LCD Kits and attached Computers

[DogbertFuz]

Ok, let me try to explain this right:

I've been playing with LCD controllers via parallel ports for some time. As most people who can't afford Digital I/O cards know, this is the cheapest way to do advanced prototypes.

Now that I've finished that task, I've been looking to do this as a sort of hobbie. Since I run Win2k and am unwilling to dual boot, I can no longer do this via parallel ports. Searching on the web, I cannot find any sort of PCI/ISA card that gives BitBLT functionality through a library and drivers. Rather I find VGA conversions and display drivers. I don't want to extend my screen through a 1/4 VGA.

I know this is possible, as I have a digital I/O card at my new office. I was just wondering if they sell samples for advanced prototyping. Either way, I would like some input. I'm shooting for a 6 inch color 1/4 VGA resolution LCD and hopefully somewhere near $300 for controller, i/o card, and lcd. Does anyone have any experience with this?

p.s.
I am really unwilling to write my own drivers unless the entire physical and electrical specs for the card are available. Even then, I'd much prefer to connect to a library.

 

[DogbertFuz]

no one huh?

 

[pm]

I think, maybe, I missed the question.

Are you asking how to read and write the parallel port in Win2k (there are plenty of libraries that will fake a driver to let you do this, for example, this one)?

Or are you asking for a place that will give you a sell you a digital I/O card? (this is a good link but there's no way that I think you will meet $300 for the LCD, card and software)

 

[DogbertFuz]

Hmm, good link. Thanks. Let me clarify a bit. I'm looking to just screw around with an LCD attached to my computer. I would like something with BitBLT libraries already built into it. Which controller cards are good for this sort of functionality?

The best case scenario would be a controller card that plugs into PCI/ISA slot which then has device drivers (don't care too much about how functional these would be) which allow a library to directly access the LCD memory. This would allow me to avoid having to purchase a Digital I/O card and learn the DVI specs. =)