Re: [NTLK] NCX: problems connecting via Ethernet

quoth James Wages:

> Speed is the only benefit of Ethernet over serial. [...]
>
> Hence, I still feel that NCX would be bettered by 230kbps
> throughput in its
> serial connection speed. While that speed is still slower than
> Ethernet,
> it's much, MUCH faster than the 38400bps speed that NCX currently
> operates
> at (which is slower than my patched NCU that works at 57600bps
> under OS 9).
> I therefore would like to implore Simon to kindly consider adding a
> much
> needed speed boost to serial connectivity in NCX.
>
> (And please, folks, spare us the talk about how you can 'live without
> serial' because you know full well we all would benefit from a
> speed boast
> here, even if you personally would only use it rarely.)

James -

in my case, it's really not a matter of speed. Rather, a matter of
practicality. When I'm working in other places that are not my home,
I grab my PowerBook G4 and my Newton, and it'd be lovely to set up
the Ethernet connection properly, because I would only have to take
an Ethernet cable to transfer data (and when I go to the
Polytechnical University or at its library I don't even have to: they
usually lend me one if I ask) and that would be very practical for
me. No need of Keyspan adapters, no serial cable, no dongle.

Regarding speed with serial connections: I really fail to see the big
issue, considering the usually small size of Newton packages. The
only time when the speed of a serial connection made me furious with
frustration was when I tried the ROM dump with Hammer, to use the
Einstein emulator.

I'm sure Simon is (or will be) taking notes about all the issues
we're having/raising. A faster serial connection would be fine, but I
wouldn't mind a more stable Ethernet connection as well. As I said,
it may not be a matter of mere speed to some users, but of practicality.

Cheers,
Rick

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