Re: NTSC stops to exist on Apple //e?

["mdj" <mdj.mdj@gmail.com>]

Michael J. Mahon wrote:

> Actually, that's already happened in our area (Seattle).
>
> The first-order effect is that more CRT monitors stack up in garages,
> but the longer-term effect is clearly that less CRT monitors are bought
> and made.

Interesting. We haven't had to deal with it in Australia as yet, but it
is only a matter of time.

> > Personally, I'm much fonder of the idea of using a modern display as a
> > replacement, however that may be accomplished.
>
> NTSC-capable LCD (and other) displays are pretty common, but they all
> suffer from the need to represent analog video in pixels, which,
> unfortunately, few do well.

I'm yet to see one do a decent job of 80 column video or monochrome
DHR, the former being one of my main areas of concern.

> I say again that a thing is not suddenly scarce.  There will be plenty
> of indication that NTSC-scan CRT monitors will become truly hard to find
> before they *actually* become hard to find.
>
> The thing that usually *does* happen suddenly is that *your* CRT monitor
> stops working.  Therefore, it makes sense to acquire a spare or two
> while they are plentiful.

Indeed. Over the years I've only bothered to fix one monitor. I suppose
I could become better versed in CRT diagnostics, but really, I find
them too cumbersome to bother with (in all respects) if I can avoid it.

> All that being said, I don't put the design of a *good* Apple video to
> VGA adapter in the category of "imagined problems".  I think this is a
> very good project and am looking forward to some success stories soon.

Absolutely. I'd like to see a few different solutions pop up, from
plugs into composite output scan converters to taps auxiliary slot RGB
style cards.

> But I think that a complete redesign of the hardware (and software!) of
> the Apple II for a VGA display is *way* beyond reasonable.

Well, assuming all you want to achieve is VGA output :-)

I don't mind at all seeing hardware redesigned, as long as it remains
software compatible.

Matt