On 11/06/2012 16:56, Dilwyn Jones wrote:
I think the key advantage for an SD-card project is something Urs
already said years ago, that it might appeal to computer collectors.
These are not terribly interested in the QL per se but might pay
something if it enables them to transfer files to one of their
collector items without too much pain. And this group is potentially
much larger than the QL community itself, I guess.
Though I'm not sure if a small and self-contained ROM dongle might be
a bit better suited for these people, as this is probably preferable
to opening the box and breaking the keyboard membrane in the process
;-)
Ideally both forms could be supported with the same drivers and only
little hardware changes.
Marcel
I agree. Whatever of the two forms it takes, this has the potential to
be THE QL mass storage device. No need for Qubide and external hard
disk for example. No need for floppy drives most of the time (apart
from transferring stuff from original floppies). Plug in the Gold
Card/Trump Card/whatever just for expanded memory, for example.
A self-contained mass-storage unit with removable media (i.e. SD
cards) would give the good old black box a new lease of life and of
course there's always the possibilities of using the SD card for file
transfer between QL and other computers where the filing system permits.
So this is potentially good for existing users and retro computer
collectors.
I hope Peter manages to find someone to make it available.
Dilwyn Jones
_______________________________________________
QL-Users Mailing List
http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
It is just a shame that there was not all this enthusiasm and discussion
some months ago when Adrian needed to see some interest in the QL-SD
Interface.
Personally, I think that an internally fitted option is a non-starter -
collectors want to keep the QL as original as possible, but still have a
simple means of getting software onto the computer and using it - I
still get orders for people wanting software on microdrive cartridge -
but I normally go through 15-20 cartridges to make a good copy, only to
find that the felt pad drops off in the post, or wears away after the
customer has used it 10 times...
At the moment, with very few disk and memory interfaces on the second
hand market (I have just a Trump Card and a Super Gold Card and need the
Trump Card!), people are left with no viable alternatives.
A nice easy solution which plugged into the QL ROM port would be ideal
for these collectors and many users - including a lot of the Quanta
members (although they may then need a means of acquiring extra memory!).
Finance for projects is readily available - both through myself and
Quanta....
It is more to do with the time needed by Peter if he is to redesign the
project to work in the QL ROM port and overcome some of the issues.
As to whether it is viable commercially, who was it that said 'Build it
and they will come' ?
I certainly have a number of customers wanting some form of storage
solution - be it a disk drive + interface, SD interface, or a RomDisq.....
I have to draw parallels here with the ZXpand interface for the ZX81 -
admittedly there was an upsurge in interest because of its 30th
anniversary (we need to start on plans for something to celebrate the
QL's 30th anniversary ....), however, the original designer was planning
to build 20-25 interfaces and sell them just for the cost of the parts.
Although there were not even 20 people who had expressed an interest,
following discussions, we decided to get 150 units made, and sell them
commercially - and are now just starting to get the next batch of 200
interfaces made (having sold out). The original designer has made a
nice little profit on his efforts and it has inspired him to create more
hardware for the ZX81 (an AY sound and joystick module) which has
similarly sold well.
--
Rich Mellor
RWAP Services
Specialist Enuuk Auction Programming Services
www.rwapservices.co.uk
_______________________________________________
QL-Users Mailing List
http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
