Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!bloom-beacon!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!oliveb!amiga!jimm
From: jimm@amiga.UUCP (Jim Mackraz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: IEE-488 hardware (was Re: Studebakers)
Message-ID: <2434@amiga.UUCP>
Date: 16 Jun 88 22:59:32 GMT
References: <4400@gryphon.CTS.COM> <56089@sun.uucp> <1326@sbcs.sunysb.edu> <56647@sun.uucp> <5559@utah-cs.UUCP> <56818@sun.uucp>
Reply-To: jimm@cloyd.UUCP (Jim Mackraz)
Organization: Commodore-Amiga Inc, Los Gatos CA
Lines: 40

In article <56818@sun.uucp> cmcmanis@sun.UUCP (Chuck McManis) writes:
)In article <56647@sun.uucp> I wrote:
)>>[ discussion of bare-bones bridgeboard to take advantage of IBM PC hardware ]
)
)In article <5559@utah-cs.UUCP> (Rich Thomson) writes:
)>ASDG has just announced their new board, the Twin-X, that allows you to use
)>any two existing iSBX modules on a 2000 style slot.  This means that you can
)>use A/D and D/A converters, digital I/O, servo controllers, stepper motor
)>controllers, HPIB (IEEE-488) controllers, etc., etc.
)
)Don't misunderstand, I think that the ASDG product is *very* good and was
)an excellent idea on the part of those folks. However, iSBX is not as popular
)as the PC bus is, nor do the prices compare very well. 
)--Chuck McManis

And don't forget: as I read the purpose of Chas's original posting was
not so much "I want IEEE-488" but was "I see a market opportunity do
make some $$$."  And his comment above would imply that he still sees
the window open.

Something I wonder is how many IBM bus peripherals have 8086 code
in ROMs and won't work without it.  I think in these cases, the
manufacturer would have to be involved to provide (new code for)
a register interface and not just a "bios extension."

The question I have is: "What IBM peripherals would be usable
in the 'dumb bus' without participation by their manufacturers."

Memory, maybe an EGA card (although the BIOS hides a lot of vudu, I think).
What about hard disks?  What about Targa boards?  How about those DSP boards?
gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme.

    jimm


-- 
	Jim Mackraz, I and I Computing	  
	amiga!jimm	BIX:jmackraz
Opinions are my own.  Comments regarding the Amiga operating system, and
all others, are not to be taken as Commodore official policy.