Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
Rich Mellor wrote, on 10/Jun/10 06:07 | Jun10: snip As for Marcel's and Jochen's comments about posting information on wikis being regarded as self-advertising - well, there are some views on this: 1. Surely the software / hardware designers are best positioned to provide the background of the hardware and software? 2. The internet may be aimed at providing information, but 99% of sites (including wikis) are used for promotion of business - after all, not many people can afford to set up and maintain a website longterm without it providing some source of revenue. If someone is interested in reading about QPC2 for example, why leave it open ended as to where they can now obtain a copy from ? That is like telling someone about a wonderful product which will change their lives immensely, but if they want to get hold of it, sorry - just look on google and see if anyone else has listed it for sale... 3. What is wrong with self-promotion? Surely anyone who writes a CV out and puts it online on a job site is doing just that thing and nobody would argue against doing that. You will find that most QL hardware and software is already documented, by Rich I think. I see no harm in my going in and correcting what is there, and there was quite a bit of that! Mind you I am now not actively trading, although I keep having to do things behind the scene. For instance Rich has some secondhand Minervae and I am repairing them (well I will when he sends them to me (8-)# ). Also the chat about Minerva manuals pushed me into finishing the OCR job I started a long long time ago (thanks Dilwyn). I must say Rich is doing a great job selling my shed-rescued stock. Derek Stewart completely filled his car with it! As I found out from Urs, I had some historic old pcbs in the collection. Unfortunately I believe most pcbs have now been scrapped. They were a great source of spare parts, which could be heat-gun desoldered. I suspect a lot were actually working, but I never got around to fully checking. These were from a vast quantity of QL parts I bought from a trader living in East London, near Ilford I think. I have forgotten his name - can anyone remember? He died I believe in the early 90s. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk 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 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
I must say Rich is doing a great job selling my shed-rescued stock. Derek Stewart completely filled his car with it! As I found out from Urs, I had some historic old pcbs in the collection. Unfortunately I believe most pcbs have now been scrapped. They were a great source of spare parts, which could be heat-gun desoldered. I suspect a lot were actually working, but I never got around to fully checking. These were from a vast quantity of QL parts I bought from a trader living in East London, near Ilford I think. I have forgotten his name - can anyone remember? He died I believe in the early 90s. Tony Care Electronics...Ed Bruley perhaps? Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
Dilwyn Jones wrote, on 10/Jun/10 10:06 | Jun10: These were from a vast quantity of QL parts I bought from a trader living in East London, near Ilford I think. I have forgotten his name - can anyone remember? He died I believe in the early 90s. Tony Care Electronics...Ed Bruley perhaps? No. He was working on his own. He bought a vast number of components and QLs direct from Thorn-EMI after the Sinclair collapse. He used to sell components at ZX Microfairs. I think he lived in Gants Hill, but not sure. He was the primary source for the vast majority of QLs and parts. Bill Richardson based his business on his stock I believe. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk 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 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
This mailing list is probably the most frequently populated part of QL-Dom - and even here goes deathly quiet at times. Now look what you've done, it's more active today! My Articles in QL Toady are a mystery to me. Not that I don't know what I'm writing (well, most of the time I do!) but the lack of feedback from almost everyone in the entire world - I sometimes feel that I'm writing for three people - Me, George and a chap called Hugh Rooms who called me to task some time back and made a contribution to the Assembly series. Every time I ask for feedback, the silence is deafening. Either nobody is reading the articles, or (more likely) you are getting it so right that nobody needs to comment (apart from the odd letter from George of course!) I read the articles (and fail to understand some of them of course) :-( So what's that so far...5 readers? Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
These were from a vast quantity of QL parts I bought from a trader living in East London, near Ilford I think. I have forgotten his name - can anyone remember? He died I believe in the early 90s. Tony Care Electronics...Ed Bruley perhaps? No. He was working on his own. He bought a vast number of components and QLs direct from Thorn-EMI after the Sinclair collapse. He used to sell components at ZX Microfairs. I think he lived in Gants Hill, but not sure. He was the primary source for the vast majority of QLs and parts. Bill Richardson based his business on his stock I believe. Joe Atkinson? (must confess I don't know if he's still alive or not, so apologies if the suggestion causes offence). Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
Dilwyn Jones wrote, on 10/Jun/10 10:17 | Jun10: These were from a vast quantity of QL parts I bought from a trader living in East London, near Ilford I think. I have forgotten his name - can anyone remember? He died I believe in the early 90s. Tony Care Electronics...Ed Bruley perhaps? No. He was working on his own. He bought a vast number of components and QLs direct from Thorn-EMI after the Sinclair collapse. He used to sell components at ZX Microfairs. I think he lived in Gants Hill, but not sure. He was the primary source for the vast majority of QLs and parts. Bill Richardson based his business on his stock I believe. Joe Atkinson? (must confess I don't know if he's still alive or not, so apologies if the suggestion causes offence). Not him. Silly isn't it. I met him many times, and when I bought the stuff, I visited him. There were large boxes full of QL parts everywhere. It is what got me launched into QL hardware and repairs. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk 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 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
gdgqler wrote: Marcel's and Jochen's comments made me think twice about considering adding information about my TurboPTR on Rich's site. Oh god, I wasn't trying to discourage anybody from contributing to the wiki! TurboPTR not being commercial it's a different situation anyway, in my opinion at least. Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
Marcel Kilgus wrote: gdgqler wrote: Marcel's and Jochen's comments made me think twice about considering adding information about my TurboPTR on Rich's site. Oh god, I wasn't trying to discourage anybody from contributing to the wiki! TurboPTR not being commercial it's a different situation anyway, in my opinion at least. Marcel Absolutely. Getting swamped with commercial adverts would be one thing (and QL traders are not likely to do that anyway, it might be different in the big world outside), but putting information about handy free utiltities on there is hardly going to upset people. I would tend to think the opposite in fact that for programs like TurboPtr, which may be new to some people, the more free information out there the better. I occasionally send news of my free programs to this list, but I wouldn't send anything commercial, of course, unless it was to answer a specific query. I don't think George has anything to worry about at all. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
Jerry Davis wrote, on 10/Jun/10 12:02 | Jun10: I thought I'd stop lurking and post I only joined this group a few weeks ago out of pure curiosity. Many, many moons ago I set up the London sub-group with the help of Frank Merrison. University, the discovery that there was life outside London, and meeting Rebecca who eventually became my wife caused me to stray away from the QL scene. I agree with Rich, there is an interest in retro computers. I am now an Engineering and Electronics teacher at GCSE and A Level. Electronics education has recently been revolutionised with the introduction of cheap PICs that can be programmed via a built in serial port. PCs are far too complicated for the average student to understand, however older computers such as the Sinclair computers are easier to understand and modify. While they are not QL specific projects, I have had GCSE students design keyboard interfaces and sound cards. I've just looked at the suggested projects for A Level next year, and one is to design an SD card reader - it doesn't specify what disc format the project should use.. In the not too distant future we will be looking at A Level students designing computers as complex as the original QL! I think older computers such as the QL that are less complicated, could be used to great potential in electronics education to get across the ideas of Processor, Math-Coprocessor, Display Driver, Keyboard interface, disk interface etc etc. I dusted off my old QLs, and some students were amazed to see that you could network computers using just iPod headphone leads. Nope - mono only (8-)# Rich has about 500 of them from my shed. Good to see you on the list. When Jerry emailed me a while back, he said Do you remember me. Silly question. How could I forget. I don't know if the London group was in the Welsh Congregational Chapel then. However the wheel has come full circle as I rehearse every Thursday there with the Borough Chamber Choir. It might be 'newly refurbished' but very much on a budget. They have skimped on much, including the floor, which is rippling due to damp. The gents still has no interior walls. Still the hall is very much bigger now as the stage has been removed they found a lake underneath! Where do you keep the hardware now Malcolm? They used to be above the stage. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk 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 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
Tony, Was it Dennis Briggs aka Adman Services ? Bruce Thursday, June 10, 2010, 10:13:21 AM, you wrote: TF Dilwyn Jones wrote, on 10/Jun/10 10:06 | Jun10: These were from a vast quantity of QL parts I bought from a trader living in East London, near Ilford I think. I have forgotten his name - can anyone remember? He died I believe in the early 90s. Tony Care Electronics...Ed Bruley perhaps? TF No. He was working on his own. He bought a vast number of components TF and QLs direct from Thorn-EMI after the Sinclair collapse. TF He used to sell components at ZX Microfairs. TF I think he lived in Gants Hill, but not sure. TF He was the primary source for the vast majority of QLs and parts. Bill TF Richardson based his business on his stock I believe. TF Tony -- Best regards, Brucemailto:bruce.nichol...@ntlworld.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
Bruce N wrote, on 10/Jun/10 13:21 | Jun10: Tony, Was it Dennis Briggs aka Adman Services ? No - he lived in East London, maybe Gants Hill. He was the person that kicked the component and rebuilt QL trading into life when he sold his stock. I don't think he actively traded them. He lived really close to you (8-)# This was in the late 80s, and he died sometime in the 90s. I had better wait 20 years and I will remember (8-)# He must be mentioned in the QL BBS archives somewhere. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:257/67) +44(0)1442-828255 t...@firshman.co.uk 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 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
Dear George, Marcel's and Jochen's comments made me think twice about considering adding information about my TurboPTR on Rich's site. I was referring to self-advertising for commercial products. I regard any encyclopedia (online or offline) as something which should be as unbiased as possible, and writing something about your own commercial product could not be regarded as this ... that's how I feel about it. Please do not regard this as criticism to anybody who does so (Rich, for example, is doing a great job and I cannot imagine how much time it takes him), but I would rather NOT do it for the products I sell. It would, however, not worry me, for non-commercial products, as you do not (really) want to compete, so I would not regard this as advertising. Cheers Jochen ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
Hi Rich, Believe it or not, there is still a burgeoning market out there for retro computers - I rely on them for my main source of income at the moment (since I was made redundant in December) and have successfully brought several new products to market (or made old ones available again), and all this helps. I understand this, although I did not sell any old hardware in the past few years, but that was never my aim anyway. When QPC came out and the QL hardware emulator ended, there was no point in me elling hardware. Over the past few years, we have sourced and brought to market: Yes, you are doing a very good job. That is why I forward interested people to you, by the way ;-) 2. The internet may be aimed at providing information, but 99% of sites (including wikis) are used for promotion of business - after all, not many people can afford to set up and maintain a website longterm without it providing some source of revenue. If someone is interested in reading about QPC2 for example, why leave it open ended as to where they can now obtain a copy from ? That is like telling someone about a wonderful product which will change their lives immensely, but if they want to get hold of it, sorry - just look on google and see if anyone else has listed it for sale... Please see other mail. Advertising is advertising, and a lot of internet info IS advertising. A Wikipedia (which I regard as some kind of Lexikon where you look up things and they are explained, but in an unbiased, non-advertising way) is something different in my opinion. THAT is a place where I do not expect (and do not want!!) advertising. It is OK to use a website, where it is clear one wants to sell something, for advertising, and advertise by being found through google etc. ... but that's something different. Even a link or something like (taken from J-M-S webseite to SHOW it could be advertising) is something different. Cheers Jochen ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The QL Future
In message 4c10c9a5.40...@firshman.co.uk, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk writes Jerry Davis wrote, on 10/Jun/10 12:02 | Jun10: I thought I'd stop lurking and post I only joined this group a few weeks ago out of pure curiosity. Many, many moons ago I set up the London sub-group with the help of Frank Merrison. University, the discovery that there was life outside London, and meeting Rebecca who eventually became my wife caused me to stray away from the QL scene. I agree with Rich, there is an interest in retro computers. I am now an Engineering and Electronics teacher at GCSE and A Level. Electronics education has recently been revolutionised with the introduction of cheap PICs that can be programmed via a built in serial port. PCs are far too complicated for the average student to understand, however older computers such as the Sinclair computers are easier to understand and modify. While they are not QL specific projects, I have had GCSE students design keyboard interfaces and sound cards. I've just looked at the suggested projects for A Level next year, and one is to design an SD card reader - it doesn't specify what disc format the project should use.. In the not too distant future we will be looking at A Level students designing computers as complex as the original QL! I think older computers such as the QL that are less complicated, could be used to great potential in electronics education to get across the ideas of Processor, Math-Coprocessor, Display Driver, Keyboard interface, disk interface etc etc. I dusted off my old QLs, and some students were amazed to see that you could network computers using just iPod headphone leads. Nope - mono only (8-)# Rich has about 500 of them from my shed. Good to see you on the list. When Jerry emailed me a while back, he said Do you remember me. Silly question. How could I forget. I don't know if the London group was in the Welsh Congregational Chapel then. However the wheel has come full circle as I rehearse every Thursday there with the Borough Chamber Choir. It might be 'newly refurbished' but very much on a budget. They have skimped on much, including the floor, which is rippling due to damp. The gents still has no interior walls. Still the hall is very much bigger now as the stage has been removed they found a lake underneath! Where do you keep the hardware now Malcolm? They used to be above the stage. Tony Hi Tony, There is a walk in storage cupboard now, where we keep the hardware for the London QL Quanta Group. Frank Merrison was always a loyal member of the Group. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
