At 2003-01-31 06:34 -0800, Robert Smith wrote: >I may be the only person on these lists that was unaware of the alternate >form factors for PCI cards known as LPPCI (Low Profile PCI), but I doubt it. > >LPPCI is a low height variation of the standard form factor PCI cards. The >basic mechanical distinction can be seen at -- > > http://www.spinserver.com/lppci.html > >I recently purchased a PCI serial card for my cute little Gateway Essential >PC (which came complete without serial ports). Not even Gateway's support >site makes a clear distinction. They only describe the expansion slots as >PCI 2.2 compatible. Hiss, Boo! > >I share this information in hopes that someone can avoid a nasty surprise >when purchasing PCI components.
Perhaps it's better to use an USB to serial converter? As far as I can tell, the philosophy is that all external I/O should be done over USB as much as possible. Of course USB 1.x wasn't fast enough to handle digital video and connections to external harddisks and professional scanners and camer's, so you would have to use Firewire for that, but now there is faster standard of USB 2.0 (?). I'm not an expert, and I think it took way too long before external USB devices were actually introduced, but wouldn't it be nice if the following mess of connections could all be replaced by USB: - serial - parallel - keyboard - PS/2 mouse - MIDI - joystick - output to speakers (with the DAC in the speakers) - input from micro phone (with the ADC in the micro phone) And whenever you need to connect an old device you use a converter. Greetings, Jaap -- Author: Jaap van Ganswijk INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB CHIPDIR-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
