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

["Ross, Matt" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

We could get cheaper than that, if we wanted to be more organized.  Staple
goods could have specific spots that would have weight sensors that could
determine when the milk is low, when you're out of eggs, etc.  Only one
server involved, and that's just to relay the weight information to the
reorder station.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael [mailto:EMAIL:PROTECTED]
> Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2001 11:44 PM
> To: EMAIL:PROTECTED
> Subject: Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] net-enabled microcontrollers for
> appliances, VCRs, stereos
> 
> 
> > 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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