28 Jul
2004
28 Jul
'04
4:14 a.m.
At 05:33 AM 7/28/04 +0100, you wrote:
I try to avoid MS-DOS too, apart from the version that runs on the HP110,
and so on...
You're right, they're not still in production but they handle every
EPROM, PAL and PROM that I'm interested in so what's wrong with them? The
fact that they're out of production just makes them cheap and readily
available on the used equipment market. Info for the Data IO 29B is
available on-line. In fact, I think it's on Al's site. The Needham unit is
simple enough that it shouldn't be take more than a couple of minutes to
figure out. As far as repairs go, the only used units that I've gotten that
don't work are a couple of Pro-Log units. The Data I/O stuff seems to be
built like a tank. All the Needham and Stag stuff also works fine.
So are Tinker Toys but I passed that stage long ago.
Never haard of it, but I sure haven't grown out of Meccano or Fischer
Technik....
TinkerToys are wooden sticks that you can put together with blocks and
wheels with holes in them at various angles and make simple projects. Very
suitable for 4 year olds.
I truely pity anyoe who regards drinking alcohol, women, sports, TV (at
least the TV we get over here), (watching) movies as being more
interesting than constructing anything.
Well I know I'm a lot more selective about my TV and movies than the
majority of people but are you trying to tell me that there's NOTHING worth
watching on TV or movies? What do you have against women, beer and sports?
You also overlooked the rest of the list or do you have something against
all of them too?
So do I but as I pointed out I have plenty of things to hold my interest
instead of designing and building $20 appliances.
If you spend as much time, money and energy on a Microwave oven (or an
EPROM programmer) as you would, say, a PDP-8 then something is seriously
wrong IMO.
Joe
2) Many of the modern cheap programmers need a
PC/Windows, which not all
of us have, or care to have
The only PC connected ones that I have all run from DOS. If you can't find a PC then use one of the stand alone models
like the Data IO 29B.
I don't beleive those are still in production (and if they are, they're
not cheap new). And if I buy second-hand equipment, I expect to have to
repair it, and I would guess that service information is not (easily)
available.
3) Many modern programmers do not support older EPROMs. Heck, some of
them no longer support any Vpp higher than 12.5V. This is a problem if
you want to program those 2732s....
The only thing that my Data I/O 29Bs, Stags, and other programmer won't
program are 1702s. But I have two Pro-Log units that will handle those. I
haven't paid more than $10 for any of the programmers that I have. it's an eductional thing but hanostly can't
you find a better way to use
And yes it is an educational project. your time than to reinvent the EPROM programmer
for the 10,000th time?
Care to suggest some???
Is this a trick question? I guess you don't get out much. Here's the
short list: Cold beer, hot cars, hot women, sports, tv, movies, old
computers, friends, traveling, pets, reading, family, tending my garden,
taking care of my house, etc etc etc.
But just to keep things on topic I have a whole house full of computers
and ANY of them is a lot more interesting than an EPROM programmer.* A have
a GOOD number of them that I've never even turned on due to lack of time.
So do I, but sometimes I need a change from debugging an old machine. won't program. To me an EPROM programmer is
an appliance like my microwave
oven and I give it about as much consideration. I just don't see the point
I haev never treated anything as just an appliance...
-tony