The 8048 and the Odyssey2
The Odyssey2 video game is based on the 8048. Here is a picture:
Check out The Odyssey2 Homepage for more info on this most famous use of the 8048 (besides the IBM Keyboard). The really interesting thing about this particular vintage video game is that it has a keyboard, yet it is very rugged and simple. The BIOS/OS is just 1K, and is fairly well documented. If you have a homebrew project that you want to hook a console up to, this is an entertaining and inexpensive way to do it. For 30-40 dollars, you can get one of these shipped to you off of auction sites. At least for now, the prices are going down. The retro gaming folks are driving the price up on these, but demand seems to be fading a bit. I've seen them over the years at second hand stores as well. No water, no new toxins, no new resources are used to create this item if you can use it. Of course, shipping will create some environmental damage; however, the route was most likely already driven... the damage is minor compared to consuming a new product. Of course, there are many, many old PCs around. The problem with these is that they take a lot more power, and are more fragile. Also, the storage on an Odyssey 2 (ROM cartridge) is virtually indestructible, and the EPROMs are extremely available. Many of you electronics fans already have burners that will work, particularly with the old surplus EPROMs available now.
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