[Arm-netbook] HDMI HEC on future boards

[mike.valk at gmail.com]

2016-09-07 21:38 GMT+02:00 Vincent Legoll <vincent.legoll at gmail.com>:

> >  it just never occurred to me (it definitely should
> > have) that that would result in potential "lock-in".
>
> I don't buy into this, there's no lock-in to me. The user
> will fill his needs whatever the mean, either by using
> something provided (almost) freely by the SoC, or by
> buying additional HW.
>

I tend to agree. The EOMA Cards slides in only one way so it's very awkward
to have a receptacle utilizing both sides. Besides it would not receive
certification. The one item that still tingles my brain is
the physical limit to how far the user facing side may extend outwards, in
any direction. We have seen some fancy "bulbs" on pc-cards in the past.

For example:
http://pascal.hansotten.com/uploads/electronics/images/delockparallel.jpg

That one extends in all directions right out of the pc-card enclosure.
Might even block the ejector.

So do receptacles need a clearance around the slot or do cards need to stay
inside. And may a receptacle block the user facing side, for waterproofing
etc.


>
> So what can be argued is: will the few things added to
> every boards to provide the SoC specific functionalities
> be compensated by the things not needed for those who
> will get it anyways. That's a trade-of, additional price will
> also be a factor.
>
> But providing additional interface on the far end of the
> card is no philosophical problem to me. Especially for
> ubiquitous things like ethernet, I can't think of this being
> a locking-in feature. After all these boards are designed
> to have a long lifespan, so the need to upgrade is not as
> important.
>
> And if (and only if) a future upgrade does not provide it,
> then you always be able to switch to an USB one, if (and
> only if) you still need it...
>
> >  i always thought, y'know, things like HDMI would be ubiquitous /
> > common enough that you would always be able to find an upgraded
> > computer card with USB-OTG and HDMI: the impact of specialisation at
> > the *user-facing* end never hit my tiny brain :) huh.
>
> In my computer life I've seen 2 wired net techs (BNC & eth), whereas
> I've used 5 for display (VGA, BNC, DVI, HDMI, DP). I'm OK with USB
> because of its backward compatibility (I'm still not sure it will stay that
> way) So I'm not sure trying too hard to guess the future is mandated
> here, just being pragmatic. Which I can (and have) be(en) convinced
> EOMA68 is...
>
> But I'm convinced that providing as much of the SoC functionalities as
> pragmatically possible is better. Either by enabling more widespread
> adoption, or by avoiding the need for USB-based addons.
>

My guess is that the USB type C connector is probably going to be standard.
It's already got USB 2, 3, Power, DisplayPort, MHL,HDMI,Thunderbolt, Analog
audio and Ethernet is being discussed.

Still a single port can only issue a single mode at the same time at once,
power can be mixed. So multiple ports are needed if you need those things
in parallel. And it does need a capable switch tho pass everything output
to a single port.

I really hope that ethernet comes through on USB-C, RJ type connectors were
not meant to endure so many push and pull cycles and survive bags and other
cables.


>
> --
> Vincent Legoll
>
> _______________________________________________
> arm-netbook mailing list arm-netbook at lists.phcomp.co.uk
> http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/arm-netbook
> Send large attachments to arm-netbook at files.phcomp.co.uk
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/pipermail/arm-netbook/attachments/20160912/1b60115a/attachment.html>