Re: Computing Editorial (please read)

[Michael Joosten <joost@c-lab.de>]

Kelly Hall wrote:
> 
> "Lee Hart" <leeahart@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> 3E3C4945.3DDF@earthlink.net">news:3E3C4945.3DDF@earthlink.net...
> > The Parallax BASIC Stamp development kit is $150, and then you still
> > need a PC to use it. But you can pick up an Apple II for next to
> > nothing. Is there anything the BASIC stamp can do that the Apple II
> > can't?
> 
> Fit into an Altoids box, run off a 9V battery, and be actively supported by
> the manufacturer?
> 

An Apple is mainly a 'personal computer', for some (obsolete)
programming, games etc, and then perhaps something to control other
devices. 

A BASIC Stamp is just a bare-bones microcontroller, with some I/O ports. 
If you ant to control stuff, and particulary mobile stuff, you rather
take a BASIC Stamp than a full AppleII (... next to nothing? Only if you
see them next to a dumpster - and then, people might have discovered
EBay, THE recycling device of the decade...)

> If people are using Z80s in new designs, they must not mind the additional
> power and board space required for the ram and rom.  With the flash-based
> CPUs available from almost everyone, old parts like the Z80 are not getting
> a lot of new design-ins.  But I can't imagine it will ever EOL, either.  Or
> are you lumping the Z18x and eZ80 and Rabbit all under the 'Z80' umbrella?
> 

Formerly, many magazines publishes single card computers for small
controlling purposes, consisting of a CPU, RAM, ROM and PIO (Z80, PIO,
2716+, 6116 or 6502, 6522, etc). When MCU became more widespread and
programming them became easier, they simply replaced the older designs
and even opened new opportunities. The flash ROM stuff made this even
easier...


> > Some computers really *are* simpler than radios and audio amplifiers. In
> > 1978 I built an 1802 "ELF" computer. You can't get much simpler, even
> > today!
> 
> Flash-based PICs, AVRs, 8051s, and the like, IMHO.  Many of them don't even
> require an external resonator, let alone crystal or oscillator.

Right: Take a look at the designs in the Elektor/Elector/Elektuur mags
and you'll see.


-- 
Michael Joosten, SBS C-LAB, joost@c-lab.de
Fuerstenallee 11, 33094 Paderborn, Germany
Phone: +49 5251 606127, Fax: +49 5251 606065
C-LAB is a cooperation of University Paderborn & SIEMENS