amigaksi wrote:
>Did you even read the posts before mine?
Yes, but looks like you missed a lot of posts where this topic of uniqueness of amiga was discussed elsewhere.
>It's not wrong... The Amiga is Homeless, no parent company to look after it, it's got no job and can't be found in shops, and smelly as it's had nothing new in years.
If you want to define it that way. But it has technology that is unique.
Um... The Amiga is a unique combination of technologies that directly address the computing requirements of the 80's... computing requirements are very different now.
For me the most unique part of the system is the OS... totally unlike any other OS in use now... fundamentally flawed for modern computing needs, but but beautifully elegant design none the less.
>The number of weird threads that want some old PPC chip, or desparatly clamouring after various old technologies... is perfectly sums up by "Looking in bins...etc".
That's not looking in the bins. If you can get away with a simpler design for the purpose at hand, there's no need to get a 4Ghz processor.
Sure, my main machine is a 2.33Ghz Dual Core... that just about meets my current needs... though Logic 8 is demanding more CPU power :-(
>> We agree on that point. To add more details to this, you should rethink that what "industry discards" does not necessarily mean it's bad or obsolete.
>Yeah, it does. It means both. Industry will cling on to technology long after it has reached the end of its design life if it is either good or useful.
You are not in touch with reality here.
Are you sure of that? I suspect most people here would disagree...
Industry makes it's decisions mainly on sales and marketing and whether it fits the target machine. In the Atari ST, they left out the blitter chip, RF modulator, stereo PCM sound, etc. until later on in their STE series.
Is this an example of the Chewbacca Defense (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewbacca_defense)
The Industry is everyone, not some old dead company 25 years ago... Look at technologies that have clung on despite being superseded... M$ have built their fortune upon it.
>What advantage does a custom DE9/DB9 have over something like USB?
You are comparing a serial device with a parallel one, since the comparable would be a game port or parallel port, but let's take it up for the sake of argument:
The physical operation of the device is irrelevant... The function is what is important. There is no functional difference between parallel and serial connections, the only difference is their operation.
>The DE9/DB9 is:
>Bulky;
If you need parallel lines of communication, it's not that bulky. USB requires examining a bitstream whereas a joystick port, you can read with one instruction.
No one needs parallel links anymore, LVDS has pushed serial links far faster than an parallel could ever operate. It's now easier and cheaper to multiplex on a serial line than deal with skew, noise and capacitance on a parallel line.
No modern interface uses parallel anymore, everything is serial.
>Subject to ESD/EMI noise;
I have done full throttle on the Atari joystick port without any noise. In fact, I was able to read the data on some machines even without the ground pin attached. If you target a faster machine, you can also update the circuit for the joystick port yet keep it pin-compatible like they did with PCI version of parallel ports.
I can't even parse this...
>Can't be hot swapped;
MPDOS allows hot-swapping of joystick ports on Atari/Amiga. It's a software issue.
No, hot-swapping requires that the ground lines connect before any other line... USB (for example) has this defined as part of it's standard. If any other line connects first as can happen with DE9/DB9... the potential difference could fry the support IC.
>Prone to pin breakage;
That's a lame excuse as if they stopped using pins. I have many usb cables that when bent around the connector or come under a chair lose their connectivity.
I've bent pins on DB connectors due to repeated insertions... USB (for example) was design for many many many more insertions/disconnections than any DB connector...
>Unable to carry hi-speed data;
I already explained that above.
You explained nothing... the DB connectors are not designed for hi-speed links, full stop!
>Expensive (compared to USB);
Serial port connectors are the same as DB9 connectors and cost next to nothing.
Regardless, the connectors
are more expensive than USB (for example).
>Require complex attachement to motherboards, 9pins vs 4pins(for USB);
You don't get it. You can simulate multiple serial devices with one joystick port not the other way around without slowing down the interface.
Soldering the 9pins of the DB9 is more complex/expensive than the 4 pins of the USB (for example).
>Too big for use on mobile devices... really I could go on...
>Do you still want your DE9/DB9 connector?
Ever heard of ISA parallel port being updated to PCI?
>No, I would have stated that it was my opinion if it was my opinion.
Since what you stated is not fact, it must be your opinion.
Any research on the subject would suggest I'm right, and you are not.
>I can't think of anything about the Amiga that isn't obsolete, but that is just my opinion, I've not done formal study
That's the problem, you have to know both machines before you compare them else you are just expressing your opinion.
Both? What two machines? I am really quite knowledgeable on technology subjects, I am very happy for it to be put to the test.
Timers was already discussed, overscan mode, simpler real-time analysis, etc. etc. I can also go on.
Timers... The amiga timers are nothing compared to what is available on a modern PC... What on earth does overscan have to do with anything? Any GFX card can display to the edge of my displays (which are LCD).
You seem to be lacking knowledge of modern hardware.
