»

[Motormouth]

Which is of these is the better product?

Chameleon 64
can run Minimig Core
Docking Port option
can act as a accelerated CPU

1541 Ultimate II
can load .d64 images as disks
can act as two disk drives
can work with 128 mode

Is this correct?


Which do people feel as the better product?

[Jope]

It's not an apples to apples comparison.

If you want the best possible 1541 emulator for your C-64, that reads files off a memory card, get the Ultimate II.

If you want a hardware C-64 emulator with VGA out and cpu accelerator capabilities, get the Chameleon.

[Drummerboy]

If you have a C=64/128 CPU, then much better the 1541U II. You know, you only will emulate the 1541/1571 Disk Drive, in fact you get more, becouse have many others features, and rember, you will run all the soft in the Real Machine.

But if you dont have the C=64/128, then, maybe better and practical the Chameleon 64.

[Darrin]

The Chameleon64 also runs D64 and T64 images, plus certain CRT images... and a lot more too.

However, like you said, it is a pure C64 cartridge and won't work with a C128.

I can't comment on the 1541 Ultimate as I've never owned one, but I did have a MMC Replay. Once I got the Chameleon64 I put my C128/MMC aside and now I just use a C64C/Chameleon combo.

Don't forget the Spectrum core. I have it loaded on my Chameleon along with the Minimig core, but I've never used a Spectrum and so I don't know what to do with it.

[yakumo9275]

I love my u1541-II! its fantastic. I just wish it could load my warpspeed2 c128 image when in my c128 other than that, fanstastic.

Ive heard good + bad from chameleon. its no good standalone because it has no joystick so you ned the docking station thing etc? Ive heard it has bugs in its fpga core but that can be fixed.

if your interested in chameleon I'd probably wait for fpga-arcard from mike instead...

[Motormouth]

Thanks for all the input. This actually adds significant clarity to the products.

I kinda wanted a a faster processor/REU/flash hard drive like unit for my commodore 128d. I would be cool to run wheels in 80 column mode.

But I like the faster emulated processor/VGA/miming capability of the chameleon. Ahhh if only the chameleon worked on the 128

[omnicron10]

I have both.

The U2 works better at drive emulation but the Chameleon offers a lot more functions and you can actually order it. It took 8 months for me to get the U2 and the Chameleon I got in less than 1 month.

I expect big improvements in the Chameleon in the new few updates. It already has been updated a lot since I got it and works a lot better than it did!

[psxphill]

Originally Posted by omnicron10

the Chameleon offers a lot more functions and you can actually order it. It took 8 months for me to get the U2 and the Chameleon I got in less than 1 month.

The 1541u2 has functionality that the chameleon doesn't, so it's not clear cut. Being able to use it on a c128 and either use a real or virtual datasette swung it for me.

If you want a real hardware retro experience then get a 1541u2, if you want more then I'd probably get an fpgaarcade.

[yakumo9275]

yep, I have it as an reu in my c128dcr. I've disabled my internal drive on the motherboard so I can use the drive on u1541ii as #8.

if you think you want all the goodies on the chameleon, I'd def get an fpgaarcade over chameleon.

[_ThEcRoW]

And here a crazy tought i have: Could be used a chameleon64 with a DTV?. I did the keyboard mod ages ago, but im lacking a disk drive, so a chameleon would be interesting from the disk image point of view.
Thanks in advance!!!

[XDelusion]

The thing about the Chameleon 64 that I dislike is the lack of Midi, therefore no Mssiah. :/

[Darrin]

Originally Posted by _ThEcRoW

And here a crazy tought i have: Could be used a chameleon64 with a DTV?. I did the keyboard mod ages ago, but im lacking a disk drive, so a chameleon would be interesting from the disk image point of view.
Thanks in advance!!!

There's no cartridge port on the DTV to plug the Chamelon in.

The expansion port has connectors for keyboards (as well as the Joystick ports).

Personally, I keep it plugged into a C64C as it makes life easier.

[omnicron10]

Originally Posted by XDelusion

The thing about the Chameleon 64 that I dislike is the lack of Midi, therefore no Mssiah. :/

It does support Prophet-64 crt images so with a User Port Midi you could almost have both.

If you like GEOS and have tried it on Chameleon 64 with the Turbo on, that is very nice right there.

The reason it does not work on the 128 is due to the difference between the 64 and the 128 cart ports. The 128 does not have the same "feature" they need to make it work the same way. I was tired numerous times by Jens and company.

The Chameleon does support a lot of features that the U2 does but they are not as mature. They are getting better all the time.

I really like the CDTV IR remote use. I find it very handy to use it.

The only difference in the above list the U2 can work on a 128. Try to buy on though. It will take several months of waiting. Look like June right now to fulfill orders from May and before.. You are looking for a 6 month wait if you order now if the ordering is open.

[XDelusion]

What is a user port midi? Midi for the chameleon?

Originally Posted by omnicron10

It does support Prophet-64 crt images so with a User Port Midi you could almost have both.

If you like GEOS and have tried it on Chameleon 64 with the Turbo on, that is very nice right there.

The reason it does not work on the 128 is due to the difference between the 64 and the 128 cart ports. The 128 does not have the same "feature" they need to make it work the same way. I was tired numerous times by Jens and company.

The Chameleon does support a lot of features that the U2 does but they are not as mature. They are getting better all the time.

I really like the CDTV IR remote use. I find it very handy to use it.

The only difference in the above list the U2 can work on a 128. Try to buy on though. It will take several months of waiting. Look like June right now to fulfill orders from May and before.. You are looking for a 6 month wait if you order now if the ordering is open.

[omnicron10]

No. It is a midi interface that uses the C64 User Port vs the Crt port.

See http://www.firestarter-music.de/prophet/ for some information.

Midi is basically a serial connection. On the MSSIAH they basically added the prophet-64 and the MIDI in one device. Very nice but also takes up the Cart port for all other uses.

With Chameleon, you can use Prophet 64 ROM Image, REU, 1351 Mouse Emulation, 2nd SID, Jiffy DOS in both the drive and the C64 (with only the rom images), a PS2 KB if you wish, VGA output, Extra Speed and use MIDI on the user port on a real C64. No other device will do that.