Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!bellcore!faline!thumper!ulysses!andante!princeton!udel!rochester!cornell!uw-beaver!mit-eddie!husc6!cmcl2!nrl-cmf!ames!amdahl!apple!bcase
From: bcase@apple.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: VCR as frame buffer
Message-ID: <9780@apple.Apple.Com>
Date: 13 May 88 00:18:05 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 13
Posted: Thu May 12 20:18:05 1988

Hey, is there any possibility that a VCR with stop motion implemented as
a single-frame buffer could be used as a graphics device?  I mean, how hard
would it be to write directly to the DRAM in the VCR?  Could the VCR 
manufacturers be conviced to add a digital input?  I thought of this idea
while thinking of ways to make a really cheap, but useful personal computer
(spend all the money on the processor and memory; use a VCR for the frame
buffer and include no power supply:  the purchaser is responsible for
providing the operating voltages).  I'm pissed off that there is no really
cheap, powerful personal computer that anyone can afford.  If a VCR+TV can
be used for output, then lots of people would have that covered already
or could be convinced that an investment in a VCR+TV would kill two birds.

Send comments to me by mail as I don't normally read this group.  Thanks!