Re: Mazatrol and What's a PC, really?
Posted by
ballendo@y...
on 2000-09-08 13:56:05 UTC
Doug wrote:
What does it really mean to have a PC based controller?
On one level we have the low end systems like Ahha, which are truly
based on a garden-variety PC.
Then I see the higher end<snip>
I'm wondering if this "PC based" business is more advertising hype
than anything else. My guess is you're still stuck buying high
priced proprietary boards.
thanks,Doug
Doug,
The TECHNICAL answer is that the IBM PC is defined by the BIOS
functions and the bus pinout(s).
The REAL answer is that you are mostly right. Commercial "PC-Based"
controls can use any of a number of motherboards which meet the
technical specs of a PC, but are not "easily?" compatible with home
PC motherboards.
PC104 is an example of a small form-factor PC used in industrial
applications/machines. Someone like Jon Elson could pretty easily
adapt a "standard" motherboard to replace such a system(if there is
room). The PC IS still there, it just looks different. Other
"industrial PC's" look a LOT like our desktop PCs, but "claim" to be
"hardened for industrial use". In fact, some are;(better components,
higher standard of manufacture) but there are some which are
IDENTICAL to desktop pc's!
For us on the list, We can choose to use Desktop solutions and not be
swayed by the hype. We can also talk to each other to determine what
is, and isn't, hype.
Thanks for asking.
Ballendo
What does it really mean to have a PC based controller?
On one level we have the low end systems like Ahha, which are truly
based on a garden-variety PC.
Then I see the higher end<snip>
I'm wondering if this "PC based" business is more advertising hype
than anything else. My guess is you're still stuck buying high
priced proprietary boards.
thanks,Doug
Doug,
The TECHNICAL answer is that the IBM PC is defined by the BIOS
functions and the bus pinout(s).
The REAL answer is that you are mostly right. Commercial "PC-Based"
controls can use any of a number of motherboards which meet the
technical specs of a PC, but are not "easily?" compatible with home
PC motherboards.
PC104 is an example of a small form-factor PC used in industrial
applications/machines. Someone like Jon Elson could pretty easily
adapt a "standard" motherboard to replace such a system(if there is
room). The PC IS still there, it just looks different. Other
"industrial PC's" look a LOT like our desktop PCs, but "claim" to be
"hardened for industrial use". In fact, some are;(better components,
higher standard of manufacture) but there are some which are
IDENTICAL to desktop pc's!
For us on the list, We can choose to use Desktop solutions and not be
swayed by the hype. We can also talk to each other to determine what
is, and isn't, hype.
Thanks for asking.
Ballendo