Subject: Re: ///SSH Systeme's Ethernet card
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From: steve@staticmonkey.com (Steve Mentzer)
Organization: Organization, What's That???
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Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 16:31:40 GMT
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>
>I find it highly amusing that while the past ten years everyone wanted to
>design and build an ethernet card, nobody did. And I have a fair idea who
>seriously considered it, because they usually approached me first to get
>Marinetti support.
>
>Then suddenly, someone does. Not only does it exist, but it works, and
>it's ready to go.
>
>So what happens? A dozen or so people who didn't "give a fuck" for the
>last ten years suddenly say they can build one, cheaper and better.
>
>Well, I'd love to apologise and be proved wrong, but I've reading the same
>story for the past ten years...
>
>Why not support ///SSH, write apps, define APIs, offer development
>suggestions, help him drive the cost down and the functionality up. After
>all, isn't that what everyone is after? Isn't it? ISN'T IT?!
>


Richard...

FYI: The development process of the "cheaper" ethernet board started long 
before SHH announced their board.

No-one is interested in screwing SHH. The truth of the matter is that $200.00 
is a lot to spend on a board for an old apple II. I can certainly justify it, 
as my income will allow me to purchase multiples of the boards.

But there are folks out there who could use a board who propably wont be able 
to afford it. While I totally agree that the SHH board is here now, I cant get 
over that $200/unit price tag.

If we can get a $50-60/unit price point on a board, I think they will sell like 
crazy. 

I really think that the SHH board, and the "cheaper" board have the possibility 
to open up a whole new niche for the apple II. I am looking forward to 
developing a web SERVER for the Apple II. Don't laugh, I developed a simple web 
server years ago for the PC, and I dont see any problem porting the code to the 
II.

If we can optimize production techniques and channels for the "cheap" ethernet 
board, there is a slight possibility that the same channels and ideas can be 
used for other peripherals (accelerators, scsi boards, VGA boards, etc). It is 
a long shot, but the limited II market cannot survive $200/unit boards. 
Something needs to be done.

FWIW: I will be purchasing an SHH board once they start shipping. Can't wait 
to see my IIgs "ping" something :)