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From: davewt@NCoast.ORG (David Wright)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: second serial port
Summary: $350 isn't bad at all
Keywords: 2232 7 port
Message-ID: <1990Dec2.141048.10108@NCoast.ORG>
Date: 2 Dec 90 14:10:48 GMT
References: <14383@crdgw1.crd.ge.com> <90334.151404DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu>
Organization: North Coast Public Access *NIX, Cleveland, OH
Lines: 18

In article <90334.151404DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu> <DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>To answer your question: Commodore's board is fancier than most, having its
>own CPU and so forth, but $350 is a bit much, considering that the components
>on the board are so darn cheap. FCC approval is expensive, but that shouldn't
>bother big companies like Commodore. Maybe they're trying to make a profit
	$350 for 7 ports is VERY reasonable when the board contains it's own
CPU. Perhaps you should check out the DigiBoard multi-port boards for
PC clones. They want about $350 for *4* ports when the board has it's own
CPU. Their 8 port board is significantly better.

	I would never use a board with more than 2 ports on it if it didn't
have it's own CPU. The only time a "dumb" board is worth the CPU overhead is
if you are running only low-speed devices, or you just want to be able to
attach 2 or three printers, and leave them attached rather than getting a
switch box. If you try to run 3 or 4 terminals at 9600 baud without a CPU
on the I/O board you will see significant speed loss.

		Dave