Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!rice!sun-spots-request
From: abstine@sun.soe.clarkson.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sun
Subject: Re: Why are new Suns thick Ethernet only
Keywords: Hardware
Message-ID: <3520@kalliope.rice.edu>
Date: 23 May 89 15:25:30 GMT
Sender: usenet@rice.edu
Organization: Sun-Spots
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Approved: Sun-Spots@rice.edu
X-Sun-Spots-Digest: Volume 8, Issue 5, message 9 of 17


> Most users already have Thicknet installed.  For compability issue,
> providing Thicknet probably is a must for Sun.  In addition, the Thinnet
> transceiver can be incorporated externally and does not have to be in the
> system.  By taking the Thinnet transceiver away from the CPU board (on the
> new CPUs), the board space is reduced as well as the system cost (believe
> me, when you want to integrate a lot of features on a small board, every
> single square mil does count). And for those users that need the Thinnet
> interface, an external converter which is available from many vendors is a
> solution.  This is a win-win solution for everyone. 
>
 
Most users have Thick? Maybe sites which have had ethernet since the early
80's, but alot more office installations are using thin wire/twisted pair
since its alot easier to install. This isn't a win-win situation - it
just means that everyone who needs thinwire connectivity must spend another
$200 or so to get a clunky cable and thinwire transceiver. Sun screwed up by
not providing both as part of the machine. Maybe they should take a cue from
DEC and provide both with an external switch to choose the one they want.

art stine
sr network engineer
clarkson u