskdrives that have the MB8877A disk controller.

By BiFi

Enlighted (4348)

BiFi's picture

18-03-2004, 12:59

In the 6x6 character mode, I'd suggest to use a different set of character patterns for that. Apart from that minor detail and the width and height problems you already mentioned I'm very impressed and like GuyveR800 I'm looking forward to future developments on this new OS and applications.

By flyguille

Prophet (3031)

flyguille's picture

18-03-2004, 13:32

For 6y chrs you need mount a new chrs patterns set... but, the mount command is not available yet....

By snout

Ascended (15187)

snout's picture

18-03-2004, 15:53

Good job! Looking forward to a version that runs on my turboR!