From: STeve Andre' (andres_at_msu.edu)
Date: Sun Oct 08 2000 - 12:59:47 EDT
USB isn't a PCI interface exactly, but if the chipsets on laptops use PCI
glue logic (and also software) to interface to it, then I think that implies
that software that looked like USB on the API end but was different on
the inside would have to be created.
USB isn't fast enough for a 100Mbps NIC, either. The next revision of USB
is supposed to go to up something like 500Mbps, but the current maxs out
at I think 12Mbps, so I don't think we'll see many 100Mbps USB NICs 'till
the next spec for USB comes out, which of course won't help all of us with
the current USBcards.
At 11:40 AM 10/9/00 -0500, Chris Schumann wrote:
>USB is not a PCI interface. It may be that the current USB chipsets
>require PCI, but USB itself does not. I'm certain, for example, that
>USB scanners do not have PCI busses in them to support the USB interface.
>Most computers have them because the PCI chipset includes them for free.
>
>So, someone could indeed design a serial- or parallel to USB device,
>but it would be limited to the speed of the port, and the market is
>probably pretty small.
>
>I think we'll see a non-CardBus USB PCMCIA card soon, given that you
>can buy 100Mbps ethernet cards, and those cannot sustain the full
>data rate because they are limited to ISA bus speeds.
>
>Chris
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <scosgt_at_att.net>
>To: "Edward Mendelson" <emendelson_at_compuserve.com>
>Cc: <thinkpad_at_cs.utk.edu>
>Sent: Monday, October 09, 2000 10:20 AM
>Subject: Re: [TP old models] Any way to get USB on old ThinkPads?
>
>
> > USB is a PCI based interface, so if the older machine
> > does not support CardBus or a PCI based docking
> > solution, it probably can not be done.
> > > John,
> > >
> > > As far as I can tell, there are plenty of USB-to-serial adapters that
>plug
> > > into a machine's USB port and provide a new serial port, but there
>don't
> > > seem to be any serial-to-USB adapters that plug into a machine's
>serial port
> > > and provide a new USB port. The same applies to parallel ports.
>Apparently,
> > > the technology simply doesn't allow it. I wish it did...
> > >
> > > Edward
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "John Small" <jtsmall_at_onramp.net>
> > > To: "ThinkPad Mailing List" <thinkpad_at_cs.utk.edu>
> > > Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2000 8:54 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [TP old models] Any way to get USB on old ThinkPads?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Sat, 7 Oct 2000 12:34:36 -0400, "Edward Mendelson"
> > > <emendelson_at_compuserve.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > >Many thanks for any info.
> > >
> > > I searched about a month ago and was pointed to serial port to USB
>adapters.
> > > It
> > > was said they were faster than PC Card (pcmcia not CardBus) adapters.
>I
> > > have
> > > not searched them out. If you do, pls post back your results.
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> > > -jts <Arlington, TX>
> > > ThinkPad 560(EOC), 701C
> > >
> > >
> >
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