using new technology on old machines. Was: PDP-12 Restoration at the RICM

[Pontus Pihlgren]

On Mon, Jun 15, 2015 at 11:52:28AM +0200, Johnny Billquist wrote:
> 
> We're talking about putting in a rather complex computer to generate
> a baud rate. Are people really that handicapped when it comes to
> building hardware nowadays?

Speaking for myself, yes.

I have a Teensy 2.0 lying at my desk, it's Arduino compatible. I have 
the development environemnt set up, a small solderless breadboard and 
proper power supply. I could probably whip up the C-code for a flicking 
pin on and off in the correct pace in very little time.

Now, if the alternative is reading up on crystals, oscillators, dividers 
and related support chips, figure out where to buy and then wait for the 
parts to ship, which option do you think I will choose?


Of course, I think it's overkill and anachronistic and I'd rather use 
the Teensy for something else, so I'd probably read up and do it "right" 
too.

/P