Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
I have always wanted to take the existing QL mainboard schematic and do an updated version with improved power, and on-board IDE, floppy and mouse, and a 680X0 and faster memory. Something like Peter Graf's work, but all on one replacement PCB. I understand it's not the most viable project, financially, and it would best be a team effort, but I have a little 80s and 90s experience to bring to bear (nothing CLOSE to Peter Graf's skills) and could do a modest QL PCB redesign... Dave ___ In terms of the graphics I've now found a very nice chip from TI (TFP410) that when utilized along side a CPLD and SRAM/DRAM allows a fairly easy way to produce QL graphics mode output to DVI. Cheers Malcolm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
On 4 Feb 2011, at 20:09, Geoff Wicks wrote: Until 2005 an item on the agenda of the AGM was always Any Other Business. When John Mason became chairman he ruled that Any Other Business was unconstitutional. Instead we now have an open discussion which does not have decision making powers. The present officers have continued this policy. Can you name me any other organisation that forbids Any Other Business at its AGM? I would regard it as normal that business at an AGM is restricted to that in the official notice of the AGM. The way to allow other subjects to be aired is to have an informal discussion after the formal AGM. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
On 04/02/2011 03:17, Plastic wrote: On Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 4:43 PM, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.ukwrote: Sad though that, as Tobias said, it seems that Jan has no plans to do any further work on the 'new' Qubide. Dilwyn Jones If I had a schematic and code, I would be happy to (re)design anything out there. I don't have any production ability - but that would change in about six months. I have always wanted to take the existing QL mainboard schematic and do an updated version with improved power, and on-board IDE, floppy and mouse, and a 680X0 and faster memory. Something like Peter Graf's work, but all on one replacement PCB. I understand it's not the most viable project, financially, and it would best be a team effort, but I have a little 80s and 90s experience to bring to bear (nothing CLOSE to Peter Graf's skills) and could do a modest QL PCB redesign... Dave Hi Dave, A very good idea. I would be very happy to design the new graphics chip along with dedicated video memory. Cheers Malcolm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality check and semantics
On 4 Feb 2011, at 00:01, Peter Baily wrote: I shall continue to use the QL notwithstanding its lack of internet access because, as I noted before, it enables me to devise routines to do what I need without the clutter of what someone else thinks I should have. ' This hits my nail on the head. Also, having in the past programmed ICL's PCC (Program Controlled Computer later down graded to Punched Card Calculator), a Ferranti Pegasus and the IBM 360 I find the QL much nicer to deal with. With the QL you can do what you want and fairly easily too. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
Billy wrote, on 4/Feb/11 10:54 | Feb4: On 03/02/2011 21:23, Tobias Fröschle wrote: Am 03.02.2011 21:09, schrieb Dilwyn Jones: snip his plans for the replacement Qubide (http://omega.webnode.com/ or http://omega.webnode.com/products/product-1/) - Anybody still in snip Hello readers, there are no news and no plans to develop it further at the moment. Sorry for that. (20/6/2010) Which is quite a pity. Tobias I would venture - more beneficial would be the USB port, lots and lots of USB HDD out there, floppy drives and other stuff for not much money (relative) and some of them are Black. All the best - Bill .. so will you do the drivers then please (8-)# The hardware is the easy bit. USBWIZ has the USB port, but few drivers. 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] Reality Check
ooh look here http://www.qlforum.co.uk/download/file.php?id=28mode=view Lee Privett - Sent from my Laptop running XP but emulating the QL using QPC2 I would venture - more beneficial would be the USB port, lots and lots of USB HDD out there, floppy drives and other stuff for not much money (relative) and some of them are Black. All the best - Bill .. so will you do the drivers then please (8-)# The hardware is the easy bit. USBWIZ has the USB port, but few drivers. Tony --- ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 5:00 AM, Tony Firshman t...@firshman.co.uk wrote: Billy wrote, on 4/Feb/11 10:54 | Feb4: On 03/02/2011 21:23, Tobias Fröschle wrote: Am 03.02.2011 21:09, schrieb Dilwyn Jones: snip his plans for the replacement Qubide (http://omega.webnode.com/ or http://omega.webnode.com/products/product-1/) - Anybody still in snip Hello readers, there are no news and no plans to develop it further at the moment. Sorry for that. (20/6/2010) Which is quite a pity. Tobias I would venture - more beneficial would be the USB port, lots and lots of USB HDD out there, floppy drives and other stuff for not much money (relative) and some of them are Black. All the best - Bill .. so will you do the drivers then please (8-)# The hardware is the easy bit. USBWIZ has the USB port, but few drivers. If there's going to be new, AVAILABLE hardware, and it's going to be relatively easy to get it in the US, I'll help write drivers. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
-- From: Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 8:30 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check speaking as member D.Jones, not as committee member for this email Of course, but the most important thing is sorting out the current situation as regards the wording (which has with the benefit of hindsight, proved to be, umm, not quite satisfactory) of the committee officers term of office. The rest of it isn't too bad as it stands in my opinion, but certainly if anyone has concerns about other areas and we can get a group to look at it, why not! It is not just a simple matter of tidying up the words. Several people in this discussion have suggested amending the constitution and that could mean substantial change. Although only one person has stated it explicitly I have the impression that people are saying that we should look again at the 2005 amendments. There is another point. I have seen many constitutions and I have never seen one that is an undemocratic as Quanta's constitution. I have never seen one that gives so much power to the executive and so little to the members. The Quanta constitution wants the members to be like little children, seen but not heard. If the constitution wants us to be passive then it is our right as members to be apathetic. This constitution may have been appropriate when Quanta was first formed when it had a membership of over 2000 and the fastest means of communication were expensive and time consuming long distance telephone calls. In those days Quanta could not have survived as a democracy and needed authoritarian leadership. It is totally inappropriate for today when the organisation is much smaller and fast communication by email is possible. However, instead of becoming more democratic practically all the constitutional amendments in recent years have increased the powers of the officers at the expense of the ordinary members. Two of the present three officers have actively supported this further restriction on democracy. Until 2005 an item on the agenda of the AGM was always Any Other Business. When John Mason became chairman he ruled that Any Other Business was unconstitutional. Instead we now have an open discussion which does not have decision making powers. The present officers have continued this policy. Can you name me any other organisation that forbids Any Other Business at its AGM? If a member proposes a motion or constitutional amendment for the AGM the committee have the power to amend it. The members have no power to amend a committee resolution or constitutional amendment. On the occasions when a member has tried to propose an amendment at the AGM it has been ruled unconstitutional. If the members want to call a special meeting they have to obtain the signatures of over half the members and pay a deposit of £500. Quanta is not a democracy and on occasions the officers behave like dictators. Before accusing the members of apathy, the officers should ask themselves how far they are responsible for that. To all those people who have asked me to stand again for office in Quanta, the answer is no. I wish to have no official role in Quanta until I am satisfied that the officers intend to make the organisation a democracy, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
--- On Wed, 2/2/11, Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com wrote: From: Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com Subject: [Ql-Users] Reality Check To: ql-users ql-us...@q-v-d.com Date: Wednesday, 2 February, 2011, 20:39 Last weekend several people castigated me for suggesting that Quanta should be wound up. snip 8: KEYBOARD MEMBRANES Not really a problem, but something for Quanta to boast about. Without Quanta there would have been no new keyboard membranes. Any ideas for other good uses for the capital? But don't forget you can't use the capital for both projects and to make up shortfalls in the subscription income/expenditure balance. Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm A new gold card project would be lovely for new users and people wanting a spare. The last one on ebay sold untested for over £190! As for the lack of users, the QL scene needs to organise a PR group to advertise the QL this would attract new users which would improve the scene for everyone. Peter. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
On 02/02/2011 23:18, Peter Graf wrote: Hi Geoff, Last weekend several people castigated me for suggesting that Quanta should be wound up. Now it's time to see if you are prepared to put your money where your mouths are. I guess QUANTA members benefit more if my time goes into QL hardware and drivers, than into the other work you mentioned :-) It's absolutely okay to rise subscription. All the best Peter ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Peter - yes, most definitely, if your time is put into QL hardware, that is for the benefit of all, including Quanta :-) -- 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] Reality Check
On 02/02/2011 22:25, Lee Privett wrote: Taking what has been said at face value and as a returning member of Quanta and living in the south east I am both excited and saddened by the current state of affairs, my response to each point is as follows: 1: QUANTA MAGAZINE - I would volanteer for editor but have very little experience in this matter, however I have volanteered 2: WEBSITE - same answer as above, I can certainly construct web pages so could help with that, however I do not have the experience of web site construction only content 3: SHOWS - whilst viable they should continue to be as is, but does the constitution allow for video conferencing and could it be set-up as such? 4: SOUTH EAST - I have no idea about the secretive group, but I used to quite enjoy the Essex meetings held in a pub somewhere near a forest if memory serves, I will have a go at arranging a one off in a church hall near me and see how many turn up (help anyone - Southend area?) 5: FINANCE the subscription is ridiculously low and I was surprised when paying my first one last year of how inexpensive it is, raising it to £25 seems reasaonable to me and if people stop subscribing because of it and less moneu comes in I dont see what difference it would really make in the long run, so atleast raising the subs would sort the men from the boys so to speak. 6: CONSTITUTION - I feel it should be simplified and reflect todays climate and practice. 7: SUBGROUPS - see point 4 8: KEYBOARD MEMBRANES - there are already some good ideas for projects already going on in this email/forum and should be supported, by raising the subscription then the focus can be made towards that and supporting the shortfall. Lee Privett - Sent from my Laptop running XP but emulating the QL using QPC2 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Geoff. Many thanks for the email and raising these points for discussion. Perhaps you would be so kind as to repeat the original email on the QL Forums, to attract a wider audience than this mailing list. Lee, I like your enthusiasm - it is good that new (or returning) users, such as yourself, Peter Scott and Rob Heaton have this in abundance. You should have all received an email I circulated a couple of days ago with news, and also a special offer which Quanta have agreed for new members subscribing for 3 years - this has been sent to all of my QL customers and hopefully this may see a boost in membership and help with the financial issues. I do what I can to promote the QL, and things like the QL Forums and the QL Wiki are key to this, alongside the Quanta website which should be more of a hub - maybe showing an RSS feed of topics on the QL Forum and (maybe) even on this list. I have always enjoyed attending Quanta shows - although I turn up as a trader, the sales are never that great, but then the chats with other QLers are invaluable. However, this year, as I am no longer able to subsidise my business through full time employment, I am seriously having to look at the cost of staying overnight in Manchester and with current attendance levels, wonder whether a 2 day show is justifiable, or whether Quanta would be better holding a one day show and AGM, and then another one day show later in the year? The Quanta website should not be too difficult, as it is built around a content management system, so updating the content should be a matter of just editing the text. -- 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] Reality Check
The Quanta website should not be too difficult, as it is built around a content management system, so updating the content should be a matter of just editing the text. -- Rich Mellor If only it were that simple! I've used CMS'es in work over the years and they generally are, when they work. I haven't been able to update the Quanta site's news page for months now, for example. Problems of some sort between the CMS and servers on which Quanta's site runs. I don't know what the problems are (I'm not webmaster!), but they must be serious for the site to be partially in limbo for this long. Great to hear, BTW, that Lee has volunteered! Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
On 03/02/2011 10:33, Dilwyn Jones wrote: The Quanta website should not be too difficult, as it is built around a content management system, so updating the content should be a matter of just editing the text. -- Rich Mellor If only it were that simple! I've used CMS'es in work over the years and they generally are, when they work. I haven't been able to update the Quanta site's news page for months now, for example. Problems of some sort between the CMS and servers on which Quanta's site runs. I don't know what the problems are (I'm not webmaster!), but they must be serious for the site to be partially in limbo for this long. Great to hear, BTW, that Lee has volunteered! Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm I didn't realise that there was a problem there between the CMS and servers - if the webmasters would like to discuss this with me, I am sure I could help out on the software side... -- 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] Reality Check
Rich Mellor wrote: However, this year, as I am no longer able to subsidise my business through full time employment, I am seriously having to look at the cost of staying overnight in Manchester and with current attendance levels, wonder whether a 2 day show is justifiable, or whether Quanta would be better holding a one day show and AGM, and then another one day show later in the year? Now that we finally seem close to new QL hardware, I wonder if it's the right time to ask for another decline in QUANTA activities. I rarely attend an AGM, but I consider to come this year. If I find the time, I would demonstate some of the QL projects I had started but abandoned due to the operating system situation. This would include - Prototype of a new QL hardware - Native ethernet drivers - QL internet applications - Cool looking GUI without need for pointer environment - Parallel port SD card interface Sorry that I can not commit myself. I'll try to let someone else show the hardware prototype if I can not attend. All the best Peter ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
Now that we finally seem close to new QL hardware, I wonder if it's the right time to ask for another decline in QUANTA activities. I rarely attend an AGM, but I consider to come this year. If I find the time, I would demonstate some of the QL projects I had started but abandoned due to the operating system situation. This would include - Prototype of a new QL hardware - Native ethernet drivers - QL internet applications - Cool looking GUI without need for pointer environment - Parallel port SD card interface Sorry that I can not commit myself. I'll try to let someone else show the hardware prototype if I can not attend. All the best Peter Hi Peter, A visit would be great (it would be nice to meet you - and maybe Claus - again after several years). I could probably arrange for you to do a talk or demonstration at the Quanta meeting - speakers are always welcome. Please contact me privately if you would like to arrange this. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality check
Geoff wicks wrote: Last weekend several people castigated me for suggesting that Quanta should be wound up. Now it's time to see if you are prepared to put your money where your mouths are. I am not asking you to to do anything drastic like joining the committee, but something more simple to show your support for Quanta and the Quanta committee. Unlike most of you I have frequent unofficial contact with members of the Quanta committee. In public they are frequently criticising the members for their apathy. In private their language and emotions are much stronger. I think it is fair to say they are bitter and disillusioned by the lack of support from the members. They are having to double or triple up committee duties to keep Quanta alive and feel a lack of concern and interest from the members. Over the last year they have continually warned that the future of Quanta was in jeopardy, but apparently no one was listening. At the moment committee morale is at a low ebb and has been made worse by two factors. For the first time a Quanta committee has had to be prepared for the real possibility of advising the closure of the organisation at the next AGM. They have also had to cope with a serious problem, the details of which I cannot go into, that has proved more difficult to solve than first thought. Some advanced plans for Quanta on which the committee have done hours of preparation have had to be put on hold. Inevitably this has led to some tension between members of the committee. So I am asking you all now to give the committee a good morale boost. Below is a list of the problems that face the committee. It is a little frightening in its length. Let's now give the committee some detailed help and feedback on these issues. 1: QUANTA MAGAZINE Quanta has been unable to find a permanent editor for its magazine for about 6 years. There is now an acute crisis with no editor or acting editor. Producing a magazine is a highly skilled task and the people on the committee with those skills are already overworked with other duties. I doubt if the committee now has the resources to produce a magazine. What should they do in these circumstances? I look forward eagerly to each new (electronic) edition but could not edit it. Clearly, the problem is finding someone with, not only enthusiasm, but experience and time. If an editor can not be found among the aging QL enthusiasts then the magazine sadly must cease to be published. I also look forward to receiving each edition of QL Today. I have on rare occasions made minor contributions to both journals. 2: WEBSITE The Quanta website has not been updated for 6 months. Although Quanta has had websites for about 10 years it has never mastered the art of keeping a website up to date. How should they tackle this problem? I suppose Webmasters need similar qualifications/availability magazine editors. 3: SHOWS Quanta can now manage only one show per year and the attendance is usually low. Quanta is legally obliged to hold an AGM each year. Although in recent years attendance has improved, three or four years ago attendance levels were dangerously near the quorum. How should Quanta organise its AGMs in future? I have tried to attend every year - sadly that has not always been possible.That the AGM has been held in the middle of the UK seems very sensible. For me, shows have become largely places to meet other enthusiasts and to listen to presentations on what others are doing with their QLs (or emulators). There has been very little new software or hardware in recent years, though news in recent contributions here suggest that may change soon. 4: SOUTH EAST Apart from a small, and, in my opinion, somewhat secretive subgroup, Quanta has had no presence in the South East for almost 4 years. How do we re-establish contact with the South East? As a member of a group in the South-East of England, I am not aware of secrecy, just small size and, in my case, clashes of other engagements making my attendance at meetings infrequent. 5: FINANCE Some years ago I wrote a piece in QL Today about the falling membership and was accused of being anti-Quanta. When I wrote that item subscription income covered more than 80% of expenditure. Today that figure is more like 60%. Quanta has survived financially in recent years because Rich Mellor has traded in second hand hardware on their behalf, but this is a diminishing source of income. What would you do about the gap between subscription income and expenditure? Would you be prepared to accept increasing the subscription to a maximum of ?25? (And just a warning for those people who suggest structurally using the capital. You would be condemning Quanta to a short term future. In the worst case scenario you could count the years left on the fingers of one hand.) The subscription should be raised. £25 p.a. may be a
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality check
Peter Baily wrote, on 3/Feb/11 13:11 | Feb3: snip However, we should not be surprised that most people use PCs; after all this exchange of views, news, etc. would not exist unless we were using PCs. By PCs I take it you mean machines running Windows. I access this group but don't use a PC. Guess how. Forbidden fruit is a clue (8-)# 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] Reality check
By PCs I take it you mean machines running Windows. I access this group but don't use a PC. Likewise, given the definition above. But not the same as you. Guess how. Forbidden fruit is a clue (8-)# Um, is a pineapple? :-) Cheers, Norman. -- Norman Dunbar Dunbar IT Consultants Ltd Registered address: Thorpe House 61 Richardshaw Lane Pudsey West Yorkshire United Kingdom LS28 7EL Company Number: 05132767 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality check
On 3 Feb 2011, at 14:24, Tony Firshman wrote: Norman Dunbar wrote, on 3/Feb/11 14:19 | Feb3: By PCs I take it you mean machines running Windows. I access this group but don't use a PC. Likewise, given the definition above. But not the same as you. Guess how. Forbidden fruit is a clue (8-)# Um, is a pineapple? :-) Not a 'pine' one but an aluminium one (8-)# What's an alapple? I prefer the fruit with a Scottish flavour. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
Any new hardware for th QL is always welcome especially if it enables people who have never upgraded to upgrade to something that extends the life of the QL or brings it up to date with current technology in some small way. For those of us that emulate through a variety of OS's, hardware upgrades have a minor interest but are of little use unless we have one or two dusty QLs waiting for some device to revitalise their interest. There are also those who have missed the whole move through Gold Card/Super Gold Card/Q40/Q60 phase and are unable to do anything with with their 128K QLs either. So my question is are there enough QL users out there to warrant additional hardware projects? and if not, what else can the QL be used for in its current format? Lee Privett - Sent from my Laptop running XP but emulating the QL using QPC2 - Original Message - From: Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com To: ql-users ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 8:39 PM Subject: [Ql-Users] Reality Check Last weekend several people castigated me for suggesting that Quanta should be wound up. Now it's time to see if you are prepared to put your money where your mouths are. I am not asking you to to do anything drastic like joining the committee, but something more simple to show your support for Quanta and the Quanta committee. Unlike most of you I have frequent unofficial contact with members of the Quanta committee. In public they are frequently criticising the members for their apathy. In private their language and emotions are much stronger. I think it is fair to say they are bitter and disillusioned by the lack of support from the members. They are having to double or triple up committee duties to keep Quanta alive and feel a lack of concern and interest from the members. Over the last year they have continually warned that the future of Quanta was in jeopardy, but apparently no one was listening. At the moment committee morale is at a low ebb and has been made worse by two factors. For the first time a Quanta committee has had to be prepared for the real possibility of advising the closure of the organisation at the next AGM. They have also had to cope with a serious problem, the details of which I cannot go into, that has proved more difficult to solve than first thought. Some advanced plans for Quanta on which the committee have done hours of preparation have had to be put on hold. Inevitably this has led to some tension between members of the committee. So I am asking you all now to give the committee a good morale boost. Below is a list of the problems that face the committee. It is a little frightening in its length. Let's now give the committee some detailed help and feedback on these issues. 1: QUANTA MAGAZINE Quanta has been unable to find a permanent editor for its magazine for about 6 years. There is now an acute crisis with no editor or acting editor. Producing a magazine is a highly skilled task and the people on the committee with those skills are already overworked with other duties. I doubt if the committee now has the resources to produce a magazine. What should they do in these circumstances? 2: WEBSITE The Quanta website has not been updated for 6 months. Although Quanta has had websites for about 10 years it has never mastered the art of keeping a website up to date. How should they tackle this problem? 3: SHOWS Quanta can now manage only one show per year and the attendance is usually low. Quanta is legally obliged to hold an AGM each year. Although in recent years attendance has improved, three or four years ago attendance levels were dangerously near the quorum. How should Quanta organise its AGMs in future? 4: SOUTH EAST Apart from a small, and, in my opinion, somewhat secretive subgroup, Quanta has had no presence in the South East for almost 4 years. How do we re-establish contact with the South East? 5: FINANCE Some years ago I wrote a piece in QL Today about the falling membership and was accused of being anti-Quanta. When I wrote that item subscription income covered more than 80% of expenditure. Today that figure is more like 60%. Quanta has survived financially in recent years because Rich Mellor has traded in second hand hardware on their behalf, but this is a diminishing source of income. What would you do about the gap between subscription income and expenditure? Would you be prepared to accept increasing the subscription to a maximum of £25? (And just a warning for those people who suggest structurally using the capital. You would be condemning Quanta to a short term future. In the worst case scenario you could count the years left on the fingers of one hand.) 6: CONSTITUTION Several people suggested amending Quanta's constitution to save the organisation. What specific amendments are you proposing? There is no need
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
who have missed the whole move through Gold Card/Super Gold Card/Q40/Q60 phase and are unable to do anything with with their 128K QLs either. So my question is are there enough QL users out there to warrant additional hardware projects? and if not, what else can the QL be used for in its current format? Lee Privett Tinkering, what the QL has always been used for! Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
Many thanks to all the people who have replied although we still need a lot more replies. I particularly like the positive content of many of the replies. Why can't we recreate this sort of enthusiasm right throughout Quanta? After all I did not say I wanted Quanta to close, I said the time had come to close Quanta and that is something different. I am also on record as saying I believe Quanta could still be a vibrant organisation should the members so wish. I was a bit surprised about the enthusiasm(?) for a £25 subscription as I wrote that with my tongue in cheek, thinking that, as Lee commented, it would separate the men from the boys. A subscription to cover costs would be somewhere between £20 and £25, but in practice could probably be lower. I hate to disappoint some people but the idea of Quanta sponsoring a new Gold Card is a non-starter. As I understand it the components of the old Gold Cards are no longer available and the development of a new one would be a complicated and risky matter. Halfway through the last decade some of us looked at this problem with a view to helping a developer finance a gold card replacement through Quanta, but it had never been developed to the extent that we could formulate a business plan to put to Quanta. Please keep the replies coming in, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
-- From: Peter Graf pg...@q40.de Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 11:18 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: [Ql-Users] Reality Check I guess QUANTA members benefit more if my time goes into QL hardware and drivers, than into the other work you mentioned :-) It's absolutely okay to rise subscription. Thanks for participating in this discussion, Peter. You have always been very loyal to Quanta after the help they gave you over the Q60. As an overseas member you are limited in the work you can do for Quanta and I think you are right to say your priority should be hardware development, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
-- From: Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 9:21 AM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check Many thanks for the email and raising these points for discussion. Perhaps you would be so kind as to repeat the original email on the QL Forums, to attract a wider audience than this mailing list. Sorry I am too pushed for time at the moment as the copy deadline for QL Today is approaching and we have something of a copy shortage at the moment. However if you or someone else would like to post it, I would have no objection, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
I hate to disappoint some people but the idea of Quanta sponsoring a new Gold Card is a non-starter. As I understand it the components of the old Gold Cards are no longer available and the development of a new one would be a complicated and risky matter. Halfway through the last decade some of us looked at this problem with a view to helping a developer finance a gold card replacement through Quanta, but it had never been developed to the extent that we could formulate a business plan to put to Quanta. Are the Super Gold Card schematics available along with the CPLD equation file? With this info, designing a replacement using up to date components (apart from the CPU) would be fairly easy and I'd be happy to do it and make it open source. Cheers Malcolm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
PS, I'd be able to put on an SPI interface as well. This would allow the Microdrive units to be replaced by SD FLASH slots. Malcolm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
On 3 February 2011 19:29, Malcolm Lear malc...@essex.ac.uk wrote: PS, I'd be able to put on an SPI interface as well. This would allow the Microdrive units to be replaced by SD FLASH slots. Malcolm That would be awesome!! Rob. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
Are the Super Gold Card schematics available along with the CPLD equation file? With this info, designing a replacement using up to date components (apart from the CPU) would be fairly easy and I'd be happy to do it and make it open source. Cheers Malcolm This would be fantastic if possible. We also need to contact Jan Polenicek (?) to see if anything came of his plans for the replacement Qubide (http://omega.webnode.com/ or http://omega.webnode.com/products/product-1/) - Anybody still in touch with him? And if he doesn't plan to do further work, whether he could publish the schematics in a similar way? Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
- Original Message - From: Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 8:04 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check Are the Super Gold Card schematics available along with the CPLD equation file? With this info, designing a replacement using up to date components (apart from the CPU) would be fairly easy and I'd be happy to do it and make it open source. Cheers Malcolm This would be fantastic if possible. We also need to contact Jan Polenicek (?) to see if anything came of his plans for the replacement Qubide (http://omega.webnode.com/ or http://omega.webnode.com/products/product-1/) - Anybody still in touch with him? And if he doesn't plan to do further work, whether he could publish the schematics in a similar way? Dilwyn Jones Oops, failed to spot that some schematics at least are already on his website (haven't looked at them in detail). Also, I didn't stop to think that not many IDE hard disks are available nowadays, they all seem to be e-SATA etc. So a new Qubide might not be as good an idea as I first thought. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
In the context of putting my own money where my mouth is, I would be happy to help in any project to rewrite the constitution. I am not a lawyer, but I have had some legal training in the UK plus Works Council training in the Netherlands and have had a lot of experience of constitutions. I once wrote a constitution from scratch in Dutch. We would need to have a lengthy discussion first, however, about what Quanta would want in a new constitution, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
On Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 2:09 PM, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk wrote: Oops, failed to spot that some schematics at least are already on his website (haven't looked at them in detail). Also, I didn't stop to think that not many IDE hard disks are available nowadays, they all seem to be e-SATA etc. So a new Qubide might not be as good an idea as I first thought. I've gone IDE-CF on many of my other retros and have plans for others still. It's still a fantastic idea. I believe you can also go IDE-SD/MMC. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
In the context of putting my own money where my mouth is, I would be happy to help in any project to rewrite the constitution. I am not a lawyer, but I have had some legal training in the UK plus Works Council training in the Netherlands and have had a lot of experience of constitutions. I once wrote a constitution from scratch in Dutch. We would need to have a lengthy discussion first, however, about what Quanta would want in a new constitution, Best Wishes, Geoff speaking as member D.Jones, not as committee member for this email Of course, but the most important thing is sorting out the current situation as regards the wording (which has with the benefit of hindsight, proved to be, umm, not quite satisfactory) of the committee officers term of office. The rest of it isn't too bad as it stands in my opinion, but certainly if anyone has concerns about other areas and we can get a group to look at it, why not! While it's probably too late for this year, it does mean 12 months to put it to the vote in 2012. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
Am 03.02.2011 21:09, schrieb Dilwyn Jones: - Original Message - From: Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 8:04 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check Are the Super Gold Card schematics available along with the CPLD equation file? With this info, designing a replacement using up to date components (apart from the CPU) would be fairly easy and I'd be happy to do it and make it open source. Cheers Malcolm This would be fantastic if possible. We also need to contact Jan Polenicek (?) to see if anything came of his plans for the replacement Qubide (http://omega.webnode.com/ or http://omega.webnode.com/products/product-1/) - Anybody still in touch with him? And if he doesn't plan to do further work, whether he could publish the schematics in a similar way? Dilwyn Jones Oops, failed to spot that some schematics at least are already on his website (haven't looked at them in detail). His web site says: Hello readers, there are no news and no plans to develop it further at the moment. Sorry for that. (20/6/2010) Which is quite a pity. Tobias ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
This might help though, so Qubide still an option? http://www.amazon.co.uk/IDE-SATA-Bi-Directional-Adapter/dp/B000YSMBSW Lee Privett - Sent from my Laptop running XP but emulating the QL using QPC2 This would be fantastic if possible. We also need to contact Jan Polenicek (?) to see if anything came of his plans for the replacement Qubide (http://omega.webnode.com/ or http://omega.webnode.com/products/product-1/) - Anybody still in touch with him? And if he doesn't plan to do further work, whether he could publish the schematics in a similar way? Dilwyn Jones Oops, failed to spot that some schematics at least are already on his website (haven't looked at them in detail). Also, I didn't stop to think that not many IDE hard disks are available nowadays, they all seem to be e-SATA etc. So a new Qubide might not be as good an idea as I first thought. Dilwyn Jones ___ 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] Reality Check
- Original Message - From: Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 10:06 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check This might help though, so Qubide still an option? http://www.amazon.co.uk/IDE-SATA-Bi-Directional-Adapter/dp/B000YSMBSW Lee Privett At just under £20, an interesting option to consider, certainly. Sad though that, as Tobias said, it seems that Jan has no plans to do any further work on the 'new' Qubide. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
I'm afraid I'm one of the apathetic subscribers but will put my head above the parapet to comment Having been a Quanta member since close to its inception I am happy to continue to pay my sub. It's trivial enough to be hardly worth the bother of cancelling the direct debit. However, I start up a QL emulator (QL2K) just a handful of times a year for a trip down memory lane or to try out a bit of code posted here, where my presence is mostly as a lurker. It's a long time since I've contributed to the magazine and that is not going to change as my interest in the QL is too small a part of my life nowadays. I have plenty of other organisations calling on my time. Having contributed financially for so many years I am happy for the accumulated funds to be used to subsidise membership or for useful capital projects. Eventually Quanta will wind up and its remaining funds disbursed to the Red Cross or whatever anyway. Its functions will continue thereafter, as long as anyone is interested, in this list and the forum and the diversity of websites. I will continue to hang around and occasionally interject if only to wind up Tony. If the Quanta sub rises I may cancel my direct debit. -- Regards, Stephen ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
On 03/02/2011 22:43, Dilwyn Jones wrote: - Original Message - From: Lee Privett lee.priv...@gmail.com To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 10:06 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check This might help though, so Qubide still an option? http://www.amazon.co.uk/IDE-SATA-Bi-Directional-Adapter/dp/B000YSMBSW Lee Privett At just under £20, an interesting option to consider, certainly. Sad though that, as Tobias said, it seems that Jan has no plans to do any further work on the 'new' Qubide. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Back when I still had an Aurora setup I tried an IDE to SATA adaptor in my Qubide but the it failed to recognise it. This was probably down to the firmware in the Qubide but that is another hurdle. since there are cheap 2Gb Compact flash cards and they are, basically IDE anyway. That would seem to be a useful route to take with little recoding to do. I will go back to just reading this now, -- Roy Wood ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
Hi Geoff, Thanks for participating in this discussion, Peter. Thank _you_ for your QUANTA work! You have always been very loyal to Quanta after the help they gave you over the Q60. Just for the records, the Q60 design and prototypes were all completed and financed by me, without any help... QUANTA supported DD to start a series production. All the best Peter ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality check and semantics
On 03/02/2011 16:48, ql-users-requ...@lists.q-v-d.com wrote: Peter Baily wrote, on 3/Feb/11 13:11 | Feb3: snip However, we should not be surprised that most people use PCs; after all this exchange of views, news, etc. would not exist unless we were using PCs. By PCs I take it you mean machines running Windows. I access this group but don't use a PC. Guess how. Forbidden fruit is a clue (8-)# Tony I did not mean to start a new thread by my imprecise terminology! By PC I meant 'personal computer as distinct from QL' (of course, the QL is a personal computer). I am aware of operating systems other than 'Windows' - the Apple computer was one of the early ones in our labs - and I have used Linux (Ubuntu flavour Norman, sorry!) quite successfully. The end of my contribution was a bit rushed as I had to grab a quick lunch before going to collect my youngest grandchildren from school but what I intended to include also was internet access as desirable for the QL. It is the whole modern communications environment in which the QL needs to be able to survive. I shall continue to use the QL notwithstanding its lack of internet access because, as I noted before, it enables me to devise routines to do what I need without the clutter of what someone else thinks I should have. Peter ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
On Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 4:43 PM, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.ukwrote: Sad though that, as Tobias said, it seems that Jan has no plans to do any further work on the 'new' Qubide. Dilwyn Jones If I had a schematic and code, I would be happy to (re)design anything out there. I don't have any production ability - but that would change in about six months. I have always wanted to take the existing QL mainboard schematic and do an updated version with improved power, and on-board IDE, floppy and mouse, and a 680X0 and faster memory. Something like Peter Graf's work, but all on one replacement PCB. I understand it's not the most viable project, financially, and it would best be a team effort, but I have a little 80s and 90s experience to bring to bear (nothing CLOSE to Peter Graf's skills) and could do a modest QL PCB redesign... Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Reality Check
Taking what has been said at face value and as a returning member of Quanta and living in the south east I am both excited and saddened by the current state of affairs, my response to each point is as follows: 1: QUANTA MAGAZINE - I would volanteer for editor but have very little experience in this matter, however I have volanteered 2: WEBSITE - same answer as above, I can certainly construct web pages so could help with that, however I do not have the experience of web site construction only content 3: SHOWS - whilst viable they should continue to be as is, but does the constitution allow for video conferencing and could it be set-up as such? 4: SOUTH EAST - I have no idea about the secretive group, but I used to quite enjoy the Essex meetings held in a pub somewhere near a forest if memory serves, I will have a go at arranging a one off in a church hall near me and see how many turn up (help anyone - Southend area?) 5: FINANCE the subscription is ridiculously low and I was surprised when paying my first one last year of how inexpensive it is, raising it to £25 seems reasaonable to me and if people stop subscribing because of it and less moneu comes in I dont see what difference it would really make in the long run, so atleast raising the subs would sort the men from the boys so to speak. 6: CONSTITUTION - I feel it should be simplified and reflect todays climate and practice. 7: SUBGROUPS - see point 4 8: KEYBOARD MEMBRANES - there are already some good ideas for projects already going on in this email/forum and should be supported, by raising the subscription then the focus can be made towards that and supporting the shortfall. Lee Privett - Sent from my Laptop running XP but emulating the QL using QPC2 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
