12 Nov
2003
12 Nov
'03
11:19 p.m.
I can't tell you how to fix something I've
never seen, and am never
likely to see....
We can change that, if Philip comes over again for VCFe (what
> ever year that will be), I could give him a Lisa
for you (of
> course, as always, just borrowed for an indefinite time).
In any case, I don't work on machines that are on
loan to me (no matter
how long for). I've had problems in the past due to this, and I don't
want them repeated. So I only rip apart stuff that's truely mine....
Now, I don't have problems with someone using a soldering iron
or whatever it needs to get a machine to do what it's ment to
do. It's the same I do. As long as the machien stay intact, and
no drill holes are found, greater than a mens fist ...
The Lisa is
the ultimate module swapping computer.
I knew there was another reason why I
didn't want one... For suitable values of 'service'. As I
mentioned just now, 'Service'
round here involves a LogicDart and soldering iron, so having to use a
screwdriver as well is no big deal :-)
I guess nobody minds using a screwdriver if there's a screw,
but if I can open a box and take out the main board, or any
other part with no tools I mind even less. I want machines
that are easy to dismantle, and the Lisa is one of the best
examples around - totally in contrast of the little USB flash
card reader I bought yesterday. It took me more than an hour
to take the two plasic pices apart. I was extremly close to
use a hammer. It even had a total senseless screw in there :(
These snap-together-but-never-open designs are great from a
manufacturers point of view, and maybe good for 99.999% of
all customers, and a less than 10 Euro product is realy non-
serviceable, but I wanted to see what controller has been
used. Usualy these babies have unused features that can be
activated with just a few wires (*1). And yes, the card
controler (Alcor 9360) looks like I'll use it on my next
project. I supports not only all actual flash card stuff
but additional a local Flash to have an integrated Disk...
Anyway, I want to look inside, and the Lisa is just made
to support my whish, instead of seting up hurdles.
Gruss
H.
*1 did I already tell that I LOVE USB and USB chips?
They are PACKED of features just waiting to be used,
the docking station I have offers officialy a Hub with
3 ports, serial, paralell, PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard and a
10/100 LAN, now, after opening, I found 2 more paralell,
3 more serial, and NINE more USB ports (of course as
part of the 3 integrated hubs. All in a 60 Euro box.
On of the serial lines I have already wired out and
it works fine (after realizeing how to tell the
controler to recognize it).
--
VCF Europa 5.0 am 01./02. Mai 2004 in Muenchen
http://www.vcfe.org/