Re: Why to up/not grade to/from W98 (was: new Pulsonix version 3 PCB software released)

From: Jan Panteltje (pNaonSptaemltje_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 03/15/04 

Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 23:20:15 GMT

On a sunny day (Sun, 14 Mar 2004 17:12:35 GMT) it happened CBFalconer
<cbfalconer@yahoo.com> wrote in <40548DCA.28B35064@yahoo.com>:

>Which is quite enough to foul up software. I had an extremely low
>cost application some years ago, whos primary function was to read
>a miniature cassette tape recorded in the equivalent of MFM with
>peculiar blocking. The interface was a single 25 cent CMOS chip,
>largely to set proper disconnected defaults. The functions
>included forward/reverse fast/slow (and off) motor control, head
>loading, and reading BOT/EOT markers and the raw MFM. We didn't
>mind tieing up the PC for the read period, so all was done in
>software - including clock/data separation. This involved some
>calibration against CPU clock speed and unfettered raw access to
>the printer port.
In a multitasking system you cannot use software timing in any case, because
the timing loop may be interrupted by the task switch.
(Not even counting normal interrupts).
The exception is i2c protocol, it does not care a lot if you wait a while
before the next bit.
On serial better is to use a micro (cheap 2 $ PIC has serial port).
Par port is more complicated, but simple 4 bit read / 8 bit write
bidirectional with a micro is possible (else ECP etc).
These soft loop systems worked fine on MS DOS / DR DOS though, even had
a CB packet terminal program on a serial port in DOS.

As to upgrade to > win 98, I use dual boot Linux / win98, with as default
Linux, why sell yourself out to Bill Gates?
They sort of want control over you, your programs, the sites you visit, and
of cause your purse.
Not a day goes by without a new MS Windows virus warning, I have been with
Linux from SLS kernel 0.98 or so... and NEVER had ANYTHING that did any harm
how many years - let's see, just grabbed the old SLS disk 4
-rwxr-xr-x 1 root root 181475 Aug 3 1993 shadow.tgz -
So, that is almost 11 years, and NO attacks have succeeded in that time.
Recently I have been doing some deeper study of ipchains, the Linux packet
filtering, as I will be online 24/7 since ADSL is coming here this month
(hopefully).
Very cool stuff, you have complete control over all traffic, with just a few
simple commands, easily scriptable.
No bloat, no constant 'security patches' needed, just simple to the point
good old programming.
Linux rocks, MS sucks.
JP

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