Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!apple!mattd
From: mattd@Apple.COM (Matt Deatherage)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: ADB accessories...
Message-ID: <52477@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 6 May 91 00:42:42 GMT
References: <91123.234210JRE103@psuvm.psu.edu> <15409@darkstar.ucsc.edu>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA
Lines: 35

In article <15409@darkstar.ucsc.edu> unknown@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (The Unknown User) writes:
>
>	Yes they can be used on the GS. Just like SCSI, ADB is ADB..
>that is, any computer with an ADB bus (Macs & the GS) can use any ADB
>devices. Drivers must be written  for some things, but trackballs work
>already...
>
The Mac has one more advantages in ADB (discounting that most Macs have two
ADB ports):  It has a true ADB Manager that resolves and remaps conflicts
in ADB devices.  For example, if you have two keyboards connected to a IIgs,
you'll get keys on either of them responding as if they were connected to "the"
keyboard.  (Dave Lyons talks about doing this in Iowa to play multi-player
games; one person could hit Ctrl-Esc and the other could hit the Open Apple
key, and into the CDA menu you'd go!)  On a Mac, one keyboard would be remapped
to be a different keyboard and input could be accepted from it separately.  On
the IIgs, you have to do this yourself in programs that want the keyboards
to behave this way.

>	Why use ADB instead of SCSI? Uhh, I would guess it's easier to 
>design something to work with ADB than SCSI... I can't really explain it,
>but it seems obvious why people's use ADB over SCSI.. heh...
>-- 
I'm not a hardware guy; I don't know from "harder".  SCSI is an open standard
that anyone can get, understand and use.  ADB is proprietary and the necessary
documents only come from Apple's Software Licensing department.  They may have
more information than just specs (like maybe chips, for example) but I still
think SCSI is a more accessible way to go about things.


-- 
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Matt Deatherage, Developer Technical  | The opinions expressed herein are
Support, Apple Computer, Inc.         | not those of Apple Computer, and
Personal mail only, please.  Thanks.  | shame on you for thinking otherwise.
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