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

Sun Sep 4 17:10:11 EDT 2005

Glen,

I have two schools of thought on this myself.

First is to keep a stock CoCo setup and run it the way it was 
designed 25+ years ago. (The white CoCo 1 o/c) :-)

Secondly, taking a CoCo3 into the 21st century with some current 
technology.

As an example, I'm using an IDE flash drive for my 800XL and at some 
point in the future, for my STE also. I hope to do the same with the 
CoCo3.

USB simply opens many doors for current and future gadgets to 
interface (hopefully) with our vintage equipment, which is a great 
idea.

Stock is still best for me, but the limitations are painfully 
apparent, age and availability of parts.

But I haven't used any emulator to this day yet. (personal bias)

Cheers Dave

--- In ColorComputer at yahoogroups.com, "Glen VanDenBiggelaar" 
<glenvdb at h...> wrote:
> 
> Ok, as, I said before, I have given up on this argument. As 
someone else
> stated before (against my arguments) "Not all people have these". 
I myself
> only use 6 USB devices on my PC. A optical mouse, a USB (ps2 type) 
game pad
> and an Epson printer, scanner and web Camera. I only own one 
Compact flash
> card (32 Meg) for my Visor and I rarely use that with the PC. None 
of these
> devices(except the optical mouse) that could be any use on the 
CoCo. A "game
> pad" is not a device that is suited for the CoCo. I have not seen a
> "Joystick" similar to the coco (or Atari etc) in many years USB, or
> otherwise. With both analog and digital signals coming from the 
game pad I
> wonder how the CoCo would react to it.
> That's why I asked why. A P/S 2 keyboard works JUST as well, if 
not better
> than any USB keyboard, and I can pick up them here in Canada for 
less then
> $10 brand new, and I do no need to get a hub. I have gone through 
2 USB
> optical mice in the last 5 years (Logitech), but my original mouse 
for my PC
> (old COM port model) still works to this day (just have to clean 
it every
> other week). My point is USB devices may in fact "be cheaper" to 
replace
> (now) but the life span of these products just doesn't hold up. 
The cheapest
> USB floppy drive this morning on the futureshop website was 
$44.97. Like I
> have said before, Any computer store sells internal floppy drives 
for less
> than $10. I am not rich, but even for my PC, and all the PC's I 
build for
> clients (I build at least 1 a week), an internal floppy drive is 
only what I
> use. I only use P/S 2 keyboards, unless the client wants wireless, 
and then
> I set him up with units that have both P/S2 and USB making it the 
Clients
> choice.
> This is the last comment I will make on the subject. Like I said 
ALWAYS I
> never said "don't do it", But I will see if and when it does come 
out, if I
> can justify the expense. I can and will immediately justify a 
controller
> that will use regular 3 1/4 drives. I also would be will to pay up 
to a
> hundred dollars the controller alone, as I have a stockpile of at 
least 50 3
> 1/4 drives from old computers kicking around. If I want a Compact 
flash
> reader, I will have one with The IDE controller. I have an empty 
FD500 case,
> just waiting for both a Hard Drive and a 3 1/4 drive to be put in 
them.
> Again this is THE LAST thread I will comment to. I AM missing the 
point, I
> know I am, I just don't get it.
> -Glen
> 
> --- In ColorComputer at yahoogroups.com, "Glen VanDenBiggelaar" 
<glenvdb at h...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Ok, maybe, I am missing the point.
> 
> :}
> 
> 
> > WHY? WHY spend money on stuff  we already have
> 
> I have USB joysticks, USB hubs, USB card readers, a USB floppy, a 
USB
> keyboard/mouse interface, a USB camera, USB hard drives...
> 
> WHY? WHY would I spend money on old CoCo stuff when I already have 
USB stuff
> from my PC????
> 
> 
> > (I don't want to throw out my
> > old printer, joystick, keyboard,mouse etc) just to spend money 
on a
> new on.
> 
> First... who said you had to throw anything out?  Adding a USB
> interface to an old CoCo doesn't stop the old stuff from working.
> Second... the old hardware won't last forever.  Not like you can 
find
> CoCo joysticks in stores these days.  USB Joysticks however... they
> are common.
> 
> My floppy drive is dying and a replacement 5 1/4" drive on ebay is
> more expensive that a USB floppy even if I didn't already own one!
> 
> I have a couple 3 1/2" drives I can attach but they need a case and
> power supply... also more than the USB floppy drive was.
> 
> I thought of creating an Amiga drive adaptor (Amiga drives are more
> common than CoCo drives and would be compatible) but then I'd have 
to
> rig up a power supply for it, it ends up about as much work as the 
USB
> interface and I have to buy a power supply.  Total cost only 
slightly
> less than building my own USB controller and it's still old drives!
> 
> I HAVE a USB floppy drive and I've seen them sell for as little as 
$15
> on sale at CompUSA so don't tell me they are too expensive!!  Mine 
was
> under $20 several years ago!
> But then I suppose Canadian dollars are about half what a US 
dollar is.
> 
> > So far you have not given any Valid reason other than "IT CAN BE 
DONE".
> 
> You just ignored what everyone said because you think we want you 
to
> buy everything new.  And when it's time to replace dead hardware?
> Then what?  Buy more old hardware you don't know will last or if it
> works at all?
> 
> I have a modern printer... I don't feel the need to buy an old loud
> dinasaur I can't buy parts for.  BTW, in the USA Walmart *was* 
selling
> USB inkjet printers for under $40.  It would cost at least half 
that
> much just to ship a heavy old printer if I were to buy one on ebay 
and
> the inkjet has better print quality, is quieter and I can actually 
buy
> ink for it.
> 
> > I know most existing controllers dont work with new floppies, 
but I
> see MUCH
> > more of a need to build one than USB.
> 
> Why?  Because you can?  I don't see the need.  I already have two 
old
> floppy controllers for the CoCo... why buy a new interface that
> doesn't do anything more than what I can do now?
> 
> 
> > Have you seen the price of a USB
> > floppy? over $50 dollars here in Canada. less than $10 for a 
regular
> one.
> > Cost
> > $50 for USB floppy
> > maby $50 for USB controller = alot more than I wish to pay.
> > $50 for a "new" Floppy controller
> 
> Cloud-9's keyboard interface is that much!  You think they will 
sell a
> floppy controller for that?  I'm thinking no.
> BTW, wouldn't that be closer to $100 Canadian?  Cloud-9 is a US 
company.
> 
> Try these USB drives (for starters)... one even includes the card
> readers as well as floppy (though it's an internal unit).
> http://www.unityelectronics.com/product-product_id/2463
> http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?
Screen=PROD&Store_Code=
> M&Product_Code=170108&AFFIL=pricewatch&NR=1
> 
> 
> > I am not looking for a magic bullet, just some justification on 
why
> USB is
> > so sought after.
> 
> And what WOULD be a valid justification for you anyway?
> 
> Sorry if I sound testy but if you don't want it... don't buy it!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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