Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Francois Lanciault

Le 07-02-12 à 17:42, [EMAIL PROTECTED] a écrit :

> Hi Per
>
> I think you miss the point sometimes.
>
> You said
>
>  "The QL was never only about hardware for quite a number of   
> enthusiasts,
> and therefore it is still going strong in its emulated form. If   
> you want
> the best QL platform money can buy, get QPC2 and stick it in your   
> PC."
>
> For quite a number of enthusiasts t it was not and still is not about
> emulators, especially those who love and are sticking to original  
> hardware and
> those who have no easy upgrade route now if they do not have a PC  
> at  home.
>

I agree with Ducan. I have no reason to use an emulator; if I have to  
use an host computer to run QL programs, I will use the host native  
OS instead. However, as with many retro-computing lovers, using a  
actual old computer has a lot of charm. It amaze me to see how much  
stuff an old computer can do. And buying stuff to upgrade a retro  
computer is a big part of the fun.

Would I buy new hardware for my QL ? Probably, depending of what it  
does. USB board, ethernet board or all in one solution would be very  
tempting.

François
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Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane

2007-02-12 Thread extdgl42
Interesting; reminds me I was just on Amazon reading about their history of 
Commodore. Apple, IBM, M$ et al survived. Commodore was one of the main players 
early in personal computing, and in fact is said there to have been one of the 
main reasons Sinclair was knocked out of the game. But the others are 
remembered and Commodore is not, despite having had many firsts. I don't have 
the URL right with me, but I expect one can google or search Amazon on 
"computer books" and "commodore history".

Doug 37830 USA

-Original Message-
>From: Malcolm Cadman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Feb 12, 2007 2:25 PM
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane
>
>In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Rick Chagouri-Brindle 
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>
 Fair enough.  Do you teach ICT then? Snap, although I am a part-time
 lecturer on loan from business!!! At the local college at which I teach
 they insist on calling it Information Communications Technology . . .
 hence the ICT. However, the function of ICT in a educational environment
 is no different from IT in a business environment . . . they are both
 using technology to achieve a purpose.

>>>
>>> I teach Technology, in a secondary school.
>>>
>>> I hate all these pseudo titles, that come and go ...
>>>
>>I couldn't agree with you more . . . there is too much emphasis at work
>>and in education on naming things!
>
>Yes ... "new", so called, initiatives ... :-(
>
>>> We just use the hardware and software to help achieve project work.
>>>
>>And why not? Well, after all, isn't this what technology is for? At
>>times we all get too focussed on technology without purpose, I know I
>>can be guilty of that!!!
>
>Our role is to try to see the technology as a tool to encourage 
>creativity, inventiveness, et, through project based work.
>
>>> Not forgetting, that there is just as much value in hand skills too.
>>>
>>I couldn't agree with you more. I have two young sons and the older boy,
>>who is four ,has his own laptop, but we ensure that he mixes sitting at
>>the computer with actually physically making things with kicking a ball
>>around with . . . . . . .
>>> I have no problem with software investment going into PC applications.
>>> What I find disappointing is that in many schools/colleges it is purely
>>> a Microsoft environment and that students have no concept of the history
>>> and development of ICT.  That, in my view, is a real shame.  Even in
>>> programming, the concentration seems to be totally on Visual Basic -
>>> with all the bad habits that gives us - without considering the huge
>>> variety of better cross-platform languages.  Oh well, that's life, I guess!
>>>
>>>
>>> Yes it is boring, but the way it is at present.
>>>
>>A colleague of mine actually had a student penalised for "thinking
>>outside the box" and using an alternative language - Ruby - for a project.
>>> My school has a Humanities specialist grant, that gives us even more M$
>>> products, as a part of the deal.
>>>
>>MS aren't stupid, are they?
>
>Yes, by pumping in funding now, for their own products, they are seeding 
>the next generation to use them.
>
>>Actually, that reminds me.  I also "teach" on a volunteer basis at a
>>local pre-school.  I use the term teach with this age group very
>>loosely, but I was amazed how much these children pick up and how
>>quickly.  As part of the project, I setup and installed four PCs for
>>them, and we installed the Edubuntu Linux variant - partly for reasons
>>of cost, and partly because it is designed for young children.  They
>>have all taken too it so well, it is amazing.  Many of the children use
>>the machines with more confidence than some of the staff!!!
>
>Umm ... this is why it is still fun and interesting to use the QL, in 
>its modern form and derivatives.
>
>My introduction to "home computing" was in the heady days when there was 
>lots of free choice around.
>
>Now it is M$ dominant.  Although the iPod has shown that the market 
>dominance can be challenged, and new markets created.
>
>-- 
>Malcolm Cadman
>___
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Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane

2007-02-12 Thread extdgl42
Malcom,
Mm-hmm. Only recently did I find there's a secret passage ("... you are in a 
maze of tiny windy passages :-) :-( into the Darwin-unix-guts of the Macs, 
which comes up even when (as in the current case of the 400 Bronze Lombard) you 
can't even complete Safe Booting OS 10.x ... so maybe I can poke around for the 
right thing w/o destroying the system--did I say I know what I'm doing?--and 
fix it's severe boot problem.

Now: "Who knows what secret passages & shadows lie in the hearts of QLs".

Seeing all the different systems, including OSs, is part of the fun. But it did 
my heart good a few nights ago to see the familiar "three" screen pic for the 
first time in a year or two, even if it was on a monochrome monitor full of 
jiggle from the 50/60 problem. Now if I can get a decent monitor (possibly get 
fixed the Acorn Tony tried to resurrect at QL NA) and a (fully) working set of 
floppy drives. It would "warm the cockles of my little black heart" to be able 
to do large shares of what I currently take PCs and Macs to do on that Little 
Black Box.

Doug 37830 USA

-Original Message-
>From: Malcolm Cadman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Feb 12, 2007 2:46 PM
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane
>
>In message 
><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>, extdgl42 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>
>>As an example of variety, I'll mention my confuser (computer :-) room: 
>>Three Macs (two of them laptops), two PCs (One 733, the other 133[!], a 
>>custom build long ago), and several QLs (many still in styrofoam boxes; 
>>one somewhat working). Yes, internet connectivity for four of the 
>>above. All as old as about 1999 or farther back, with OS's as old as 
>>98SE or QDOS, or as recent as SuSE 10.x and Mac OS 10.3 . The Macs e.g. 
>>have been an education.
>>
>>"My life? What life? I have no life. O insuportable! O heavy 
>>hour!"--Apologies to Messrs. Bill the Bard and Othello.
>>
>>Actually, I  _do_ have a life outside computers.
>>
>>Doug L. 37830
>
>Hi Doug,
>
>You are right, I have lots of different computers around too, mostly 
>picked up for little actual cost.
>
>It is the activity that is the fun, not the OS as such.
>
>The so called "old" computers let you get at them, rather than the "new" 
>computers which just give you ready made applications.
>
>-- 
>Malcolm Cadman
>___
>QL-Users Mailing List
>http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm

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Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Matrassyl
Hi Per
 
I think you miss the point sometimes.
 
You said
 
 "The QL was never only about hardware for quite a number of  enthusiasts, 
and therefore it is still going strong in its emulated form. If  you want 
the best QL platform money can buy, get QPC2 and stick it in your  PC."
 
For quite a number of enthusiasts t it was not and still is not about  
emulators, especially those who love and are sticking to original hardware and  
those who have no easy upgrade route now if they do not have a PC at  home.
 
As for QPC2 dont forget that there are 2 critical spofs (single points  of 
failure) for QPC2 - 
 
1. the PC and its OS 
2. like previous QL hardware efforts that started this  discussion the QPC2 
software is a one man show. If Marcel loses  interest QPC2 is dead. 
 
Therefore regardless of personal preferences & Marcels current health  in the 
long term diversity is good, all eggs in one basket is bad. I also  have QPC2 
upto date etc, etc 

"Wot SMSQ/E license issue?" Not my personal issue here but the very real  
fight that despoiled this list some time ago. It needs to be recognised  that 
the 
consequences of that argument was a critical point in the  future development 
of the QL community. As for SMS/E I have compiled my own  SMSQ/E for my Q60 
since 3.03 and tried to show how easy it is to do in QLToday,  but the argument 
about "licence" itself seems to have killed off hardware  development.
 
"However, the second major module of the Aurora project, the mythical  
Goldfire, is still outstanding. That is the project that is furthest advanced.  
If 
it cannot be made to succeed what chance does any other project  have?"

I agree with you there is absolutely none if everyone has  your attitude. 
The question to me is why did it stall, was the project too ambitious in  its 
scope - using a Coldfire processor or did personal circumstances for the  
prime mover result in its end? I dont know. 
 
What I am suggesting is that those with hardware skills  left the community 
should be encouraged (financially) to look at  simpler projects that need less 
development time and are affordable for a larger  number of the group or if 
that is not possible that as a group we should  consider projects with 
outsourcing of development in an affordable way perhaps  to eastern europe as 
suggested 
by Rich Mellor.
 
Duncan  
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Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread P Witte
Duncan writes:

<>
While this discussion has been had here numerous times before, 
obviously, it is still worth having. However, you say

> Without hardware development QL computing will not survive much longer  
> except for retro enthusiasts.

The QL was never only about hardware for quite a number of enthusiasts, 
and therefore it is still going strong in its emulated form. If you want 
the best QL platform money can buy, get QPC2 and stick it in your PC.

> Clearly the cost of upgrading is important to many current users as  the Qx0 
> series has not been taken up generally with the majority of hardware  users 
> running system designed in the 1980s or early 1990s. As a result  development 
> of 
> the Qx0 series seems to have stopped as well, presumably the  market is too 
> small to make it worthwhile developing add ons for the Qx0 and  then there is 
> the SMSQ/E licence issue there as well.

Wot SMSQ/E license issue? The Qx0 comes with a version of Qdos included. 
You could download a copy of the latest SMSQ/E sources and use Qdos to 
assemble your very own version of SMSQ/E. The Registrar has gone to a 
lot of trouble to make this quite painless, and best of all, it is fr.

If you want to contribute to SMSQ/E developments or to update facilities 
or fix bugs, there is a straightforward way to set about it.

Finally, if youre not up to either, you can buy a pre-compiled version 
for your platform for a small fee from an official reseller, who will 
also offer you support.

In other words, the "license issue" is a misnomer. The issue, if there 
is any, lies elsewhere and had better not be discussed ;o)

> If someone is thinking about developing the hardware further, recognising  
> price constraints and the diverse needs of the community would it be possible 
> to 
>  consider a modular process of upgrades. If it were possible for example:
<>

A modular approach is sensible. However, the second major module of the 
Aurora project, the mythical Goldfire, is still outstanding. That is the 
project that is furthest advanced. If it cannot be made to succeed what 
chance does any other project have?

> As a final thought Quanta could stimulate this by making a prize (£s  
> X-prize) for the first team to say design and make a  prototype processor 
> upgrade 
> add on board or USB driver  or whatever,

Id vote for Quanta to fund hardware developments, that would be good for 
the general ambience, even though Im unlikely to buy another piece of QL 
hardware kit myself.

Per
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Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Rich Mellor
On Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:55:39 -, Malcolm Cadman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
wrote:

> In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tony Firshman
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>
>> Neil Riley wrote:
>>> Guys,
>>>
>>> I would happily fork out £300-350 for a SDGC
>>> ( Super Duper GC ) but it would have to be a
>>> marked jump in performance from SGC and allow
>>> for reasonable graphics. Being a gamer I dream
>>> of QL Quake ( wel it is open C source ! ) running on
>>> a Black box QL.
>>>
>>> It is developments like this that kick start the bedroom
>>> coders.
>>>
>>> Oh yes, count me in.
>
>> .. but not graphics I think.  That would still have to be down to the
>> motherboard.
>
> Yes, but programs like QWord show that the OS can now do good graphics
> ... it just needs another platform to run on, at present.
>

That depends on your definition of platform.

We decided that a 4 colour version of QWord would not be playable.  An 8  
colour version was getting there, but you could only have a small grid and  
so it was fairly pointless.

However, with an Aurora motherboard, QPC2 or Qx0, the possibilities were  
much more hopeful.  Heck, we even made certain that it would work on  
Aurora (plus SGC) without SMSQ/e.

It is interesting how new hardware can encourage people to write software  
- we are working on an IDE / CF adaptor for the Spectrum (the DivIDE Plus)  
and should actually manage to get this on the market for around £50, with  
designers in Poland.  However, the firmware is based on an earlier device  
- the authors have been inspired to make use of the additional  
functionality, but then they do not want payment for their work.

Maybe that is the best side of the Sinclair market - people like to see  
just what can be squeezed out of the old machines.

The problem is that there are no new QL hardware designers and it would be  
a steep learning curve for anyone who wished to work on a new project.   
Quanta offered funding to assist with new design, but there has to be the  
market, willingness and time.  Then we need firmware authors - Tony Tebby  
always seems to have been closely involved in any hardware project since  
the start of the QL - who else has actual experience of writing firmware  
for the QL who we could call on?

There are plenty of people still using the standard QL, but the figure  
must be less than 200 and they must feel left behind.  Quanta is losing  
its membership fast, as people realise that they cannot expand their QL  
any more than they have already (either in terms of software or hardware),  
and without access to the internet, do not see the still-thriving  
community - I wonder how many Super Gold Cards lie hidden away in lofts  
and cupboards forgotten.

-- 
Rich Mellor
RWAP Services
URL:http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk
URL:http://www.rwapservices.co.uk

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[ql-users] =?ISO-8859-1?Q?R=E9f=2E_ =3A_Re=3A_ R=E9f=2E_=3A_Re=3A __Spare_GC?= or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread alain . haoui
You are right, Dilwyn (as allways). I am sorry that i didn't follow this
discussion in that time.

We have probably need to implement a 2 layers drivers scheme. A general low
level driver managing communication protocol and a device driver over this
for each kind of periperal/device. I think a scheme like one implemented by
T Godefroy for ATAPI protocol (low level) and CD manager (high level - not
yet very high ) can be a good general architecture.

It is true that available hardware becomes obsolescent in a very short
time, but I think that for some categories, things still more generic and
more stable. I am thinking about devices, such :

- Optical mouse (My real dream for QL)
- Storage device (external disks, CD/DVD and card reader/writer)
- Twain scanner

For others devices like webcams, printers, ... things may be harder to
follow.

My last thought will be that I am not saying that we "must" developp a new
performant hardware and there is or not a suffisient market..., but if we
do, we cannot dont consider implementing an USB port. I am affraid we
haven't the choice : there is no more serial mouse, IDE disks are on
falling side, centronics/serials printer are now souvenirs 

Cheers.
Alain HAOUI
PSA PEUGEOT CITROËN
E-Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tél : 01 56 47 23 19 - Fax : 01 56 47 21 12
GSM : 06 86 57 45 67
Case courrier : LG120


   
 Dilwyn Jones  
 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]  
 sco.net> Pour 
 Envoyé par :  QL Users List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>  
 ql-users-bounces   cc 
 @lists.q-v-d.com  
 Objet 
   Re: [ql-users]Réf. : Re:  Spare 
 12/02/2007 12:30  GC or SGC?  
   
   
 Veuillez  
répondre à 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]  
om 
   
   




This came up in discussion some time ago.

As you say, Alain, the need for drivers would be the deciding factor.

IIRC it's not the USB port driver as such, but the individual drivers
for any particular device connected to it as well.

Even on the PC scene, available harder becomes obsolescent in such a
short time that as soon as a driver got written I guess the hardware
would no longer be sold and quickly back to square 1.

(For those who don't know Alain, I think he wrote many QL programs in
QLCF software library many years ago!)
--
Dilwyn Jones

- Original Message -
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 10:20 AM
Subject: [ql-users] Réf. : Re: Spare GC or SGC?


I am wondering from some time ago, if it is possible to consider an
USB
port implementation on a new QL hardware. This, it will be a real leap
for
the QL community as it opens the door for a planty of low cost and
efficient peripherals and gets down the need for developping others
extensions. I don't know if this kind of thing could be looked in this
project but if it is, i will be interested for a couple of pièces. I
must
however admit that the need for drivers for a such devices will be
determinant.
 Regards
Alain HAOUI
PSA PEUGEOT CITROËN
E-Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tél : 01 56 47 23 19 - Fax : 01 56 47 21 12
GSM : 06 86 57 45 67
Case courrier : LG120



 Tony Firshman
 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 o.uk>
Pour
 Envoyé par :  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 ql-users-bounces
cc
 @lists.q-v-d.com
 Objet
   Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?
 12/02/2007 10:50


 Veuillez
répondre à
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
om






-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1

Neil Riley wrote:
> Guys,
>
> I would happily fork out £300-350 for a SDGC
> ( Super Duper GC ) but it would have to be a
> marked jump in performance from SGC and allow
> for reasonable graphics. Being a gamer I dream
> of QL Quake ( wel it is open C source ! ) running on
> a Black box QL.
>
> It is developments like this that k

Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tony Firshman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

>Neil Riley wrote:
>> Guys,
>>
>> I would happily fork out £300-350 for a SDGC
>> ( Super Duper GC ) but it would have to be a
>> marked jump in performance from SGC and allow
>> for reasonable graphics. Being a gamer I dream
>> of QL Quake ( wel it is open C source ! ) running on
>> a Black box QL.
>>
>> It is developments like this that kick start the bedroom
>> coders.
>>
>> Oh yes, count me in.

>.. but not graphics I think.  That would still have to be down to the
>motherboard.

Yes, but programs like QWord show that the OS can now do good graphics 
... it just needs another platform to run on, at present.

-- 
Malcolm Cadman
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Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane

2007-02-12 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Rick Chagouri-Brindle 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

>extdgl42 wrote:
>> As an example of variety, I'll mention my confuser (computer :-) 
>>room: Three Macs (two of them laptops), two PCs (One 733, the other 
>>133[!], a custom build long ago), and several QLs (many still in 
>>styrofoam boxes; one somewhat working). Yes, internet connectivity for 
>>four of the above. All as old as about 1999 or farther back, with OS's 
>>as old as 98SE or QDOS, or as recent as SuSE 10.x and Mac OS 10.3 . 
>>The Macs e.g. have been an education.
>>
>>
>I think exposing the younger generation to earlier machines is a
>wonderful way of reigniting waning enthusiasm.  My nephews thoroughly
>enjoy playing on the earlier micros, and they love the QL in particular
>. . . it just looks so cool (in their words).

I will remember to mention that to the ex-Sinclair industrial designer, 
who became a friend of mine.

There is a link on my web site to his current activities, as well as his 
"old" designs for Sinclair.

http:\\www.mcad.demon.co.uk/lquan.htm

The link is at the bottom of the page.

>> "My life? What life? I have no life. O insuportable! O heavy 
>>hour!"--Apologies to Messrs. Bill the Bard and Othello.
>>
>> Actually, I  _do_ have a life outside computers.
>>
>> Doug L. 37830

-- 
Malcolm Cadman
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Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane

2007-02-12 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
, extdgl42 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

>As an example of variety, I'll mention my confuser (computer :-) room: 
>Three Macs (two of them laptops), two PCs (One 733, the other 133[!], a 
>custom build long ago), and several QLs (many still in styrofoam boxes; 
>one somewhat working). Yes, internet connectivity for four of the 
>above. All as old as about 1999 or farther back, with OS's as old as 
>98SE or QDOS, or as recent as SuSE 10.x and Mac OS 10.3 . The Macs e.g. 
>have been an education.
>
>"My life? What life? I have no life. O insuportable! O heavy 
>hour!"--Apologies to Messrs. Bill the Bard and Othello.
>
>Actually, I  _do_ have a life outside computers.
>
>Doug L. 37830

Hi Doug,

You are right, I have lots of different computers around too, mostly 
picked up for little actual cost.

It is the activity that is the fun, not the OS as such.

The so called "old" computers let you get at them, rather than the "new" 
computers which just give you ready made applications.

-- 
Malcolm Cadman
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Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane

2007-02-12 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Rick Chagouri-Brindle 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

>>> Fair enough.  Do you teach ICT then? Snap, although I am a part-time
>>> lecturer on loan from business!!! At the local college at which I teach
>>> they insist on calling it Information Communications Technology . . .
>>> hence the ICT. However, the function of ICT in a educational environment
>>> is no different from IT in a business environment . . . they are both
>>> using technology to achieve a purpose.
>>>
>>
>> I teach Technology, in a secondary school.
>>
>> I hate all these pseudo titles, that come and go ...
>>
>I couldn't agree with you more . . . there is too much emphasis at work
>and in education on naming things!

Yes ... "new", so called, initiatives ... :-(

>> We just use the hardware and software to help achieve project work.
>>
>And why not? Well, after all, isn't this what technology is for? At
>times we all get too focussed on technology without purpose, I know I
>can be guilty of that!!!

Our role is to try to see the technology as a tool to encourage 
creativity, inventiveness, et, through project based work.

>> Not forgetting, that there is just as much value in hand skills too.
>>
>I couldn't agree with you more. I have two young sons and the older boy,
>who is four ,has his own laptop, but we ensure that he mixes sitting at
>the computer with actually physically making things with kicking a ball
>around with . . . . . . .
>> I have no problem with software investment going into PC applications.
>> What I find disappointing is that in many schools/colleges it is purely
>> a Microsoft environment and that students have no concept of the history
>> and development of ICT.  That, in my view, is a real shame.  Even in
>> programming, the concentration seems to be totally on Visual Basic -
>> with all the bad habits that gives us - without considering the huge
>> variety of better cross-platform languages.  Oh well, that's life, I guess!
>>
>>
>> Yes it is boring, but the way it is at present.
>>
>A colleague of mine actually had a student penalised for "thinking
>outside the box" and using an alternative language - Ruby - for a project.
>> My school has a Humanities specialist grant, that gives us even more M$
>> products, as a part of the deal.
>>
>MS aren't stupid, are they?

Yes, by pumping in funding now, for their own products, they are seeding 
the next generation to use them.

>Actually, that reminds me.  I also "teach" on a volunteer basis at a
>local pre-school.  I use the term teach with this age group very
>loosely, but I was amazed how much these children pick up and how
>quickly.  As part of the project, I setup and installed four PCs for
>them, and we installed the Edubuntu Linux variant - partly for reasons
>of cost, and partly because it is designed for young children.  They
>have all taken too it so well, it is amazing.  Many of the children use
>the machines with more confidence than some of the staff!!!

Umm ... this is why it is still fun and interesting to use the QL, in 
its modern form and derivatives.

My introduction to "home computing" was in the heady days when there was 
lots of free choice around.

Now it is M$ dominant.  Although the iPod has shown that the market 
dominance can be challenged, and new markets created.

-- 
Malcolm Cadman
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Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane

2007-02-12 Thread Malcolm Cadman
In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Tony Firshman 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes

>Rick Chagouri-Brindle wrote:
>
>> Actually, that reminds me.  I also "teach" on a volunteer basis at a
>> local pre-school.  I use the term teach with this age group very
>> loosely, but I was amazed how much these children pick up and how
>> quickly.  As part of the project, I setup and installed four PCs for
>> them, and we installed the Edubuntu Linux variant - partly for reasons
>> of cost, and partly because it is designed for young children.  They
>> have all taken too it so well, it is amazing.  Many of the children use
>> the machines with more confidence than some of the staff!!!

>Of course they do.  Ben at age 8 became the password holder and
>controller of
>the classes  computer.  He kept on correcting the teacher and helping
>her - so she passed responsibilty!  It is still happening now.  He has
>given up A level computing because the teacher knows less than him.

Umm, the latter seems bad news.

Teachers do not "know everything" now, and can never do so.

We work with the student, to lead on to further development.

Which is around facilitating learning, rather than the didactic teaching 
of learning.

I have had some fantastic work from A level students who knew they were 
in charge of their own learning.  Which doesn't mean they didn't still 
receive inputs about things they did not yet know or had not yet come 
across.

One of the things that is about to be set up at my school - with the 
extra funding from M$ - is a Learning Gateway.  Which will mean a lot of 
resources will be available 24/7.

This is something we all talked about, years ago.  Now the hardware and 
software is available to be "up to the job", and things like broad band 
access being "free" to students all day has helped.  As well as many 
students have similar, or better, facilities at home too.

-- 
Malcolm Cadman
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Re: [ql-users] Réf. : Re: Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Matrassyl
Tony wrote:
> The hardware issues are not going to be trivial (for all aspects of  the
> design) but the *real* difficulty is going to be finding people to  write
> both the firmware (logic chips) and drivers. That will be  the
> make/break.  

Yes that is exactly the problem, each hardware upgrade - Goldcard, QXL  card 
through to Q60 has been an attempt at a 'complete' and final  computer on a 
board. The only one that has not been was the Aurora  "motherboard". Even then 
as far as I understand it was part of a vision of a  complete solution that 
seems to have been envisaged as a series of boards.  Each complete solution has 
depended on the engagement of a very few  key individuals without whom all 
progress stops.
 
Without hardware development QL computing will not survive much longer  
except for retro enthusiasts.
Clearly the cost of upgrading is important to many current users as  the Qx0 
series has not been taken up generally with the majority of hardware  users 
running system designed in the 1980s or early 1990s. As a result  development 
of 
the Qx0 series seems to have stopped as well, presumably the  market is too 
small to make it worthwhile developing add ons for the Qx0 and  then there is 
the SMSQ/E licence issue there as well.
 
If someone is thinking about developing the hardware further, recognising  
price constraints and the diverse needs of the community would it be possible 
to 
 consider a modular process of upgrades. If it were possible for example:
 
to add a memory board using one of the commercially available memory simms  ( 
boards could be sold with or without simms) to an Aurora system as an  
additional board on the back plane.
 
to add a processor board to the backplane on an aurora setup with say a  gold 
card whereby the new processor takes over from the 68000 - perhaps  that chip 
is removed from the gold card.
 
to add the memory and processor boards as 2 in line modular upgrades to a  
black box QL 
 
to add an ISA graphics board to the Qx0 to improve graphics caompatibility  
with flat screens.
 
to add a USB board to the Aurora/Qubide/SGoldCard system etc
 
Taking a modular approach to make each board itself simpler might make  it 
easier to do the work in small chunks, could engage more of the  existing 
community on different projects, make the work for a  specific smaller upgrade 
easier, perphaps allow the use of existing  commercially available boards, and 
make 
upgrading more affordable for those who  cannot fork out £300-400 all at once.
 
I do realise that this may all be pie in the sky as I know nothing about  
hardware development.
 
As a final thought Quanta could stimulate this by making a prize (£s  
X-prize) for the first team to say design and make a  prototype processor 
upgrade 
add on board or USB driver  or whatever,
 
Duncan
 
 
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Re: [ql-users] Is there was any virus on QL ?

2007-02-12 Thread P Witte
Hi Jimmy,

See www.witteware.com/knoware :

2007/02/12 Addition
Virus - Article and listing: Anatomy of a virus. New.

Per


QL2K wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I'm currently working on computer viruses history, and I remember that I had
> met some viruses on Apple II, C64, and Amiga but I don't remember if there
> was some on QL..
> 
> So is there any viruses on QL ? I would appreciate any screenshots or
> details in order to add a small paragraph in my french presentation?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jimmy.
> 
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> 
> 
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Re: [ql-users] Is there was any virus on QL ?

2007-02-12 Thread Dilwyn Jones
Jimmy Montesinos wrote:

> I'm currently working on computer viruses history, and I remember 
> that I had
> met some viruses on Apple II, C64, and Amiga but I don't remember if 
> there
> was some on QL..
>
> So is there any viruses on QL ? I would appreciate any screenshots 
> or
> details in order to add a small paragraph in my french presentation?
I have a little experience with this!

I did look at the possibility of a QL virus style of program a few 
years ago (as Geoff Wicks knows to his QXL's cost!), by adding direct 
commands to the end of a boot program. The idea was to simply LRUN 
another program called " " (a single space, which was not too easily 
seen in a DIR listing) which in turn looked for any other BASIC 
programs and tacked it onto the end. It wasn't malicious, it only 
replicated itself and announced its presence - it wasn't intended to 
be malicious, just testing if it could be done. Sadly, it was badly 
written and trashed Geoff's QXL by mistake, so realising I'd been a 
very naughty boy (not to mention embarrassment and visions of Just 
Words retribution) I immediately erased all copies of it and never 
tried again.

Although not a virus, there was a Pointer Pranks routines which was a 
harmless April Fool joke (which did not copy itself) which simply did 
annoying things like randomly zap a pointer driven program into the 
button frame or picking random jobs to the top (one moment you'd be 
happily typing away in Quill then all of a sudden a QPAC2 files menu 
appears out of nowhere).

Another harmless piece of fun was what Ron Dunnett, Joe Haftke and I 
did at a Quanta workshop years ago. Our QLs were networked together 
and we played pranks on each other by opening windows on each other's 
screens and either typing naughty messages or simply clearing the 
screen, something like this:

OPEN#3,n1_SCR_512x256a0x0:CLS #3:INPUT#3,'Your QL has a virus, press 
ENTER';z$:CLOSE#3

Except that Joe Haftke responded with the same commands, but instead 
the INPUT string was:
INPUT #3,'Press ENTER to completely erase your hard disk';z$

(from memory, might not work, but you'll see what I mean). Having 
managed to annoy Ron with this type of thing, his revenge was swift. I 
noticed my QL slowing right down until it was unusable. I guessed it 
might be Ron, but didn't know what he'd done until he explained that 
he used WCOPY to transfer hundreds of files over the network to fill 
up ramdisks on my QL, which slowed it right down and made it run out 
of memory.

There never was AFAIK a finished virus for the QL, but in priciple it 
could probably be done.

QL jobs have a JMP.L job_start_address instruction in the first few 
bytes, to jump past the $4AFB flag and job name. This could in theory 
(never tried this part) be hacked to jump to an extra bit of code 
tacked onto the end of a program to run a 'virus', which ends with the 
original JMP.L job_start_address to run the program from its original 
execution address.

I *HOPE* I am wrong and this cannot be done. But I'm also optimistic 
that nobody on the QL scene would even dream of trying to write a 
working virus!

The above "pranks" were bad enough without getting as far as a real 
virus.

-- 
Dilwyn Jones

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Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Dilwyn Jones
> I would happily fork out £300-350 for a SDGC
> ( Super Duper GC ) but it would have to be a
> marked jump in performance from SGC and allow
> for reasonable graphics. Being a gamer I dream
> of QL Quake ( wel it is open C source ! ) running on
> a Black box QL.
>
> It is developments like this that kick start the bedroom
> coders.
>
> Oh yes, count me in.
>
> Neil
Being a devil's advocate for a moment, here are a  few asides which 
may have a bearing on this.

For not that much more than the prices above you could buy a Q40i or 
Q60 from D&D Systems.

There is also the long lasting proposal for Nasta's GoldFire (can't 
remember if that was the chip name [Coldfire?]) or if it had some 
other name - how much would that cost to finalise and market? Neil 
might not be aware of this, I don't think it's been discussed since he 
joined the list.

There might be out there somewhere a 680xx card which could be 
developed too, you never know, the savings in hardware development 
might pay for someone to port QDOS or SMSQ/E to it - fancy a new 
challenge Marcel? ;-)))

-- 
Dilwyn Jones

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Re: [ql-users] Réf. : Re: Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Dilwyn Jones
This came up in discussion some time ago.

As you say, Alain, the need for drivers would be the deciding factor.

IIRC it's not the USB port driver as such, but the individual drivers
for any particular device connected to it as well.

Even on the PC scene, available harder becomes obsolescent in such a
short time that as soon as a driver got written I guess the hardware
would no longer be sold and quickly back to square 1.

(For those who don't know Alain, I think he wrote many QL programs in
QLCF software library many years ago!)
-- 
Dilwyn Jones

- Original Message - 
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 10:20 AM
Subject: [ql-users] Réf. : Re: Spare GC or SGC?


I am wondering from some time ago, if it is possible to consider an
USB
port implementation on a new QL hardware. This, it will be a real leap
for
the QL community as it opens the door for a planty of low cost and
efficient peripherals and gets down the need for developping others
extensions. I don't know if this kind of thing could be looked in this
project but if it is, i will be interested for a couple of pièces. I
must
however admit that the need for drivers for a such devices will be
determinant.
 Regards
Alain HAOUI
PSA PEUGEOT CITROËN
E-Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tél : 01 56 47 23 19 - Fax : 01 56 47 21 12
GSM : 06 86 57 45 67
Case courrier : LG120



 Tony Firshman
 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 o.uk>
Pour
 Envoyé par :  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 ql-users-bounces
cc
 @lists.q-v-d.com
 Objet
   Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?
 12/02/2007 10:50


 Veuillez
répondre à
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
om






-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1

Neil Riley wrote:
> Guys,
>
> I would happily fork out £300-350 for a SDGC
> ( Super Duper GC ) but it would have to be a
> marked jump in performance from SGC and allow
> for reasonable graphics. Being a gamer I dream
> of QL Quake ( wel it is open C source ! ) running on
> a Black box QL.
>
> It is developments like this that kick start the bedroom
> coders.
>
> Oh yes, count me in.
.. but not graphics I think.  That would still have to be down to the
motherboard.

Tony


- --
QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255
   [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://firshman.co.uk
Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman
TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
-BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-
Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (MingW32)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQFF0DhxM3RzOs8+btoRAmybAKCL70dO6q00nmtvlViK9zbrUpl7vQCbBsAZ
yQIYhoRFdH2DdUiiEbtiaCQ=
=c2K3
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-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.30/674 - Release Date:
07/02/2007 15:33


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Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Dilwyn Jones
Yes, I could put the program on my site if required.
-- 
Dilwyn Jones

- Original Message - 
From: "Robert Newson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2007 8:04 PM
Subject: Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?


> Stephen Usher wrote:
> Hi Steve,
>
> ...
> >>I find with 2M on my GC, data and programs just rattle around 
> >>inside!  Even
> >>with the base 128K machine (around 77K(?) free for use) I used to 
> >>be able to
> >>do/run more than I could with a 540K PC.  Or are people becoming 
> >>so
> >>"bloatware expecting" that 4M sounds titchy?
> >
> > Yes, but the QL doesn't have all those silly GUI thingies written 
> > in bloating
> > C++ (or now JAVA and .NET). I must admit that I sometimes found 
> > 128K
> > restrictive but never filled the Trump Card memory. (Oh and I did 
> > have a
> > sort-of GUI thingy for the QL, the ICE ROM & mouse.)
>
> Neither did the 540K PC of the time (Windwos 3.x were just about 
> around when
> I got the GC, but never had them at the time to compare with using 
> the 128K QL).
>
> > Still, storage has never been a problem for you, other than the 
> > UCL Euclid
> > file quota, which you got around using a neat trick using the 
> > e-mail inbox if
> > I remember correctly.
>
> If space really ran out there was alway the "emergency" PTP
> (Paper-Tape-Punch) archive...I still have a few sitting around 
> upstairs, but
> with no means of reading contents :(
>
> >   Oh and then there was thae hack for getting 
> > long
> > printouts on the self-sevice printer.. and the Babbage programs 
> > you wrote
> > which made UCLCC people nervous about 'cos they did things no-one 
> > thought a
> > normal user could do.
>
> Funny you should mention them...I was having a chuckle about one in
> particular (the pre-main code filing password adder/remover) and 
> exactly
> what it did and how it did it.
>
> > By the way, I seem to remember a couple of years ago that you 
> > asked if you
> > could pass on the source etc. of the terminal emulator I wrote to
> someone, did
> > you do so? Seeing as I've not got a modern machine readable copy 
> > would it be
> > possible for you to fish it out and pass it onto whoever archives 
> > QL software
> > on this list? Someone might as well get some use out of it.
>
> I have it somewhere...need to search...can't remember to whom I 
> wanted to
> send it now.
>
> To whom should I sent it (ie who would possibly be interested in
> archiving/having it [for distribution])?  Dilwyn?
>
>
> -- 
> ---
>  Robert Newson, E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>  17 Sunnybank, South Norwood Phone: (020) 8654 6643
>  London, SE25 4TQ   Mobile: 07737 515 214 or 07922 060 
> 873
>
>
> ___
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> http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.30/674 - Release Date: 
> 07/02/2007 15:33
>
> 

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[ql-users] Réf. : Re: Réf. : Re: Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread alain . haoui
At this stage, it is difficult to answer Yes or No if i am going to write
drivers. We have to evaluate on each area the necessary effort, competence
and time needed. I have some experiences on developping software for QL and
Motorola assembler coding (much more on Unix and windows platforms) but
nothing on the hardware. So, i can consider my contribution if pertinent
and possible.
I completely aggree that involving Nasta would render things easier.
Regards
Alain HAOUI
PSA PEUGEOT CITROËN
E-Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tél : 01 56 47 23 19 - Fax : 01 56 47 21 12
GSM : 06 86 57 45 67
Case courrier : LG120


   
 Tony Firshman 
 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]  
 o.uk>Pour 
 Envoyé par :  [EMAIL PROTECTED]  
 ql-users-bounces   cc 
 @lists.q-v-d.com  
 Objet 
   Re: [ql-users] Réf. : Re:  Spare GC 
 12/02/2007 11:27  or SGC? 
   
   
 Veuillez  
répondre à 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]  
om 
   
   




-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> I am wondering from some time ago, if it is possible to consider an USB
> port implementation on a new QL hardware. This, it will be a real leap
for
> the QL community as it opens the door for a planty of low cost and
> efficient peripherals and gets down the need for developping others
> extensions. I don't know if this kind of thing could be looked in this
> project but if it is, i will be interested for a couple of pièces. I must
> however admit that the need for drivers for a such devices will be
> determinant.

Exactly.  Are you going to write the drivers then (8-)#

The hardware issues are not going to be trivial (for all aspects of the
design) but the *real* difficulty is going to be finding people to write
both the firmware (logic chips) and drivers. That will be the
make/break.  If Nasta were to be involved, then a great number of the
hardware issues would be addressed.

Tony

- --
QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255
   [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://firshman.co.uk
Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman
TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
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Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQFF0EEFM3RzOs8+btoRAvzSAJ9J+8XgEvTBlIYCHxSZciJddrEdPwCfZbcE
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Re: [ql-users] Réf. : Re: Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Tony Firshman
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> I am wondering from some time ago, if it is possible to consider an USB
> port implementation on a new QL hardware. This, it will be a real leap for
> the QL community as it opens the door for a planty of low cost and
> efficient peripherals and gets down the need for developping others
> extensions. I don't know if this kind of thing could be looked in this
> project but if it is, i will be interested for a couple of pièces. I must
> however admit that the need for drivers for a such devices will be
> determinant.

Exactly.  Are you going to write the drivers then (8-)#

The hardware issues are not going to be trivial (for all aspects of the
design) but the *real* difficulty is going to be finding people to write
both the firmware (logic chips) and drivers. That will be the
make/break.  If Nasta were to be involved, then a great number of the
hardware issues would be addressed.

Tony

- --
QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255
   [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://firshman.co.uk
Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman
TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
-BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-
Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (MingW32)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQFF0EEFM3RzOs8+btoRAvzSAJ9J+8XgEvTBlIYCHxSZciJddrEdPwCfZbcE
Vk120EM9SvFToqDgjWbCUaY=
=mZO0
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[ql-users] Réf. : Re: Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread alain . haoui
I am wondering from some time ago, if it is possible to consider an USB
port implementation on a new QL hardware. This, it will be a real leap for
the QL community as it opens the door for a planty of low cost and
efficient peripherals and gets down the need for developping others
extensions. I don't know if this kind of thing could be looked in this
project but if it is, i will be interested for a couple of pièces. I must
however admit that the need for drivers for a such devices will be
determinant.
 Regards
Alain HAOUI
PSA PEUGEOT CITROËN
E-Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tél : 01 56 47 23 19 - Fax : 01 56 47 21 12
GSM : 06 86 57 45 67
Case courrier : LG120


   
 Tony Firshman 
 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]  
 o.uk>Pour 
 Envoyé par :  [EMAIL PROTECTED]  
 ql-users-bounces   cc 
 @lists.q-v-d.com  
 Objet 
   Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC? 
 12/02/2007 10:50  
   
   
 Veuillez  
répondre à 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]  
om 
   
   




-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
Hash: SHA1

Neil Riley wrote:
> Guys,
>
> I would happily fork out £300-350 for a SDGC
> ( Super Duper GC ) but it would have to be a
> marked jump in performance from SGC and allow
> for reasonable graphics. Being a gamer I dream
> of QL Quake ( wel it is open C source ! ) running on
> a Black box QL.
>
> It is developments like this that kick start the bedroom
> coders.
>
> Oh yes, count me in.
.. but not graphics I think.  That would still have to be down to the
motherboard.

Tony


- --
QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255
   [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://firshman.co.uk
Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman
TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
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Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (MingW32)
Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org

iD8DBQFF0DhxM3RzOs8+btoRAmybAKCL70dO6q00nmtvlViK9zbrUpl7vQCbBsAZ
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Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Neil Riley
Neil Riley wrote:
>>> Guys, 
>>> 
>>> I would happily fork out £300-350 for a SDGC 
>>> ( Super Duper GC ) but it would have to be a 
>>> marked jump in performance from SGC and allow 
>>> for reasonable graphics. Being a gamer I dream 
>>> of QL Quake ( wel it is open C source ! ) running on  
>>> a Black box QL.
>>> 
>>> It is developments like this that kick start the bedroom
>>> coders.
>>> 
>>> Oh yes, count me in.

>.. but not graphics I think.  That would still have to be down to the
>motherboard.

>Tony

Oh well, you can't have everything ! Perhaps QL DOOM would be 
a better place to start ( also open source), it'd look good in 256 
colours on my Aurora.

This is all perfectly possible, I mean, I'm so impressed with ZM/hT 
plus it shows what can be achieved with an expanded QL, I wish 
I had the skills of the developer, I would happily develop for the 
QL in my spare time just to wow with the results.

Neil 





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Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane

2007-02-12 Thread Tony Firshman
-BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
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Neil Riley wrote:
> Speaking of retro computers, 
> 
> I have gotten rid of a few items recently but i still have a nice 
> working ZX81 with a Ram pack which doesn't wobble ( clever 
> hook that fixes it firmly in place ), a beautiful  Original Atari 800 
> which I'm on the verse of selling even though I don't want to, plus 
> a couple ATARI Stfm's and a rather stunning Amiga 1200.
> 
> I only use my QL & Aurora now though as I haven't the room for 
> the others.
> 
While we are on the nostalgia kick, I still have a working Tandy 102.
This is an excellent system with a very good keyboard. The QL connection
is that I set some up for an acquaintance of, urmm, Dave Walker I think.
 It had modem capability, quite unusual in those 80s days, and was used
by salesmen to send in data at the blistering speed of .0003 Mbps by
acoustic modem.

I had fun disassembling two pieces of 6502 machine code that used the
same address shifting one, and combining - to get a pound sign *and*
Xmodem at the same time!

I keep it on standby permanently as I haven't a clue where the cassette
code is now!  I change the 4 AA batteries when I remember - about every
three years!

This compares with my laptop where standby is only a month!

Tony
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QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255
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Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Tony Firshman
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Neil Riley wrote:
> Guys, 
> 
> I would happily fork out £300-350 for a SDGC 
> ( Super Duper GC ) but it would have to be a 
> marked jump in performance from SGC and allow 
> for reasonable graphics. Being a gamer I dream 
> of QL Quake ( wel it is open C source ! ) running on  
> a Black box QL.
> 
> It is developments like this that kick start the bedroom
> coders.
> 
> Oh yes, count me in.
.. but not graphics I think.  That would still have to be down to the
motherboard.

Tony


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Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane

2007-02-12 Thread Neil Riley
Speaking of retro computers, 

I have gotten rid of a few items recently but i still have a nice 
working ZX81 with a Ram pack which doesn't wobble ( clever 
hook that fixes it firmly in place ), a beautiful  Original Atari 800 
which I'm on the verse of selling even though I don't want to, plus 
a couple ATARI Stfm's and a rather stunning Amiga 1200.

I only use my QL & Aurora now though as I haven't the room for 
the others.

Shame
Neil

>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 12 February 2007 07:47 >>>

extdgl42 wrote:
> As an example of variety, I'll mention my confuser (computer :-)
room: Three Macs (two of them laptops), two PCs (One 733, the other
133[!], a custom build long ago), and several QLs (many still in
styrofoam boxes; one somewhat working). Yes, internet connectivity for
four of the above. All as old as about 1999 or farther back, with OS's
as old as 98SE or QDOS, or as recent as SuSE 10.x and Mac OS 10.3 . The
Macs e.g. have been an education.
>
>   
I think exposing the younger generation to earlier machines is a 
wonderful way of reigniting waning enthusiasm.  My nephews thoroughly 
enjoy playing on the earlier micros, and they love the QL in particular

. . . it just looks so cool (in their words).

> "My life? What life? I have no life. O insuportable! O heavy
hour!"--Apologies to Messrs. Bill the Bard and Othello.
>
> Actually, I  _do_ have a life outside computers.
>
> Doug L. 37830
>
> -Original Message-
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Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?

2007-02-12 Thread Neil Riley
Guys, 

I would happily fork out £300-350 for a SDGC 
( Super Duper GC ) but it would have to be a 
marked jump in performance from SGC and allow 
for reasonable graphics. Being a gamer I dream 
of QL Quake ( wel it is open C source ! ) running on  
a Black box QL.

It is developments like this that kick start the bedroom
coders.

Oh yes, count me in.

Neil

>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 11 February 2007 20:32 >>>
Well, here's number 2!  Count me in!

Tony Firshman wrote:
> -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-
> Hash: SHA1
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>   
>>> Ah there are lots of things one could put on it.
>>> However I  suspect the market does not exist for such a development.
>>> It would be  great to be proved wrong.
>>> It need maybe 40 to 50 people willing to commit  to spending maybe £300
>>> to £400 each.  I am happy to receive  commitment emails, and then maybe
>>> it could be worth pursuing.  I  doubt very much if Sturat is going to be
>>> interested. I doubt if Nasta has  time.
>>>   
>>> .. and I wonder if I have time as well!  All I could  possibly do is
>>> design a pcb and build.  I have no expertise (or  time) to design firmware.
>>>   
>>> It is probably a  pipedream!
>>>   
>>> Tony
>>>   
>> Have you had any replies? I for one would be interested especially if the  
>> successor card was well specced - minerva rom, decent processor 68060 &  
>> amount 
>> of memory 16 MB, par port, and IDEx2 and ethernet connector, and flash  
>> memory. What else should be on the list? 
>>  
>> 
> You are the only one so far. As I say this probably a pipedream unless a
> firmware writer (like Stuart H) pops up.  It will need *very*
> sophisticated logic chips.
>
> Tony
>
>
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