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The maker of the LT6502 has completed a second version of the 6502-based laptop, called the LT6502b. The redesign is half as thick as the original, with a larger 1024×600 IPS screen and a 10MHz CPU; its creator also published code and PCB files on Codeberg.
The maker of the LT6502, a laptop built around a 6502 CPU, says the second version, the LT6502b, is complete. The revised machine is half as thick as the original and has a 10.1-inch, 1024×600 IPS display, replacing the first model’s 9-inch, 800×480 screen.
In a report on the project website, the maker says the new model runs at 10MHz, up from 8MHz in the first version. It has a similar battery capacity, which the creator expects to provide about the same battery life. The LT6502b also includes a SID emulator and a Wi-Fi modem, but omits the expansion slot found on the earlier design.
The revised display uses IPS rather than the original’s regular LCD, which the maker says improves contrast as well as resolution. The new case is translucent orange. The creator describes the redesign as an effort to make the laptop sleeker, while noting that the higher-resolution display fits more text on screen.
The project’s code and PCB files are available on Codeberg, according to the report. The creator also lists unfinished design issues, including weak mounting points for heat-set inserts, a slow and unreliable modem, and a speaker described as underpowered. These are the maker’s observations, not independent test results.
A Compact Computer With a Larger Screen
The LT6502b is a small, independent hardware project built around the 6502 processor family, a platform associated with early personal computers and home computers. Rather than presenting the redesign as a faster general-purpose laptop, its maker emphasizes a thinner build, improved display specifications and a set of built-in features for the project’s intended use.
Publishing the design files gives other hobbyists and developers material to inspect or adapt. That does not establish that the machine is being sold commercially, or that it is ready for broad use: the creator’s own list of shortcomings points to areas still needing work, especially wireless connectivity, sound, power and storage compatibility.
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How the LT6502b Differs From Its Predecessor
The LT6502b is a revision of the creator’s earlier LT6502, not a newly announced commercial laptop line. The maker’s comparison describes changes to the case, display and operating speed, alongside the removal of the expansion slot. The stated specifications are 10.1 inches and 1024×600 for the new display, compared with 9 inches and 800×480 on the original.
The report also outlines possible future changes rather than confirmed features. The creator is considering an 18650-cell battery arrangement, USB Power Delivery support that can produce a 5V supply, faster operation through changes to ROM handling, and support for reading FAT16 storage on the CompactFlash card. Those items remain ideas or goals in the report, not features confirmed for the completed LT6502b.
“The aim was to make it more “sleek”.”
— The LT6502 creator, in the project report
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Open Questions About Use and Availability
The report does not give a price, production plan, sales date or estimate of how many LT6502b units may be built. It also does not provide independent benchmarks, battery testing, or detailed compatibility information. The claim that battery life should remain similar is the creator’s expectation based on comparable battery capacity, not a measured result supplied in the report.
It is also unclear whether the listed design weaknesses will be addressed in another revision. The creator says the heat-insert holes and supports need to be larger and stronger, and describes the Wi-Fi modem as slow and unreliable. No timeline is given for replacing those parts or implementing the proposed power, sound and file-system changes.
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Potential Changes in a Future Revision
The maker has not announced a schedule for another version. The next steps described in the report are prospective: improving the case supports and speaker, choosing a better modem, and exploring changes to battery and USB Power Delivery design. Faster startup or operation and FAT16 support are also identified as goals.
For now, readers can inspect the Codeberg project files and the creator’s report for the available design information. Whether the LT6502b will be revised, manufactured for wider distribution or adopted by other developers is not specified.
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Key Questions
What is the LT6502b?
It is the second version of a laptop based on a 6502 CPU, developed as a hardware project by the creator of the original LT6502.
What changed from the first LT6502?
The maker says the LT6502b is half as thick, runs at 10MHz rather than 8MHz, and has a 10.1-inch 1024×600 IPS screen instead of a 9-inch 800×480 display. It also drops the expansion slot.
Does the LT6502b have Wi-Fi and sound?
The reported design includes a Wi-Fi modem and a SID emulator. The creator says the modem is slow and unreliable and considers the speaker underpowered, so those features have stated limitations.
Can people get the design files?
The creator says the project’s code and PCB files are available on Codeberg. The report does not announce a commercial release or provide a price.
Is another version planned?
No release schedule for another revision is given. The maker lists possible improvements, including a different battery arrangement, better modem and sound hardware, and FAT16 support, but does not say when or whether they will be implemented.
Source: hn
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