[ql-users] CST Thor
Hi folks, I found this list after googling for David Oliver and CST, who hopefully some of you will remember produced the Thor range of machines. Having got my paws on what I think used to be a working Thor WF2 (before someone removed the hard drive) the other week I'm trying to find any info I can on both the machine and CST themselves for my museum - URL is in my sig. So far all I've got is that CST was started by David Oliver and Graham Priestley after they left Torch in maybe 1986 and that they produced maybe 6 or 7 different Thors from the F1 through to the XVI workstations. All info much appreciated :) Cheers, -- Adrian/Witchy Binary Dinosaurs www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - possibly the UK's biggest online computer museum www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 at 15:42:59, Witchy wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Hi folks, I found this list after googling for David Oliver and CST, who hopefully some of you will remember produced the Thor range of machines. Having got my paws on what I think used to be a working Thor WF2 (before someone removed the hard drive) the other week I'm trying to find any info I can on both the machine and CST themselves for my museum - URL is in my sig. So far all I've got is that CST was started by David Oliver and Graham Priestley after they left Torch in maybe 1986 and that they produced maybe 6 or 7 different Thors from the F1 through to the XVI workstations. All info much appreciated :) That reminds me! I have been out of the country for a while, and I promised you I would look up info I have. I haven't forgotten, but am very busy this week. I will have a go this weekend. -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
[ql-users] Wanted: Aurora Tower System
I want to buy a complete Aurora based Tower System, while on the subject I remeber seeing a Scottish website a few years that sold them but this seems to have dissappeared. -- Tarquin Mills ACCUS (Anglia Classic Computer Users Society) http://speccyverse.homedns.org/planet14/comp/accus/
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
Witchy wrote: I found this list after googling for David Oliver and CST, who hopefully some of you will remember produced the Thor range of machines. Having got my paws on what I think used to be a working Thor WF2 (before someone removed the hard drive) the other week I'm trying to find any info I can on both the machine and CST themselves for my museum - URL is in my sig. Nice page you have there. Just allow me a few comments to the QL section: and the multitasking wasn't really 'multi' because background tasks were paused. Not true. All tasks have always worked in parallel. With the advent of the pointer environment tasks could get stopped if they wanted to do something on the screen while their window was buried, but that's it. In true Sinclair style it was marketed long before it was ready, resulting in initial shipments needing an extra ROM 'dongle' out the back because they couldn't fit SuperBASIC into (I think) 32K. 48K. and a database who's name escapes me for now. Archive. Even to this day there are fans of the QL producing extra software for it, there's an enhanced OS called Medusa, You probably mean Minerva here, never heard of Medusa before (QL related, that is). The most advanced offspring (like Minerva not based on actual QDOS code but rewritten) that is still being developed even today (I know that because I did most of the recent developments ;-) ) is called SMSQ/E by the way. It runs on multiple platforms and even still on enhanced QLs (with 68000 or 68020 extension board). Unfortunately I can't give you any info on the Thor, though. Marcel
RE: [ql-users] CST Thor
Hi Marcel, Thanks for the corrections :) I'll update the page now. Cheers, W -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Marcel Kilgus Sent: 03 February 2004 17:55 To: ql-users Subject: Re: [ql-users] CST Thor Witchy wrote: I found this list after googling for David Oliver and CST, who hopefully some of you will remember produced the Thor range of machines. Having got my paws on what I think used to be a working Thor WF2 (before someone removed the hard drive) the other week I'm trying to find any info I can on both the machine and CST themselves for my museum - URL is in my sig. Nice page you have there. Just allow me a few comments to the QL section: and the multitasking wasn't really 'multi' because background tasks were paused. Not true. All tasks have always worked in parallel. With the advent of the pointer environment tasks could get stopped if they wanted to do something on the screen while their window was buried, but that's it. In true Sinclair style it was marketed long before it was ready, resulting in initial shipments needing an extra ROM 'dongle' out the back because they couldn't fit SuperBASIC into (I think) 32K. 48K. and a database who's name escapes me for now. Archive. Even to this day there are fans of the QL producing extra software for it, there's an enhanced OS called Medusa, You probably mean Minerva here, never heard of Medusa before (QL related, that is). The most advanced offspring (like Minerva not based on actual QDOS code but rewritten) that is still being developed even today (I know that because I did most of the recent developments ;-) ) is called SMSQ/E by the way. It runs on multiple platforms and even still on enhanced QLs (with 68000 or 68020 extension board). Unfortunately I can't give you any info on the Thor, though. Marcel
Re: [ql-users] Recent Quanta
Last Sunday I spent about 90 minutes talking to the QUANTA committee. As you will all know I have been one of QUANTA's most vocal critics during the last 12 months. I attended the meeting at the request of QUANTA and I think it is to their credit that they are prepared to listen to criticism and take it on board. Our discussion, in a friendly, but at times frank sphere, covered the complete range of QUANTA activities including shows, the magazine, advertising, sub-groups, the library, the help-line and finances. As a result of this discussion I am satisfied that QUANTA is eager to reform itself, and have renewed my membership. (I have not, however, renewed my advertising contract - QUANTA have still to prove their reliability in this regard.) I now know the names of the people who are likely to form the new QUANTA committee and I think it will be a capable and hard working body. Recently there has been sharp criticism of the OCT/NOV/DEC/JAN Magazine. QUANTA was as shocked by this magazine as you were. They have taken interim measures to prevent this happening again - a member of the present committee is now acting editor - but in the long term it cannot produce the magazine without copy from its members. I have attached some personal thoughts about QUANTA to this mailing, and I think all members could profitably read these and then come to the AGM in April to discuss QUANTA's future. Geoff Wicks In recent years there has been much discussion about the viability of QUANTA and this has given rise to a myth that QUANTA is in financial crisis. On the contrary QUANTA is in good financial health and can almost certainly claim to have the greatest financial security in the QL community. Occasionally economies and other changes have to be made, but this is good housekeeping and not evidence of financial crisis. In 2003 QUANTA lived within its income. QUANTA's viability problem has more to do with how it spends its money and how well its serves its members. Fewer members are participating in QUANTA activities and even fewer are prepared to take an leading role within QUANTA. The case for winding QUANTA up is very strong, but should this happen it would have implications for the survival of the QL not just in the UK but also in the rest of the world. During 2002 QUANTA gave out 80% - 90% of its income on two activities, shows and the magazine. In both activities it failed to serve its members adequately. SHOWS: The show problem is easily stated: rapidly falling attendances; poor quality content; and a bias to shows in the South East. In 2002 QUANTA spent about 38% of its income on sponsoring shows that probably less than one sixth of its members attended. From figures in the 2002 Treasurer's report it can be estimated that QUANTA subsidised shows to the extent of £10 per attendee per show. This sum does not include the insurance costs that probably came to £5 per attendee per year. Most members are unaware just how expensive show venues are. A top location such as Portsmouth starts at £1,000. A university will ask even more. A church or village hall, where most current shows are held, can cost up to £300. Is it responsible for QUANTA to spend these sums on a show that perhaps only 20 - 30 people will attend? Increasingly in recent years shows have been concentrated in a small triangle of Byfleet, London and Hove. In five years there have been only 5 shows outside this triangle, Clevedon, Portsmouth, Portishead and Manchester (2). There have been only 2 shows North of Watford in five years. Why is this? Strangely QUANTA knows very little about the distribution of its membership. There is a general impression that membership is concentrated in the South and that there has been a fall in membership in the North. (Chicken and Egg?) I have agreed to do some demographic research for QUANTA to investigate this problem. It will involve the release of some membership details, but to keep within data protection law and guidelines I have asked for nothing more than a list of post towns and counties. One possibility to improve our presence North of Watford is the Micro Mart fare in Birmingham. They need exhibitors to fill their retro hall. How about a QL village next time? QUANTA may well have to impose conditions on frequency and quality of shows in the future. It recognises the status quo cannot continue, but ultimately it is the membership that determines the quality of workshops. MAGAZINE: The magazine is in serious trouble. In the last 10 issues there have been only 11 contributors and, of these, only 5 have contributed more than one item. 2 of these 5 were the editors. (I have excluded QUANTA business items from these totals.) In these 10 issues there have been only 3 reviews of new products, all written by the same person. A magazine editor has the unenviable choice of either writing the magazine himself; of extensive padding; or of plagiarism. I estimate
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
Marcel Kilgus wrote: In true Sinclair style it was marketed long before it was ready, resulting in initial shipments needing an extra ROM 'dongle' out the back because they couldn't fit SuperBASIC into (I think) 32K. 48K. no 32K, 48K=32K ROMs+16K Kludge later 48K ROMs -- Tarquin Mills ACCUS (Anglia Classic Computer Users Society) http://speccyverse.homedns.org/planet14/comp/accus/
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 at 18:54:54, Marcel Kilgus wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Witchy wrote: I found this list after googling for David Oliver and CST, who hopefully some of you will remember produced the Thor range of machines. Having got my paws on what I think used to be a working Thor WF2 (before someone removed the hard drive) the other week I'm trying to find any info I can on both the machine and CST themselves for my museum - URL is in my sig. Nice page you have there. Just allow me a few comments to the QL section: and the multitasking wasn't really 'multi' because background tasks were paused. Not true. All tasks have always worked in parallel. With the advent of the pointer environment tasks could get stopped if they wanted to do something on the screen while their window was buried, but that's it. ... but there is an extension (pie?) that allowed background windows to update without pausing the programs. The QL multitasking since then has been 'real'. Maybe he is confusing the QL with task swapping on a 386/486 PC (8-)# In true Sinclair style it was marketed long before it was ready, resulting in initial shipments needing an extra ROM 'dongle' out the back because they couldn't fit SuperBASIC into (I think) 32K. 48K. yes, 48k - and not just superbasic - the whole O/S. This was the great thing about the QL. It was ready to go without having to load the O/S from file, with a full basic supported command line. -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
Tarquin Mills wrote: In true Sinclair style it was marketed long before it was ready, resulting in initial shipments needing an extra ROM 'dongle' out the back because they couldn't fit SuperBASIC into (I think) 32K. 48K. no 32K, 48K=32K ROMs+16K Kludge later 48K ROMs Hm, right, sorry for the confusion. I always thought that they added a 16kb rom to bring the total up to 64kb and later managed to change the code to fit into 48kb. I didn't think anyone would even try to squeeze the whole of QDOS/SuperBasic into 32kb... Marcel
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
I didn't think anyone would even try to squeeze the whole of QDOS/SuperBasic into 32kb... IIRC only the QDOS had to go into 32 kb. Superbasic was supposed to be loaeded from microdrives. Arnould
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
Tony Firshman wrote: 48K. yes, 48k - and not just superbasic - the whole O/S. This was the great thing about the QL. Yes, amazing. But still you've always needed more than that to gain a really usable system. Space for WIN driver, FLP driver, maybe RAM disc, the whole extended environment and of course TK2! This puts the seemingly massive current SMSQ/E for QPC in perspective (currently at 287kb. However, last version for QPC1 was 191kb big! A lot has happened since then... the 3 included screen driver alone take up a whole lot of space). Marcel
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
On Tue, 3 Feb 2004, Marcel Kilgus wrote: This puts the seemingly massive current SMSQ/E for QPC in perspective (currently at 287kb. However, last version for QPC1 was 191kb big! A lot has happened since then... the 3 included screen driver alone take up a whole lot of space). Does anyone remember what was originally intended to occupy the 32768-65535 space? Was that all meant to be available for ROM expansion? Or was some of it intended for some other use? Dave
Re: [ql-users] Recent Quanta
In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], gwicks [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes Last Sunday I spent about 90 minutes talking to the QUANTA committee. As you will all know I have been one of QUANTA's most vocal critics during the last 12 months. I attended the meeting at the request of QUANTA and I think it is to their credit that they are prepared to listen to criticism and take it on board. SNIP Geoff's comments make a lot of sense. I would say, though, that the reason that shows have concentrated in the SE area is because we are willing to make the effort to put them on. Quanta has little say in where the shows are unless it is to say they will not fund them. I have deliberately not organised a Hove show so far this year because of the London Show in January and uncertainty about the timing or otherwise of the QL 2004 show. Now I know that there will not be one until 2005 I will probably try to arrange one for Mid May because a lot of people have asked. As this is one of the cheaper ones (150 pounds for the hall) I hope it can go ahead. The alternatives to Quanta funding the show are charging the attendees and that will only serve to decrease the number of people who are there. Don't forget that the traders sponsor the shows too by sending flyers out. People like Jochen and Marcel who travel long distances to get to the shows rarely even break even but are usually among the most popular stall to visit. I am also glad to see steps being taken to remedy the magazine. It has run the same out of date QL Today ad for the last four issues in spite of my sending in new ones. I am also glad to see Geoff taking an interest in this. Does this mean you have reversed your decision to stop trading ? I hope this is the case. -- Roy Wood Q Branch. 20 Locks Hill, Portslade, Sussex. Tel: +44 (0) 1273 386030fax: +44 (0) 1273 430501 web : www.qbranch.demon.co.uk
RE: [ql-users] CST Thor
-Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tony Firshman Sent: 03 February 2004 19:42 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] CST Thor windows to update without pausing the programs. The QL multitasking since then has been 'real'. Maybe he is confusing the QL with task swapping on a 386/486 PC (8-)# Pffft :-) Because I don't know the full ins and outs of any of the machines I've got (other than as a user) I have to rely on what people tell me or what I read on the web..somewhere out there is a QL document that says the multi-tasking wasn't 'real'. I can always fire up the QL that's a couple of feet away from me and try it for myself :) Cheers -- Adrian/Witchy Binary Dinosaurs www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - possibly the UK's biggest online computer museum www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 at 19:06:40, Tarquin Mills wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Marcel Kilgus wrote: In true Sinclair style it was marketed long before it was ready, resulting in initial shipments needing an extra ROM 'dongle' out the back because they couldn't fit SuperBASIC into (I think) 32K. 48K. no 32K, 48K=32K ROMs+16K Kludge later 48K ROMs That is wrong Tarquin. The QL internal ROM space has always been 48k. The original couldn't fit in that, so they fitted the overflow in an external ROM (dongle) plugged into the ROM slot. This was a very nice ROM board made by Sinclair that in fact had space for two eproms. I use one of these (with one chip) to test QLs. Very soon they added the extra 16k internally with piggy backed chips, but that disabled the ROM slot. Interestingly the pcb has always catered for a mix of internal rom size /rom slot. There are jumper slots on the issue 5 pcb - the std has three resistor like components (one black bar === 0 ohms). All these QLs had to be returned to Sinclair when the ROM fitted in 48k. I returned my original QL, but Parcel Farce (then part of Royal Mail) lost it. -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 at 21:04:33, Marcel Kilgus wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Tarquin Mills wrote: In true Sinclair style it was marketed long before it was ready, resulting in initial shipments needing an extra ROM 'dongle' out the back because they couldn't fit SuperBASIC into (I think) 32K. 48K. no 32K, 48K=32K ROMs+16K Kludge later 48K ROMs Hm, right, sorry for the confusion. I always thought that they added a 16kb rom to bring the total up to 64kb and later managed to change the code to fit into 48kb. I didn't think anyone would even try to squeeze the whole of QDOS/SuperBasic into 32kb... You are not worng Marcel. The std internal QL space has always been 48k. Minerva uses a 64k Eprom, with 48k code space. I do a version of Minerva that can fill the remaining 16k with ROM. -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 at 20:49:14, Witchy wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tony Firshman Sent: 03 February 2004 19:42 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] CST Thor windows to update without pausing the programs. The QL multitasking since then has been 'real'. Maybe he is confusing the QL with task swapping on a 386/486 PC (8-)# Pffft :-) Because I don't know the full ins and outs of any of the machines I've got (other than as a user) I have to rely on what people tell me or what I read on the web..somewhere out there is a QL document that says the multi-tasking wasn't 'real'. What do you define as 'real'. I haven't seen such a document. It had pre-emptive multi tasking with processor support. The only thing it couldn't do was manage screen refresh. However it was unusable in practise as all the Psion programs ate all memory when they loaded. There were poor attempts at writing code to get around this, but the first real workable multitasking system came with QRAM (and the pointer environment) from Tony Tebby (Qjump). He didn't handle the issue of allowing buried jobs to continue to write to screen (PIE did that later), but he preserved all windows, and refreshed when they came to the top. When memory became short (often in the pre-Gold Card days) you could see him using the 32k screen area as a working space! The really clever part though was that he gave a restricted working environment for the Psion 4. He did this by the simple method of reserving all memory (temporarily using ALCHP I assume) except that defined for the Psion program. Once loaded, the memory was released. He also gave a good front end for everything, which was very much on a par with Windows 3.x This was the very first time the full power of the QL was able to be used. I can always fire up the QL that's a couple of feet away from me and try it for myself :) Please do (8-)# -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 at 21:17:08, Marcel Kilgus wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Tony Firshman wrote: 48K. yes, 48k - and not just superbasic - the whole O/S. This was the great thing about the QL. Yes, amazing. But still you've always needed more than that to gain a really usable system. Space for WIN driver, FLP driver, maybe RAM disc, the whole extended environment and of course TK2! This puts the seemingly massive current SMSQ/E for QPC in perspective (currently at 287kb. However, last version for QPC1 was 191kb big! A lot has happened since then... the 3 included screen driver alone take up a whole lot of space). ... but measure SMSQ/E with the size of the code for PCs and it is nothing. You have to go back to DOS on 5.25 disks to get less than SMSQ/E (8-)# Simple MSN messenger is over 4mb - I know you, Marcel, really hate that (8-)# -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
- Original Message - From: Dave P [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ql-users [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 8:31 PM Subject: Re: [ql-users] CST Thor On Tue, 3 Feb 2004, Marcel Kilgus wrote: This puts the seemingly massive current SMSQ/E for QPC in perspective (currently at 287kb. However, last version for QPC1 was 191kb big! A lot has happened since then... the 3 included screen driver alone take up a whole lot of space). Does anyone remember what was originally intended to occupy the 32768-65535 space? Was that all meant to be available for ROM expansion? Or was some of it intended for some other use? Dave Second screen ? If anyone is interested I think Joe Miller still has some Thor stuff ( 2 or 3 machines but maybe not all working). probably get his attention by leaving a message at Applications unlimited ( sorry don't have url at hand ) All the best - Bill
[ql-users] QL - Multitasking or No ? - [was CST Thor]
My two-pennuth on the - and the multitasking wasn't really 'multi' because background tasks were paused. theme. OCR'd from the second page of full colour promotional leaflet The Sinclair QL (A4 - 8 pages and [silver] cover with references 9513 2 84) = Revolutionary QDOS operating system The QL 32K ROM contains a new operating system (QDOS) specially developed for the QL. QDOS is unique to Sinclair, and a key element in the QL's performance. No existing operating system was remotely capable of capitalising on the full power of the 32-bit processor. QDOS sets a new standard in operating systems for the 68000 family of processors, and may well become the industry standard. QDOS is a single-user, multi-tasking time-sliced system using Sinclair SuperBASIC as command language. One of its most significant features is a very powerful multi-tasking capability. Multi-tasking is the ability to use several programs individually and simultaneously. The QL also displays the results simultaneously in different portions of the screen. Each program running can be scrolled within its window independently. This feature is not normally available on computers costing les than £7,000. QDOS has fully device-independent input/output. A program can be written without reference to the type of device to be used, which can be specified when the program is run; and the QL can sense the type of peripheral devices connected to its expansion port and organise their input/output. == Regards to all, John in Wales
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
Bill Waugh wrote: Does anyone remember what was originally intended to occupy the 32768-65535 space? Was that all meant to be available for ROM expansion? Or was some of it intended for some other use? Second screen ? Nah, far off. That's at 160kb ($28000). Marcel
RE: [ql-users] CST Thor
-Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tony Firshman Sent: 03 February 2004 21:25 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] CST Thor Pffft :-) Because I don't know the full ins and outs of any of the machines I've got (other than as a user) I have to rely on what people tell me or what I read on the web..somewhere out there is a QL document that says the multi-tasking wasn't 'real'. What do you define as 'real'. I haven't seen such a document. It had pre-emptive multi tasking with processor support. The only thing it couldn't do was manage screen refresh. Wherever I got that info from (suppose I should not my sources in proper publishing fashion) said that while the QL could have more than one app in memory at any point in time, given enough RAM, any background tasks would be paused. Now reading the 2nd paragraph leads me to think whoever wrote that about the multitasking simply noticed the background apps were paused when in reality all they were waiting for was a screen refresh. snip stuff which I should add to the QL page! He also gave a good front end for everything, which was very much on a par with Windows 3.x Was this the ICE environment I've seen mentioned with the Thor? I haven't found anything on the web about this yet, but then I suppose google isn't 'the web' yet :) I can always fire up the QL that's a couple of feet away from me and try it for myself :) Please do (8-)# Where did I put that 512k expansionhmm. Cheers -- Adrian/Witchy Binary Dinosaurs www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk - possibly the UK's biggest online computer museum www.snakebiteandblack.co.uk - ex-monthly gothic shenanigans :o(
[ql-users] Advertising in Quanta Newsletter
Some of you may have noticed the changes made to the text at the bottom of the Front Inside Cover of Quanta Newsletter. This is the paragraph which outlines the terms under which small ads are published from both our members and non-members. The original text printed up to and including the August/September 2003 Issue has been approved and authorised by the Quanta Committee. The revised version to be found in the Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan 2003/2004 issue was printed without any reference to, or authority from the Quanta committee. In future, as in the past, no advertisements will be printed in Quanta Newsletter unless they relate specifically to the QL and/or its derivatives and where the agreed fee has been paid in advance. Small adverts, together with the fee payable should be sent to either the editor or the treasurer who will ensure that the duly authorised advertisement is passed to the editor for publishing. Please note that where multiple advertisements are submitted by one member the first 50 words are free and the total remaining word count will be charged at 50 pence for each additional 10 words. John Gilpin. Quanta Honorary Treasurer.
Re: [ql-users] Wanted: Aurora Tower System
Tarquin, Have you considered an Aurora System in a Pandora Case? The two I use are so reliable that I think I could manage without my spare one. email me for details if you are at all interested. John Gilpin. - Original Message - From: Tarquin Mills [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 5:12 PM Subject: [ql-users] Wanted: Aurora Tower System I want to buy a complete Aurora based Tower System, while on the subject I remeber seeing a Scottish website a few years that sold them but this seems to have dissappeared. -- Tarquin Mills ACCUS (Anglia Classic Computer Users Society) http://speccyverse.homedns.org/planet14/comp/accus/
Re: [ql-users] Recent Quanta
Regarding the QL Today comments: I am very dedicated as long as our readers are. Readers will have noticed that there was never a missing or unplanned late (or early!) issue. If issue release dates were shifted by a week backwards or forwards, then there was always a reason like having it available at a QL show. Not to forget all the goodies which came with many issues (cover disks and CD and the show specials). Of course, Geoff did not question the reliability of QL Today ... but it is only down to our readers if QL Today continues by renewing or not - like Quanta members decide whether they cancel membership or not. It is a pity to see the state of the Quanta magazine. About 2 or 3 years ago I approached Quanta and offered to think about any kind of cooperation. I was open to suggestions, where immediate ideas were, for example, to have Quanta shipping QL Today to their members and add separate Quanta internal pages to their members. Or, offer Quanta members a discount which is covered by Quanta. Or incorporate 2 or 4 dedicated Quanta internal pages into QL Today - this could have persuaded people to JOIN Quanta if they see the benefits. Or, or, or ... there are so many options. Both Quanta and the members would profit. Quanta by having something with a content, and the members by getting something interesting (I hope). Also, some readers have to choose between Quanta AND QL Today because they cannot afford both - they would benefit too. Dealers could reach a wider audience with less effort. And it makes next to no difference to me whether I print 300, 500 or 800 copies - the workload of producing tthe magazine is always the same. I am aware that the magazine is a major part of the Quanta membership. But the members should get something which they enjoy reading - and not complain and worry about. And, of course, the members would have to agree to any kind of change in whichever way for a cooperation with QL Today. Unfortunately, the result was ... hmmm, there was no result. But I am still open to suggestions. ... and the QL Today packets with the brandnew issue are already on their way to Roy and will also be posted to my subscribers tomorrow. With this issue, it is renewal time, so we will see how the future of QL Today will be (wouldn't it be nice to celebrate 10 years of QL Today in 2005?). ... and if you are not a subscriber of QL Today yet, send 4 International Reply coupons (or EUR 4 ... even by credit card on the smsq.j-m-s.com secure contact form) to get a sample issue. Finally - a big THANK YOU to all our readers and contributors and especially Dilwyn and Bruce! Without all of you QL Today would not exist! Jochen Merz
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
On Tue, 3 Feb 2004 at 19:41:48, Tony Firshman wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) 48K. yes, 48k - and not just superbasic - the whole O/S. This was the great thing about the QL. It was ready to go without having to load the O/S from file, with a full basic supported command line. Mea Culpa. It was a long time ago and Tarquin remembers better than I - although he was nearly in nappies then (8-)# Yes - Sinclair designed the system around 32K internal ROM, with 32k external ROM in 2 x 16k eproms His eprom card had two chip slots. His dongle used the third 16k slot, and left one free. He never managed to squeeze into 32k, so 'normal' Ql production had 48k internal rom, and 16k ROM slot. Sorry.. -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://www.firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG
RE: [ql-users] CST Thor
-Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Bill Waugh Sent: 03 February 2004 22:36 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] CST Thor If anyone is interested I think Joe Miller still has some Thor stuff ( 2 or 3 machines but maybe not all working). probably get his attention by leaving a message at Applications unlimited ( sorry don't have url at hand ) Thanks Bill. Cheers, W
Re: [ql-users] CST Thor
Tony Firshman wrote: When memory became short (often in the pre-Gold Card days) you could see him using the 32k screen area as a working space! Actually there was a bug in exactly this code that more often than not crashed the machine in this situation. I have only fixed it a few months ago while reviewing my new background colour implementation... Marcel
Re: [ql-users] Wanted: Aurora Tower System
John Gilpin writes: Have you considered an Aurora System in a Pandora Case? The two I use are so reliable that I think I could manage without my spare one. Famous last words ? Per
