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From: jhumphre@rucs2.sunlab.cs.runet.edu (Jeff Humphrey (Jeffus))
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Favorite LCD display?
Message-ID: <1991Mar6.162509.1144@rucs2.sunlab.cs.runet.edu>
Date: 6 Mar 91 16:25:09 GMT
Organization: Radford University
Lines: 29


>Timeline (and Gott Electronics) have a 480x128 dot graphic/alphanumeric
>LCD display for about $20.  They both claim that it "comes with built-in
>CMOS LCD driver and controller", yet Timeline offers a $60 driver board
>for use with it!  What is going on?

  I bought one of those displays because the ad originally said that the
display could 'display graphics and text'.  Underneath the ad for the
board was an ad for a controller.  The add WAS NOT CLEAR about whether
you needed the controller to display the text or not.  I bought one and
now I have a wonderful display and I'm trying to collect the money to
get the controller.  The display is high quality and I hope the controller
is to.  Let the buyer beware.  I've seen the ad since last summer (when
I wanted my display) and it seems that they are much more clear about
saying 'you need the controller' now.
  Also about those 3/$25 16x1 displays.  Great deal, I was surprised when
I used these for the first time on a project, they have functions I didn't
even hope for.  They are VERY easy to interface to a slower bus, you have
to make a slow bus for yourself (with buffers, etc ...) if you plan to
interface these devices to a faster system.  The display just can't keep
up with the faster bus speeds.  Also, as someone else wrote (sorry), you
have to allow the display time to process commands you send to it by either
putting in a hard wait or reading the displays ready bit.  It's REALLY
slow.

  Has anybody used those $29 dollar (480 x whatever) displays being offered
with the controllers built in ....

                                        ...... Jeffus