[Color Computer] [Coco] Re: CoCo USB

[Vern Burke]

Ok, coming out of the lurker closet :)

George Ramsower wrote:

>  If I had this proposed USB interface and a driver to operate it,  wouldn't 
> I need software to operate anything that connects to it?

Um, no, not neccessarily. Presumably any USB storage devices would use 
RBF just exactly like any other CoCo storage device, USB HID devices and 
stuff like USB-serial port converters will use SCF, just like any CoCo 
serial device. These things would all work just dandy with existing 
applications without any special requirement for extra application 
software. (I'm not aware at this time of any USB storage devices or 
HID/serial devices that require any extra application software to make 
them work).

Even psuedo storage devices like digital cameras don't *require* extra 
applications to make them work. (The applications included with digital 
cameras are all photo retouching software and the like).

Certainly more complex things like scanners mean at lot more work in 
applications, but for me, the ability to use the plethora of HID devices 
(keyboards, mice, trackballs, etc) and the tons of modern (and cheap) 
storage devices (flash, USB hard drives, digital cameras, etc) makes it 
well worth it. Anything else that comes from the effort is gravy.

Vern



>  Seems to me that I would have a piece of hardware that I couldn't use.
> 
>   I've noticed, over the years, that folks build tools to use on a coco, but 
> rarely do we have a useful application that a computer user can use.
>  I don't write C or ASM. I can't use those tools.
>  I have a purpose for my Coco and the "tools" to make the application I do 
> use is Basic09 because it's the only thing I DO understand(sort of). I only 
> write these applications because there isn't anything readily available that 
> will do that.
>  If I could find a program for this &^%$DOS/XP box that would do what I 
> want, and the hardware to boot, I would use this ^%&*/DOS/XP box. But I 
> can't.
>  So, I use one of my cocos to do the task. My needs are unusual and I'm sure 
> there isn't much demand for what I do with it. So there wouldn't be much 
> market for it and whoever writes such a program would starve to death trying 
> to market such a thing.
> 
>  My point is:
> 
>  USB is cool on this box I"m typing on.
> 
>  But on  a COCO?
> 
>  Will someone be writing software to utilize all the devices that can be 
> connected to a USB port?
>  How long will we have to wait to scan an 8 1/2 X 11 page at 300 DPI into a 
> Coco and where would we save the data?
>  How long will we have to wait to print that image to a printer.... 
> providing we have the software to drive an Ink Jet printer?
> 
> Mr. Diffendaffer has taken on a hardware project that is not too complex. 
> KUDOS on that!!
> 
> The driver will be more difficult.
> 
>  The software to support the hard drives, flash memory, CD drives, Cameras, 
> Scanners, Printers, and anything else that we use is unattainable. We could 
> expect software to support the author's equpment, but that's about it. My 
> Lexmark Z45 is probably not going to be supported, nor will my Epson 
> Perfection 1250.
>  I expect my digital camera won't have a way to get these picture into my 
> coco. I wouldn't want to anyway! The files are larger than my Coco.
> 
>  I would like to see a better RS232 port. The 6551 is not the best. I want a 
> better solution for communications.
> 
> 
>  So, THERE!!!!
> 
>  That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
> 
> George 
> 
> 
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