Re: Question....

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article sheldon@atlcom.net (Sheldon Simms) writes...

>In article <22AUG199719304104@vax2.concordia.ca>, spec@vax2.concordia.ca
>(Mitchell Spector) wrote:
>
>> In article p.krass@genie.com (Paul Krass) writes...
>>
>> [referring to the Second Sight]
>>
>> >  Image display quality is JUST LIKE on a PC or Mac.
>>
>>     Well to be more accurate here, the quality will be just like a PC
>> video card with an Oak chipset, as that is what is used by the Second
>> Sight (the Oak 087). FYI, the Oak is lowest rated VGA chip around, it
>> is rock bottom in terms of quality (and price, the reason Sequential
>> Systems choice it. A petty move on their part if you ask me).
>
>I'm afraid I don't have much experience with SVGA cards, but the
>second sight image compares favorably with the built in video of
>my Mac.
>
>Of course, it's not trying to compete against PC SVGA cards, it's
>only competition is the IIgs built in video,

    If you look at it that way your right, as even the lowest quality
VGA (or even MCGA) video card is superior to the built-in video of the
Apple IIgs. So certainly the Second Sight is superior to what you'd
be currently using, and does succeed when competing against the stock 
IIgs.

    However, then why does it cost US$150? That is the same level of
pricing where high-end PC video cards start at. If your going to pay
such a high price, I would expect _top_ quality, not just "it beats"
the 10 year old graphics modes in the IIgs. For what it is capable
of, not too mention costs to manufacture, the Second Sight should be
selling for about US$50 at most (and that is being generous!).

>As has been said, the only programs that take advantage of the SVGA
>modes are image viewers and, in my opinion, that's no reason to buy
>a Second Sight card, unless you really, *really*, REALLY, want to
>look at pictures, and you don't have any other computer.

    That is not even a reason. For the same cost as a Second Sight,
you could purchase a used 386 or 486 with monitor and video card
and use it solely for that purpose. Viewing JPEG, BMP, TIFF, etc
with the advantage that they'd convert in a fraction of the time,
and with the ability to manipulate the image afterwards too.

    The _only_ reason to purchase one is if you "really, *really*,
REALLY" want to connect a modern display up to your IIgs, or want
a larger bolder text font in 8-bit programs like ProTERM and
AppleWorks Classic (since it replaces Apple II text modes with
the IBM PC text modes in the video chip which some may prefer).

>Also, the second sight runs hot and if I put the cover on my IIgs,
>the second sight overheats and crashes the system within 30 minutes.
>That's why my second sight card spends most of it's time in its
>static bag on the shelf.

    Need I say more...? ;)

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca