From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: April 9, 2009 6:02:45 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Re: USB to firewire?

Hi Tim;

On 9-Apr-09, at 5:44 PM, Tim wrote:

This is good info. I may go the "upgrade g4 and HP at same time" route, then. I really like my mini, but then taking one of those out in the field with a monitor and keyboard isn't exactly a step up from the powerbook. I also like the backlit keyboard of the macbook pros,

but I'm not thrilled at the starting price of 2K. Rats.

The 15" MacBook Pro's start at $2200 here in Canada (+ 5% FedTax and Environmental Fees). You might want to look at a Used G4 LapTop as an alternative for a Field Computer though.

On the camera front: Any special reason Pt Grey put the 2/3" chip in a flea2, but not the exview HAD that's in the grasshopper?

No real idea why they did that.

It could be a heat issue though, as the cameras do heat up with the EXHAD CCD's in them.

I was initially not very impressed with the EXHAD Grasshopper for long exposures as they had really high noise levels until I began cooling it down. If they begin running in the 30°C range, then the noise levels become quite excessive (i.e. salt and pepper backgrounds).

TTYL..

Milton J. Aupperle

President

ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting

Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist

#916, 742 Kingsmere Crescent S.W.

Calgary Alberta T2V2H8

1-(403)-453-1624

milton@outcastsoft.com