Re: HP-IL/PC interface card Message #22 Posted by Christoph Klug on 23 Mar 2005, 4:52 a.m., in response to message #21 by Mike (Stgt)
Dear HP41 enthusiasts :-)
Thanks for your interest about HP-IL/PC interface card and about EMU41. You are right, a HP-IL / USB interface would be a future orientated system solution. May be there is someone in the handheld computer world, who creates such a modern solution. But up to now the old fashioned HP-IL/PC interface card is the proofed reference system for HP-IL / PC interfacing.
SOFTWARE :
Some different software tools exist for HP-IL / PC interfacing : The classic Link Plus and TRANS41 software and the fantastic EMU41 and EMU71 from Jean-Francois Garnier. Some handheld computer collectors run different software solutions for different handheld computer systems. The software packages above support HP41, HP71 and HP75. Furthermore EMU41 and EMU71 are able to control different HP-IL devices like IL-Plotter, IL-Voltmeter, IL-Mass storage and so on. A modern HP-IL / USB interface solution have to sum up the complete range of features form the well known software solutions above.
HARDWARE :
The actual users of the HP-IL/PC interface card own and uses some HP handheld computers : Minimal they have two handhelds available, in most cases some more machines, and some own a great number of handhelds. This users are advanced users, power users, enthusiasts, collectors, professionals and last not least also fans of nostalgic computer systems. This specific group of people have available some handheld computers – and also some PC hardware. For this group exist minimal one PC, which includes the needed ISA-Bus. If not, they buy an old PC including ISA-Bus from a garage buy next door for really less money. At the other hand, for professional PC users, the ISA-Bus is an industrial standard, which is supported also by modern industrial PC hardware. The reason behind this is, that much exotic industrial computer applications exist which includes ISA-Bus based hardware. This applications are running for much years, and there is no idea to change or replace them by new solutions. In fact there exist some professional / industrial applications, using the HP-IL/PC interface card for measurement, control and data logger applications, and for replacing handhelds by PC hardware.
CONCLUSION :
A modern solution like a HP-IL to USB interface would be nice to have, today the actual existing ISB-Bus based solution would be the reference solution. Remember that the group of handheld users and enthusiasts is limited – and most of them use the actual solution with great benefit and success. Therefore the story of the HP-IL/PC interface card also will go on to future times, and some more handheld computer enthusiasts will start to work with this solution. May be we get additional RS232 support for EMU41, this item have highest importance on the add on feature list for Jean-Francois Garnier.
With best wishes – Christoph Klug
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