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Programmable Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD)

Posted by timothy on from the dashboard-toy dept.

An anonymous reader writes "There is a review of a programmable Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD). It is used to monitor computer related stats e.g. temperture, voltages, uptime etc. The article can be found here. Looks like an interesting toy!"

3 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. So... um... why? by WPIDalamar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Is it just the coolness factor? Or is there another reason to have one?

    1. Re:So... um... why? by Zathrus · · Score: 5, Interesting

      About the only reason I can see to use one of these (at least, once you get out of the geek subset that's into case modding) is for a home theater PC. Having an HTPC that could display current input, current song/video playing with time elapsed, etc. would be nice. And most LCDs have a visibility measured in inches (centimeters) rather than feet (meters).

      Would probably want to be able to turn the brightness down though, since if it's too bright it's distracting in a darkened room.

      And, all of that said, this display is too large to be used for most HTPCs -- the display itself is about the right size, but requiring 2 5.25" drive bays kills it.

  2. Throw in a reel to reel tape deck. . . by kfg · · Score: 4, Interesting

    that fits on top of my tower and I'll be set. The dinosaurs aren't dead, they've just taken a while to "evolve" to a smaller package.

    PC's are birds. I guess Linus realized that when he chose the penguin as a mascot.

    I mean really, think about it. You can get a card with a vacuum tube on it, visual state displays, tape backup and water cooling, all the things that micros "obsoleted."

    The more things change. . .

    KFG