modern serial terminal

[M H Stein]

Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 15:43:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Griffith <dgriffi at cs.csubak.edu>
Subject: modern serial terminal

I'm thinking of a device about the size of a couple CD jewel cases that
has two serial ports, a ps/2 or usb port, VGA port, power jack, and
perhaps a JTAG header concealed within.  This device is a regular RS232
serial terminal.  Plug in a monitor, keyboard, and something talking rs232
and you're ready to go.  Inside there would be a microprocessor, some ram,
some flash, and an FPGA to take care of glue logic and talking to the VGA
port.  The FPGA would be loaded with the digital schematics of a
particular terminal and its firmware, for instance, a Wyse 85 or 99GT (my
favorites).  That would get you most of the usual emulations.

How hard would it be to create something like this?  How much would it
cost?

---------------------------
Take an old Laptop, remove the screen and you're in business. Probably
wouldn't cost anything, especially if the screen's broken; boot & run
from floppy or USB if the HD's bad.

You've even got a built-in keyboard for those times you can't find the main one. 
(and, if it's still got a parallel port, a parallel ASCII keyboard if you need one),

And you could probably listen to your favourite CD while you're working...

A little bigger than two jewel cases but a cinch to upgrade...

Not to mention one less land-fill item...

m