----- Original Message ----- From: "gwicks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 2:59 PM Subject: Re: [ql-users] Software - was how to get QL2K
hello Geoff, I must admit you are probably right: there is very little commercial potential left for the QL today in the "for purpose" market - (which was already the case soon after its launch because of a wrong marketing strategy) - as far as it goes for using it as a "work horse". That is by the way a good comparison: Horses should have faded completely away from our world since the car started its triumphal procession into our modern age. However that did not happen. They are still around, less in number of course, and their today's owners do for certain not belong to the poor(!!!) On a website dedicated to sinclair's C5 vehicle I recently read a statement that it was probably Sinclair's failure not to market the C5 as a mean of recreation (because it is sooo much fun) from the start on but as a vehicle for work traffic. As far as it goes "for purpose" our today's world is completely dominated by products that were pushed in by perfect marketing (the so often blamed IBM PC, Microsoft Windows etc). They even work well, no doubt, but they are neither fascinating nor an intellectual challenge. Especially with Windows you have Megabytes of Software just to make your Computer run - almost no chance for a hobby user to even get started understanding the concepts. Although I must admit VB and VBA have something, forgive me - or not - for that statement. I think the QL and its operating system can be really attracting for a certain target group that wants to learn a bit about modern (YES: I said MODERN) concepts for operating systems. In addition the Motorola 68000 is an ideal system to play with - I really wonder why 'up to date' hardware systems, such as Sony's PSII have completely left that path of being friendly to the programmer... And what I wanna say on behalf of QLAY: no matter what anyone else says - it is a great software for experimenting purposes, it runs 68K machine code - isn't that breathtaking enough for a freeware (I know this is build upon UAE, but anyways) and even getting QLAYT to do what he/she wants can be an experience of success for the user . Finally I see the QL / QDOS still as an amazing conceptual thing. And that is maybe its only cmmercial chance. Greetings, Michael _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.quanta.org.uk/mailing.htm
