[ltp] [Fwd: [Fwd: A linux driver for IBM TrackPoint devices (GPL)]]

[linux-thinkpad@www.bm-soft.com]

> Keith, any info on what sound/modem hardware will be in the 775? The
thingy
> will be presented @ CeBIT anyway so ... :-)

What the heck is a 775? Somebody needs to do a more reliable job of leaking
model/code-name information! :-)  Of course, I can't comment on
unnannounced products. But I'd be happy to lie about announced ones.

> Keith, is there any way of getting the specifications for the DSP ? I
mean something
> that doesn't require any rev. engineering and guess work as to the inner
workings of the
> MWave chip ?

In June of 1994 we published a datasheet (chip spec) for the MDSP2780,
which is the Mwave DSP used in ThinkPad 755/760's. It discusses the
architecture of the DSP, including the control registers programmable via
I/O space. However, it doesn't list the instruction set. Although I have an
equivalent document for the IBM DSP 3780i (the DSP used in the 770 and 600
series, except for the 600X), it is currently marked as "confidential". I
suspect there is no longer a need for it to be confidential, and I might be
able to convince ThinkPad to arrange for the spec to be released. As with
the 2780 chip spec, it does not contain details of the native DSP
instruction set.

As far as documentation of the instruction set, I believe the original
Mwave SDK contained the details of the assembly language, though I don't
know if it listed the instruction encodings. I might still have an SDK and
associated documentation at home -- I'll try to remember to check. I would
suspect that the instruction set has grown a little bit since the original
SDK (I think the SDK covered pre-2780 chips). As with the 3780i spec, we
might have internal "confidential" specifications that detail the assembly
language and instruction encodings, but I'm not sure about that.

Keep in mind, such specifications do not discuss how to make the DSP be a
modem or a sound card. Rather, those specs describe the hardware features
of the DSP and the I/O interfaces for programming it. It does not discuss
existing *.DSP files and how to use them, nor how the host code (x86) uses
the *.DSP files to make the DSP function as a modem or sound device.

-- Keith

Keith Frechette
Linux Development Lead, Mobile Computing Options and Software Development
IBM Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
kfrechet@us.ibm.com / 919-543-3761 / TieLine:441-3761


Bill Mair <bill.mair@bm-soft.com> on 02/13/2000 08:15:56 PM

Please respond to linux-thinkpad@www.bm-soft.com

To:   linux-thinkpad@www.bm-soft.com
cc:
Subject:  Re: [ltp] [Fwd: [Fwd: A linux driver for IBM TrackPoint devices
      (GPL)]]



Harald Milz wrote:

> > And for what it's worth, after a petition from over 800 individuals,
IBM decided to
> > port their complete "VisualAge for Java" to Linux. They realized that
there was a real
> > market for this product.
>
> Errr - this was part of the global IBM SWG strategy to release all
products
> for Linux. IBM PSG is a different story.

Scott Stanchfield organized it. IBM said nothing is planned. IBM released a
tech preview
with no promises, and added "You wanted it, lets see how many people really
download
it". IBM released it with the 3.0 drop, product level. Obviously enough
people downloaded
the tech preview.

I'm not sure of this but I think that it is also the only IBM "product" for
the linux
desktop.
The rest are all either tech. previews, betas or server sided thingys.

> > IBM seems to think that there is a potential for Linux on the server
market, but they
> > are also now seeming to wake up to the idea that Linux is also a
desktop system.
>
> Yep - as you say a large customer's word and it's going to be done if (!)
> IBM Legal hasn't got other plans with MWave.

Only IBM can answer that one. Keith ?

Keith, is there any way of getting the specifications for the DSP ? I mean
something
that doesn't require any rev. engineering and guess work as to the inner
workings of the
MWave chip ?

> > No other response. Nothing. Nil. Zip. Zilch.
>
> QED... :-(

I know. I know.

> Ummm - I'd say if you can show where the money _actually_ lies IBM will
> move. Give them a large business opportunity and off it goes. 600 or 800
> Thinkpads (all of which have been sold already, and there are no new
models
> with MWave!) will hardly move this tanker except maybe if the customer is
> Deutsche Bank or SAP.

Where's my phone book, I'll give Deutsche Bank and SAP a call tomorrow...

There are and probably will also be a large number of students purchasing
old
systems. IBM won't make money on this true, but it will get people onto the
brand.
I personally own three of them, 701cs, 760cd and my 770x. I just love the
trackpoint
and the general quality of workmanship. With respect to HW they are really
hard to
beat. Now if we could only get the hard core specifications for MWave then
the
community could really move.

> The bad news is that MWave is dead from a development standpoint. It will
> be very hard to convince somebody that there is actually an opportunity
on
> new placements. IBM Sales isn't incented on old iron.

The good news: The hardware that is using MWave isn't.
The bad news: The hardware that is using MWave isn't.

As I said above, the only realistic argument could be getting people onto
the brand

> Keith, any info on what sound/modem hardware will be in the 775? The
thingy
> will be presented @ CeBIT anyway so ... :-)

Now you should know that IBM never, ever, says anything before a product is
officially
released.
(Keith, you CC me on the reply too though...)

Any way, its about time that IBM released an adequate successor to the 770,
the 600 thingys
are
just too small for power hungry users. [DUCK & WEAVE] ;-)) (Just joking
dear ltp600'ers)

Bill.




----- The Linux ThinkPad mailing list -----
The linux-thinkpad mailing list home page is at:
http://www.bm-soft.com/~bm/tp_mailing.html