Date: Wed, 6 Aug 1997 12:27:58 +0930 (CST) From: Michael Smith <msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au> To: freebsd@atipa.com (Atipa) Cc: msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au, hackers@FreeBSD.ORG, freebsd-current@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Status of USB, TX chipset, PIIX3, etc. Message-ID: <199708060257.MAA02729@genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au> In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.91.970805200503.14539A-100000@dot.ishiboo.com> from Atipa at "Aug 5, 97 08:18:58 pm"
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
Atipa stands accused of saying: > > > Universal Serial Bus (USB) > > > http://www.usb.org (503)264-0590 > > > Modular, _Powered_ I/O w/ neato hubs > > > 12Mbit/sec, up to 127 devices > > > > There are several developers working on this. IMHO USB is an abomination > > with "Job Security" written on almost every page of the spec. 8( > > Ha. I see no NEED for USB; only added convenience. It would be easier to > deal with than a cyclades! If a good API were present, it would be a nice > "geek-port" type of interface. It's a hideous "geek port" interface. It has a complex, demanding protocol that, if implemented entirely in software would be well beyond the ability of the average "geek" programmer to get right. > This type of interface, if well supported, would make computers EASIER. I > know that is not the main concern of people in this group (who are oviously > technically adept), but it is still a noble goal. One that is especially > appreciated by those of us in the support industry! :) On the contrary, I would be overjoyed to see USB succeed. However, it adds components to the desktop cable mess, and these components currently cost real money. When I can buy a USB hub/controller interface chip in small volumes for under AUD$50 each, I'll say that USB has hit the "geek" market. In 10k volumes, an integrated USB target/micro device would have to be under the AUD$1 mark before it is cost effective. Try getting that sort of quantity pricing on the Z8 or PIC micros commonly used in serial mice these days... > > > DVD CD-ROMs and hardware decoders > > How are they different from "normal" CD-ROMs? > > They require hadware decoders. The cinema and audio industries freaked > out when they saw the potential for digital duplicates. DVD is encrypted > on the media and passed through a decoder. I am certainly no expert, but > it does require additional hardware support, above and beyond the host > interface. Hmm. No documentation or hardware generally available? > Kevin -- ]] Mike Smith, Software Engineer msmith@gsoft.com.au [[ ]] Genesis Software genesis@gsoft.com.au [[ ]] High-speed data acquisition and (GSM mobile) 0411-222-496 [[ ]] realtime instrument control. (ph) +61-8-8267-3493 [[ ]] Unix hardware collector. "Where are your PEZ?" The Tick [[
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?199708060257.MAA02729>