Pocket 386

[djsb]

Is there a better alternative to the Pocket 386 out there that uses an industrial 486 based SOC system? The Pocket 386 seems OK
but has its limitations. Here is a thread on the Vogons forum

https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=99751

I'm tempted, but I'm waiting for further developments and improvements to be made. I'm thinking one of these would be useful for learning basic x86 assembly language and parallel port programming as well as ISA and GPIO interfacing.

What are your thoughts?

[ataradov]

For learning 86Box is way better. File transfer between old hardware is not well suited for fast iterations.

The only 486-based somewhat complete project I'm aware of is a weeCee. But I don't know if they are still available.

There are 486-based industrial PCs on Aliexpress, but the prices are not even close to reasonable.

[Postal2]

.... What are your thoughts?

I recommend an Atom-based netbook (very cheap). You need to open it, remove the Wi-Fi and insert an adapter for the PCI bus. The ISA bus is useless, because there are software-compatible adapters for PCI. LPT is also available in a standard way, but in the PCI address space. If you need a standard 378 port, then you can take a mini-itx on Atom 230.
If you absolutely need ISA, then you need to get any cheap (or free) motherboard with such a connector.

Mini-itx links:
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-GC230D-rev-10
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/42490/intel-desktop-board-d945gclf/specifications.html

For Intel GCLF, you will need to select a BIOS for correct operation of Windows 98, and the BIOS is not the latest or the first, but somewhere in the middle.

[djsb]

Just bought a Pocket 386 with Windows 95 from the Tindie store. This review of it using the PicoGUS soundcard is what convinced me



I may post a review later on. Thanks.

[Postal2]

Just bought a Pocket 386 with Windows 95 from the Tindie store. This review of it using the PicoGUS soundcard is what convinced me ....

Win 95 is hard for 386. You can use Audigi at PCI-slot, you probably haven't seen or heard how it works.