The RS-232 Solution [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION Nothing in the world of microcomputers is more reviled, despised, or misunderstood than the RS-232-C interface. Ordinarily mild-mannered humans are driven berserk by the experience of connecting their computer equipment. Sometimes this rage gets out of hand: A dispute between a customer and a computer store over a $180 bill has ended in tragedy with the fatal shooting of the store's owner. A 42-year-old man, Floyd French of Gladstone, Missouri, was arrested at the scene and later charged with first-degree murder. The victim was the owner of the Altair Computer Center, Henry Phillip Bouldin. According to police, French had bought a computer from Bouldin, then brought in a printer purchased elsewhere and asked that [the store] make the two compatible —InfoWorld, June 20, 1983 A computerist purchases a microcomputer with an "RS-232-C compatible" serial interface, and later purchases a well-known printer. When the the two units are connected by a standard EIA RS-232-C full-duplex cable, not only does the printer refuse to print, it also paralyzes the computer. The owner hopefully contacts the manufacturer of the printer, who replies: There are over 100,000 copies of our product in use in 45 countries. Our interface, by virtue of its numbers, is a proven standard. We recommend you contact the