[Amps] Alpha releases New Amp 9500

[Bill Coleman]

On Sep 16, 2005, at 1:44 PM, David Kirkby wrote:

>> The Alpha 9500 needs to replace the serial port for remote control  
>> with
>> USB.
>>
>>     * Very soon PC's won't even have a serial port
>>           o It's called "legacy free", introduced about 2 year ago

"Very soon" is right now. Apple introduced the original iMac in 1998,  
and it had no RS-232 ports. That got the USB ball rolling, since the  
only way to add peripherals was through USB.

> I have access to a range of *desktop* computers from < 1 year old to
> about 20 years old. The two interfaces they *all* have in common is
> RS-232 and 10-base-T ethernet.

Apple hasn't made a machine since 1999 that has a serial port.  
(Although all have built-in Ethernet and have been for some time now)

> Some have USB, but not all do. Some have SCSI, but no all do. Some  
> have
> IDE, but not all do.

So, yeah, you may not use an Apple computer, but they are a leading  
indicator for the industry. It's been over six years since Apple  
shipped a serial port. The other PC makers are just starting to catch  
on to this.

USB is a much nicer peripheral interface than RS-232.

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
             -- Wilbur Wright, 1901