Re: USB input devices-- Second Sight

[CUTjefbla@bconnex.net (Jeff Blakeney)]

On 09 Feb 1999 21:53:26 PST, Mike Kent <Mkent01@mariner.cris.com>
wrote:

>Well, I just wanted you to know that while I was strongly disagreeing with
>something you said, I wasn't flaming you.

It would take a lot more than simply disagreeing with me to think that
you were "flaming" me.  I'm not one of those quick tempered usenet
readers.  :-)

>I'm sorry, but I won't buy this argument.  They're two different cards
>designed at two different times for two different machines with two very
>differenct production volumes.  Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if the cards
>Sequential is selling today were actually made 2-3 years ago.

That may be true but they have two choices.  They can leave the cards
at the same price and they may never sell them all and end up losing
all the money from the unsold ones, or they can bite the bullet and
lower the price so that they can sell them all and end up losing less
money because they didn't throw any cards into a landfill.

[stuff about price of components snipped]
>OK.  I'll buy an argument along these lines.  But unfortunately, I have no
>personal knowledge to judge one way or the other.

Actually, I was talking with Tony Diaz in chat on Delphi on Monday
about this and a few years ago he priced out the components on the SS
card and it would seem my wanting to see the card come down to less
that $100 probably wasn't doable back then.  I'm not exactly sure what
the price difference would be today but I would imagine that it would
mean that $100 would be around the minimum they could charge for the
card.  But heck, $100-$120 is still better than $160.  :-)

>I'm not familiar with the ROM problems.  Is this something that I, as a
>potential Second Sight owner, should know about?

Not that I can recall.  Basically there used to be problems uploading
code to the SS card's RAM to get the onboard processor to do things
like moving memory around, animating sections of the screen or
changing the text font.  From what I remember the ROM problems were
more of a problem to developers and don't affect the end user much
with the possible exeception of DHR shadowing.  DHR shadowing doesn't
work with the SS at present and that MAY be due to ROM problems, I'm
not entirely sure.

>It will also let you view high-color and high-resolution gifs and jpegs,
>which is important, IMO.  The GS desktop is not that bad for spreadsheets
>and most games, but it really blows when it comes to viewing true-color
>hi-res pictures.  SS has corrected the most serious deficiency first.

I can't really remember the last time I just looked at graphics.  When
I use my IIgs, I tend to do productive things with it like
programming, telecommunicating, downloading/uploading files, proofing
A2U lessons, beta-testing software, manage my huge collection of
archives, some writing and page layout stuff, update my databases and
more.  I also do some unproductive stuff like playing games (which I
do too much of :-) and sometimes listen to music files.

I've never really had much urge to look through image files unless I'm
looking for clipart to add to a document I might be working on.  In
this case, I have to stick with Apple II format images so that I can
load them into my document.

Granted, if I had a SS card, I'd probably view high resolution/colour
images just for the heck of it from time to time.  :-)

>Have you called Sequential and offered to help with the ROMs?  That
>question may sound like a cut.  It's not.  I'm perfectly serious.
>If you have the knowledge to expand SS's capability, I'd sing praises to
>your name if you stepped forward and got something done.  Really.

No, but I am subscribed to the Second Sight Developer's Mailing List
which Sequential was told about repeatedly and they never took part
in.  Actually, Jawaid Bazyar was on the list at first but after he
stopped working for Sequential, Sequential had no presence on the list
and the issues that were being raised by the developers were not
getting addressed.

>(I started in the Apple II world when I was in junior high, and the
>prospect of calling a company and helping with a commercial product was
>just starry-eyed fantasy.  But here I sit at age 30 with an engineering
>degree, and that scenario is not all that farfectched.

I started using Apple IIs when I had my parents buy me one when I was
in grade 11.  I had already been programming Commodore PETs and CBM
8032s as well as the TRS-80 Model I and TRS-80 Colour Computer for two
years at this point.  I almost tried to get a co-op work term in
college with Apple Canada but they didn't really have any position to
satisfy my Electronics Technology course requirements.

Now I'm 31 and finally getting some software written and taking an
active role in the Apple II community like I've been wanting to for
the past 16 years.

>Unfortunately, I don't know beans about writing commercial-quality
>software.

Well, neither did I but I'm getting close to finishing my first one.
:-)

>I've since read up on the Facelift project -- way cool!!  and Bitchin'
>too!  My only question:  How do we get this project finished?

>I'd love too!  Unfortunately, my only talent with software seems to be in
>finding obscure bugs.  But, if this project is resurrected, I'd be willing
>to but a Second Sight card specifically to beta-test Facelift.  I'm sorry
>it's not more, but that's where my talents lie.

Sometimes, having beta testers available is more important than having
programmers available.  :-)

I'm pretty sure the project isn't "dead" yet, it is just sort of in
limbo.  No need to resurrect the living.  :-)

As to how to get it finished, we'll just have to talk to Michael and
find out what needs to be done and what he would like others to do for
him and such.  I've been swamped with stuff lately so I haven't had
much time to look into yet more projects at this point.  My first
priority, Apple II wise, is to finish my e-mail client.

=== To ensure I see a reply please also e-mail me but remember to:
    CUT the obvious from my e-mail address to e-mail me
    Jeff Blakeney - Dean of the Apple II University on Delphi
*** HyperCard IIgs course now in session in the A2Pro forum on Delphi