Re: [ql-users] List is very quiet?
PoNG! it's almost the end of carnival over here... so, we party all the time :-) you should worry in case you DID get any messages :-) - Original Message - From: James Hunkins [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2003 8:29 PM Subject: [ql-users] List is very quiet? Guys, I haven't seen any activity for a couple of days here. Is everyone on break over there or is there a problem with this list? Jim
Re: [ql-users] Keyboard Membranes
I think that you are jumping to very wrong conclusions. I do not think that anybody was obliged to sign in your personal mini-poll. Alot of people (including me) have expressed their interest so far in public. I believe that you should be (personally) worried why no one signed in your personal mini-poll :-) Is everybody avoiding you ? :-))) Cheers - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 11:34 PM Subject: [ql-users] Keyboard Membranes Well,It is a sad thing to say that only 5 people have added their details to the mini-poll I was running on the keyboard membranes. I wonder if anyone else has received more response after several people on this list seemed to want new membranes??Maybe it just reflects the fact that people on this list are not willing to actually put their money on the table (or am I wrong), or more hopefully, it is that the people on this list are using an emulator and therefore don't need a working proper QL!!--Rich Mellor RWAP Software35 Chantry Croft, Kinsley, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF9 5JHTEL: 01977 610509http://hometown.aol.co.uk/rwapsoftware
Re: [ql-users] QL Keyboard Membranes - moving on
I thought to be clear, that replacing membranes is something completelly different than refurbishing and replacing parts of the QL itself. Qeyboard might be a very nice idea, but useless if you need to keep the QL in original condition. My point of view is not of the developer/QL fan etc., but of the collector, that needs an original QL up and running. So, Qeyboard and membranes, are not competitive to eachother. I would never modify my QLs anyway :-) The Qeyboard is mechanically compatible with membranes, and doesn't alter the operational or cosmetic characteristics of the QL. Just so ya know! Also, there are a couple of weaknesses in the design of the membrane which could be overcome if a new batch were made. Also, the jig used for making the membranes has to take into account the bend in the top case. If the membranes are made flat, they will wrinkle when properly assembled. The jig has to have a 1.5 degree curl up from the middle to the left edge. Very interesting detail! I will have to keep it in mind! I need to build a dossier with all membrane specs and/or scans and drawing, in order to give it away quickly. Could anybody help me on that part? If you are interested (I am) I could inquire about building on the same batch, membranes for the ZX48K and the ZXPlus or ZX81s. But I would really need their designs in electronic form. Might I be so bold as to suggest that we offer to buy the tooling and make classic membranes ourselves? It would give us much greater flexibility, and remove the element of a manufacturer making profit, which leaves something in it for the dealers while getting users lower prices. Tooling in terms of machinery costs several thousands of pounds. Building the mask ourselves using some CAD s/w is the best way to realy cut down the costs. It would if someone has already designed the masks of the Spectrums, or even the QL before, he could help us to re-design, as we could use the same elements/pads and metrics. Any volunteers?
[ql-users] QL Keyboard Membranes - moving on
If you guys are interested in the membranes, please drop me a line too, at QL(at)retrocomputing.eu.com, or , QL(at)retrocomputing.gr in order to make a list and keep you updated with the venture. I already have already contacted 30+ membrane manufacturers worldwide and keep on searching, and waiting for replies and price quotations. I guess that It will be a slow process, but it will have a happy end :-)) Cheers! - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 11:27 PM Subject: [ql-users] QL Keyboard Membranes Since adding the guestbook asking people who are looking for membranes to leave details on my website, only one person has added their details.Can those who wrote into the list yesterday expressing a similar desire, please add their details to:http://hometown.aol.co.uk/rwapsoftware/membranes.html--Rich Mellor RWAP Software35 Chantry Croft, Kinsley, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF9 5JHTEL: 01977 610509http://hometown.aol.co.uk/rwapsoftware
Re: [ql-users] Keyboard membranes
Title: Message Just a quick comment, although (I think)self-evident: it's impossible to make profit on making 1K~5K membranes and storing them for the next 10 years repairing QLs :-). It's too expensive to build less than several 100smembranes per batch. It's just helping romantics (like me) to have fully working systems for our personal collections. - Original Message - From: Callum Davidson To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 7:06 PM Subject: RE: [ql-users] Keyboard membranes Hello all, Thanks for your responses to my message so far - hopefully I'll be back in the 'QL Zone' pretty soon since I've had some very helpful replies already, and a couple of promising possibilities to explore. I don't know if the estimates by Voyager are accurate or not, although I imagine they're probably about right, or maybe a little on the low side. My technical skills are somewhat limited, but I don't mind doing everyday running-repairs and simple upgrades myself. I generally avoid it unless really necessary since I'd hate to damage an otherwise great machine by sticking a curious finger in the wrong hole - I'd much rather leave it to the professionals; i.e. those that alreadyknow which holes not to stick their fingers in :) I'd be very keen to see replacement membranes made, even if it could only be in a fairly small quantity - I'm sure there aren't millions of $ out there waiting to be made, but it could be quite a profitable enterprise over time, and would be a *great* service to the QL community. Callum Davidson -Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of VoyagerSent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 4:40 AMTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: Re: [ql-users] Keyboard membranes Thanks for the messages and the interest. My point of view, is purelly the "retro-computing" as I collect systems for display/demonstration asnear as the original state as possible. All the hardware development effort since the days of the mid-80's is really great, but I know, that there are many more users/owners like myself, that do not want to hack their systems (at least all of them) to add extra keyboards, motherboardsetc. In Greece only, I have more than a dozen such users. I was planning on building a high quality alternative but 100% compatible membrane, in order to replace all the old and very fragile membranes, on several systems. I cannot evaluate the total volume yet, nor the future demand, but I expect it to be aprox 1K ~ 5K in the next 10 years. And I have the money and the resources to invest onthat venture starting today. My estimate is that from the 100K systems sold, only 10K are around nowdays, most of them thrown in closets, attics etc, having a purelly collector's value, and only 0.1K ~ 0.5K systems are active, used by QL power users / fans like you guys. Am I totally wrong? - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 11:44 AM Subject: Re: [ql-users] Keyboard membranes In a message dated 13/10/02 09:39:47 GMT Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I believe that there are many potential clients. I am one of them. Greetings. BadamanThere are certainly a lot of people out there with QLs who need a new keyboard membrane (I have several ones here for a start which I could sell on the second hand market very easily).Please don't forget however, that Dave Park is working on the QeYboard replacement (not too sure how long this will take to get to market) and you can always attach a full size PC keyboard with SuperHermes or SuperHermes lite from Tony Firshman (I know he would not mention this himself - he would not dare to use this list to publicise himself!!).SuperHermes is also packed with other features which every QL user should consider essential in any event :-)--Rich Mellor RWAP Software35 Chantry Croft, Kinsley, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF9 5JHTEL: 01977 610509http://hometown.aol.co.uk/rwapsoftware
Re: [ql-users] Keyboard membranes
Hi! Tony had a stock of membranes, but he is running out on them. I am planning on mass-producing them, but I have none available yet. Are you in desperate need? I have a couple of spare membranes, but I need them for my systems. Regards George - Original Message - From: Callum Davidson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: QL Mailing List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 6:12 AM Subject: [ql-users] Keyboard membranes Hello, As a relatively new member to this list, please excuse me if you've answered this all before :) I'm trying to locate a source of QL keyboard membranes, either in Europe or the US. I know they're becoming very difficult to find, but understand someone was trying to produce a number of 'new' replacements. Is this the case? If so, does anyone know the current status of these efforts, and how I can get in touch with the person concerned? Thanks, Callum Davidson
[ql-users] OT?-Looking for stats
Hi guys I am working on an essay, and I need statistics and figures from the 80's on sales, value, models, types of computers sold. Any number would be appreciated. I need to cover not only the PC market, but the home computer market too. Looking for numbers like like, how many Ti99/4A were sold, per year if possible and at what price, how many Compaq portables, how many Spectrums, QLs, IBM PC/XT, PC/XT clones, etc Could anybody please give me a hand? Thanks in advance
[ql-users] OT (a bit) Sinclair TV
Hi guyz, I know, it sounds Off Topic. I 've just got a Sinclair Flat-Screen Pocket TV, and I am trying to use an external PSU, but there are no specs for it. Has anybody used it? could anybody give me the specs? I suspect it's 6V DC, and the socket seems like the Nokia GSM's power plug, but I need the correct polarity. Thanks in advance - Original Message - From: Ken Brickwood [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2002 8:52 PM Subject: Re: [ql-users] Sermouse Hi, Phoebus, The best solution would be to get a replacement from one of the traders. Master Disks with one or more corrupted files are liable to let you down when you really need to replace lost or damaged items. Regards, Ken Brickwood Phoebus Dokos wrote: Hi all, after I rebuild my Aurora system I found out that my SMSQ/E disk was corrupted and while I have everything else on backup, SERMOUSE that was included in the disk does not longer function. Anybody has a copy of it? Of course I never used it before (okay only once or twice) but now that I needed well... it died :-) Murphy Phoebus
