I had a video board and keyboard on my Gimix SS-50 system.
Why?
1. The video board/monitor is much faster than a terminal even at
115,200 baud.
2. A Video board, keyboard and monitor was way cheaper back then than a
terminal (Yes there was the SWTPc CT64 and the Lear Siegler ADM-3A kits,
but fully loaded they weren't all that cheap).
3. If the video board supports any kind of graphics that is another
reason. The Gimix video board supported graphics with a RAM character
generator.
On 8/30/2023 2:38 PM, W2HX via cctalk wrote:
Hi all,
I recently acquired an S-100 computer, and it came with a video card and a
keyboard (3rd party products, not originally equipped with these). I am trying
to figure out the benefits of having a video card and keyboard vs just using a
serial port and terminal. Certainly if the video card supported graphics, that
would be a reason to go that route over a terminal. As for the keyboard,
ok-maybe you need specific keys for a specific application. But I don't
understand the video monitor. I could understand maybe if there was an RF
modulator so that you could use a standard TV. That would save the builder some
money. But this computer just provides composite.
Other than graphics (and maybe some special function keys for an application on
a keyboard), why would an S-100 builder in those days opt to buy a video card
instead of a terminal?
Thanks for the bandwidth.
73 Eugene W2HX
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