<<I can't help but think that this whole transition away from HP-IB isn't
long overdue.>>
 
I agree completely. We're to the point where just an HPIB connector is a
substantial fraction of the size of the peripheral to be connected.
 
<<If I remember correctly, Digital had three separate I/O systems within
the PDP line, depending on the level, and that many people had to upgrade
their I/O systems to upgrade to new processors in, ostensibly, the same
line.  I believe that the IBM 360/370 systems forced the same thing. I'm
by no means a defender of those two companies, however, I think that HP
has done a fairly spectacular job forestalling the inevitable shift to
"better" technology.>>
 
What I think I'd like to see is for the next generation of HP boxes to be
SCSI only-no HPIB, no HPFL, no questions (Centronics and RS-232 would
still be optional, of course). Then there's a clear-cut,
no-questions-asked decision: keep your current box and your HPIB/HPFL
peripherals, or buy the new box and replace the peripherals. Much better,
to me, than the current "the new boxes work with HPIB, but we won't admit
it" approach.
 
Steve Dirickson         WestWin Consulting
(360) 598-6111  [log in to unmask]