Re: [ql-users] QL 2004 Eindhoven - no! QL2005!!!! @ ?????
- Original Message - From: Dilwyn Jones Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL 2004 Eindhoven - no! QL2005 @ ? Not sure how easy access would be for international visits - is the local area served by an international airport for example? What are rail connections like to the south coast sea ports and Birmingham and London airports? I mentioned Portishead mainly because of the quality of the hall. Road transport is excellent because of the nearness of the M5 Junction 19. Public Transport to Bristol is also good, but from then on it can be difficult. Another advantage is a Travel Inn about 100 yards from the hall. Also interesting as a venue because we have a nice group of members in the Bath/Bristol/South Wales area who have not had a show for some time. Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL2004
Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL2004 Geoff wrote:- Also Sin-QL-Air backed the show financially - where else in the QL show circuit do you get free coffee and pay only 50 euros for a roll? (I mean bread rolls - I know we were in the Netherlands, but the other sort of roll is known as a stikkie there.) 50 euro for a roll? God, you'd get a four course meal with a bottle of wine here for that :-)) Just joking, I know you probably mean 50 cent (and not the gangsta rapper either..) No Darren. 50 Euros per roll. They were exceptionally good rolls ;-)) Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL 2004 Eindhoven - no! QL2005!!!! @ ?????
- Original Message - From: Tony Firshman Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL 2004 Eindhoven - no! QL2005 @ ? I remember Quanta saying the Horizon Centre was too expensive. I liked the Walton Park Hotel, but I suspect that is expensive too. Not exactly convenient though for overseas visitors or people North of Watford. As I understand it the Horizon Centre is no longer available for events of this nature. I believe Roy had already checked that out. For a major intenational show I am not so worried about expense as Quanta has the money. Not sure how easy access would be for international visits - is the local area served by an international airport for example? What are rail connections like to the south coast sea ports and Birmingham and London airports? Frequent direct rail services from Birmingham to Bristol and through trains from Bristol to major South Coast towns. International Airport at Bristol on the Portishead side of the city. Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Canon Printers
- Original Message - From: Marcel Kilgus Subject: Re: [ql-users] Canon Printers gwicks wrote: More provocatively, in April 2004 three leading lights of the QL community sat on a Florida beach and decided that solving the printer problem was one of the main tasks for the 12 months ahead. We are now almost halfway through that 12 months. Could they give a progress report please? Third beach boy speaking. Thing is, I haven't printed from an QL system for probably a decade. *I* don't need printing. *Despite* this fact I put all the thoughts and work into it that I did. The response as you probably know was next to nil, so I pretty much stopped caring. Thanks for the reply and to Jochen and Roy too. I did post this item a bit tongue in cheek to illustrate the point that we are unlikely to get a quick or easy solution to the printer problem. In fact I am moving in the same direction as you. I prefer to do all Just Words! work on a laser, which is cheaper and more durable than an inkjet. It is easy to transfer to PC format via QL-2-PC Transfer and save to dos1_. This can then be picked up by a PC program. Other QL output can be saved to file and then transferred to PC. At the beginning of this year I moved all my spreadsheets to PC. I prefer it because it is easier to use both Euros and £s together in a spreadsheet and also much easier to print out because PCs use vector fonts. Even LineDesign output can be transferred to PC format. Now wordprocessing.. Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
[ql-users] QL2004
Thanks to all the people who have praised QL2004. Just one clarification. This was not my show, but a Sin-QL-Air event. I say this for a good reason. There was a lot of behind the scenes work, and the brunt of this was done by Sjef v.d. Molengraaf with some extra help from Karl Boekema. Unfortunately we did discover that now Sjef has retired, and no longer works at the school, it is a little more difficult for him to get things done. However, he made great efforts to ensure that all our promises were kept. Two things deserve a mention. We were hoping to be able to use the school's network for the internet connection, but they refused this and we were dependent on a single telephone line. Sjef allowed us to use his account. As I understand it we were also unable to use any of the school's beamers, but Sjef was able to hire one. When we arrived at the school on Saturday morning, we discovered that nothing was ready for us, including a promised public address system. Sjef and Karl remained calm and ensured everything was ready on time. Also Sin-QL-Air backed the show financially - where else in the QL show circuit do you get free coffee and pay only 50 euros for a roll? (I mean bread rolls - I know we were in the Netherlands, but the other sort of roll is known as a stikkie there.) Two things from the above. I realised how much more professional the presentations were with a beamer. Something for other show organisors to think about. Secondly it is now becoming common for QL shows to have an internet connection. Might be worth a short article in QL Today about how this is done technically and what use QL-ers make of it. (I thought Tony was going to get lynched when he ordered other users off the line to make way for Jon Dent's presentation, which unfortunately could not finally go ahead because of technical problems.) Thank also to all the presenters. I was quite suprised how well attended all the activities were and at the number of questions afterwards. The QL community is still alive and vibrant. It was also great to come out of the lecture room and hear the buzz of activity in the main hall. It is a long time since I have seen so many people working on their own machines at a show. I would have liked attendance to have been slightly better - say another 10 - 15 people - and more representation from the UK, but attendance was still well above our minimum target. Apologies to Al Boehm that there was no ladies program - his email request arrived after I had left for the Netherlands. I hope the ladies present were not bored. Finally we had 25 people at the restaurant after the show. I have seen fewer at many an official show dinner. I was the last person to get to the restaurant and the show buzz was still present when I entered. I am surely allowed one little bit of naughtiness. For all you people who 18 months ago lectured me an shows being just tea, coffee and a hall, I have some very large raspberries. Thanks everyone for a great show, Best Wishes, Geoff PS If you are wondering how I managed to avoid Guantanomo Bay, the British government finds it easy to gather the intelligence, but sexing up the dossier takes time. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL 2004 Eindhoven - no! QL2005!!!! @ ?????
- Original Message - From: Wolfgang Uhlig Subject: [ql-users] QL 2004 Eindhoven snip There was only one disappointment as to me: it was too short ;) Let's look forward to another show of this quality, perhaps next year? I hope so. If there is a QL2005, then this time it is the turn of the UK. On my way back from QL2004 I did a lot of thinking about this and see it as a highly viable option provided Quanta is given a good kick up the backside. Basically I would envisage that we would do the same as at QL2004 by splitting the logistics of the show (hall, equipment and catering) from the presentation (publicity and programme). In the UK we might just need a third arm for the ladies programme. Quanta would have to accept responsibility for the logistics and financing. I would envisage either a hotel with catering or a hall such as the Somerset Hall in Portishead with self-catering. They would also have to arrange for such things as beamer, screen and internet connection. I have learnt a lot from QL2004 and would be quite happy to take on the presentation side of things. This is subject to one condition, namely I require 6 to 9 months notice of the date and venue of the show. In practice this would mean the show would have to be in Autumn 2005 and that the date and venue known by the Quanta 2005 AGM. The activity programme could very similar to QL2004, although I would not expect all the 2004 presenters to repeat their performance. Given the different profile of the average UK from the average continental QL-user we would probably have to aim for a more populist and slightly less technical activity programme. It would be nice to have some hardware demonstrations as a way of encouraging Quanta to think about a possible role in future hardware development. I am sorry to disappoint everyone who wanted QL2004 to go on for ever, but I tend to be in favour of short and sweet. I would rather you go home frustrated through the lack of time than frustrated through boredom. That doesn't mean to say there couldn't be a dinner the night before or a social activity the day before or after. Now that kick up the backside! We have to be realistic. Quanta has talked about QL2004/2005 for about 18 months now. Last year I felt let down when nothing had been done by Byfleet. This year Byfleet is only six weeks away and I feel even more let down. Let's be realistic. There is little evidence that the Quanta committee will do anything to organise QL2005 unless the members demand it. What we need is a mass lobby. Every Quanta member on this list who wants to see a QL2005 should now email every member of the Quanta committee before the Byfleet show. And encourage your fellow members who are not on the list to do it as well. The email addresses of the Quanta Committee are: John Mason - chairman @ quanta.org.uk John Southern - secretary @ quanta.org.uk John Gilpin - treasurer @ quanta.org.uk Roy Brereton - editor @ quanta.org.uk John Gregory - software @ quanta.org.uk Geoff Wicks - gwicks @ beeb.net Please note these are their official emails and not their personal ones and therefore there can be no complaints of harassment. Also please remember that as a member of the Quanta committee I should also receive your email. Finally don't think you can give your support by a message on this list. Only two members of the Quanta committee subscribe to this list, two have never subscribed, two have formerly subscribed but found it rubbish (with good reason). Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Canon Printers
- Original Message - From: Bill Waugh Subject: Re: [ql-users] Canon Printers - Original Message - From: gwicks - Original Message - Subject: [ql-users] Canon Printers I have a Canon BJ-200ex, which is my only QL compatible printer. About 8 years old and getting obsolete with cartridges going up in price and probably becoming more difficult to obtain. (I am already doing feasibility studies to scrap direct printing from the QL completely.) Why? I use an Epson 740 connected to PC by usb and at one and the same time (can't spell simutainly) connected to a QL by parallel port ( it has a mac port also ), although I can't say if this model or an equivalent is still out there, Jochen would know maybe. Very simple answer. I have a life. Put another way my life is not dominated by the QL. When I have to buy a new printer there will be a lot of things I shall take into account in making my choice and the QL is just one of them. I am not going to waste time or money looking for a QL compatible printer when the QL community has pussyfooted for years on solving the problem. More provocatively, in April 2004 three leading lights of the QL community sat on a Florida beach and decided that solving the printer problem was one of the main tasks for the 12 months ahead. We are now almost halfway through that 12 months. Could they give a progress report please? Best wishes, Geoff Wicks. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Canon Printers
- Original Message - Subject: [ql-users] Canon Printers I have never had any experience with Canon printers. However, someone has contacted me who needs to replace a Canon BJ-200 printer - any suggestion, since I do not believe that they are Epson ESC/P compatible (or are they) ?? Sorry this reply is late - for obvious reasons. I have a Canon BJ-200ex, which is my only QL compatible printer. About 8 years old and getting obsolete with cartridges going up in price and probably becoming more difficult to obtain. (I am already doing feasibility studies to scrap direct printing from the QL completely.) Compatibility is BJ mode, which I have never used and Epson LQ mode but NOT Epson ESC/P, Best Wishes, Geoff. PS Hope to write about QL2004 and QL2005 tomorrow. Too tired today having travelled from the Netherlands overnight. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL2004
- Original Message - From: Wolfgang Lenerz Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL2004 On 11 Oct 2004 at 13:49, gwicks wrote: (...) One further thought inspired by a private email. How do we do feedback? I can bring a digital camera if that is of any use. Pictures will be no problem as several people will have cameras including me. I am just wondering if anyone would be interested in writing about various items. Even if I am unable to set up a feedback website, I'm sure QL-Today would appreciate the material. Best Wishes, Geoff http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL2004
- Original Message - From: Tony Firshman Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL2004 One further thought inspired by a private email. How do we do feedback? I am not expecting any great interest from the Quanta Magazine Seems unlikely. I asked them for info to put into the free emailshot - not a peep! Odd. Tony Not odd at all. Quanta is out of touch with the QL community and have just not picked up the significance of the event. If they had, they would be attending. I did not press them on this point because it was a rather delicate matter after I had hijacked the QL2004 idea. I don't regret doing that because we are going to have a bloody good time on Saturday, and it would not have happened if we had left it to Quanta. I should add I have my doubts about QL2005. The last suggestion was for an early AGM combined with this next year, but I have heard nothing since. For a major international show you have to have 6 months to a year planning. Another thought I am having is what is the point of Quanta making another £1,000 profit if it never spends its money on anything? Having written that I should remind everyone that I am a member of the Quanta committee and I accept a degree of responsibility, Best wishes, Geoff http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL2004
- Original Message - From: Brian Kemmett Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL2004 I'm just sad I can't make it as I'm sure there is just a few questions I would love to put forward. Of course, there is nothing to stop non-attenders raising matters they would like discussed, although you might just be asked to supply more information. One further thought inspired by a private email. How do we do feedback? I am not expecting any great interest from the Quanta Magazine and although, I'm sure, QL-Today will provide its usual excellent coverage, there is the problem that Dilwyn will not be at QL2004 because of his work responsibilities. If necessary I could keep the QL2004 website active for a little while longer to give a full report of the proceedings, but I would want this to be more than just pictures. (I would include links to other's picture sites.) We would need people who are prepared to write about their show impressions in general, but also others who would concentrate on specific items which should include: Urs Koenig's introduction Jon Dent's internet update Expansion card progress Forum discussion Any significant technical discussions or decisions. If this idea is feasible, it would probably take me at least a week to set the site up. Best Wishes, Geoff http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
[ql-users] Just Words! GD2 pre-release
Although the official release of the Just Words! GD2 upgrades is programmed for next weekend at QL2004, they are now available for downloading from my website. I have done this pre-release to take pressure off me at the show, because I shall have little time for trading there. There are two ways of downloading the upgrades: 1: If you possess a lot of Just Words! freeware then go to the file GD2 freeware upgrades near the top of the page. This contains the _obj files only of: SOLVIT-PLUS QL-THESAURUS NL-THESAURUS (DUTCH) STYLE-CHECK STIJL-CHECK (DUTCH) SPELLING CRIB These programs will work with your existing configuration in existing _def files, although you may need to reconfigure the colours in SOLVIT-PLUS, STYLE-CHECK and STIJL-CHECK to get the display you want. 2: If you only have a one or two Just Words! freeware program you can download the individual program files as these also contain the GD2 versions. New on the site are downloadable versions of NL-THESAURUS, STIJL-CHECK and the USA spellings database for QL-THESAURUS. A GD2 version of QL-2-PC TRANSFER will be available at QL2004. As this is a commercial program you will have to produce yor master disc on which the new version will be saved. You must have the menu_ext extensions installed on your machine to use the GD2 version of this program. I hope to upgrade QL-RHYMES and PIN-DOWN to GD2 versions before the end of the year. AUTO-GRAPH will take a little longer because of the large number of sprites in the program. Hopefully this will be available early in the new year. Best Wishes, Geoff Wicks http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/justwords.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Perfection etc. etc.
- Original Message - From: Brian Kemmett [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Perfection Im not quite sure if that was a sarcastic aside?? I thought it was a genuine observation. It seems to me that the QL WORLD is getting too elitist and forgetting the bottom of the heap, you know, the ordinary users. Brian I can feel your frustration, but I not sure what you are talking about is elitism. I think it is just plain, damned inefficiency and muddle. Put another way the one thing you should never do in this life is to ask any QL-er to run a piss up in a brewery. As I remember rightly Freddie V gave permission to Mark Knight to upgrade and then release Perfection as public domain. However the upgrade was never finished and formally released, so that some of us are in the frustrating position of having a copy of the upgrade because we were beta testers but not able to give this to some one else. What we lack in the QL world is the ability to sort out muddles like this. A more recent case is EasyPtr. You cannot use this with the new colours. Marcel quickly wrote a fix, which allows you to program EasyPtr using the new colours. Albin, the original author, is no longer active in the QL World, but as I understand it, still has a lot of sympathy for the QL. There is a tricky point that Albin is the copyright holder, but Marcel has done extra work. How do you sort this out if you charge for the upgrade? (And in my opinion the quality of the upgrade is such that a charge would be reasonable.) There is a precedent for this in the Text87 upgrade, which given the personalities involved, was a much more delicate situation. Given the goodwill that there is on all sides concerning EasyPtr I cannot see why we are unable to resolve the problem. As it is, it could develop rapidly into a Perfection style muddle. The new version is in very limited circulation to people who are developing programming in the new colours. As I am upgrading all Just Words! software I did get an offer via via via that a copy of the new version could accidentally come my way. I turned this down, because the right approach is to solve the problem for all EasyPtr users. So please don't go crawling after Mr. Gates in desparation! We need a few more people like you to make us see sense, Best wishes Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Perfection: my take on it
- Original Message - From: David Gilham Subject: Re: [ql-users] Perfection: my take on it My understanding is that I need freddies permission to release the modified binary to the general QL communinity and that I am under a Non disclosure arregement as regards the sources.I seem To have lost that agreement but that is the gist of of it. By the way does freddy still live up Chingford way or is there any other contact details email address etc for Freddy. - David Gilham Still living there at the time of the 2002 Electoral Register, but not in the 2003 Electoral Register. However, if my memory is correct, that was when the opting out of the published version became possible. Best Wishes, Geoff Wicks ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Perfection
- Original Message - From: Malcolm Cadman ( For info : Mark was previously a regular member of the London Quanta Group ) I gathered that at present he is no longer programming, but now involved in live public events where he does readings, etc. So his interest has moved to the theatre. However, I wouldn't rule out him returning to programming. Which reminds me that I must get a copy of the CD's that I has done for the iMAC's ... if you like graphics, they are amazing ! An wouldn't it be wonderful if we could persuade Mark to come back to QL programming. He was a great graphics expert. Think what Heartbeat or Molecular Graphics would be like in GD2 colours! Best Wishes, Geoff Wicks ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL2004 (Wrong date?? - Strictly off topic)
- Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ql-users] QL2004 Dear QLers just a quick reminder QL2004 CELEBRATION OF 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SINCLAIR QL COMPUTER in Eindhoven/Netherlands on October 16th 2004 My apologies to all but we chose the wrong weekend for the show. We should have done it this weekend so that attendees could enjoy the pleasures of Amsterdam the following day. I picked up this delightful report on the Radio Netherlands website: On Sunday it is the opening of the kiss season in Amsterdam. The intiative comes from the cultural centre De Balie who say Amsterdammers should increase love in the city by kissing more in the street. The programme organiser, Lisa Boersen, says Amsterdam's kissing couples must keep up with the numbers in Paris. The project, Love in the City, is a protest against the increasing hardening of society and structural individualism. Kissing is a metaphor; we should strive to educate people about how they react with one another. On Sunday evening there is a full kiss programme; A presentation by students of the Rietveld Academy, poetry and proze, a lecture by the director of the Architecture Centre and kissing lessons from consultants. Broersen hopes to repeat the project each year. Ideas of how to improve the kiss score are welcome. Sometimes I miss the city, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Perfection
- Original Message - From: P Witte Subject: Re: [ql-users] Perfection I can only apologise for my tardy reaction. Im not one of those few people who have had experience of chasing up old software, but Im all for it. In particular, Id be interested in updated versions of QLiberator and EasyPtr. Id even be prepared to pay a reasonably unreasonable amount for the privilege. So anyone who thinks they can do something about this gets my wholehearted support! No apology necessary in this case. Unfortunately your two examples again illustrate the problems of chasing up/upgrading old software. QLiberator had two authors and one, whom I believe has the only copies of the code, has disappeared. (I put that in inverted commas as we amateur genealogists have means of tracing people whether dead or alive) There is an upgraded version of EasyPtr and very good it is too. The problem is that Albin Hessler is the author and Marcel the upgrader for his own use. Everyone wants to respect copyright in this case, but no one knows what the legal position is. Hence the upgrade cannot be distributed. Best wishes, Geoff Wicks ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Perfection
- Original Message - From: Phoebus Dokos [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Perfection . Not entirely true :-) I submitted that idea to my graduating supervisor professor at the uni and I was approved :-) That means that the ql-archive will be a reality (that is if I want to graduate in December ;-) For status now: I am finished with the database structure and most of the search code (in PHP). Glad to hear this, but I am not so interested in the technical side of the archiving, but in the practical. I am not sure that the people who raised this issue 2 months ago were all talking about the same thing. Pity there was no proper discussion of this at the time. Practical problems are for example: 1: How do you make a complete inventory of all the QL software, both PD and commercial, that has ever been published? This first stage could occupy a team for months on end. 2: How do you contact the copyright holders and/or authors when there is no up to date contact information? Specifically how would you solve the QLiberator problem. 3: How do you sort out complicated copyright questions? For example Freddy V gave permission for Perfection to become freeware, but not Spellchecker. Or think of the situation with the EasyPtr upgrade. 4: How do you cope with the anal retention problem, where an author refuses to release or modify code? (e.g. the Text87 problem.) If we are really serious about a software archive, then it should not be a one man effort, but a team looking at these problems. Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Perfection
The status of Perfection is an old chestnut on this list and exactly the same things are being said as the last time the thread appeared. And the time before that. And the time before that. And ..the ...time before. zz. (snore). No one knows what the status of Perfection is or of all the ancilliary programs that went with it. There is an important lesson to be learnt here, especially for those people who 2 months ago were screaming for a QL software archive and even demanded that it should be on the agenda of QL2004. I threw the challenge back at the people concerned and have not heard a thing since. There is, of course, still time to for them to send their ideas via video, CD-ROM etc to QL2004. Quanta asked me to monitor the discussion on a software archive to see if they could have a role to play. I sounded out a few people who have had experience of chasing up old software and they all said that it was not worth the effort. More often than not you come across the same sort of uncertainty as with Perfection. It is difficult enough to track down the copyright position, let alone get hold of the source code. (Remember the reaction of everyone when I queried whether Quanta should try to buy the rights to QLiberator and Text87?) Geoff Wicks ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] locking a window?
- Original Message - From: P Witte Subject: Re: [ql-users] locking a window? Looking very much forward to experiencing QDT in the flesh. Is it likely to be available at a show near me sometime soon? Are you at QL2004? I am hoping Roy will give a demonstration in glorious technicolour on the big screen. Best Wishes, Geoff http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Hardware for free
- Original Message - From: Marcel Kilgus Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL Hardware for free Phoebus R. Dokos (F??ß?? ?. ?t) wrote: Interested interested :-) Didn't know you'll going to be at QL2004 ;-) Of course, we would love to see you provided you don't bring that woman who says NO all the time with you, Best Wishes, Geoff PS Those who do not understand this cryptic message will have to wait unti QL2004 to learn the truth. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
[ql-users] QL2004 - Q60 Linux appeal
Unfortunately we are not expecting any Q60 representation at QL2004, but Wolgang Lenerz has promised to give a 15 - 30 minute demo of his Q60. However neither he nor George Gwilt, who is another Q60 user and who will also be at QL2004, have used the Linux possibilities of the Q60. Is there anyone who will be QL2004 and who has Q60 Linux experience? This could be either part of the formal demonstration or just giving information to anyone who is interested. On a slightly different topic if there are any of the more technical topics you would like discussed such as the 68020, we can always arrange for a small technical group to do this. Most of the speakers and demonstraters have indicated they want no more than 30 minutes so we have some spare time in the lecture room. We can arrange this sort of thing at the last minute on the day. Geoff Wicks http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] QXL: SMSQ- 68020+ Instructions
- Original Message - From: Tony Firshman Subject: Re: [ql-users] QXL: SMSQ- 68020+ Instructions This has been suggested as a possible topic for discussion at QL2004. Any opinions about this? Is it better for separate discussion or for the forum? I would think it a mite specialised. That is another way of saying that I know nothing about this (8-)# SNAP! That was my idea too, which is why I asked! Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
[ql-users] QL2004 - Advance Hotel Warning
I have been in touch with the Eindhoven Tourist Office. They are expecting the hotels in Eindhoven to be busy in the weekend of QL2004. This is because of: Alex Tennis Classics Tournament The Design Week Tromp Bienalle Festival Exchange with residents of Hasselt This also means there will be little chance of special rates. My advice is to book hotels in advance or consider trying another city. It is easy to get to Eindhoven by car or public transport from most Dutch cities, Best wishes, Geoff http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] browsers
- Original Message - From: Malcolm Cadman Big knip: Is Phoebus just teasing us when he mentions a dedicated browser for QDOS/SMSQ ? No he is not. Peter Graf has achieved a text only browser and email access using QDOS Classic on a Q60. I have seen some screenshots, but am not allowed to publish these. I have been sitting on this information for some time, because I was hoping to persuade Peter to demonstrate at QL2004. However he tells me he is on holiday on the day. Peter would like to try an implementation on Minerva and even SMSQ-E, but as far as the latter is concerned you know what is coming next. He has achieved his results by porting routines from other systems and in his opinion this would not be possible under the present SMSQ-E licensing. That, of course, is the second reason I have kept quiet about this development. The last thing we want is another major and unproductive row over the licence. So please can we all remain calm and put our energies into thinking how we can try to resolve our differences with the Unix/Linux specialists, many of whom think as Peter does, whilst still retaining the integrity of SMSQ-E. Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] browsers
Can I thank all the people who have contributed to this thread, especially those who have gone into some technical detail? It allows me to come back to something that was raised in the Wotsup thread, namely the question of why some of us still use Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. As this discussion has shown browsers are complicated programs and there are many advantages and disadvantages of each. For example, if I were to move away from IE I would have to investigate how each browser handles non-Roman scripts and resizing text. (I won't bore you with the difference between EUC-JIS, Shift-JIS, New-JIS and Old-JIS, because I don't understand it either.) This is time consuming. Many years ago I tried Netscape for a while, but went back to IE for the simple reason that I was using a laptop with a touchpad and not a mouse and there was more scrolling in Netscape. Can I also mention how much more pleasant this type of discussion has become on this list. We are far more tolerant than we used to be. I can remember the time when we IE and OE users were subject to a lot of personal abuse. We were regarded as unsound people who had the wrong attitude of mind to be loyal QL-ers. They was even a suggestion we should be barred from this list! I fell foul of the anti-Microsoft people in my first week on the list, when I was completely new to the world of emailing and was given an authoritarian lecture by someone who assured me he had the best email program available. I now know what his problem was. His super program only handled ASCII codes 32 - 126 so any accented characters were coming up on his system as rubbish. (Think yourself lucky that we are living in 2004, Phoebus. If you had included Greek in an email 5 years ago - and your Greek reproduced perfectly in OE - you would have been seized from your home, transported across the Atlantic in a sealed box and publicly lynched at the first available QL show. ;-)) ) Even worse the greatest preachers of the time were the ones who knew nothing about knipping etiquette. Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Email to Natsa
- Original Message - From: Roy wood Subject: [ql-users] Email to Natsa I have been trying to send an email to Nasta but all the addresses I have, including the one he said it would change to and the one he used last on this list seem to bounce. If you are reading this can you contact me? Try zeljko.nastasic @ zg . hetnet . hr (without the spaces, of course) I had one bounce back with a message for the server that the above was the new one. This seemed to get through OK, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Norwich Quanta Workshop
- Original Message - From: Tarquin Mills Subject: [ql-users] Norwich Quanta Workshop An evening meal is being arranged for the workshop and we need to know how many people want to go to it, to access whether to hold the meal at all? Not possible for me, I'm afraid, I shall have to leave promptly at the end of the show or I cannot get home the same evening, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Q-Word changes!
- Original Message - From: Phoebus R. Dokos ( . ) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ql-users] Q-Word changes! I already have done necessary changes to create three language editions of Q-Word (English, German, French) and these will be all bundled for release with the new changes in code for QPC. Hi Phoebus, What happened to the Dutch version! I supplied the dictionary and grid optimisation for this! Don't forget there is a market in the Netherlands. Also there is an event called QL2004 in October with a catchment area that includes the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and the UK! Best wishes and still waiting (patiently?!!?) Geoff Wicks ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Software - was how to get QL2K
- Original Message - From: Roy wood [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] how to get QL2K No slight to Marcel, but QPC2 is commercial and costs $$. UQLX is free. When it comes to computers I always try for the cheaper route, esp. with software. Hence I prefer MicroEmacs over QD, etc. Tim Swenson In some ways this is the reason that so many of the more commercial and innovative programmers left the QL scene when they did. In my conversations with the author of MasterSpy the reason he quit was that he had few sales. The same is true of the QLiberator team and Fred Toussi of Text 87 fame. I know we have this free versus commercial software from time to time here but it was a major factor in the demise of good commercial software for the QL. Unfortunately good free software has not filled that gap and most of those providing that have also upped sticks and left. -- A slightly late contribution to this debate. Firstly, Text87 could have done far more to improve their sales. £80 plus £25 - £30 for an essential printer driver for a piece of QL software 10 years old is an idiot price. Fred Toussi could have learnt from the PC (printer) world. Give the word processor away for a nominal price and make your money out of printer drivers and font utilities. Secondly, in the last few years, freeware has been far superior to commercial software. Think of the utilities for using the GD2 colours. Thirdly, isn't it time to start facing the realities of the QL community? Do we really need traders any more? They will all vanish anyway within 2 years. Shouldn't we plan for a smaller, but more technically expert QL community that is largely internet based? Geoff Wicks PS I was once told by a tutor on a training course, Your hallmark is constructive subversion. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Eidersoft Drawing Off_ICE
- Original Message - From: Dilwyn Jones [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Eidersoft Drawing Off_ICE SNIP This might make a nice little Quanta group project perhaps - form a group of interested members to chase up older software? Remember this list is not a Quanta list and Quanta does not monitor it. As far as I know there are only two of us on the Quanta committee who subscribe to it. Nevertheless this is an interesting proposal for Quanta, particularly if their might be a possibility of buying rights to a program, (and maybe upgrading to GD2 colours.) Can I suggest the people who are interested in this project email one another privately and formulate some more concrete proposals, as I, for one, am uncertain exactly what people are proposing. Then make a formal proposition to Quanta with a request for funding, if necessary. Follow this with a short article for the Quanta Magazine so that members can see the old girl still has a purpose. Geoff Wicks PS Don't forget there are ways of tracing people who have disappeared, particularly if they have an unusual name. For example, I think you will find the QLiberator missing link is living in Uxbridge. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Eidersoft Drawing Off_ICE/QL2004
- Original Message - From: Wolfgang Lenerz [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Eidersoft Drawing Off_ICE/QL2004 On 15 Jul 2004 at 21:15, gwicks wrote: Two points for general discussion: 1) How would you like to do this? As a part of the activity program or as forum item? Any which way. If the former who would like to present it? Not me That is one of the reasons I posed the question. As far as I know none of the people who have raised this issue so far will be at QL2004. If they can't make, they should think of other possibilities. I.e. we hope to have an internet connection on the day, or they could send a video, DVD etc. Bear in mind that if this item is on the agenda, there is a lot of work for someone after the event. I appreaciate that there will be a lot of work to contact the copyright owners but why is there a lot of work to do because the item is on the agenda? What's the point of having something on an agenda if afterwards nothing happens? This list has more than its fair share of fantasies. Think back a year and QL2004 was just a discussion topic that was going nowhere and went nowhere for about 6 months. I had to behave like an authoritarian dictator to get things off the ground. Now people are working hard on the idea and in this connection Sin-QL-Air deserve special praise. 2) The activity program is slowly filling up, although one or two items on it are provisional. If it gets too full would you prefer a strict limit on activities or an attempt to create a number of separate interest groups? Is there really so much to do/talk about? This will be a very interesting meeting, then. Could some talks be held concomitantly? I have no idea what the attendance will be like, but it looks as though most of the movers and shakers of the QL community will be present. Remember most QL development is now done in North Europe and Eindhoven is ideally placed for this. I would like us to use QL2004 as a unique opportunity to meet together, have a morale boost and plan for the future. As for the program, think about all the things you have expressed an interest in or which concerns things you have helped to develop. On the practical side I am not sure what time and resources are necessary for each activity item, but at the beginning of September I shall be in touch with all presenters and then shall try to draw up a more detailed program. Best Wishes, Geoff Wicks http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Eidersoft Drawing Off_ICE/QL2004
- Original Message - From: Wolfgang Lenerz [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Eidersoft Drawing Off_ICE On 15 Jul 2004 at 9:23, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: (...) Should this be on the agenda for QL2004? Definitely! Wolfgang Two points for general discussion: 1) How would you like to do this? As a part of the activity program or as forum item? If the former who would like to present it? Bear in mind that if this item is on the agenda, there is a lot of work for someone after the event. 2) The activity program is slowly filling up, although one or two items on it are provisional. If it gets too full would you prefer a strict limit on activities or an attempt to create a number of separate interest groups? Geoff Wicks http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm PS Darren. Ryanair uses Eindhoven Airport and quoted one QL-er a fare of £8 from Stanstead. A little problem of weekend flights, but QL2004 would probably be no more expensive than Byfleet. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
[ql-users] Disk drive wanted
I have received this email via the QL2004 webpage. Patrick is a Belgian and has an old QL system with Cumana Disk Drives, which are no longer working. He is interested in buying a new double drive. It sounds as though he has a very old, simple system. His email address is Patrick.Broekmans1 @ pandora.be - Original Message - From: Patrick Broekmans To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2004 10:55 PM Subject: QL2004 Info Hallo,geachte QL-clubleden, Mijn naam is Patrick Broekmans uit Berchem,Belgium.Ik heb vroeger een QL gehad,maar na vele verhuizingen blijkt dat de Cumana Dual Disk Drive verwrongen is en geen diskettes meer leest.Kan a.u.b. iemand mij contacteren om tegen vergoeding zijn (occasie)disk drive (graag dubbele disk drive) te verkopen?Ik ben allengs hopeloos aan het worden. Graag een berichtje terug,a.u.b. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
[ql-users] QL2004
I am hoping to update the QL2004 website in about a week's time, so if there is any information you would like included please let me know. In particular if you have anything to demonstrate or are developing. We can make arrangements for such things on the day, but it is better to have some notice. Now a little preliminary information: HOTELS: One or two people have commented on the excessive prices. Please remember Eindhoven is more a business city than a tourist city and you can probably negotiate weekend prices. Last Friday I stayed in a 4 star hotel with a quoted price of 99 to 270 Euros and paid only 45 Euros. ACTIVITIES: The program is now becoming firmer, with the main emphasis on Internet and the Colours: INTERNET: Jon Dent will be demonstrating the latest version of his email software. We all know that a lot of progress has been made in developing QL emailing, but have little idea how near we are to its practical implementation. You should get the answers to this at QL2004. Separate from Jon's work, we are planning internet access throughout the day. The technical side of this is being handled by Tony Firshman with Sjef van de Molengraaf providing the link. COLOURS: Wolfgang Uhlig will lead a workshop on using the GD2 colours in your own programs. I use the word lead rather than giving a lecture, because we should have most of the people who have been working on the practical implementation of the colours at QL2004. Much of the hard work on the colours has been done during Eindhoven meetings. There has never been a QL show before with so many colour experts all under one roof. Just Words! hopes to unveil its GD2 house style and release several of its programs in the new colours at QL2004. Incidentally, a group of us spent a lot of time discussing a problem involving EasyPtr, Application Window Menu Items and the new colours last Saturday. There is an answer to these problems if we can find a legal way of distributing a new version of EasyPtr. Just the sort of issue that can be addressed at a meeting like QL2004. NATIVE HARDWARE: Nasta hopes to be at QL2004 with an update on the various expansion cards. If he cannot be present Roy Wood will do this. Q60: Unfortunately there will be no official Q60 representation at the show. This is a pity because Peter Graf has made some good progress in implementing emailing and internet access using QDOS classic on a Q60. This fits in well with the show theme, and I hoped he would be able to demonstrate this, but unfortunately he is on holiday on the day. One user has promised to bring his Q60 along, should people want to see one. If there are other Q60 users who are interested in some form of Q60 activities, please bring your Q60 along. Also let us know. Preferably in advance, but, if necessary, on the day. QL-FORUM: We are still accepting nominations for the forum panel. Several names have been suggested, but we are interested in more to achieve a balance of all strands of opinion. Also we would like to receive some suggested topics. SURPRISE! SURPRISE!: It would be delightful for someone to spring a few surprises on us. For example, progress in solving the printer problem or in developing a HTLM browser, with or without graphics. APRES SHOW: One of our big difficulties is that we cannot estimate numbers attending the show. This has repercussions for the traditional post-show Chinese-Indonesian buffet. At the moment few people have expressed an interest in this and we are inclined not to make a formal booking. Geoff Wicks ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Eindhoven photos
- Original Message - From: Wolfgang Uhlig [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Eindhoven photos Ive heard that the Dutch lager can be pretty evil in the right (or Wrong) quantities. In Holland they have no lager, only yellow coloured dish-water, sold as Heineken, brrr. Wolfgang ;) Now, Now Wolfgang, Grolsch used to be delicious until they let the English start brewing it. Best Wishes, Geoff PS for Tony Firshman. When can we expect the first XXX rated QL show photos? (Or should it be ZX-X rated?) ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
Re: [ql-users] Hove photos
- Original Message - From: Tony Firshman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ql-users] Hove photos Photos from the Hove show are on URL:http://www.firshman.co.uk/photos.htm -- Thank you Tony. I composed this reply many months ago and have been waiting for an opportunity to use it. I note that no QL show is now complete without its set of pictures on the internet. This gives me a vision of men with dirty Macs (geddit!) scouring the internet for pictures of QL Traders. Can you imagine the trial of the future: Inspector Knacker: M'lord we found 30, 000 images of QL Traders on the defendant's computer. M'lord: And what pray is a QL Trader? Learned Counsel: A QL Trader, my Lord, is a most depraved specimen of humanity who derives a perverted pleasure from the ostentatious display of his pointer. ___ QL-Users Mailing List
[ql-users] QL2004 - hotels
I have had comments that the hotels on the QL2004 website are a little pricey. We chose the hotels nearest to the show venue, but there are several more hotels in Eindhoven. If you like I can add more, cheaper hotels to the site, but I cannot guarantee the standards at these, mostly unstarred, hotels. It would also take me a few days to pick out the most suitable and check websites etc. where applicable. The source of our hotel information is the Eindhoven Tourist Office and they do a hotel reservation service at 040 - 2979115. On the next update I will add this number to the site, because this service is the best to use for last minute bookings. Geoff Wicks QL2004 website: http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List
Re: [ql-users] QL2004 website
- Original Message - From: Wolfgang Uhlig [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL2004 website Yes indeed, Opera (7.23) shows up but the Lycos script interferes heavily. No popup-block can change this. Why do you have to accept that they change your HTML, anyway? Do they ask that for the free use of their server? Do you want space on my Tiscali account? I have got enough :-) There is no such thing as a free lunch and it is the penalty of using a free server. Originally the adverts were relatively unobtrusive, but then they decided on a permanent stripe on the side. The justification for this is that the adverts would be linked to google generated adverts that would be relevant to the site. Indeed that promise was kept. If I remember rightly another justification for permanent adverts was that there would be no need for pop-ups, but I see that this is now being broken. Thanks to the offer of space, also to Tony Firshman, but I have been thinking of moving elsewhere for some time. However, I want to do this with a restructuring of the site, dare I say it, to make it easier for PC users! I quite frequently get requests for word lists from students and academics and would like to make their searches to find me easier. Also the nature of Just Words is changing, with more emphasis on freeware than commercial products and thus more products for downloading. Thus a major change, which needs a lot of thinking and preparation. It is not going to happen this year, because of other commitments so for the moment I shall decline your kind offers. (The moral of this story is never to open your big mouth to complain about the QL2004 scene going quiet as I did at the beginning of the year.) Best Wishes, Geoff QL2004 website: http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List
[ql-users] QL2004 website
The QL2004 website is now available: http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm Apologies to Opera users, but since Lycos added the advertising column, the site cannot be displayed on this browser. It works OK on IE, Netscape and Mozilla, but could you let me know if other browsers give problems? Geoff Wicks ___ QL-Users Mailing List
Re: [ql-users] Nasta
- Original Message - From: Dilwyn Jones [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Nasta Although it is too late to present this as something for discussion at the Quanta AGM, there is nothing to stop this sort of idea being discussed during one of the workshop sessions as aninformal discussion or debate from which the main points and views raised could be summarised and presented to the committee for discussion, or even for informal discussions to take place at the AGM dinner on saturday night - all I;m suggesting is bounce a few ideas around as initial discussion, sound out the members and officials and start forming views which in themselves won't carry any official weight but you may at least get a feeeling of opinion among the active members present which may simplify or clarify the direction any formal enquiries, discussion of any business plans or requests for help with funding etc might take in the future. It is quite common for informal discussion and 'sounding out' to take place before things go through formal channels to know the best way to (legally and fairly of course) present matters in the most efficient way. I have been asked to fill a slot on the Sunday morning and we have kept the subject matter open. I was thinking of a general discussion on the questions I raised in connection with QL2004, all as part of getting among members and other QL-ers as John Taylor is suggesting, but this could easily be changed to the ideas you want to discuss. In fact, the Nasta cards provide a good case example of the difficulties involved. In summary a business case is not five pages of technical specifications, but production cost per item, production time, production quantity and selling plans. It does not matter if the initial estimates are fairly crude, that is what gets sorted out in negotiation. Just remember that 20 cards at £100 each is an investment equivalent to the subscriptions of a third of our members. That is why there has to be a lot of legal red tape involved. BTW the above is subject to my staying ovenight in Manchester on the Saturday. That is my plan at the moment, but it could be subject to change. Best wishes, Geoff Wicks QL2004 website: http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List
Re: [ql-users] Nasta
- Original Message - From: ZN [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Nasta Now I get to be the subject on an email list ;-) - well, there is always that first time, i suppose ;-) Thanks for your reply. It's given us a clear idea of your situation, although I shall have to read it several times to get the complete picture. (I have already made a hard copy.) I think we can now all look at the whole business far more calmly. One final point. Do you think you will be able to make it to QL2004? I would love to give you a slot to talk about your work. Best wishes, Geoff Wicks QL2004 website: http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List
Re: [ql-users] Nasta
- Original Message - From: Roy wood [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] Nasta I am not sure how this should be done. Should it be proposed as a loan from Quanta to Nasta to produce the goods and then have them sold through the usual traders or should Quanta get them made and sell them itself? I am not adverse to either position but I suspect that Quanta's constitution forbids sales outside its membership. -- There is the model of the Q60 which was done as a loan to D D systems, although I understand that this was a fairly controversial decision within the Quanta committee. There was an alternative view that Quanta should have sold it itself, which, as I understand it, would have meant that only members could have bought a Q60. However what is £14 Quanta membership when you are spending £500+ on a computer? Nasta has now given us a good picture of his situation. I think it would be in everyone's interest if we all studied this carefully so that we can think about how we can best proceed. Best Wishes, Geoff Wicks QL2004 website: http://members.lycos.co.uk/geoffwicks/ql2004.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List
