Hi Ken, Thanks for the link to PSP Audioware. Some of those GUIs are beautifully rendered, and they appeal to my "eye candy" senses. I'm a graphic designer by trade, so I'm attracted to well-arranged pixels :^)
Unfortunately, something as photorealistically rendered as this console, http://www.pspaudioware.com/images/PSP_608MD.jpg for instance, cannot provide the tactile feedback that's such a part of the "hands-on" satisfaction gained from decades of radios. OK, so you can mouse-click a nice, 3D-shaded rendition of a knurled knob...and it accomplished whatever computerized function it's intended to do. But do your fingers and mind *enjoy* that click as much twisting the original "real" knob that the image is seeking to represent? I guess that's why I love the PowerMate and Shuttle Pro2 peripherals with my SDR-1000. I really like Jeff WA6AHL's addition of the analog meter, not so much for the trip down memory lane, but for the quick, visual feedback the relative pointer position gives. I don't have to be looking directly at the meter to get a rough idea of signal strength and/or fade characteristics. With the numeric readout, I need to think about the numbers for a moment to gain the same understanding. It's similar to how auto enthusiasts prefer a traditional "needle" tachometer rather than a digital readout. I'm glad to see radio software exiting that in-between era of making the computer display look like a traditional radio. As Duane N9DG described so well, the wise use of monitor real estate takes an entirely different approach of efficiency and ergonomics. I look forward to modular approaches such as the Squeak Smalltalk efforts (a la Bob G3UKB: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/g3ukb/_ No doubt about it; we're beginning an exciting era of radio progress! Guy Atkins Puyallup, WA www.sdr-1000.blogspot -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Ken N9VV Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2006 6:12 PM To: Duane - N9DG; FlexRadio Systems email reflector Subject: Re: [Flexradio] s-meters and vitual knobs :-) Hi Duane, For me, the photo realistic S-Meter is an absolute FAVORITE. I remember when John KD5NRA coded it on his laptop while traveling home to Austin, TX after an exciting Dayton-05. John was so fired up from Gerald's presentation that his creative energies overflowed at S9+60db :-) Phil N8VB picked up the idea and then incorporated it into his SoftRock implementation. In the past 2 weeks, Jeff WA6AHL has created a detachable version in his brilliant new console adaptation. So more "traditional" displays adapted for the PC are very popular. Supporting material can be found among the THOUSAND DOLLAR consoles: http://www.pspaudioware.com/ de Ken
