[Coco] $4 USB HOST a chip

[John W. Linville]

On Thu, Feb 23, 2017 at 03:04:56PM +0000, Mark Marlette wrote:
> I will agree with Allen here, in the case of the keyboard.
> All I have to do is change a few modules in the PS/2 interface at Cloud-9 and it will do USB.
> Actually already done it....just never finished it as a product. I have a better idea.....don't ask... :)

As in my reply to Allen -- you are then tying that piece of hardware to
being specifically a keyboard adapter (i.e. not a "USB" adapter). There
is nothing wrong with that, but that less familiar with the details
will be prone to thinking that they can plug a joypad or an SD card
reader into that device and have it work with the CoCo, which they
can't.

John

> Regards, Mark Marlette
>  http://www.cloud9tech.com
> mark at cloud9tech.com
> mark at gamecamaddict.com
> 
>       From: Allen Huffman <alsplace at pobox.com>
>  To: CoCoList for Color Computer Enthusiasts <coco at maltedmedia.com> 
>  Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2017 8:49 AM
>  Subject: Re: [Coco] $4 USB HOST a chip
>    
> > On Feb 23, 2017, at 8:38 AM, John W. Linville <linville at tuxdriver.com> wrote:
> > 
> > That's just not true. Code running on the CoCo that probes the PIA
> > for keyboard input is not going to work with a USB keyboard, no matter
> > what the USB chip pushes down the serial port.
> 
> I don't know what the serial port has to do with this.
> 
> The adapter would plug in the keyboard port, just like the PS/2 adapters and such. Key up, key down, etc. would all be mapped in to the proper matrix so it would be 100% transparent to the CoCO.
> 
> > You are probably thinking that the USB chip can handle HID-style
> > devices already, which might be true. But there will still need to
> > be something running on the CoCo to translates whatever the USB chip
> > sends on the serial port into useful input for programs running on
> > the CoCo. Frank is right, it will be easier to centralize that piece
> > of software in OS-9. Code running under DECB will need every program
> > to be individually patched for the new USB chip's input.
> 
> Ah, I see. No, not serial. It would plug in to the Keyboard port.
> 
> A second interface would plug in to a joystick port for USB joysticks.
> 
> Best part ... either could take a cheap Bluetooth dongle, then you could use a bluetooth keyboard, bluetooth mouse, or CERTAIN types of Bluetooth game pads. It appears gamepad are not standardized, and they have different firmware for different types of PS gamepad.
> 
>         -- Allen
> 
> 
> 
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> 
>    
> 
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-- 
John W. Linville		Someday the world will need a hero, and you
linville at tuxdriver.com			might be all we have.  Be ready.