dnewton@carroll1.UUCP (Dave Newton) (08/09/89)
Well, I think I'm setting myself up for disappointment on this one, but I'll
try anyway.
Is there any way an ST can do EtherNet? Like thru the DMA port or something?
Is there a PD or FTP'able X-Windows thing?
--
"Life is just a popularity contest, and I didn't get my entry in on time."
-David L. Newton
David L. Newton (414) 524-7253 dnewton@carroll1.cc.edu
=8-) (smiley w/ a mohawk) (414) 524-7343 uunet!marque!carroll1!dnewtondavid.megginson@canremote.uucp (DAVID MEGGINSON) (08/13/89)
Byte-Size systems in Oshawa, Ontario claimed last year that they were developing an Ethernet Card for the ST. I don't know what came of it. --- * Via ProDoor 3.0R
tyler@stpl.UUCP (Tyler IVANCO) (08/14/89)
The Byte-Size systems unit was designed and is built by us. We have 5 working systems with: 1 Ethernet 128 SRAM* 64 EPROM/ROM** 1 68000** 8 Serial ports 2 Parallel ports 1 SCSI (REAL!!!) * 64 K minimum ** Standalone configuration The card runs either standalone with its own processor or on the mega bus connector and can be configured in a variety of ways. However, due to other contract arrangements, we have had to put the software development on hold. Software is the real problem with this type of system. Hardware was working last January. We are willing to sell units to people at very nearly our cost if they are willing to develop software as a sort of VAR arrangement. All of this brings up an interesting point. For some reason, the ATARI line seems to attract very small ventures in hardware. Some have expanded and been very successful, e.g. ICD, Supra. Others (e.g. FutureDos (us)) work with the Atari part time and as such are quite small. To work full time requires a faith in the Atari future that we just don't have. Without hardware expansion, there is little future in any product line for that is how it remains current. The Mega, from this point of view is a disappointment. When we designed and contructed our ACSI controller in late 84, it was out of curiosity just as the ethernet board was. It wasn't because we expected to profit by it (after all, we were gainfully employed elsewhere). In fact we expected that someone else would come out with a similar unit very soon. Outside of a couple of european units this did not come about. A solid expansion bus need not be expensive as is demonstrated by the ubiquitous IBM PC family. This should be a priority design goal in any computer design for general use. I hope that future ATARI products consider this requirement. I still have hope for the Atari, especially if a more advanced model is released. I enjoy the system (especially with TOS 1.4 and OS/9) but have been disappointed with the lack of "bells and whistle" type components for this system. Tyler