10 May
2007
10 May
'07
8:46 a.m.
On Thu, 2007-05-10 at 04:40 -0500, Jules Richardson wrote:
Ensor wrote:
You plug it in, then you play with it for hours trying to get the darn thing
to work.
It seems to be the software side that nearly always causes me problems. Even
under Linux it seems a total mess and any logfile output isn't particularly
helpful in diagnosing problems (and of course under MS Windows you're lucky if
you even *get* any logfile output when something goes wrong)
My experience so far with USB cameras, mice, webcams, RS232 adapters and CF
adapters has been decidedly not good...
I have to admit I'm puzzled by this entire exchange. I was trying
to remember a problem I've had, so I could add to the list in the spirit
of commiseration, but I honestly cannot say that I have ever had a
problem with USB connections, compact flash adapters, SCSI connections,
or IDE connections, for that matter. I simply use components that are
age-similar, and have never had a problem. I don't like the idea of
writing a driver for, say, a USB memory stick, but, when I've plugged
them in, they have always worked. SOMEBODY wrote them, and that's what
counts -- in my opinion.
I will admit that I've never (so far) attempted to put a USB port on
a CP/M machine, for instance. That would be, as I see it, an awkward
usage. What I *HAVE* had problems doing is connecting monitors to video
cards. I used to have a Thompson all-purpose (forget the model number)
multi-synch monitor. Back then, life was simple. If it had 15 pins,
hook up a VGA monitor. If it had 9 pins, hook up the Thompson, at least
until I figure out what kind of video it is... and it's handy to be able
to boot and run the machine to do that, if it is a video card with which
I am not familiar. I have also had problems hooking up the old ST
interface hard drives -- some folks, apparently deliberately, mislabeled
the pin 1 stripe on drive cables, ensuring the drives were hooked up
backwards, if connected by "normal" techs, as opposed to those versed in
that manufacturer's quirks. That has a demoralizing effect on the
drive.
I've got a compact flash card reader, a PCMCIA USB card for laptops
without USB built-in, a 3.5 inch diskette drive, several Zip drives, and
"el cheapo" memory sticks. I've never had the first problem with any of
them. If my current computer didn't already have a 3.5 inch drive, I
certainly would not get one, since I have the USB drive. All I need now
is a 5.25 inch USB diskette drive and an 8 inch USB diskette drive and
Bob's your uncle. I am seriously considering getting a large external
USB HD, because I have had such outstanding luck with other USB devices.
Their operation might as well be magic for all I know about them,
that's true, but, at a certain point, the functionality wins me over. I
can always tinker with old equipment, but, for me, the fact that all my
USB appliances work on all my machines with USB ports has always been a
given. Since I have just blundered into using USB, and the only
"technical" information I normally use is to insert the plug in the
orientation which puts the least strain on the fingers, it makes me
wonder if some folks here -- the ones with the bitter experiences --
might be over-engineering it. Just wondering.
Peace,
Warren E. Wolfe
wizard at voyager.net
....USB really *is* plug-and-play.
LMAO! Maybe in some weird, parallel universe....