Vanity and motherboards; LPT and COM ports
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Vanity and motherboards; LPT and COM ports
Hi, let me share my personal feelings!
When I buy motherboards, I completely avoid anything that has parallel and serial ports on the back, only because it is sooooo last century. I recently bought a G41 ASUS µATX P5QPL-VM EPU motherboard for ~$100 - it was the cheapest of the small µATX motherboards I could find and have a look that suits me, at the same time.
But the truth is, that I could have gotten an equally good motherboard for far less money, if I had settled for one which had parallel and serial ports. But apparently I am too high-fashioned for those kind of '90-style gizmos.
Am I being a girl? I mean, I genuinely have the fear, that someone will visit me, see my PC and ask "Hey, is that a parallel port on the back of your computer in that corner, under that desk??!" and then LAUGH AT ME!
Why the Hell are we that into how our cases look on the inside. For once, it's what's on the outside that counts!
Share your $.02 or similar story.
Strid
When I buy motherboards, I completely avoid anything that has parallel and serial ports on the back, only because it is sooooo last century. I recently bought a G41 ASUS µATX P5QPL-VM EPU motherboard for ~$100 - it was the cheapest of the small µATX motherboards I could find and have a look that suits me, at the same time.
But the truth is, that I could have gotten an equally good motherboard for far less money, if I had settled for one which had parallel and serial ports. But apparently I am too high-fashioned for those kind of '90-style gizmos.
Am I being a girl? I mean, I genuinely have the fear, that someone will visit me, see my PC and ask "Hey, is that a parallel port on the back of your computer in that corner, under that desk??!" and then LAUGH AT ME!
Why the Hell are we that into how our cases look on the inside. For once, it's what's on the outside that counts!
Share your $.02 or similar story.
Strid
Hi Strid,
I know an industrial circuit board design and simulation software that needs a parallel port to work : that's where you plug in the hardware key that unlocks the software.
So I guess some people need those things but I agree with you : for most of us, USB is good enough for almost everyhting now
I know an industrial circuit board design and simulation software that needs a parallel port to work : that's where you plug in the hardware key that unlocks the software.
So I guess some people need those things but I agree with you : for most of us, USB is good enough for almost everyhting now
I am in the opposite camp from the original poster.
I prefer a board with parallel and serial ports (more than one for preference).
I also would prefer one with a game port (if I could find it).
I have a lot of hardware around that still works and does what I want.
(parallel Inkjet printers, parallel laser printers, Palm Vx PDA,
modem (for when broadband goes down), gameport joystick, midi adapter,
etc....)
Keeping this equipment in use is a lot greener than sending it off to recycle,
(and keeps more green in the sock under the mattress).
I think it unfortunate and a bother that most of the i3, etc. boards don't have parallel or serial ports anymore.
"If it works, it is out of date."
-Stafford Beer
Unfortunately most of the parallel/serial port cards I have are ISA. Thank goodness for my collection of USB docking stations, usb to ... port converters, print servers, etc. (Though that means more cables, takes more power, more clutter, more drivers, ....)
I prefer a board with parallel and serial ports (more than one for preference).
I also would prefer one with a game port (if I could find it).
I have a lot of hardware around that still works and does what I want.
(parallel Inkjet printers, parallel laser printers, Palm Vx PDA,
modem (for when broadband goes down), gameport joystick, midi adapter,
etc....)
Keeping this equipment in use is a lot greener than sending it off to recycle,
(and keeps more green in the sock under the mattress).
I think it unfortunate and a bother that most of the i3, etc. boards don't have parallel or serial ports anymore.
"If it works, it is out of date."
-Stafford Beer
Unfortunately most of the parallel/serial port cards I have are ISA. Thank goodness for my collection of USB docking stations, usb to ... port converters, print servers, etc. (Though that means more cables, takes more power, more clutter, more drivers, ....)
Oooh neat a P3B! The machine I am writing this with has an Asus P2B (been in service since I got it new - gotta upgrade one of these days.)Vicotnik wrote:I can do without the parallel and serial ports on the backplate. If I should need to use one of these old interfaces with some ancient piece of hardware, I would probably build a dedicated system for that, using old trusted parts. Am I the only one with an old loved Asus P3B-F still at hand?
I would like my new machine to have a parallel port, so I can use WordPerfect 6.1 for DOS (still the best word processor for writing) to print without having to mess with windows drivers, etc. Having more than one computer works - but having all those boxes and cables and KVM switch, etc. stacked around does not appeal. So much neater if they would just put all the ports one would want inside the box and provide a neat connector block on the back.
Hang a few dongles and a microcontroller programmer off the parallel port to help establish your machismo. (Or string together a parallel port scanner, parallel port network/file sharing adapter, a parallel zip drive and a printer - and really get some geek cred. if you can make them all work together; for extra credit, get them working under Windows Vista.)Strid wrote: I mean, I genuinely have the fear, that someone will visit me, see my PC and ask "Hey, is that a parallel port on the back of your computer in that corner, under that desk??!" and then LAUGH AT ME!
But who sees the back of the box, so who is to know if you have a parallel port back there or not.
I am still using a parallel port to connect my laser printer, even though the printer accepts, parallel, USB, and Ethernet (network) connections. The printer was previously hooked to a older computer via parallel port, so I just kept it that way on my newer computer (which is not that new anymore). Saves me a USB port.
Well, I have an IBM Model M keyboard, which is pure delight to type on, and it has a PS/2 connector. Yes, I could buy a PS/2->USB adapter or I could spring for new Model M clones from UniComp that have USB, but PS/2 also let's me power on the PC with the press of a button.
PS: Yes, the Model M is outlandishly loud, but while I don't tolerate any noise from the tower, I couldn't care less about typing noise, because I make it. I don't understand how people could use them in shared offices though.
PS: Yes, the Model M is outlandishly loud, but while I don't tolerate any noise from the tower, I couldn't care less about typing noise, because I make it. I don't understand how people could use them in shared offices though.
I have model M (which I like quite well) on one of my lesser setups, but my fave is my Northgate Omnikey Ultra - function keys on the left, where they belong. As you say, not quiet, but the best keyboard yet. However it has an AT style connector. So far I just have AT to PS/2 adapter, but I got a USB to PS/2 adapter (for when they finally phase out PS/2 connectors).tim851 wrote:I have an IBM Model M keyboard, which is pure delight to type on, and it has a PS/2 connector.
I imagine someday in the future, when they have phased out USB for something else, and then it gets superceded - I might end up with a whole string of adapters (rather that than give up my Northgate). I expect the keyboard will probably outlast me. (Though I do have a spare.)
Strid is obviously a newb.
last century is alot of things. Take a look around.. there is less in everything demanding more money. The only thng with more money is the fake marketing carrying it.
I paid 130 for a workstation mobo to take a prescott..this past december.
my LPT printer plugs right in.
so this like this century like dude.
last century is alot of things. Take a look around.. there is less in everything demanding more money. The only thng with more money is the fake marketing carrying it.
I paid 130 for a workstation mobo to take a prescott..this past december.
my LPT printer plugs right in.
so this like this century like dude.
I don't have any use for printer ports on motherboards, but I find that serial ports are useful.
I've got one machine serving as a stratum 1 NTP server that has a GPS receiver connected to one of its serial ports with one of the control lines serving as a PPS interrupt input. Timing jitter is typically in the low microsecond range. Trying to do this over USB would add too much latency and jitter.
Serial ports are also useful for *BSD kernel debugging. This can also be done over firewire, but that requires two machines with available firewire ports, and I've only had mixed success when I've tried it.
I've got one machine serving as a stratum 1 NTP server that has a GPS receiver connected to one of its serial ports with one of the control lines serving as a PPS interrupt input. Timing jitter is typically in the low microsecond range. Trying to do this over USB would add too much latency and jitter.
Serial ports are also useful for *BSD kernel debugging. This can also be done over firewire, but that requires two machines with available firewire ports, and I've only had mixed success when I've tried it.