5 Jul
2004
5 Jul
'04
5:34 a.m.
I do agree, the 21MX front panel is a little harder to use.
But the 2100 is simply not HP's best effort in this area.
For usability, the 2114 rules, for appearance, the 2116 should win, but
it gets major points
off for lacking a displayed Switch Register, a flaw fixed on the 2100.
The 21MX front panel does not need toe Store button to be used once its
in the Run mode, so
the diagnostics should act exactly as they do on the 2100. The only
time the 'extra' step is
needed for the 21MX's is during the bootstrap process, or when you have
no boot device
whatsoever.
Its a very forgivable fault in practical use.
Jay West wrote:
You're comparing a 2100 panel to a 2114/2116. I
agree with you there. I was
comparing the usability of the 2100 panel vs. the 21MX panel. I hate having
to hit "store" each time. On the 21MX, you have to hit store when changing a
register value. On the 2100, just select a different register, or hit INC M,
or hit run, and the modifications are automatically stored. To get the old
contents back, just press the register key again. Makes things much easier
for one who works on the front panel a lot.
And the front panel is used a LOT for a lot of HP diagnostics, regardless of
loader roms being present or not. Just my own personal opinion :)
Jay
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Shannon" <bshannon(a)tiac.net>
To: "General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts"
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 5:46 PM
Subject: Re: HP hardware available and wanted list
Jay West wrote:
>PS - Bob, now that I've been using the 21MX front panel for a while, I
>
gotta
tell ya, I
prefer using the 2100 front panel. What's this "store" button
crap? *GRIN*
The 2100 panel is total junk! Try a 2114 my friend, there is nothing
that compares with HP's touch
sensitive incandescent backlit sensors, and the hacked relay used to
make the 'click' as if there was
a mechanical component to the capacitive switch.
But for appearance, the 2116 rules.
Remember 21MX's use boot roms, the front panel is very rarely used. It
was also HP's last front panel.