13 Aug
2010
13 Aug
'10
8:12 a.m.
Dave McGuire <mcguire at neurotica.com> wrote:
On 8/11/10 11:21 PM, William Donzelli wrote:
I like the VT5xx series, just as I like all other VT-terminals. However,
I've had problems with power supplies of VT320, and VT340 terminals, and
have had problems with the displays going weak on VT420 terminals.
In a way, I think the VT525 is pretty optimal. External screen with VGA
connection, so I can use any PC screen, including flat screens. The fact
that the VT5xx terminals use a PC keyboard connection sucks some, but I
can live with that, since I atleast have proper DEC layout keyboards
anyway. And color, in addition to that. The only thing missing is ReGIS
and SIXBIT graphics.
But, to make a comment on the original topic here - I don't really think
that new VT terminals are more expensive than buying a PC. Yes, the
initial cost is larger, but I definitely expect a VT520 to last way
longer than a PC, and buying two or three PCs, and additionally to have
to service, update, install, and work on the machines will make them
cost way more than a new VT520 within just a year or two.
Johnny
--
Johnny Billquist || "I'm on a bus
|| on a psychedelic trip
email: bqt at softjar.se || Reading murder books
pdp is alive! || tryin' to stay hip" - B. Idol
> >> Of course, shipping for, say a
hundred VT520s is significantly higher than for those modern replacements - even when you
add in the (now LCD) screen. Oh that's right, you can just go down to Best Buy (which
rarely is) to buy the screens....
>
> I doubt shipping costs would be so much of an issue - VT520s, if they
> are anything like VT420s, are not very heavy. If company X needs
> several hundred dumb terminals spread around in their system, I bet
> they would have enough of their own shipping going on, and the VTs
> could hang on the sides of the trucks for free.
>
> >> That's not to say I don't have a personal preference for the
originals - I have mostly VT420s at home, and we're refurbishing a bunch of VT100s and
VT52s here at work. -- Ian
>
> OK, I will say it - VT420s suck.
What don't you like about VT420s? They're my favorite of the line,
followed closely by VT320 then VT220. I don't like VT520s at all.