Re: AWGS, AW Classic, PCL, text, serial, parallel (Re: parallel card)

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Joe Kohn <joko@crl4.crl.com> wrote:

>Supertimer <supertimer@aol.com> wrote:
>
> >Parallel is STILL faster than serial, but what is 4x faster
> >than a 1 second serial zap?  1/4 sec?
> >
> >Do humans normally notice 1 sec vs. 1/4 sec difference?
>
>Now we're getting into the realm of human perception. Whether humans can
>detect the differences are irrelevant, as I'm concerned with objective facts
>here regarding data transfer rates.

I just want to make it clear why Bev says that parallel or
serial does not make a difference in AW Classic.  It
is because there is so little data zapped across in a text
page.

Joe, you have a shell account, right?  You use a 14.4k
modem, right?  How long does it take for 66 lines of
80 column text (an AW Classic page) to get zapped
across from your shell account to your IIGS?  About a
second, right?  The modem is serial, right?

That's why for AW Classic, it really does not make a
difference serial or parallel.

Now I do understand what you are saying about speed
difference between serial and parallel in AWGS with
Harmonie.  That's like taking your 14.4k modem to a
PC and running Netscape to look at a full screen
bitmap graphic.  THAT's going to be slow and a
parallel modem would be very nice indeed.  ;-)

So for AW Classic users, a parallel card is really not
needed.  For users of IIGS programs like AWGS, a
parallel card helps a lot in speed.  It does make a big
difference.  Although not absolutely needed for all
printers, it is a nice card to have.

>So, we're all in agreement. A parallel connection is 4 times faster than a
>serial connection. No need to beat a dead horse...

Agreed.  Let's let the horse rest in peace.