Subject: Re: Apple 2 Custom hardware Path: lobby!newstf02.news.aol.com!portc01.blue.aol.com!portc03.blue.aol.com!newsfeed.cwix.com!cyclone.southeast.rr.com!typhoon.southeast.rr.com.POSTED!not-for-mail From: "**** ****" <***@***.com> Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2.programmer References: <8ko09q$ger$1@vax.area.com> <8kql0h$rrf$1@vax.area.com> <8kt1lv$aqa$1@nnrp1.deja.com> Lines: 80 X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 4.72.3612.1700 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3612.1700 Message-ID: <%Ipc5.2238$MS4.152843@typhoon.southeast.rr.com> Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 21:23:07 GMT NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.30.242.20 X-Complaints-To: abuse@mediaone.net X-Trace: typhoon.southeast.rr.com 963782587 24.30.242.20 (Sun, 16 Jul 2000 17:23:07 EDT) NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 16 Jul 2000 17:23:07 EDT Organization: RoadRunner - Richmond I think my point is this. An ethernet card is 1 software driver, 1 stack. I may even be able to write that second part, still not sure. What's more, it could even be somewhat useful. A usb card is 1 driver. Every new device is a new driver. Every new device that would be useful has a non-usb counterpart. A usb keyboard? Mice? I don't see the point. Your new web cam for the GS, or god forbid, the 2+ ? Ethernet has been around so long, manufactured in such volume, that the chips are ... #1 Mature technology #2 Seriously reduced in size, from many chips to a single SMALL chip #3 Very cheap. Original cards may have cost $300+, but the CS8900 chip is $12. #4 Well understood by even simple guys like me. Ethernet is 1970's tech, usb is 90's. I can see what's going on in a 6502, but don't have a clue in the MIPS R10000 On the other hand, there are reasons why I don't want to do usb #1 Can't think of a use #2 It's more difficult #3 It's more expensive #4 There are less people wanting to help #5 I have no usb devices to test with it #6 It's a PCI type thingy... ever wonder why there are no Nubus or ISA usb addon cards? They're too slow for it... and while ethernet/TCP has mechanisms to manage a node's lack of speed, USB... #7 I feel insulted how you worded your posts, Matt. I know my limitations, do you? #8 I only have so much time. #9 With ethernet, I can think of ways to help me find a job. I think i can make it look impressive that I helped design a NIC(Even if I do borrow heavily from someone else's). But not with USB. #10 I hate it that fools and morons are using USB for A) Networking B) Storage devices C) Digital video, none of which it was intended for. In protest, I can not bring myself to encourage this ill-fated standard #11 Microsoft would soon force me into selling the technology to them, finally forcing their way into the Apple2 industry, that last safe refuge from windows stooges. #12 I already have plans to build a S-100 USB card for the Altair. This would be too much overlap #13 USB for the a2 seems obscene, even blasphemous #14 While the market for a2 USB cards is ripe for exploitation, I do these things for the love of learning and experimentation, not wealth and power. #15 I'm under a NDA #16 Apple///'s come with built in USB, See how well they did? #17 I'm currently investigating superior techniques to solve the problems you stated, and they may take the path of a Firewire card and/or a FibreChannel card for the a2. #18 I'm suspicious that the theoretical "usb drivers" would conflict with my a2 raid controller's drivers. To Be Continued..... bobryan9@my-deja.com wrote in message <8kt1lv$aqa$1@nnrp1.deja.com>... >In article <8kql0h$rrf$1@vax.area.com>, > mattack@vax.area.com (Matt Ackeret) wrote: >> In article , >> **** **** <***@***.com> wrote: > >> Why is USB way out of your league if Ethernet isn't? Both have off >the >> shelf chips that do the majority of the work. >> > >If a USB board was made (It wouldn't be too difficult or expensive), >what would you do with it? A driver would be required for any hardware >you connect to it, and there are very few Apple2 programmers left. > >USB and ethernet are high speed data transfer techniques. According to >posts that I've read, an accelerator is required to run a modem faster >than 56k.. > > >Bob > > >Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ >Before you buy.