Considering that the all in one chip will be realized, for what purpose would it be used then?
I'm not talking about games but industrial / consumer usage.
What kinda software will be needed to 'compete' with current technology?
And, are there enough professional programmers to create that software?

Anyone ever thought of this issue?
I'm not talking about MSX is dead or something like , but I'm just curious how serious people thought of it and what will be needed and what can be realized.

-Q

Hm, nothing really... It's a niche market for people striken by nostalgia. Like Atari ST, Amiga, Acorn Archimedes and so on.

Yes, you have selected the right word: the MSX in-one-chip will be REALIZED, but I doubt that it would be RELEASED. For non-MSXers it would be a piece of crap. Look at any modern mobile phone: its hardware is much more powerful than a full-featured Turbo-R.

And of course that I want a compact new MSX system, but do not dream about a commercial success. And if so, then it won't be an MSX, just a totally different thing with the same name.

The problem is that between the last MSX released (turboR, 1990) and a hypothetical new one have passed almost 15 years so a new MSX machine would be, definitely, very different from what we know.

And in the middle nineties took place a true technological revolution that makes the step even higher; I remember myself loading games from tape in my MSX1 in 1992 and only 3 years later (1995) I was accessing the universe of information that is the Internet.

There's is one thing not totelly different about the quite high-specced one chip MSX ideas: Standadization and open documentation. For the kazillionth time in history: the one chip MSX will be a lot more than just a 'very small turboR'.

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What kinda software will be needed to 'compete' with current technology?

I dunnot think that MSX can 'compete' with current technology imho. I can only say that it's nice for not giving up on the system, cauz there's a wide range of MSX users (or non MSX users) who might be interrested in a new msx system.

Though, technique has advanced in the last 10 years or so, so creating a new MSX would be (for MSX'ers) a whole new world.

From a developers point of view it would definitly need:
- a descent text editor (TED is good, but can be improved imho)
- a graphix editor
- a music programm
- a range of compilers (like assembler, C or a descent BASIC/Kun BASIC compiler)

From a users point of view:
- It might use a graphic user interface (but then to me that is obsolete, I like DOS!)
- And an internet browser for MSX whould be great
- A system like openoffice (on Linux) is nice.. But dunnot know if anyone want to programm that...

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And, are there enough professional programmers to create that software?

There are a lot of programmers on the open source front. Coders all over the world. In fact, if the new system is interesting enough you might aswell get programmers on other fronts to join a MSX project (why not?).

The only thing with programmers is: do they have the time! And that is a factor I cannot answer (programmers are humans after all )

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Anyone ever thought of this issue?

I just did

Indeed snout, some people just can't seem to to read and understand...

I agree on standardization, but isn't it a bit too late for that?
HTML, ASP, PHP, .NET, Symbian, JAVA etc. Well documented software but where can you find in-depth information on how to program your hardware directly for maximum performance.
Due to competition in the hardware market there is a lot of hardware available that all need some sort of driver. The only differ I can find with MSX and PC related hardware is that I (as a user) don't need to install a driver for the hardware to work with it.
But who decides in the MSX world the standard for new hardware?
Or are we considering the new MSX more as a new standard for an operating system that will run on all hardware and that producers need to create their own drivers to interface with the operating system (without crashing)?

Personal Point of view:
Don't get me wrong, personally I would like to see a new machine but I'm not so sure if a new machine will be able to stand up to Windows, Lin-whatsoever and MAC based machines. Usability, software and Marketing are the key words for users to switch...
Looking at my mobile phone (Sony P800) software packages as Easy (Ease?) and Home office contain almost the same functionality compared with the software included on my phone.

-Q

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But who decides in the MSX world the standard for new hardware?

MSX Association does, just like ASCII has done in the ~20 years before.

What / when was their latets publication?

(just curious here)

-Q

Latest official MSX standard was the MSX turboR in 1991. Then, in 2001 Nishi (the original creator of the MSX standard) apologized for leaving MSX for 10 years and presented his views for a new MSX, in the spirit of the original.
Since then, Nishi has left ASCII (which did not care for relaunching MSX and focusses on publishing now) and started MSX Association to make the new MSX dream reality.
ASCII still publishes the MSX Magazine, of which permanent preservation editions have been released in 2002 and 2003, and a 2004 issue is being worked on.

On the MSX hardware front, there's the MSX Robo Education product, which is used to teach computer science to children in japanese schools and officially supported by the japanese government.

And ofcourse there's MSX PLAYer, the official MSX emulator, which together with the MSXPC raise public awareness of MSX, and pave the way towards the new MSX.

Maybe a new MSX is needed but only for the people who love this standard like we do. The new MSX should be not very different from the ones we know. If not, MSX-lovers will not like it at all. The new MSX has to keep the esence of an original MSX.
I don´t think it will be a great commercial success. Not much people will treat it like it deserves, they will look at it as a crap.
In my opinion is good to release new hardware for MSX but please, don´t try to do what is already done. MSX forever!

Don't get me wrong, that was only awareness in Japan and only the MSX scene outside of Japan is aware of all this. But this is a complete other discussion topic.
Would be fun though, having that robot product here on schools. (just close your eyes and imagine you as teacher walking into the class with your MSX )
~ I'm off to bed ~

-Q

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There are a lot of programmers on the open source front. Coders all over the world. In fact, if the new system is interesting enough you might aswell get programmers on other fronts to join a MSX project (why not?).

Yada-yada-yada, wishful thinking

http://www.playstation2-linux.com/

Tight silent Linux system with MIPS RISC CPU (Emotion Engine), 32MB RDRAM, 40GB HDD, 2xUSB, native VGA out up to 1280x1024, 10/100MBit/S ethernet... And guess what? There is some comunity, probably 10 times bigger then MSX community. But it's nowhere near to be anything mainstream.

Just one last minute question: it goes to Sunrise boys: how many MoonSound cards have been sold to Japan? I guess that not many. Would they consider to include it in the hipothetic new MSX standard?