Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results! the future
The most important thing to remeber is that the survey only shows the views of the people on the list. The real question we have to tackle is how do we attract new members to the community? Or put it differently what is the advantage of QDOS or SMSQE over all the other operating systems out there? It is essential to think like Window users, what is annoying them and what our system does better to answer that question. Also we have got to factor in the easier it is for them to learn what to do the more likely they are to join the QL community. So what is better? The main survey page is here: http://www.nonstickglue.com/QL_Hardware_Library/Survey.html Nicely laid out, Dave. Some comments, for discussion, based on just a quick look through the results earlier this morning: Question 1: Only 3% with a 128K or 640K QL. Seems to fly in the face of Geoff's survey for Quanta a few years ago when a surprising number of members were using a basic QL. But, add in the first 4 results (above QXL) and it suddenly becomes 26% of people using a QL with any type of expansion up to Super Gold Card. I did rather expect that the QL emulators section would be the single largest category, even if 45% (commercial) plus 5% (free) seemed larger than I expected. And 9% using Q40/Q60 as a main QL system surprised me, I'd expected about half that. Question 12: glad I'm doing something right! Question 13: 95% able to program in SuperBASIC. Rather surprises me, but assuming replies came mostly from list-members, I've always thought that most people on this list might consider themselves more experienced than, say, a lot of Quanta members or QL Today readers? Does that sound elitist? Wasn't meant to. Question 14: 56% able to program in Assembly Language - Norman Dunbar's QL Today articles have obviously worked well here! Question 16: given that the survey was mainly publicised through ql-users list, I'm surprised only a third of people said they subscribed to it??? The low percentage of people subscribing to Quanta and QL Today probably speaks for itself (although later answers substantially increase these figures), but could be partially due to people who are not as active on the QL scene as they used to be, but remain in contact with the QL scene via this list, which is probably why this particular survey gives Quanta and QL Today a poor result. I suspect we've seen plenty of comments on this list including someting like I no longer subscribe to Quanta/QL Today, but The question is, do people remain on this list just to keep in touch without the cost of subscribing to anything (no real reason to subscribe if they are not regularly using a QL), or is there something that both organisations could do to entice these back? Comments from people who are on this list and not subscribing to either organisation welcome. Question 17: 15% members of Quanta in Q.16, 29% here. Is the doubling a statistical blip caused by a fairly small number of responses, was one of the questions worded so as not to extract the same reply or what? ID 4347254: The response about the overseas delivery, ...belief that sending the newsletter to foreign countries should come AFTER all the domestic members received their and thus show an inability to factor in 10+ extra days of transit -- THAT is symptomatic of how they view the World and/or the membership ... i.e., it's a local club that they allow others to contribute to I'm not quite sure what to make of this - I presume that John Gilpin has been sending ALL issues out at the same time (not checked with him), and if so, is the suggestion that Quanta should hold posting UK mags back for 10 days? I've been a member of Quanta since 1984, my postal copy regularly seems to arrive one or two days after other UK members get theirs, even though it's the same British postal system (probably just the usual West of Chester syndrome). Question 18: As with the Quanta figures, this shows 50% more QL Today subscribers than the original Question 16?!?! Question 20: 71% sharing files via email - to be expected in this day and age, figure may be a little higher here as this is a survey where all users by definition use email to know about this survey, but the 21% still using floppies surprises me. Question 21: 78% using their QL for programming and personal use. In line with my expectations. Question 22: I'm surprised the response wasn't even higher in citing internet access as critical. Of course, QPC2, QemuLator and uQLx have the base ability here, but we only have Jonathan Hudson's programs as applications. Dave - get working on those apps you mentioned - they'll do well! Question 24: 46% using a Windows system, no surprises there. The figure for OSX is a little higher than I'd expected, but it looks like Daniele correctly predicted the need for a OSX QemuLator here. In summary, this survey was a fairly smal and limited one, as others
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
In message aanlktimtv3uqmprt_et2ofsogssttydauoshcjdpw...@mail.gmail.com, Dave Park plasticu...@gmail.com writes On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:06 PM, Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com wrote: -- From: Dave Park plasticu...@gmail.com Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 7:50 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results! On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:48 AM, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk wrote: In all fairness to Dave, he did say that the email was in HTML format and quite large. Unfortunately, it seems that the list prevents HTML postings and has converted it to plain text - with all the attendant formatting troubles and loss of clarity. I didn't see a copy of my email so I didn't see how badly the list had chewed it up. Erk! I am working right now at putting it on the website. It means rewriting all the XML... I'll have it up as soon as possible. My apologies! Many thanks, Dave. No need to apologise. It's your first survey and it's all part of the learning process, Best Wishes, Okay, I have gone through the XML with a fine tooth comb to remove all the javascript, any privacy-invading links and various hidden forms. The main survey page is here: http://www.nonstickglue.com/QL_Hardware_Library/Survey.html From here there's a link on the right and at the bottom that will show the survey as it was intended. The survey will open in a new window. Hopefully this will present the data in a much more readable / interpretable form. Dave Hi Dave, Very neat ... :-) -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
On 1 Mar 2011, at 21:25, Dave Park wrote: Okay, I have gone through the XML with a fine tooth comb to remove all the javascript, any privacy-invading links and various hidden forms. The main survey page is here: http://www.nonstickglue.com/QL_Hardware_Library/Survey.html From here there's a link on the right and at the bottom that will show the survey as it was intended. The survey will open in a new window. Hopefully this will present the data in a much more readable / interpretable form. Very nice. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
The main survey page is here: http://www.nonstickglue.com/QL_Hardware_Library/Survey.html Nicely laid out, Dave. Some comments, for discussion, based on just a quick look through the results earlier this morning: Question 1: Only 3% with a 128K or 640K QL. Seems to fly in the face of Geoff's survey for Quanta a few years ago when a surprising number of members were using a basic QL. But, add in the first 4 results (above QXL) and it suddenly becomes 26% of people using a QL with any type of expansion up to Super Gold Card. I did rather expect that the QL emulators section would be the single largest category, even if 45% (commercial) plus 5% (free) seemed larger than I expected. And 9% using Q40/Q60 as a main QL system surprised me, I'd expected about half that. Question 12: glad I'm doing something right! Question 13: 95% able to program in SuperBASIC. Rather surprises me, but assuming replies came mostly from list-members, I've always thought that most people on this list might consider themselves more experienced than, say, a lot of Quanta members or QL Today readers? Does that sound elitist? Wasn't meant to. Question 14: 56% able to program in Assembly Language - Norman Dunbar's QL Today articles have obviously worked well here! Question 16: given that the survey was mainly publicised through ql-users list, I'm surprised only a third of people said they subscribed to it??? The low percentage of people subscribing to Quanta and QL Today probably speaks for itself (although later answers substantially increase these figures), but could be partially due to people who are not as active on the QL scene as they used to be, but remain in contact with the QL scene via this list, which is probably why this particular survey gives Quanta and QL Today a poor result. I suspect we've seen plenty of comments on this list including someting like I no longer subscribe to Quanta/QL Today, but The question is, do people remain on this list just to keep in touch without the cost of subscribing to anything (no real reason to subscribe if they are not regularly using a QL), or is there something that both organisations could do to entice these back? Comments from people who are on this list and not subscribing to either organisation welcome. Question 17: 15% members of Quanta in Q.16, 29% here. Is the doubling a statistical blip caused by a fairly small number of responses, was one of the questions worded so as not to extract the same reply or what? ID 4347254: The response about the overseas delivery, ...belief that sending the newsletter to foreign countries should come AFTER all the domestic members received their and thus show an inability to factor in 10+ extra days of transit -- THAT is symptomatic of how they view the World and/or the membership ... i.e., it's a local club that they allow others to contribute to I'm not quite sure what to make of this - I presume that John Gilpin has been sending ALL issues out at the same time (not checked with him), and if so, is the suggestion that Quanta should hold posting UK mags back for 10 days? I've been a member of Quanta since 1984, my postal copy regularly seems to arrive one or two days after other UK members get theirs, even though it's the same British postal system (probably just the usual West of Chester syndrome). Question 18: As with the Quanta figures, this shows 50% more QL Today subscribers than the original Question 16?!?! Question 20: 71% sharing files via email - to be expected in this day and age, figure may be a little higher here as this is a survey where all users by definition use email to know about this survey, but the 21% still using floppies surprises me. Question 21: 78% using their QL for programming and personal use. In line with my expectations. Question 22: I'm surprised the response wasn't even higher in citing internet access as critical. Of course, QPC2, QemuLator and uQLx have the base ability here, but we only have Jonathan Hudson's programs as applications. Dave - get working on those apps you mentioned - they'll do well! Question 24: 46% using a Windows system, no surprises there. The figure for OSX is a little higher than I'd expected, but it looks like Daniele correctly predicted the need for a OSX QemuLator here. In summary, this survey was a fairly smal and limited one, as others have remarked. Hopefully, the experience from this one should mean even better results from the next one. Well done to Dave for putting it together quickly and getting the results out pronto (even if the list did sabotage his first results effort). Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 6:04 AM, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.ukwrote: The main survey page is here: http://www.nonstickglue.com/QL_Hardware_Library/Survey.html Nicely laid out, Dave. You can thank the survey website for the layout. I just had to convert the XML and javascript behind it to make it behave on a different website. Some comments, for discussion, based on just a quick look through the results earlier this morning: Question 1: Only 3% with a 128K or 640K QL. Seems to fly in the face of Geoff's survey for Quanta a few years ago when a surprising number of members were using a basic QL. But, add in the first 4 results (above QXL) and it suddenly becomes 26% of people using a QL with any type of expansion up to Super Gold Card. I did rather expect that the QL emulators section would be the single largest category, even if 45% (commercial) plus 5% (free) seemed larger than I expected. And 9% using Q40/Q60 as a main QL system surprised me, I'd expected about half that. Given that two people answered other and then put a commercial emulator, the figure is slightly more in the emulator's favor than the bars indicate. The response for unexpanded QLs was only two people, so the statistical error can be quite large - just one more or less vote for that is +/-50%. It's only when minority answers with so few votes get grouped together that accuracy increases. Thus, unexpanded + expansions + GC + SGC = 26% (19/74) gives a margin of error for systems using the original QL in some form of +/-4% or so. Question 12: glad I'm doing something right! It does seem to be the only question upon which there was a unanimous answer. Congratulations! Question 13: 95% able to program in SuperBASIC. Rather surprises me, but assuming replies came mostly from list-members, I've always thought that most people on this list might consider themselves more experienced than, say, a lot of Quanta members or QL Today readers? Does that sound elitist? Wasn't meant to. Question 14: 56% able to program in Assembly Language - Norman Dunbar's QL Today articles have obviously worked well here! Question 16: given that the survey was mainly publicised through ql-users list, I'm surprised only a third of people said they subscribed to it??? Not so. This question allowed people to answer multiple checkboxes. 59/74ths (80%) answered that they use ql-users, but that was only 34% of the total readership as many also subscribed to other answers too. (59/172 total responses) The low percentage of people subscribing to Quanta and QL Today probably speaks for itself (although later answers substantially increase these figures), but could be partially due to people who are not as active on the QL scene as they used to be, but remain in contact with the QL scene via this list, which is probably why this particular survey gives Quanta and QL Today a poor result. I suspect we've seen plenty of comments on this list including someting like I no longer subscribe to Quanta/QL Today, but The question is, do people remain on this list just to keep in touch without the cost of subscribing to anything (no real reason to subscribe if they are not regularly using a QL), or is there something that both organisations could do to entice these back? Comments from people who are on this list and not subscribing to either organisation welcome. The obvious suggestion of this answer is that people who are more inclined to get information from the internet will be less inclined to subscribe to a magazine or club. Question 17: 15% members of Quanta in Q.16, 29% here. Is the doubling a statistical blip caused by a fairly small number of responses, was one of the questions worded so as not to extract the same reply or what? ID 4347254: The response about the overseas delivery, ...belief that sending the newsletter to foreign countries should come AFTER all the domestic members received their and thus show an inability to factor in 10+ extra days of transit -- THAT is symptomatic of how they view the World and/or the membership ... i.e., it's a local club that they allow others to contribute to I'm not quite sure what to make of this - I presume that John Gilpin has been sending ALL issues out at the same time (not checked with him), and if so, is the suggestion that Quanta should hold posting UK mags back for 10 days? I've been a member of Quanta since 1984, my postal copy regularly seems to arrive one or two days after other UK members get theirs, even though it's the same British postal system (probably just the usual West of Chester syndrome). Look at the votes and not the percentages: 26 people said Quanta in Q.16 and 26 said I am a current member in 17... It looks very consistent. It seems some people did not understand the structure of Q.17 as I did not explain clearly - they were supposed to check a box for each decade they were a member, and if they are a current member
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
Morning Geoff, Could you then please put your survey results on your website with a link? Much easier to read that as a poor text file at the end of an email. In all fairness to Dave, he did say that the email was in HTML format and quite large. Unfortunately, it seems that the list prevents HTML postings and has converted it to plain text - with all the attendant formatting troubles and loss of clarity. The QL community is a good deal more conservative that we probably would like to think, Interesting. I wonder if there is a correlation between the lack of internet access on the QL and the seeming lack of interest in getting QL stuff from the internet? Maybe, people using the QL can't be bothered to fire up a laptop or desktop just to get a magazine? Just a random thought. 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] The First Survey - Results!
Dave, As I thought, only George and I read my articles on QL Assembly Language! ;-( You read your own articles? Isn't that like laughing at your own jokes? :P But of course. Don't you know that's one way to double my readers! Plus, I get to find all sorts of mistakes that I didn't see when I proof read it! :-( I have never seen a typo in QL Today. But then, the headline on my last copy was Q60 released! There are a few - usually in my own articles. I'm good at whihc and clinet these days! QL Today and Quanta are both in the modern struggle to stay relevant when the internet is a more immediate information source. Maybe. Maybe not. I read plenty of magazines as part of my work life - Linux and Oracle for example - I also use the internet, but much prefer to read paper based magazines. Especially in the bath! They can't get by just by providing news any more. Quanta does have the advantage of being a club and having many other services. QL Today isn't just a news magazine. There are many interesting articles, sometimes even about off topic subjects that may just be relevant, albeit remotely, to QL users. I'd start by putting every past issue of their magazines on their respective websites in a password protected area, and publish the password in the current magazine. Someone scanned in one issue recently - check the list archives - and it came to around 50MB for a text searchable pdf. That was during a long run of emails on why can't we get a pdf copy of QL Today? - which has been covered here, in the magazine and I suspect, there's more to come in the next issue! Also, how about an annual award ceremony for best new h/w, software, utility, lifetime achievement awards - so we can all pat ourselves on the back? *grins* Heck, I might even go to England for that. We can't do that without a snappy name, like the Oscars for example. Suggestions? 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] The First Survey - Results!
I agree with a lot of what you say about the importance of websites, but that is not what QL-ers appear to want. On the last published figures only 21 UK Quanta members out of 154 have opted to receive the magazine electronically. The equivalent figures for overseas members is 9 out of 23 and they not only get a reduced subscription, but also receive the magazine at the same time as the UK members. I have recently been floating the idea of replacing the magazines with a website, but there has been no enthusiasm for this. Technically, it is not a reduced subscription - overseas members get it for the same price as UK members: postage costs was always the price difference that overseas members paid. £14 is the actual membership fee. I know you'll probably just think of this as splitting hairs. It was never written down as such because probably nobody foresaw in 1984 that we'd (a) still be here now and (b) that the mag could be sent out electronically, but of course it was pretty obvious that the different amounts paid by overseas members and UK members was down to postage differences. The QL community is a good deal more conservative that we probably would like to think, Strange one this - conservative in some respects yet not in others. We do have to bear in mind that as a community we are using a base computer which is not far from 3 decades old, yet we insist on still using it. It's probably a bit inevitable that some of those who choose to use an older computer will probably not go for all the latest technology bells and whistles and remain a bit conservative in their outlook, while the rest will take up the latest thing. For example, I was a bit surprised that QL Forum took off in the way it did. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
At 08:33 01/03/2011 +, you wrote: Could you then please put your survey results on your website with a link? Much easier to read that as a poor text file at the end of an email. I DOOO agree, no more informative than the non appearing results of the '95 survey, ie none atall. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
At 12:11 01/03/2011 +, you wrote: The QL community is a good deal more conservative that we probably would like to think, Strange one this - conservative in some respects yet not in others. We do have to bear in mind that as a community we are using a base computer which is not far from 3 decades old, yet we insist on still using it. It's probably a bit inevitable that some of those who choose to use an older computer will probably not go for all the latest technology bells and whistles and remain a bit conservative in their outlook, while the rest will take up the latest thing. For example, I was a bit surprised that QL Forum took off in the way it did. Having entered my fifth score I find myself becoming increasingly Luddite, Click's reviews of what's new and on the way don't appeal in the slightest. 3D TV, surfing the web on a mobile phone, Wii , why is that WEE instead of wee aye, (radii or tumlii)or is that too Geordie ? My first email a/c was hosted by an internet cafe, I had no phone on my boat. But with my data on a floppy I could cycle into town and surf, cost a little then tho' now most libraries have it free. So I don't understand the problem of electronic delivery, and as the readershi[ dwindles the printing charges rise. So much physical work involved with the paper mag'. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
At 08:54 01/03/2011 +, you wrote: Someone scanned in one issue recently - check the list archives - and it came to around 50MB for a text searchable pdf. That was during a long run of emails on why can't we get a pdf copy of QL Today? - which has been covered here, in the magazine and I suspect, there's more to come in the next issue! Like jpegs pdf;s can be made with greater compression values for smaller file sizes. Also, how about an annual award ceremony for best new h/w, software, utility, lifetime achievement awards - so we can all pat ourselves on the back? *grins* Heck, I might even go to England for that. We can't do that without a snappy name, like the Oscars for example. Suggestions Qlutz of the year show ? ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
Heck, next thing you'll be saying is 'do away with a postal one altogether make it all electronic and then Monthly!' :) Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: David Tubbs To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 5:49 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results! My first email a/c was hosted by an internet cafe, I had no phone on my boat. But with my data on a floppy I could cycle into town and surf, cost a little then tho' now most libraries have it free. So I don't understand the problem of electronic delivery, and as the readershi[ dwindles the printing charges rise. So much physical work involved with the paper mag'. ___ 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] The First Survey - Results!
Noel Edmonds found that out to his shame with 'Gotcha Oscars' So how about the Cue Ella's Lee - Back to the QL- Also, how about an annual award ceremony for best new h/w, software, utility, lifetime achievement awards - so we can all pat ourselves on the back? *grins* Heck, I might even go to England for that. We can't do that without a snappy name, like the Oscars for example. Suggestions? 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 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
Ladies and Gentlemen its the 'QLimb that Mountain' Awards 2011 Lee - Back to the QL- - Original Message - From: David Tubbs To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 5:03 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results! Suggestions Qlutz of the year show ? ___ 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] The First Survey - Results!
On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:48 AM, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.ukwrote: In all fairness to Dave, he did say that the email was in HTML format and quite large. Unfortunately, it seems that the list prevents HTML postings and has converted it to plain text - with all the attendant formatting troubles and loss of clarity. I didn't see a copy of my email so I didn't see how badly the list had chewed it up. Erk! I am working right now at putting it on the website. It means rewriting all the XML... I'll have it up as soon as possible. My apologies! Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
-- From: Dave Park plasticu...@gmail.com Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 7:50 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results! On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:48 AM, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.ukwrote: In all fairness to Dave, he did say that the email was in HTML format and quite large. Unfortunately, it seems that the list prevents HTML postings and has converted it to plain text - with all the attendant formatting troubles and loss of clarity. I didn't see a copy of my email so I didn't see how badly the list had chewed it up. Erk! I am working right now at putting it on the website. It means rewriting all the XML... I'll have it up as soon as possible. My apologies! Many thanks, Dave. No need to apologise. It's your first survey and it's all part of the learning process, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
Mind you is does depend on how you would treat the awards, as prestigious or turkeys The 'Clive's C5s' has nice ring to it but not necessarily a good connotation Lee - Back to the QL- Also, how about an annual award ceremony for best new h/w, software, utility, lifetime achievement awards - so we can all pat ourselves on the back? *grins* Heck, I might even go to England for that. We can't do that without a snappy name, like the Oscars for example. Suggestions Qlutz of the year show ? ___ 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] The First Survey - Results!
In message 4d6cb2c2.7020...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi, I think that the argument is that it is a preference to have a physical magazine to read, rather than an electronic imitation. I do receive another magazine in electronic form, which is very well implemented with pages that 'turn' properly as an image. Together with full colour, easy page access, or double page, zoom in/out, etc. However, you still need a 'screen' on which to view it. For the QL I prefer the magazine, in paper format, yet would also not mind having an electronic version to have access to the individual articles, etc. Each media has its pros and cons. Morning Geoff, Could you then please put your survey results on your website with a link? Much easier to read that as a poor text file at the end of an email. In all fairness to Dave, he did say that the email was in HTML format and quite large. Unfortunately, it seems that the list prevents HTML postings and has converted it to plain text - with all the attendant formatting troubles and loss of clarity. The QL community is a good deal more conservative that we probably would like to think, Interesting. I wonder if there is a correlation between the lack of internet access on the QL and the seeming lack of interest in getting QL stuff from the internet? Maybe, people using the QL can't be bothered to fire up a laptop or desktop just to get a magazine? Just a random thought. Cheers, Norman. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:06 PM, Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com wrote: -- From: Dave Park plasticu...@gmail.com Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 7:50 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results! On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 2:48 AM, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk wrote: In all fairness to Dave, he did say that the email was in HTML format and quite large. Unfortunately, it seems that the list prevents HTML postings and has converted it to plain text - with all the attendant formatting troubles and loss of clarity. I didn't see a copy of my email so I didn't see how badly the list had chewed it up. Erk! I am working right now at putting it on the website. It means rewriting all the XML... I'll have it up as soon as possible. My apologies! Many thanks, Dave. No need to apologise. It's your first survey and it's all part of the learning process, Best Wishes, Okay, I have gone through the XML with a fine tooth comb to remove all the javascript, any privacy-invading links and various hidden forms. The main survey page is here: http://www.nonstickglue.com/QL_Hardware_Library/Survey.html From here there's a link on the right and at the bottom that will show the survey as it was intended. The survey will open in a new window. Hopefully this will present the data in a much more readable / interpretable form. Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The First Survey - Results!
Question 14*Can you program in Assembly Language?* Yes 32 44% No 40 56% As I thought, only George and I read my articles on QL Assembly Language! ;-( ... 4340156 do not no, never seen it but people seem to refer to it as ql toady which implies its full of mistakes This is a joke right? Complaining about mistakes with this grammar! ;-) (That was a joke too!) The reason for calling it QL Toady is not because it is full of mistakes, but someone spelt (spelled? Tony which is correct?) it incorrectly once and it stuck as it is somewhat amusing. I can see where this is coming from though, The Guardian often has spelling mistakes and is known as The Gruniard. Mmmm. Very interesting point this person has brought up - should we stop calling it QL Toady? We could be sending out the wrong signals. ... 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] The First Survey - Results!
On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 2:15 PM, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.ukwrote: Question 14*Can you program in Assembly Language?* Yes 32 44% No 40 56% As I thought, only George and I read my articles on QL Assembly Language! ;-( You read your own articles? Isn't that like laughing at your own jokes? :P 4340156 do not no, never seen it but people seem to refer to it as ql toady which implies its full of mistakes This is a joke right? Complaining about mistakes with this grammar! ;-) (That was a joke too!) The reason for calling it QL Toady is not because it is full of mistakes, but someone spelt (spelled? Tony which is correct?) it incorrectly once and it stuck as it is somewhat amusing. I can see where this is coming from though, The Guardian often has spelling mistakes and is known as The Gruniard. Mmmm. Very interesting point this person has brought up - should we stop calling it QL Toady? We could be sending out the wrong signals. I have never seen a typo in QL Today. But then, the headline on my last copy was Q60 released! QL Today and Quanta are both in the modern struggle to stay relevant when the internet is a more immediate information source. They can't get by just by providing news any more. Quanta does have the advantage of being a club and having many other services. That said, it becomes more important than ever for both to be accessible, informative and a resource. I'd start by putting every past issue of their magazines on their respective websites in a password protected area, and publish the password in the current magazine. Change the password once a year. Next, I'd start properly maintaining the websites to be current and to have local content. I'd get the local clubs to appoint a publicity person to get the local club news to the national site organizer promptly. Finally, I'd do things like this survey, and share the results, then try to act on them by addressing failings of the community like lack of new hardware and software... Also, how about an annual award ceremony for best new h/w, software, utility, lifetime achievement awards - so we can all pat ourselves on the back? *grins* Heck, I might even go to England for that. But that's what I would do. I'm not Quanta or QL Toady. :) Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
