[Color Computer] [Coco] Why USB would be nice.

[Glen VanDenBiggelaar]

>Glen
>
>For starts I do not own anything from Cloud9 though I would if it fit
>my needs. I have nothing against their products.
>
>WHy USB? What you state is somewhat true. Most proposals have
>been to redo the keyboard and mouse as well as other peripheral
>devices. What benefit these have? As time goes by,  Coco parts
>that wear out quickly like mice and keyboards will ever become
>more difficult to obtain. Floppies and other items will be no longer
>made or no longer cost effective to replace.

25 years later, it is now starting to get harder to find 5 1/4 floppies. I 
don't think we can write of 3 1/2 just yet.
>
>Yes what I am saying is the Coco we now know and love will some
>time in the future no longer repairable. It will have to change or
>become a memory.
>
>My reasons for some items t hat I am doing is that I want the Coco
>to do certain th ings. I also want a smaller unit than the exist lovable
>case and power supply. I also realize that in five or so years replace
>the CM8 monitor is going to be impossible. I imagine now if you can
>find a CRT to go into the CM8 monitor it will most likely cost
>upwards to $500 US brand new.

Oh, I agree whole hearted,  We do have the tools and the technology to 
re-design the CoCo, but just to "Emulate" it on a new board is not the 
solution. Why not just get a VIA Eden Mobo (17cm x 17cm) Slap some OS and 
run an emulator. The whole rig could fit into an orginal CoCo case and be 
done with it. But where is the "challenge" in that. That's why I think there 
is a great need for a VGA adapter.Even if it means a separate "box" with a 
separate processor
>
>I live in a small house and am not afforded the luxury of being able
>to set up multiple computer systems. So my invision of what the
>Coco3 could migrate or evoled into is amuch smaller board with
>more integrated funtions like a Floating Point Coprocessor, use a
>standard PS2  or USB  mouse and Keyboard or USB printers

We could get the CoCo to fit in the MC-10 Case, but I would just hate to see 
that..

Although I do see the need for this, I too am trying to "rebuild" the board 
with standard and "off the shelf" parts. NOT an emulation, just re-design of 
the motherboard.
>
>Sure new software needs to be written. That's part of the fun. Just
>because new software and newer peripherals are added does not
>necessarily mean the CPU is loaded down.
>
>In closing one last thing you mentioned. Microsoft no longer issue
>floppies for software installation. All is on CDs. CDs have now
>relaced floppies. I doubt they will be replaced by CF. Furthermore
>the variation of CF like SD is there so that users can secure data
>stored on the devices. While the Coco may never use thise higher
>functions, they maybe still ideas for expansion.
>
>james
>
>On 1 Sep 2005 at 15:01, Glen VanDenBiggelaar wrote:
>
>From:           	"Glen VanDenBiggelaar"
><glenvdb at hotmail.com>
>To:             	coco at maltedmedia.com
>Subject:        	RE: [Color Computer] [Coco] Why USB
>would be nice.
>Date sent:      	Thu, 01 Sep 2005 15:01:55 -0600
>Send reply to:  	CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts
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>
> > James,
> > Don't get me wrong, I am not just "promoting" Clould 9, but If you do
> > get a usb interface, what real Benifate is it? We all know that
> > hooking up newer devices like a digital camera or a scanner will not
> > be fesable on the CoCo, so we are left to hook up devices we ALREADY
> > have and were designed (all admit some rather slow) to work with the
> > CoCo. Why hook up a USB floppy drive when a we have or can make newer
> > controlers for a floppy? So far NO one has given "The killer
> > applcation" for USB, they are just re-hashing new ways to hook up
> > devices we already have.Thus loading down the CoCo even more. Compact
> > flash is already being dropped for never forms like SD etc, but
> > floppies will always be a universal standard. Can you see Microsoft
> > selling a compact flash card to "Boot" from? not in this day and age
> > when floppies are so much more abundant. Network interfaces for the
> > CoCo will not be useable with USB. so that just leaves your list of
> > stuff we already have. -Glen
>
>
>
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