[Ql-Users] Life In the Old Dogs Yet . . .
OK, so I know this isn't specifically about the QL, but it does go to show there is some life in the old machines yet: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10951040 Actually, my two boys - 6 and 7 - love playing my vintage machines ! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 2.5inch hard drive
No problem! Rick Dilwyn Jones wrote: Thanks, but Derek Stewart has already promised one. Ideally, I was after about 5 to 10GB, which is what Derek had to hand. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] IMPORTANT WARNING to aspirant chairmen and others
Absolutely, I couldn't agree with you more. Microsoft ignored html standards for years and got away with it because they had effectively sewn up the browser market - if a site works in IE then 99% of the viewers were happy. Now that is changing, with Firefox, Opera, Safari, Chrome and the other minority browsers, and everyone needs to sit down together and agree real standards across browsers. Roy wood wrote: In message 494a0146.8000...@digitalanswers.biz, Rick Chagouri-Brindle r...@digitalanswers.biz writes never been compliant with HTML standards and website have to use all sorts of tricks to get it to work properly in IE and standards compliant browsers. With each revision of IE MS promise to make it more compliant . . . Well I can see that to a degree but the code that works fine on my MySpace site under IE fails under Firefox and that is recognised as a Firefox problem. The same goes for static backgrounds on Firefox. If you look at my band website in IE the background stays static and the text slides over it do the same in Firefox and it all moves together. Of course people say it is not a recognised command but I go back to my previous comment. They are all too busy being competitive and digging at each other to actually sit down and solve the problems. Sound familiar? It's just a microcosm of the outside world.. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] IMPORTANT WARNING to aspirant chairmen and others
Roy wood wrote: In message 49495993.5060...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes SNIP qdosmsq.dunbar-it.co.uk, I can see that by far the most people hitting my site use Mozilla browsers. Probably biased by the interest of the people hitting the site. M$ still have the largest market share although it is dwindling slowly. Anyway, whatever you use, stay safe! All browsers have inherent problems and security holes. It just depends who is looking where. In respect of why some sites don't work this is down to a disagreement on what HTML code is. Firefox will not display my Myspace site correctly although IE7 (and IE8) does. It is not that one browser is wrong - just that they keep bickering. Oh the wonders of competition. With my website designer hat on, with IE it's more that Microsoft have never been compliant with HTML standards and website have to use all sorts of tricks to get it to work properly in IE and standards compliant browsers. With each revision of IE MS promise to make it more compliant . . . ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Hi Resolution Colour Graphics on a Standard QL?
Arnould wrote: On Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:13:51 +0100, Rich Mellor wrote It is good to see that progress has continued and the sources now released for QL - Dithvide, which allows the standard QL to display high resolution colours - see http://omega.webnode.com/products/sinclair-ql-dithvide-2/ This should be supported - wonder if anyone would be interested in writing a game using these techniques? The sample pictures are good! I did not know that my old QL was able to display such screens! Hmmm, might be time to get the old black box out again then! :) ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] List problems
Per Witte wrote: Marcel Kilgus writes: Per Witte wrote: Thanks. Just now I got 3 mails in return. The return information goes: I'm at about 15 now and it gets more by the minute... Yup, here too! Per ___ And here too. RCB ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 2.5 inch HD
Dilwyn Jones wrote: My son is 12 now and VERY into his computers (as you might expect of a son of mine!). This Christmas, he got a little £60 Aiptek digital video camera, spent most of Christmas day recording his mum, dad, grandparents etc and made a very good half hour video of it all (with Windows Movie Maker, which was a traumatic learning experience until we realised we had to set Windows Virtual Memory to a massive 1GB to edit a video at a snail's pace on a 1.4GHz Pentium, which makes me very glad of what we are able to achieve at a few MHz on a QL sometimes) which is now on DVD doing the rounds of the family! I can really empathise with that! I have two boys one almost five and the other is three and a half! The five year old got a laptop for his third birthday! Some might call that extreme, but it was a secondhand P4 which I was able to upgrade with all the bits and boys I had accumulated over 15 years in IT! He had been showing such an interest in my PCs and more than that even at that early age an ability to use the mouse, click on icons, even load the right disks for his games and education programs! Having two very competitive boys very close in age, I took the precaution of getting a second laptop at the same time as the first - an identical model - and putting it away until we judged the younger lad was ready. Well, that happened this Christmas and both boys now are having great fun playing their games and surfing their (restricted to permitted sites) internet. It amazes me how quickly children pick things up in this day and age but good luck to them! The nearly five year old got a digital camera for Christmas and he has been taking photos of everything and everyone and now can upload the photos to his laptop without help! In fact, after a disappointing response to the ad for my assistant's role at work, i am thinking of offering him the job!!! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 2.5 inch HD
Are You Sure The laptop will support win Xp??? Usually if it was originally win 95 or 98 it will not measure up to XP, at least the ones I have seen of that vintage. There used to be a utility that you ran while in 98 that evaluated the needed upgrades before you could install XP or if XP would even run once installed. Did you try that before going the XP route??? A Toshiba Tecra 780 laptop will run XP ok . . . I used to run it on a Compaq Armada laptop PII-233 CPU and 256MB RAM. In classic mode in particular it was completely acceptable. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 2.5 inch HD
Norman Dunbar wrote: database buffer cache, noit for program units etc. Not sure whether XP suffers from the 2GB limit or allows 3 GB though. Linux doesn't have this problem, apparently. Indeed, XP can see and use up to 3.5GB RAM - I have this installed on both my wife's PC and my laptop. Linux doesn't have this limitation as I have the full 4GB of RAM recognised and used on my Kubuntu Linux machine. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 2.5 inch HD
Dave Walker wrote: I suspect that you are right for standard Vista, but if I was buying for a new machine I would be going for the 64-bit version which has no such limit. Dave The only problem with 64bit Vista is that the driver support is still appalling and the performance increase over 32bit Vista is minimal at present . . . pity really . . . ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] 2.5 inch HD
Dilwyn Jones wrote: Does anyone have a cheap second hand 2.5 inch IDE hard drive of a few GB capacity to sell? The hard drive on my son's Toshiba Tecra 780 laptop has failed. We lost Windows, so set about reinstalling only to find it refused. An attempt to reformat failed after 13% (drive made awful noise). Don't want to spend 40-50 pounds on a new drive as the rather old laptop isn't really worth much more than that. What kind of size are you looking for? I might have one, I'll have a rummage. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Karsten Engstler ist außer Haus.
Donau Steamship Travel Company Four words! (And steamship can be one word, I checked!) ZN wrote: On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:03:23 +0200, MB [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft I challenge you to translate that into less than 5 English words :) ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Sinclair Industrial Design links
Malcolm Cadman wrote: Hi, I have just added some links to my web site of the emerging Sinclair Industrial Design details that are being put up by Rick Dickinson - former Senior Designer at Sinclair Research. Fantastic!!! Very interesting indeed! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Expansion Possibilities
In case anyone is interested, I've just put a Gold Card up on Ebid. http://uk.three.ebid.net/perl/auction.cgi/1184331589-32496-0 Malcolm Cadman wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Roberto Hammond [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes Does anyone know where I can get a Trump, Gold or SuperGold Card for my QL? Yes ! I have a Trump Card available from the London QL Quanta Group. Gold Cards are more rare to find, and in demand. SuperGold Cards even harder to get hold of. Although, good luck if you offered either of the latter equipment. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Hello!
Hello Roberto and welcome to back to the wonderful world of the QL! I too recently returned to the QL scene after too many years away! Roberto Hammond wrote: Hello everyone . . . I've just subscribed to this mailing list after rediscovering my QL when I moved recently. At the moment I just wanted to say hello! ___ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Expansion Possibilities
Well, I've just put a Trump Card up on Ebid . . . http://uk.four.ebid.net/perl/auction.cgi/1183992718-15577-0 (For the record, Ebid is a much friendlier auction site than Ebay). Roberto Hammond wrote: Does anyone know where I can get a Trump, Gold or SuperGold Card for my QL? ___ The all-new Yahoo! Mail goes wherever you go - free your email address from your Internet provider. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Stupendipity!
Plus, wireless doesn't work in the house from up to downstairs - there is a pre-stressed concrete floor between the two locations and it works splendidly as a RF filter - of the 'no-pass' variety. Oh hum ! Have you tried powerline networking - ie Ethernet over the domestic power cabling. I had a similar problem and the Netgear HDXB101 Powerline Ethernet Kit solved it for me. Performance is pretty good - better than wireless actually - with speeds up to MBps. http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=246420CatId=2328 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[ql-users] Gold Card on Alternative Online Auction Site
I don't know if everyone already know about this alternative auction site, but I managed to pick up a Gold Card on www.ebid.net the other day! It's nowhere near as big as Ebay yet, but there are a few QL things on it, the fees are much lower than Ebay and customer service superb. It was recommended to me, so I thought I'd share the news! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] new hard disk
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Morning Dilwyn, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: OK, I give up. How do you get Windows XP to format a new second hard disk? I suspect that you need to partition the drive before Windows can use it. I beleieve that fdisk (fdisc maybe) is your 'friend'. Try fdisk d: in a command line and see what transpires. Cheers, Norman. Unfortunately, fdisk doesn't work under WindowsXP because the command line is only emulated. You need to: Right Click on the My Computer icon on the desktop. Select Manage from the menu that pops up The computer management console pops up. On the left select the Disk Management options and the right hand pane changes to display the disks attached to your PC. Look for the one with no drive letter assigned and then right click and Create Partition. Follow the wizards - defaults are fine - and there you go! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Wiki
I agree . . . it gives the community more control. hitchies wrote: Re Norman's: I vote for Rich's new one over Wikipedia. We can keep it relevant and all we have to do is put an external link on the Wikipedia one at each and every available opportunity. I vote for Norman's vote for Rich's proposal. Or,plainly(!) I concur (as medics say). John in Wales ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL, Spectrum, and PC
You misunderstand the concept here. Operating systems move on and become more sophisticated. Most good ones move the software writers along with them. The users buy new versions which take advantage of the new facilities and the whole system moves forward. If you continually make the whole thing backwardly compatible people carry on using the old versions and nothing advances. This is the state we have arrived at. Some new features never get used which is both a shame and a rebuff for those who worked on the newer ideas. We need to move forwards. Indeed, at some point an Operating System - like any other application or process - will lose some elements of its compatibility with earlier version/environments. It is simply the nature of how progress is made. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Request for speakers
Roy wood wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes SNIP Roy, I imagine that the reason you are proposing such a debate is to try to clarify the future well in that case what about a SWOT analysis of the future of the QL instead of the old debate of hardware vs emulators? I did not intend it to be a confrontational thing It just seemed to me that some people have strong dislikes for one side of the fence or the other. I thought it would be interesting for the people who attend the show to hear arguments (as in the debate sense not the hitting each other over the head with chairs) for and against. Analysis of the future is one thing you could apply to this but there are few people who can actually affect the future either for hardware or software so any discussion of the QL's future would probably have to academic rather than formulating a plan of action for the future. Mind you - who knows? I think this is an interesting idea and need not be antagonistic. There must be many people - like me - who are interested in both sides of the equation and a reasoned argument showing the pros and cons of each approach would be beneficial to both camps. There are things that both sides can do that the other cannot so the idea of having both emulation and original hardware need not be mutually exclusive. Personally, I love using the old hardware and tinkering, but I do realise that a lot of the attraction to this comes from nostalgia value. In fact, I am just about to move into the QPC2/QDT camp, but I don't intend to leave my black boxes behind!!! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Need for Speed
Roy wood wrote: QPC will currently not run on Vista. Marcel is making a new copy which will. Apart from that Vista really needs a massive 4Gb RAM to run with full optimization! Even with the latest dual-core processor, 4GB RAM and a GeForce 8800GTS 320Mb Graphics Card, Vista is still a bit sluggish compared with XP. It also feels somewhat unfinished and temperamental. I've gone back to XP until at least the first Service Pack is released . . . that's my Windows box. My main PC is still Linux through and through. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] USBwiz USB to serial device
Worth downloading the PDF files ...to have a look at what it can do. It has built in drivers for USB mouse and keyboard. As well as USB printers. Controllable from an 8 bit micro-computer. The programming language uses two letters, so, for example : MD is make a directory CD change a directory The firmware updates are available via a web site. Yes, this certainly looks very interesting - at least the QL would be able to connect to USB memory devices and USB printers - although with the latter, you have to bear in mind that they must be ASCII printers (not winprinters still). The product certainly looks interesting although we would need to look at how fast the data can be transferred to/from a USB memory stick - it is not clear whether the USBwiz has any internal storage to act as a buffer when fetching data OFF a USB memory device, although the documentation appears to suggest 9600 baud is enough !! This definitely sounds promising . . . ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Hardware and software - new horizons
Malcolm Cadman wrote: SNIP Both old and new users are stimulated by something new. Repeating a list that I gave earlier - probably 3 item ranges will be suited : 1 - £50 to £100 a card of some type, probably modular too, that most people would have an interest in to add to their existing system 2 - £100 to £200+ a card of some type, probably again modular too, that would significantly change the system - discarding the existing GC's and SGC's 3 - £300 to £400 an entirely, or almost entirely, new system of a small size, or even portable, using standard available parts as far as possible I think if any or all of these projects could get off the ground then the availability would itself generate further interest. Or maybe I am living in QL dreamland again . . . who knows Rich Mellor recently gave me this link to an interesting hardware development for the BBC model B computer, that had 32K RAM. The GoMMC which allows the BBC to use a multi-media card (MMC) - see http://web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink/home/hardware/gommc/what.htm Cost is around 74 euros plus postage and the MMC. I have two of these on my BBC B and my BBC Master and can't rate them highly enough. They have really given my Beebs are new lease of life, not to mention stimulated interest from the younger generation - my nephews - who would never have sat by waiting for programs to load from tape! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane
Commodore was an important player here is the UK. Eventually they went for the then emerging PC market, and more or less lost out. I would recommend anyone interested in the Commodore story read On the Edge - The Spectacular Rise and Fall of Commodore - it makes a fascinating read. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] SDGC
I think is is just nostalgia for the first experience. For the people who liked the original black box, the add-ons to that are attractive, and one feels one is still using the original. Tony I think so too . . . looking at it objectively if you replace too much of the original QL you are no longer really using the QL, but the fact that it is still in the black box is subjectively attractive. Rick ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] SDGC
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rick Chagouri-Brindle wrote: I think so too . . . looking at it objectively if you replace too much of the original QL you are no longer really using the QL, but the fact that it is still in the black box is subjectively attractive. I wonder if the QL motherboard needs to stay to keep the thing subjectively attractive. Or could the QL be filled with completely new life, just keeping the black case? Peter Now that is an interesting idea . . . in fact that is not something I would be opposed to. I particularly liked the idea of using Compact Flash drives instead of Microdrives . . . very modern but leaning back to the original QL too! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] SDGC
Dilwyn Jones wrote: But if a 'Super QL' were made to fit the original case, it would of course have nostalgia value, as the original QL case design was one of its great features. Absolutely . . . are there certainly seems a market for nostalgia at the moment . . . There's a Dutch company that have recreated the MSX micro on tiny bit of kit and the pre-orders for that sold out very quickly. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?
Well, here's number 2! Count me in! Tony Firshman wrote: -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ah there are lots of things one could put on it. However I suspect the market does not exist for such a development. It would be great to be proved wrong. It need maybe 40 to 50 people willing to commit to spending maybe £300 to £400 each. I am happy to receive commitment emails, and then maybe it could be worth pursuing. I doubt very much if Sturat is going to be interested. I doubt if Nasta has time. .. and I wonder if I have time as well! All I could possibly do is design a pcb and build. I have no expertise (or time) to design firmware. It is probably a pipedream! Tony Have you had any replies? I for one would be interested especially if the successor card was well specced - minerva rom, decent processor 68060 amount of memory 16 MB, par port, and IDEx2 and ethernet connector, and flash memory. What else should be on the list? You are the only one so far. As I say this probably a pipedream unless a firmware writer (like Stuart H) pops up. It will need *very* sophisticated logic chips. Tony - -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFFzwrmM3RzOs8+btoRAo+kAJ9CMi5vE+slXhyahYGdnOa+6HWzZgCdE9DZ /ATgKew46Izskw2ZMvbK8Zg= =QT5B -END PGP SIGNATURE- ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane
It is ICT because it is Information Technology across the curriculum, not just learning IT systems. We use applications that have a purpose, to produce work ... like PhotoShop and PageMaker in Graphics. At present the software investment in programming is being put into PC Applications. Fair enough. Do you teach ICT then? Snap, although I am a part-time lecturer on loan from business!!! At the local college at which I teach they insist on calling it Information Communications Technology . . . hence the ICT. However, the function of ICT in a educational environment is no different from IT in a business environment . . . they are both using technology to achieve a purpose. I have no problem with software investment going into PC applications. What I find disappointing is that in many schools/colleges it is purely a Microsoft environment and that students have no concept of the history and development of ICT. That, in my view, is a real shame. Even in programming, the concentration seems to be totally on Visual Basic - with all the bad habits that gives us - without considering the huge variety of better cross-platform languages. Oh well, that's life, I guess! One of the most interesting comments was how cool the QL looked . . . it seems that well-designed retro is in Yes, the industrial design for Sinclair was cool at the time, and won many awards. It still remains cool. Indeed! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane
It is ICT because it is Information Technology across the curriculum, not just learning IT systems. We use applications that have a purpose, to produce work ... like PhotoShop and PageMaker in Graphics. At present the software investment in programming is being put into PC Applications. Fair enough. Do you teach ICT then? Snap, although I am a part-time lecturer on loan from business!!! At the local college at which I teach they insist on calling it Information Communications Technology . . . hence the ICT. However, the function of ICT in a educational environment is no different from IT in a business environment . . . they are both using technology to achieve a purpose. I have no problem with software investment going into PC applications. What I find disappointing is that in many schools/colleges it is purely a Microsoft environment and that students have no concept of the history and development of ICT. That, in my view, is a real shame. Even in programming, the concentration seems to be totally on Visual Basic - with all the bad habits that gives us - without considering the huge variety of better cross-platform languages. Oh well, that's life, I guess! One of the most interesting comments was how cool the QL looked . . . it seems that well-designed retro is in Yes, the industrial design for Sinclair was cool at the time, and won many awards. It still remains cool. Indeed! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane
Malcolm Cadman wrote: In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], Rick Chagouri-Brindle [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes It is ICT because it is Information Technology across the curriculum, not just learning IT systems. We use applications that have a purpose, to produce work ... like PhotoShop and PageMaker in Graphics. At present the software investment in programming is being put into PC Applications. Fair enough. Do you teach ICT then? Snap, although I am a part-time lecturer on loan from business!!! At the local college at which I teach they insist on calling it Information Communications Technology . . . hence the ICT. However, the function of ICT in a educational environment is no different from IT in a business environment . . . they are both using technology to achieve a purpose. I teach Technology, in a secondary school. I hate all these pseudo titles, that come and go ... I couldn't agree with you more . . . there is too much emphasis at work and in education on naming things! We just use the hardware and software to help achieve project work. And why not? Well, after all, isn't this what technology is for? At times we all get too focussed on technology without purpose, I know I can be guilty of that!!! Not forgetting, that there is just as much value in hand skills too. I couldn't agree with you more. I have two young sons and the older boy, who is four ,has his own laptop, but we ensure that he mixes sitting at the computer with actually physically making things with kicking a ball around with . . . . . . . I have no problem with software investment going into PC applications. What I find disappointing is that in many schools/colleges it is purely a Microsoft environment and that students have no concept of the history and development of ICT. That, in my view, is a real shame. Even in programming, the concentration seems to be totally on Visual Basic - with all the bad habits that gives us - without considering the huge variety of better cross-platform languages. Oh well, that's life, I guess! Yes it is boring, but the way it is at present. A colleague of mine actually had a student penalised for thinking outside the box and using an alternative language - Ruby - for a project. My school has a Humanities specialist grant, that gives us even more M$ products, as a part of the deal. MS aren't stupid, are they? Actually, that reminds me. I also teach on a volunteer basis at a local pre-school. I use the term teach with this age group very loosely, but I was amazed how much these children pick up and how quickly. As part of the project, I setup and installed four PCs for them, and we installed the Edubuntu Linux variant - partly for reasons of cost, and partly because it is designed for young children. They have all taken too it so well, it is amazing. Many of the children use the machines with more confidence than some of the staff!!! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Spare GC or SGC?
Actually, on reflection, count me in for two!!! Tony Firshman wrote: -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ah there are lots of things one could put on it. However I suspect the market does not exist for such a development. It would be great to be proved wrong. It need maybe 40 to 50 people willing to commit to spending maybe £300 to £400 each. I am happy to receive commitment emails, and then maybe it could be worth pursuing. I doubt very much if Sturat is going to be interested. I doubt if Nasta has time. .. and I wonder if I have time as well! All I could possibly do is design a pcb and build. I have no expertise (or time) to design firmware. It is probably a pipedream! Tony Have you had any replies? I for one would be interested especially if the successor card was well specced - minerva rom, decent processor 68060 amount of memory 16 MB, par port, and IDEx2 and ethernet connector, and flash memory. What else should be on the list? You are the only one so far. As I say this probably a pipedream unless a firmware writer (like Stuart H) pops up. It will need *very* sophisticated logic chips. Tony - -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG -BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFFzwrmM3RzOs8+btoRAo+kAJ9CMi5vE+slXhyahYGdnOa+6HWzZgCdE9DZ /ATgKew46Izskw2ZMvbK8Zg= =QT5B -END PGP SIGNATURE- ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane
QL2K wrote: Well we have the same problems at school, college and university in France... And I don't know about you all, but what I do with my son (recently 6 years old) is we are working together some computing courses. At this time we are working on ORIC with commands like : PRINT 2+3=; 2+3 SHOOT, EXPLODE or PING and so one. And he already knows how to deal properly with CLS or RUN commands. My daughter (5 years old) want to do the same when she was able to read and write. It other he have to be familiar with both the keyboard and the BASIC syntax he asking me for small listing of programs in order he typed it on ORIC. (Well it's an ATMOS as the ORIC 1 have a keyboard that is quite hard to use by childs). In a few time we will work on QL, I'm working on the restoration on his own QL. What's he true too, that is my childs sayed that QL, ORIC and Amiga computers are pretty. The PC is without this think that made these others so attractive. Finally, he prefer work on that such of old computers instead of his own PC where there is a lot of games or so but where creativity is not so easy to make in action. So I definitively agree with you when computer history should be learned at ITC or equivalent courses. Jimmy. Isn't it an interesting situation, where we find that old computers are more interesting, or more fun. My eldest son is four and he already has fun using his laptop - he can use the internet (firewall controlled of course) and run his games and education programs - but what he really wants to learn is daddy's old computers, he likes looking inside and was fascinated watching a soldering iron being used! Of course, part of it is that he is at the age where he just soaks up information, but I think more than this, it is that he wants to learn, not have everything done for him, and that is the beauty of the old computers. As soon as he can read properly - at the moment he only recognises odd words and names - I am going to follow your example to teach him basic programming. He wants to learn already . . . By the way, I used to love the ATMOS! When I was a kid, a friend had one and we had great fun with it. At the time I had a BBC B - which seemed much more serious - and then a QL (well the QL was officially my Dad's for work). ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane
Tony Firshman wrote: -BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE- Hash: SHA1 Rick Chagouri-Brindle wrote: Actually, that reminds me. I also teach on a volunteer basis at a local pre-school. I use the term teach with this age group very loosely, but I was amazed how much these children pick up and how quickly. As part of the project, I setup and installed four PCs for them, and we installed the Edubuntu Linux variant - partly for reasons of cost, and partly because it is designed for young children. They have all taken too it so well, it is amazing. Many of the children use the machines with more confidence than some of the staff!!! Of course they do. Ben at age 8 became the password holder and controller of the classes computer. He kept on correcting the teacher and helping her - so she passed responsibilty! It is still happening now. He has given up A level computing because the teacher knows less than him. My nephew was in a similar situation . . . in the end he got so fed up and dispirited. Oh well, at least I was able to introduce him to the weird and wonderful machines although he found my ZX81 amusing to say the least!!! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] A QL Trip Down Memory Lane
extdgl42 wrote: As an example of variety, I'll mention my confuser (computer :-) room: Three Macs (two of them laptops), two PCs (One 733, the other 133[!], a custom build long ago), and several QLs (many still in styrofoam boxes; one somewhat working). Yes, internet connectivity for four of the above. All as old as about 1999 or farther back, with OS's as old as 98SE or QDOS, or as recent as SuSE 10.x and Mac OS 10.3 . The Macs e.g. have been an education. I think exposing the younger generation to earlier machines is a wonderful way of reigniting waning enthusiasm. My nephews thoroughly enjoy playing on the earlier micros, and they love the QL in particular . . . it just looks so cool (in their words). My life? What life? I have no life. O insuportable! O heavy hour!--Apologies to Messrs. Bill the Bard and Othello. Actually, I _do_ have a life outside computers. Doug L. 37830 -Original Message- ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Emulator for Linux
Marcel Kilgus wrote: Jerome Vernet (Orange) wrote: Latest news... It's working, although I need to refresh manually the screen, with the Xgui button 'Redraw'. Not easy... What's the contents of your .config file Marcel Fantastic! Thanks for this, Marcel. Is still have a problem though that I am trying to work through. It runs ok, but I cannot get back the Press Any Key to Continue prompt - pressing any keys does nothing! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Emulator for Linux
John Southern wrote: On Thursday 11 January 2007 01:29, Rick Chagouri-Brindle wrote: I've tried googling but all the options seem woefully out of date, so I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a QL emulator for Linux? The QL emulator for Linux is called UQLX and can be found at http://linux-q40.sourceforge.net/uqlx/ Another one for Linux is called QLAY and can be found at http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/A.Jaw.Venema/ Also take a look at http://www.zen35309.zen.co.uk/qdos/index.html and http://members.tripod.com/phpr/e-qhpuqlx.html Regards John ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Thanks, John. They're the ones I tried unsuccessfully. QLAY seems to be years out of date and won't install on my Kubuntu workstation, and with UQLX the install fails with a variable decarlation error . . . It's a pity, you can get most other emulators under Linux but the QL is very under represented! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL Emulator for Linux
uQLx is the most powerful and up-to-date QL emulator for Linux. I used to get good help with anything uQLx related on the QL developer's forum ([EMAIL PROTECTED]). Alternatives are to use one of the Windows QL emulators under a Windows emulator for Linux. Depending on your particular requirements, QPC2 is the best commercial QL emulator, but there are others, both commercial and free. Some time ago (2004) Marcel Kilgus, author of QPC2 wrote on this list: Also I have been playing around with the different Wine Windows emulations for Linux. Seems like it has evolved a lot since I've last looked at it. Unfortunately the only real Linux machine here is the P200 I use for internet routing, which is too limited to run Wine well. The rest of the parts for its successor, a P3 650, will hopefully arrive within the next few days so I can have another go. Anyway the P200 was good enough to do some testing and I've removed one problem which could crash QPC when run under Wine. Standard Wine might be enough to run QPC under Linux, if not Cedega might improve the situation. Cedega currently offers a free trial of its emulation layer here: http://www.transgaming.com/cedegademo.php Obviously all this is only interesting for users who really want to run QPC under Linux. QPC is and will be officially unsupported for Linux but if I can do something to improve compatibility, I might do so. So, as you see, there are plenty of things to try. Per ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Thanks! I'm far from giving up and I'm going to try to resolve the install problem with uQLX when I can find time. As for WINE, well as much as I would love to run QPC . . . I have so far avoided WINE on my Linux machines. It feels too much like cheating! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[ql-users] QL Emulator for Linux
I've tried googling but all the options seem woefully out of date, so I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a QL emulator for Linux? Cheers, Rick ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QLer ages
Tony Firshman wrote: James Hunkins wrote: I have been 38 for well over a decade. So if you add each time I was 38 up as individual entries and divide, does that kind of force the average age towards 38? Marcel - don't even think about commenting here... Too late (8-)# I hadn't realised he was only 5 when the QL went on sale. Bill Richardson is about 87. Tony Well, I'm a recent returnee to the QL but I am a very immature 36! Or is that my IQ . . ? ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Rich Mellor
I have been exchanging emails with him this week using that address - I bought a Minerva 2 from him - but haven't heard from him for about three days. Dilwyn Jones wrote: I've been trying to get hold of Rich Mellor - anyone know if his rich AT rwapservices DOT co DOT uk email address is still valid? ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Gold Card
Thanks for getting back to me, Roy. I'll probably take you up on the drives offer if I can get a Gold Card of Rick Mellor. He says he's got one! Cheers, Rick ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Future of the QL?
Malcolm Cadman wrote: SNIP I think that we have all been there, and got the T-shirt ... :-) If you are interested in computers / computing, then you tend to accumulate lots of them over the years. Very true . . . sometimes I think I have too many and but then again, I couldn't contemplate getting rid of any of them!!! At the moment the QL emulators are driving the software innovation, with more speed and functionality ( awful computer jargon word ). For example, I now use Tim Hunkins' QL Desk Top environment all the time with QPC2, along with Dilwyn's Launchpad suite too. To manage a QL system. When all set up it is easier, quicker, more fun, etc. True, and although I will no doubt go down the emulation route at some point, for me, personally at least, the original hardware still has its place and so the two compliment each other - different types of fun, you could say. Actually, it has been fun digging out my old machines to show to my nephew currently studying Information Technology. That reminds me, in spite of the Playstation Era, he too got hooked on Elite on my BBC B!!! The hardware is still interesting, and I appreciate that you are using the original hardware, and then expanding upon it. Which is still fun too. However, hardware innovation has been quiet of late. Hence the software side is more activate, and more talked about. Indeed, and as has been said before, its a no-win situation: without the hardware development, the software side stagnates and without software development there is less incentive to develop hardware . . . oh well . . . ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Future of the QL?
Dilwyn Jones wrote: True, and although I will no doubt go down the emulation route at some point, for me, personally at least, the original hardware still has its place and so the two compliment each other - different types of fun, you could say. Actually, it has been fun digging out my old machines to show to my nephew currently studying Information Technology. That reminds me, in spite of the Playstation Era, he too got hooked on Elite on my BBC B!!! As often, the old games are the best! Oh, I couldn't agree with you more! I have thoroughly enjoyed myself rediscovering all those old text adventures from my youth! I'm still stuck in the Space Invaders, Galaxians and Pssst (Spectrum game from Ultimate in the 1980s). Sad, eh? The only more modern game i play is The Wall from JMS and sometimes Mah Jonngg when I can get my wife off that computer. Psst? I don't know that one. What's it like? As a more recent returnee to the QL scene, I don't know if you feel the same, that after using PCs all day at work it's nice to come home to a QL for a change :-) Definitely! In fact, for me, I think one of the attractions of retro-computing is that it is more of a challenge. My PCs at work and home - both Kubuntu Linux workstations dual-booting with WindowsXP aren't much of a challenge any more . . . ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[ql-users] Minerva ROM
Hi Roy! How's it going? I just wondered if I could buy another Minerva (I or II, but II ideally) ROM for my second QL? Cheers, Rick ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Back to the QL Scene
Thanks, Dilwyn, it's nice to have a warm welcome. At the moment, I am using an original QL augmented with a Gold Card and MinervaII (thanks to Roy Wood) and am enjoying myself immensely. However, I am tempted by the emulator idea too . . . Dilwyn Jones wrote: Welcome back! We're a pretty friendly bunch here, so feel free to ask questions, we do our best to help other members of the list! What kind of system do you use - original QL, emulator or what? ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[ql-users] Back to the QL Scene
Hello Everyone! As a recent return to the QL scene - with thanks to Roy Wood and QBranch for all his advice and support - I just thought I would drop by and say hello. Cheers, Rick ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
