📰 New article from RetroRGB
PicoIDE – A New Open Source IDE/ATAPI Drive Emulator For Vintage Computers
https://retrorgb.com/picoide-a-new-open-source-ide-atapi-drive-emulator-for-vintage-computers.html
PicoIDE: The Retro Computing Enthusiast’s Dream Tool Just Got Real
Forget swapping physical CDs or hunting down vintage IDE drives—PicoIDE is here to bring your retro rig (think 90s PCs, Macs, even arcade systems) into the modern age—without losing that authentic vibe. Created by Ian “polpo” Scott—the mastermind behind the beloved PicoGUS sound emulator—this little gadget is a full-featured, open-source IDE/ATAPI drive emulator powered by the RP2350 chip (yes, Raspberry Pi’s new star).
What makes it special?
- It reads disk and CD images from an SD card, supports formats like `.iso`, `.bin/.cue`, `.img`, and more
- Redbook audio support—yes, actual CD-quality sound for old-school games and demos
- The Deluxe version adds a slick OLED front panel, Wi-Fi, RGB LED, and even a DOS utility for on-the-fly image switching
You can’t juggle two drives yet—but a future firmware update will unlock dual-device support. For now? You’re getting one ultra-flexible, period-perfect drive emulator that fits neatly into a 3.5” bay or dangles externally.
Base model: $69 | Deluxe with all the bells: $110
Retro computing just got a serious upgrade—no soldering required. 🎮💾