gnupic: Re: [gnupic] Potential PIC project ?
Subject:
Re: [gnupic] Potential PIC project ?
From:
Peter ####@####.####
Date:
2 Jan 2006 08:54:43 +0000
Message-Id: <vpn.m.amkc@ecl.reaaa.ij.jyyji>
On Mon, 2 Jan 2006 ####@####.#### wrote:
> The 'demographics' is fascinating: how long will RS232/parports
> still be bulk-produced & why did USB take so long to stabilise.
Imho, parallel ports are selling IO bits, USB solutions are selling
silicon. The effort required to implement a client and host side USB
solution of a given problem X is completely disproportionate wrt. the
equivalent bit-banged or registered access solution using a parallel
port or equivalent (like f.ex. universal PCI IO chip ports - f.ex. from
PLXtech). Also the speed is not comparable. The only good part is the
hot pluggability. Which can be achieved with Ethernet at the same price
as USB now, but without the driver pain.
As an example, most bandwidth-conscious uses of USB, like DSL modems,
did have USB/Ethernet options for a long time and are now clearly moving
towards Ethernet only.
Point in cheek, on topic for this list:
http://picnic.sourceforge.net/
Now with the new Microchip NIC 28j60 chip that will be even easier
(budgetary price = $3.81 currently).
So USB is good because there is 'consumer demand' for it.
$0.02,
Peter
