Rod, at 09:34 on May 20 1996, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

RS> Crap, there is fuck all in it parts cost wise even with the externals.

BG> Are you completely mad?  I happen to have my external sitting in front of 
BG> me, lid off, as I type, and it not only measures at least 3x the size of 
BG> the internal, the entire board is tightly populated with a hell of a lot 
BG> more componentry than the internals. There is no free space at all.

RS> So now you are attempting to run the line that say the Courier internal
RS> and external are radically different electronically, even tho they use
RS> the SAME SDL?  When the only real difference in functionality is the LEDs?

Yep.  The internal might work much the same, but electrically, there are
many differences, and these can clearly be seen when an internal and an
external's board are placed side by side.  Quite apart from the LEDs, the
Voice/Data switch, and the external audio pot, there are several other
major electrical differences, although like you, I can't really see why. 
However, reasoning aside, the fact remains that there ARE differences, and
major ones too.

RS> Are you seriously trying to claim that USR has to triple the logic
RS> on a quite fancy electronic design, the internal, just to support
RS> LEDs and a power switch ?  I think they should take the person
RS> responsible for that design out the back and shoot him, quick.

There's more to it than that.  Sure, I agree that the externals could just
as easily be internals mounted in a plastic case (with a few minor
differences of course), and be much the same size, but they're not.  And I
have no idea why.  All I know is that they MUST cost a hell of a lot more
to manufacture than the internal does (which still doesn't explain why they
cost much the same).

RS> You are out of your fucking tree if you think that the external has
RS> three times the circuitry that a Sportster has but the internals dont.

BG> The physical evidence is right in front of me, Rod.

RS> Pity you dont put your brain into gear and think about it tho.

I demand a second opinion then.  Where's your dog?

Regards, Bill

--- Msgedsq/2 3.20