Vector Imagery

[Ethan Dicks]

On 7/3/06, Jules Richardson <julesrichardsonuk at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> Lack of power on the parallel port's a strange one - I always found it hard to
> believe that the implementors didn't forsee the use of the port as a
> general-purpose output port and provide it with a couple of power pins. It's
> not like there aren't several grounds available so that couple could have been
> given up for +5V pins.

The Amiga 1000 has a power pin just for powering external devices.  It
was unpopular because one needed a custom cable to avoid frying
devices that weren't expecting it or to avoid frying the Amiga in case
the pin was shorted to ground.  The A500 and A2000 have PC-compatible
parallel port connectors.

> I used to power external gadgets from the PC keyboard port because I happened
> to have the right connectors to hand in order to tap power from there - that
> was at least portable until everywhere went to ps/2 type keyboards.

I have done that, too, even with PS/2 keyboard connectors.

> One of my other machines just had one of the internal drive power connectors
> fed out of the back of the case though for a useful point to take power from.

Done that, too... I've used DIN-4s for it because C= had a line of
disks (1541-II and a few others) that used a DIN-4 for +5, +12 and
GND).

I was just hoping to upgrade my dodgy ladder with a more precise one
without resorting to additional cables and powered circuits.  I seemed
to have opened a can of worms.

-ethan