Re: F21 boards

[Eugene Leitl <ui22204@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 31 Aug 1995, Klaus Blass wrote:

> I would like to add the PCMCIA socket mentioned as a
> possibility by Jeff to Dave's wish list (mainly because 
> it is very difficult to come by in some parts of the world).
> Klaus.

Since xMas is not too far away anymore, I have also a wish list ;).
I fully realize some of it gets quite beyond an eval board, however
since stand-alone workstations are in the pipeline...

- a standard PC type keyboard plug would be nice (most folks
  already have a PC/AT keyboard somewhere)

- PCMCIA is good, a standard EIDE controller chip would be better,
  since standard HD floppy drives and fast cheap HDs can be added
  (again, most guys have them already or can cheaply buy them if not)
  PCMCIA SRAMs are not exact cheap and not widely used yet, alas..

- a serial chip would allow standard mice to be used and allow generically
  access to a wide set of peripherals (modems, printers, networks, etc.)
  since F21 can't process external interrupts (?) a FIFO buffer
  would be instrumental. In a pinch one can use the PC as a host
  for keyboard I/O and storage (don't, though. This is the feature
  I didn't like in the Novix).

- a cinch video and/or analog VGA plug would be nice (some of
  us.. hell I can't solder worth two cents apart from having
  trouble getting the parts).

- two cinches for analog input/output, preferably with an amplifyer
  to boost the 0..1 V levels from the mike (the chip is fast enough
  to enable voice recognition, and 6 bit audio output is much
  better than no audio at all)

- since ZIPs are not easy to come by anymore, and PS/2 SIMMs are quite
  cheap they might be an option. They might be recycled in the P32.
  Even now PS/2s are cheaper than ZIPs anyway.

- a single epoxy for 4 F21's might come cheaper, though 4 single
  boards may allow closer packaging. However the integrated board
  will fit on the palm quite easily, I think. Four serial
  ports (one can't have too many of them) and maybe four EIDE
  host adaptors (sockets for them?) would allow a cheap RAID.

- it would be nice to be able to shut down the HD and may be to
  reduce the voltage to 3V by software if system load is low, if mobile 
  applications or green PCs are of interest. A power_fail input from
  a poor man's UPS might be interesting.


 Comments?

-- Eugene