From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: June 21, 2005 9:56:10 AM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] any way to use Pixelink PL-A741 with mac


Hi Ed;


From PixelLink's  pdf spec sheet


http://www.pixelink.com/uploads/PL-A741_datasheet.pdf


 it shows they do support the necessary formats modes and can deliver 8 or 16 bit video in sizes from 640x480 to 1280x960 video sizes. However they don't specifically indicate whether they support the absolute shutter register or not.


So either ask them if they support the absolute shutter register or try out Astro IIDC 2.0 with the camera to see if it works or not.


The reason that some IIDC complaint cameras (PixeLink, Point Grey Research etc.)  do not work under OSX is because Apple  code for parsing the configrom descriptors in the camera are fatally flawed, as compared to Windows or Linux. Apple makes assumptions about order that some data fields are read in, where as Windows/Linux does it the right way and actually checks the field tokens before blindly assuming what the fields hold.  I have reported this to Apple bug reporter and even had a discussion on one of the Apple FireWire lists with the head FireWire engineer about this months ago - and they still have not fixed it. They likely won't until Leopard ships, if ever.


However this specific problem doesn't affect Astro IIDC 2, as once I figure out what was wrong with Apple's code,  I created a work around that rely on Apple.


HTH..


Milton J. Aupperle

President

ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting

Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist

#1005 - 815 14th Avenue. S.W.

Calgary Alberta Canada T2R0N5

1-(403)-229-9456

milton@outcastsoft.com

www.outcastsoft.com




On 21-Jun-05, at 1:03 AM, gapeseed5 wrote:

Before I buy a windows machine I was wondering if there is any way to use this on a mac. Any 

suggestions?


Thanks


ed





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