Re: [Ql-Users] USB Floppy Disks and The QL Future
Malcolm wrote So, iPad like devices will succeed all of the above, and we will all be using them as they get more capable. You have to distinguish between those things that are long term computing trends and those which are short term fads No one can dispute the huge sales of the Ipad. It looks great - it is marketed brilliantly but what does it do? It is easy to imagine people looking at it in 9 months and saying to themselves - 'I spent a lot of money on that but what did I do with it that I couldn't have done with the equipment I already had' The answer in many cases will be nothing! The cloud is not new - it failed the previous time. The thinking behind it is not the storage of backups but the use of programs in the cloud. That way instead of you making a one-off payment for a prog you can use for as long as you like you end up making an annual payment to use the prog. The companies make much more money from the prog and have a steady income stream from it and you are tied to them. Personally I prefer to do my own computing rather than have Microsoft do it. The history of Microsoft in recent years is them attempting to take over more and more of what you do and people resisting it. You are in their hands with the cloud - they can ask what they like since all they have to do is stop your access to their server. And that can happen accidently anyway martinw ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Reading OPD microdrives on a QL
From memory, there used to be a public domain program (maybe in the Quanta library) to read One Per Desk formatted microdrives on the QL - does anyone recall what it was and where it can be obtained from? -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reading OPD microdrives on a QL
Rich, On 21 Jun 2010, at 09:11, Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk wrote: From memory, there used to be a public domain program (maybe in the Quanta library) to read One Per Desk formatted microdrives on the QL - does anyone recall what it was and where it can be obtained from? -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm I suspect you are thing of my OPD/QL Interchange software? If so it can be downloaded from my web site at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/itimpi/djwdown.htm#OPD. I have not even looked at it for a decade or two, but there is no reason it should have stopped working :) Dave Walker Tel: +44 (0)1707 652791 Mob: +44 (0)7933 848186 Web: http://www.itimpi.com Skype Id: itimpi Sent from my iPad ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reading OPD microdrives on a QL
On 21/06/2010 09:21, Dave Walker wrote: Rich, On 21 Jun 2010, at 09:11, Rich Mellorr...@rwapservices.co.uk wrote: From memory, there used to be a public domain program (maybe in the Quanta library) to read One Per Desk formatted microdrives on the QL - does anyone recall what it was and where it can be obtained from? -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm I suspect you are thing of my OPD/QL Interchange software? If so it can be downloaded from my web site at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/itimpi/djwdown.htm#OPD. I have not even looked at it for a decade or two, but there is no reason it should have stopped working :) Dave Walker Tel: +44 (0)1707 652791 Mob: +44 (0)7933 848186 Web: http://www.itimpi.com Skype Id: itimpi Sent from my iPad ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Thanks Dave - that was just the ticket - Dilwyn - any chance you can add this to your Sinclair QL Homepage? -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reading OPD microdrives on a QL
I suspect you are thing of my OPD/QL Interchange software? If so it can be downloaded from my web site at http://homepage.ntlworld.com/itimpi/djwdown.htm#OPD. I have not even looked at it for a decade or two, but there is no reason it should have stopped working :) Dave Walker Thanks Dave - that was just the ticket - Dilwyn - any chance you can add this to your Sinclair QL Homepage? -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services OK, I'll try. Many years ago, I used to sell a few copie sof this for Dave and I can't even remember if it was a QL program or an OPD program - all I remember is that it was on MDV! IIRC it sought to add a OPD microdrive driver to the QL to allow it to read OPD cartridges, but I'd better get onto Dave's site quick to check the facts! Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reading OPD microdrives on a QL
Thanks Dave - that was just the ticket - Dilwyn - any chance you can add this to your Sinclair QL Homepage? -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services Done - if you'd care to give it a try at http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/filetran/index.html As Dave has a lot more details on his page than the brief descriptions I have on my pages, I've linked there too, hopefully that's OK with Dave. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] USB Floppy Disks and The QL Future
Roy Wood wrote, on 20/Jun/10 23:29 | Jun20: On 20/06/2010 20:03, Norman Dunbar wrote: On 18/06/10 00:15, Tony Firshman wrote: I have that set but it doesn't spell check. Looks like a bug (3.0.4). That's interesting Tony. Roy on Windows and you on Mac and me on Linux, all using 3.0.4 (I think Roy mentioned 3.0.4) and only Linux can spell check as you type. Spooky! Works fine for me here. Thankfully. My only problem with it is when the words I type are correctly spelled/spelt but they are the wrong words! Cheers, Norman. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm 3.0.5 actually ... and so is mine now, but only just updated. 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] USB Floppy Disks and The QL Future
In message e1oqc0a-0006a9...@outmx08.plus.net, Martin Wheatley mart...@martinwheatley.plus.com writes Malcolm wrote So, iPad like devices will succeed all of the above, and we will all be using them as they get more capable. You have to distinguish between those things that are long term computing trends and those which are short term fads No one can dispute the huge sales of the Ipad. It looks great - it is marketed brilliantly but what does it do? It is easy to imagine people looking at it in 9 months and saying to themselves - 'I spent a lot of money on that but what did I do with it that I couldn't have done with the equipment I already had' The answer in many cases will be nothing! Hi Martin, Great that you have entered the discussion. With the iPad, you have missed the point I was making. I was using the iPad like devices - not the iPad per se - as an example as to the way things may well ( are ) going forward. Douglas Adams used the idea of The Book as being a portable device that one could refer to for everything you wanted to know. That is now starting to be implemented with first the 2G mobile phones, then 3G mobile phones; and iPad like devices. I am not advocating that I like iPad, per se. Yet, as ever it is a great piece of marketing - as you have conceded. But, more than that it is indicative of another way forward in human ergonomic use of devices - not longer keyboard and mouse ( which is the current PC de facto user method ). Of course, as ever, the new devices can always refer back to previous technology; and the iPad like devices will have virtual/touch keyboards for a while, too. You seem to be anti-Apple ( poor Steve Jobs ) ... :-) The cloud is not new - it failed the previous time. The thinking behind it is not the storage of backups but the use of programs in the cloud. That way instead of you making a one-off payment for a prog you can use for as long as you like you end up making an annual payment to use the prog. The companies make much more money from the prog and have a steady income stream from it and you are tied to them. Personally I prefer to do my own computing rather than have Microsoft do it. The history of Microsoft in recent years is them attempting to take over more and more of what you do and people resisting it. You are in their hands with the cloud - they can ask what they like since all they have to do is stop your access to their server. And that can happen accidently anyway martinw The Cloud is more than that - as the concept develops it will have the potential to take away owing individual versions of software on individual devices - like computers - or on network servers, etc. Programs and usage will be provided - more like radio and television. No need for the user to ever have to worry about buying software, having enough storage space, or being up to date. It will just be there. Obviously, the provider will require a fee for the provision. Providers, like Google, already give you their services for free. However, behind the scenes in small fractions of your time usage, along with millions of others, they are making an income - all of the time. Otherwise, how did they become so rich ? Providers could just stop selling individual versions of software, altogether. Or sell them only at quite high cost. At same time as offering you a free service, through their own provision. Which, then, would you choose ? -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] USB Floppy Disks and The QL Future
In message 4c1fb5a0.80...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes So, iPad like devices will succeed all of the above, and we will all be using them as they get more capable. Nope. iPad like devices may catch on - they didn't when they were called Tablet PCs way back. I admit the technology wasn't as advanced and mobile phones hardy even existed then. However, in the long run, I predict, that there will be iPad like devices and maybe lots of them, but the PC - in all it's guises - will still be dominant. PC's will only remain popular - as a mass market - as long as the industry supports their manufacture. Once the game moves elsewhere, they will be more of the technological history. I, like you, will probably still use them - as we do the QL ( which is no longer manufactured ) - probably because we like all sorts of technology and we know how to use them. After all, the iPad has been here before, remember this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPAQ ? There were even Compaq (I think) versions from before 2000. Anyway, I still awaiting your dream ideas for the QL21 ... :-) If I had any, then we'd end up with a Linux based Laptop running QPC! Yes, OK then ... what will be the 21st Century specification of this Linux based laptop ? No need to be practical, right now ... just dream what it might be . :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] USB Floppy Disks and The QL Future
Yes, OK then ... what will be the 21st Century specification of this Linux based laptop ? No need to be practical, right now ... just dream what it might be . Well, if you put it like that, I still have no idea! However, a few thoughts, or rambles? MC68 processor and lots of RAM. Floating Point Unit built in - keeps George happy! ;-) RAM disk, Floppy disc, Hard disk - a proper one, not a pseudo one like we have at the moment. Proper file system where the set up is like, or better then I have documented here: http://qdosmsq.dunbar-it.co.uk/blog/2009/05/whats-wrong-with-this-file-system/ - obviously backward compatibility mode would be included, but as a separate module. A proper (!) windowing system, like Windows if necessary, that is easy to use, set up and control. Resize by dragging borders (I know George has a demo - but it should be built in). Judging by Tony Tebby's rants against Unix, in QL Toady, I better not mention it in any way! ;-) Not that I was going to. Dual boot - Linux or QPC. Networking built in as laptops etc already have. Proper Ethernet (gigabit) and not some mash up designed by Sinclair. Proper character sets using unicode as and where necessary, one codeset fits all! A decent pile of software - C and C++ compilers - I know we have an extremely good C compiler already thanks to Dave Walker and his brother - Assembly language of course and SuperBasic. probably doesn't need changing for the 21st century - they got it right! Decent sound, able to play all known codecs - MPx (if you must), Ogg, FLAC, etc. Video and image abilities. HTML and CSS as standard. Etc etc. You name it, if it's already on Linux, then the QL21 should also have it! And so on. Cheers, Norman. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] USB Floppy Disks and The QL Future
On 21/06/2010 20:10, Malcolm Cadman wrote: SNIP No need to be practical, right now ... just dream what it might be . :-) Was it the Rocky Horror Show? - 'Don't dream it - be it!' -- Roy Wood ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Cloud computing/.
Malcolm Can't you see. Cloud computing is monopolistic. That is it's great attraction. All computing will finish up in the hands of a select few and they will control everything. If you write a really useful piece of software they will market it for you and if they are not interested there will be no one else to sell it to. Yes there will be choice, but just as there is with supermarkets, it will be limited. What about security? The Cloud vendors may be honest, but what about their employees. Your data could be at risk. I keep photographs on SmugMug, but personal information, no way. The whole idea horrifies me. John Taylor (another long term lurker.) ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] USB Floppy Disks and The QL Future
With the iPad, you have missed the point I was making. I was using the iPad like devices - not the iPad per se - as an example as to the way things may well ( are ) going forward. Then we will have to disagree. There is a place for the Ipad and Ipadalikes but I don't see it replacing PCs You seem to be anti-Apple ( poor Steve Jobs ) ... :-) Not at all. I admire his ability to stick a bit of coloured plastic on something, quadruple the price and get away with it The one thing he isn't is poor! The Cloud is more than that - as the concept develops it will have the potential to take away owing individual versions of software on individual devices - like computers - or on network servers, etc. Providers could just stop selling individual versions of software, altogether. Or sell them only at quite high cost. At same time as offering you a free service, through their own provision. Which, then, would you choose ? And you miss my point. It won't be free. You will be expected to pay for Word and Excel and many others over and over again. They will charge you an annual fee for using each prog Microsoft tried to quietly introduce this a few years and had to withdraw it in the face of consumer resistance. Computer software and hardware companies do things in their own interest not yours and the cloud under various names is something they've been trying to introduce for years. Do you really trust Microsoft or Google to keep all your letters rather than keeping them yourself?I don't think so martinw ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
