>Sorry to say, but I think you should go for the Turbo-R. The Z380 project
>is still under developement and I doubt if it will ever be finished.
Thanks. Probably that's I will do. I only know a few things about the z380
project, and all I know seems interesting. But, yes, it's a hard project,
and is possible it will not be finished... but I hope that the z380 will be
finished.
>In the last 2 years many ppl announced they where busy with something
>(especially software) and after a few months they leave it as is, without
>releasing anything.
Yes, it's true.
>About the Turbo-R; the speed is ok but it still has it disadvantages (eg.
>the slow V9958 and some bad written software doesn't run on it).
>And about MSX2000.......... well I hope that we'll make it but as far as I
>can see now the end of 1999 or halfway 2000 MSX is totally dead over here
>(sad but true).
>The main reasons:
>
>- IBM compatibles have taken over the market
I think MSX will live more time than 2 or 3 years. The reason is that the
MSX isn't a home computer in the same way than a IBM. I think that all the
MSX users are experimented users (all the users I know have the computer
since finals of 80', or before), and we know that a PC is a better option to
work (Word Processing, basically), and is less expensive. I think nobody
buys (today) an MSX for studies, or for word process... the MSX users enjoy
the MSX for playing, for programming, for seeing the fantastic japanese
games, and also the new european games. Yes, there aren't 3D games on MSX,
but... they are really good? In the MSX there aren't 3D games, but in the
PC, there are ONLY 3D games (that means Quake clonics).
That is, the MSX is today a hobby for a lot of people, not a work. For this,
MSX will survive a lot of time. And, for this, because is a hobby, IBM isn't
a problem for the MSX: they are in different "worlds".
If I want to buy a TR isn't (obviously) for word processing, for c++
programming, html design, quake playing, windows 98, explorer... no. For all
of this I have my Pentium, a good tool for working. If I want a TR is for
playing, for programming in assembler, ... that is, MSX is my hobby, not my
work.
>- MSX had it advantages, but it's slow and old (Be realistic, it's the
>truth)
Yes, it's so slow. Probably MSX, MSX2 and MSX2+ are so slow. Even TR is
slower than the worst PC... but I have a comment: the MSX games works better
then the PC games. That is, while the Quake II (for example) doesn't work on
my Pentium 166 with 32MB, the last MSX production (Sonyc, for example) works
on my old MSX2+, works good, and is fun.
>- Lack of widely distributed hardware for an affordable price (this also
>includes 2nd hand stuff..... who wants to pay $500 for a Turbo-R nowadays,
>while you shouldn't pay more than $100 for that bunch of outdated
>electronics? And then I even won't mention the MSX2).
Yes, the price is elevated. But I said: MSX is a hobby. And $500 isn't
expensive! I'm student, I have worked the last year, but I am not rich...
and I will pay more than $500 for a TR! Yes, it's "outdated electronic"...
but is a very good electronic. Is "like macintosh": expensive, but works,
and don't crashes. I have a 2+ since it appeared, and it works perfectly. I
have also a P166 there are 2 years, and I have problems with it, it hangs
sometimes.
For example, the CD technologie (also the CD-ROM) is completely obsolete.
The DVD is a best choice... but you continue buying CDs. Why? Because CD is
what is in the market, and because if the content (music or software) is
good, the media (CD or DVD) isn't important.
>- Lack of software (have you seen anything really interesting for the last
>few months??)
Yes: Pentaro Odyssey, Sonyc, No Name, the Core Dump Promo, the MCCM version
of Blade Lords, also the translations of japanese MSX games (I'm waiting for
the DSVI spanish translation), Fighters Ragnarok, Oracle, the Lost World,
...
>- There's still a lot of 'backstabbing' between MSX groups (those kids
>never learn!)
I don't understand... what does "backstabbing" means?
>- More and more real programmers leave the scene (nowadays it seems ppl can
>only make music disks and call themselves 'programmers', because they can
>make 'such a nice analyser').
I don't know. Probably much programmers leave the MSX and go to the PC, but
there are other programmers who decide to make MSX software. For example
Manuel Pazos (Sonyc), Marcos Vega (Pentaro Odyssey), and others.
>I can continue this list, but ok, I won't make it even worse. MSX is still
>fun, because it's a computer which can be programmed very easily, but
>hey... it's not the ultimate.
It's true. Is not the ultimate. I know. All the MSX users know... but, is a
good quality, be the ultimate?
I am studying the last year of computer engineering. I've worked with Mac,
PC, Sun, Silicon Graphics, VAX VMS, ... all of them have their good part.
None of them is the ultimate (VAX VMS, for example, is old, but it works,
and is useful), and the MSX is the best computer for playing and for making
personal use programs.
>When I have repaired my Turbo-R GT, I will be back in business too. I still
>have some plans and unfinished programs (no, not a music disk :-] ). I
>won't tell what it is, or when it will be finished, but if I finish it, it
>will be freeware of course (if I wanted to get rich with MSX I had to have
>released these programs about 8 years ago or so).
I'm waiting for your programs! ;-)
P.S.: It sounds like a topic, but... sorry for my english... I've learned
english reading technical papers, and I understant it, but writing...
+------------------------------------------------+
| Toni Burguera Burguera |
+------------------------------------------------+
| E-mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] |
+------------------------------------------------+
| 9D - La Novena Dimensio |
| http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dimension/9812 |
+------------------------------------------------+
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