Re: Computing Editorial (please read)

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

Michael Joosten replied:

>Lee Hart wrote:
>> 
>
>> Michael Joosten wrote:
<snip>
>> 
>> > Well, a PC has become a commodity device - so it does not really count
>> > in this calculation.
>> 
>> Only among certain classes of people. What percentage of homes do you
>> think have PCs? Even in the USA, it is less than 1/4. And normal "old
>> fashioned" serial and parallel ports are gradually being eliminated from
>> new PCs.
>
>Unfortunately. This USB-only/'legacy free' stuff does not only worry us,
>it's even a nice discussion topic for Itanium server users in the
>computing centers ("serial console? What, you do not have a serial
>console in your shining new Itanium server? ^&%*&")
>> 

Of course, fine, perfectly usable DOS-supporting machines are available
in second-hand or "thrift" stores for $5.00US or less, and with serial and
parallel ports.

For any interested hobbyist, these things are readily available.  For a
green beginner, who doesn't know how interested he may become, a
knowlegeable "guide" is indispensible.

>> 
>> I'm sure they used to exist for the 805x series. But, I fear they are
>> all gone now.
>
>Some ten thousand years ago you were supposed to make your own knives
>from flint stone - some thouaand years later you had to buy/exchange
>them from a bronze or then iron smith or dealer, but still had to know
>how to sharpen them. Well, that's progress. Some general knowledge gets
>'mainly' lost in daily life and only kept by those who are interested in
>it - like us... There is only so much time in life...

Good point.

Even technically savvy people these days have little or no practical
knowledge of vacuum tubes and their vagaries, as the "cult" resurgence
of having a vacuum tube in the audio path (even uselessly) demonstrates.
(I know about the nonlinearities, but most vacuum tube audio "add-ons"
are simply low-level triode buffer amplifiers, which never get close to
saturation.  Like the vacuum tube-equipped PV motherboard!  ;-)

For all practical purposes, good riddance.  Even the noble CRT seems
destined for extinction...

-michael

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