Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] net-enabled microcontrollers for appliances,VCRs, stereos

[Michael <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

> Michael:
> You have no idea what you're talking about.  First, the web server costs AT 
> LEAST $20 to put in (if you run it on a reasonable PIC MCU).  The interface 
> costs around $20.  There is also about $10 of other parts that you need 
> (flashrom, memory, other components).  Finally, for the web server to do 
> something, it has to be interfaced to the rest of the equipment.  That can 
> cost anywhere from $10 (interface to some EEPROM) to $100 (if you put lots of 
> extra functionality and sensors).

Nope wrong again. They have highly simplified one chip lil web servers
that cost just about $1. No flashrom, memory, etc needed.. except for some
sort of network interface. I've seen one chip network cards for only a
couple dollars.. WiFi probably costs a lil more still but use will drop
the cost.

> > Hell put a webserver in every
> > milk carton that tells the fridge when it is low. It's so cheap that you
> > don't really lose anything by giving the extra interface to the people who
> > might want it and it gets cheaper the more it's used.
> Where are you getting this from?  Last time I checked, the cheapest 
> microcontroller I've seen is around $10.  There are also lots of other parts.

I've seen cheaper. Still not cheap enough to be in a milk carton but
eventually I'm sure they will be. Probably a printed circuit in the lid or
label. Like the little printed circuits they use for security or the
printed cell phones or something.

> Now, I'm not saying that it can't get cheaper.  Eventually it will, as 
> companies develop special ASICs and cheap blobtronics that will do everything 
> on one chip.  However, there is nothing out there right now that can do this 
> for a reasonable price.  Would you pay $200 for a VCR that you can get for 
> $90 without a webserver?  I sure wouldn't, especially since the functionality 
> is not worth the price.

You obviously don't follow things very close. All these parts are
mainstream now. Not even the hackers domain anymore. I'd certainly pay $5
extra for a VCR that was wired so that my cell phone, computer, or PDA
could act as a universal remote via a handy network interface.

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