Re: Ethernet for the IIgs...

[nathan@cco.caltech.edu (Nathan Mates)]

In article <280903405wnr@klatch.demon.co.uk>,
John Le Febvre  <John@klatch.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>I have no idea how feasible it would be, but what about the possibility
>of designing a PCMCIA adaptor for the IIGS?  That way, any number of
>modern peripherals could be supported.

   This would likely face the same problem as what's been noted with
the SCSI<->Ethernet boxes and the like. The hardware exists. Getting
the software to interface with it is not. That's likely to be as bad
or worse with PCMCIA-- you can find the specs and build some
connector.  But, getting arbitrary device X to work is gonna be far
more of a problem, since you don't know how to talk to X.

   Proprietary designs are great if you're the people making them.
They're hell if you're not.

   [Also, in doing all of this kind of stuff, you need someone with
lots of spare time, access to high-end design equipment, the necessary
training, and the access to sample parts to make even a prototype.
Not many have such access, especially in the design department, unless
you're employed in such a line of work. Big companies take a dim idea
of people using their equipment to design stuff that they won't get a
penny of revenue off of.

   Solution? College kids. We've got access to tons of equipment,
spare time, and the brains to do it. Unfortunately, I think that most
of the remainder of the Apple II college crowd of the past few years
will be sucked into the real world in the next 1-2 months.
(And not coincidentally including me, by the way :)   I don't see
any new generation of GS hackers arising...]

Nathan Mates
-- 
<*> Nathan Mates http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~nathan/      <*>
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# Kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in 
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