Dilwyn Jones wrote, On 28/10/09 11:28:
Adrian D. Ives wrote:
thought was that if anyone is ever going to produce any new hardware
project for the original QL hardware, the one thing that would be
really worthwhile is a basic bare bones USB interface. I was
astonished to find a place called RetroClinic that does just such an
interface for the BBC Micro!
Such an interface would only really need the basic drivers to handle
removable drives (sounds simple when you say it quickly) there would be
no intention of even trying to support other types of device except,
maybe, a mouse :)
While this is a very worthwhile idea, we have been here before I'm
afraid.
The problem will as ever be drivers - it's not just a question of
"USB" drivers, you'd need drivers for whatever was plugged into it,
which in turn knew how to work via the USB interface. In other words,
different drivers for anything you plugged into it.
I think that the last time this was discussed, someone mentioned the
dreaded word "drivers" and that was the end of that.
In principle, though, it is an excellent idea.
USBWiz makes interfacing pretty easy, although its internal driver only
support 8.3 FAT for the SD card.
It also has built in drivers for some USB devices (like printers I
think) using AT sytle serial commands.
I would not have thought it is an impossible projects, and would work
without drivers as such. It could be done from Basic.
However it would be good to have driversto make it QDOS compatible.
There would also have to be long filename conversion tables much like
the Windows micro~nn.ext
Tony
--
QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255
[email protected] http://firshman.co.uk
Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman
TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
_______________________________________________
QL-Users Mailing List
http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
