Re: New hardware ... new video card idea

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

**** **** writes ...
> 
> Dain,
>     Please allow me to try again. I know how it is to NOT be an electrical
> engineer, or any of the other skills/occupations/talents that might make the
> idea of making your own hardware plausible. I'm going to try and not let
> that stop me, but if it stops someone else, I certainly understand. I don't
> even think any less of them. But there are a few things even you could do,
> just the same.

     EE training can't hurt; but, there is no substitute for experience in
designing and building circuit boards for a particular machine. If you or
friends involved in the Ethernet card project have this background, you are way
ahead of most engineers.

 ....

> 
> PS What do you think of a VGA card for the gs? Complete with hdb15 jack,
> like is used on pc monitors?

     The traditional snag in new IIgs video card designs has been what to do
about current display modes, especially super-res. Since the interface signals
you would like to have are not conveniently available, you end up with either a
complex, costly design or having to tell users to keep their standard GS
monitor attached.

     It's very difficult sell users on the idea of plugging in a new SVGA card
and SVGA monitor when all of their current software is going to use the old
monitor. Meanwhile, hardly anyone is going to put much time into writing
applications using the new display if only a few of the cards are in use.

     A fairly inexpensive workaround may be available via the VBOX (or
equivalent circuit) first mentioned here by John J about a month ago. VBOX
converts composite video for display on a VGA monitor.

     A new IIgs card could include switching circuitry which would send either
VBOX video or New IIgs Card video to the SVGA monitor. Everything would be
displayed on the new monitor.

     Most likely, there would be no problem with any of the older display
formats-- in fact, the displays would probably look better; and, based upon
viewing tests on a composite color monitor, 320-mode super-res would almost
certainly be at least adequate.

     The big question is how would 640-mode super-res turn out? If it's good
enough to satisfy users, the problem of dealing with current display formats in
new IIgs video card designs is pretty much eliminated.



Rubywand