Re: USB input devices-- Second Sight

[CUTjefbla@bconnex.net (Jeff Blakeney)]

On 07 Feb 1999 22:22:15 PST, Mike Kent <Mkent01@viking.cris.com>
wrote:

>Sorry, Jeff.
>
>I've agreed with you in the past about a great many things, but I'm going
>to have to take issue with this.

Not a problem.  But I think you may have taken my statements a little
too strongly and/or missed where I said that I realized that small
production boards would cost more.

>If you want top-of-the-line performance out of your computer then go with
>the Pentium II.  The GS stopped being competitive with the Wintel line
>even on a price/performance ratio five years ago.  We all know that we can
>get multi-hundred MHz machines with 128 Meg of RAM and all the latest
>snazzy video cards from one of those.  That's not why we stick with the
>GS.

I don't need top of the line performance.  Up until two weeks ago, I
was using a 486DX4-100.  This Pentium II is a very recent addition to
my computer room.  :-)

However, the performance difference between a Second Sight card and an
ATI All-in-Wonder is astronomical.  Which is why I'm so disappointed
that they cost the same.

>While I'm not asking to be gouged, it only makes sense that specialty
>cards with very low production volumes will cost more than even more
>capable cards with production lots in the hundreds of thousands.

I realize that and did mention it in my comparison post but the price
difference here is astronomical.  The prices of the components can't
be all that much.  They are using an old SVGA chipset with limited
capabilities and an old processor.  They don't have a very large ROM
on the card.  The most expensive part would be either the RAM or the
etching of the printed circuit board.

Personally, I would say they are charging about twice what they should
be.  If a card with the same capabilities can be sold for the PC for
$20-$50 then they should be able to sell a card with those
capabilities to Apple II users for $50-$100 rather than the $160 they
are charging now.

Also, another thing to keep in mind is that I am Canadian and the
exchange rate kills me when I purchase stuff from the US.  That $160
US price suddenly becomes around $230.  Then you have to add shipping
and I usually end up with some kind of brokerage fee as well so I'm
looking at around $300 for one of those cards.

>Look, I really wish the Second Sight card did more.  I wish it were better
>supported by GS/OS.  And I even wish it were much less expensive.  But
>until someone comes around with a better alternative, I'm not willing to
>pile on the one outfit still willing to take the risk of producing new
>hardware cards for my machine.

I'm not dumping on Sequential so much but more on their pricing
policy.  I'm all for the company itself because they do still support
Apple II users which is fantastic.

I also know that if they had put more effort into helping the
developers fix the problems in the ROM and such that the Second Sight
would be capable of Double High Res graphics and FaceLift would
already be finished.  This would also mean that I would either already
have one, regardless of the price, or would be saving my pennies to
get one.  As it is now, all it will let me do is use a SVGA monitor
with my IIgs and for that, I'm not willing to pay the price they are
asking.  Now the $50-$100 range, I'd be more willing to pay to get one
and maybe do some development work of my own with it.

But that sounds like I'm dumping on the company again doesn't it?  Oh
well, I don't mean to bad mouth them so maybe I should just keep
quiet.  :-)

>I'm not familiar with the Facelift project.  Would anyone care to
>enlighten me?

FaceLift is a project that was started to create an interface between
software and video hardware.  This would enable supporting more than
just the Second Sight card.  With FaceLift, you could write drivers
for any video hardware you might get working with your IIgs.  I think
he may have had support for multiple displays as well.

Anyways, FaceLift, when it is finished, would ship with a driver for
the video hardware built into the IIgs.  Drivers could then be written
for use with the Second Sight card and any other card that might come
into existence.  You could even write a driver for the Video Overlay
Card so that it would use its 640x400 interlaced video mode if you
wanted to.

Pretty cool project but it has been stalled for a little while.  I'm
sure it could pick up again if people were seriously interested in
helping.

=== 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