Today I was called an idealist! Sorry to disappoint but I unfortunately live in the real world. I am well aware that BB has to make several thousand pounds each and every year from Format and SAM Coupe just to pay Jenny and his own bills. I am fortunate in that I have a day-time job (for now!) which pays my bills so that I can develop SAM hardware for zero return. If the SAM fell flat on its face tomorrow it would simply be a disappointment and not a loss of livelihood. Mr Brenchley on the other hand should be trying to create as much interest in the SAM and get as many users as possible. As the SAM stands at the moment it has very little to attract new users when compared with some other machines in a similar price range. Bruce Gordon did an excellent job in designing the SAM, he has definitely got my respect, but that does not mean the SAM is perfect and the versatility of the expansion port is evidence that it was designed to be expanded and improved. To date the amount of assistance from Mr Brenchley is a total of ZERO. A fax was sent to Format which offered to supply a video sync splitter which would help to interface VGA type monitors to the SAM. This is definitely not in competition with BB and was simply an offer of help to Format readers but BB in his infinite wisdom decided to not to pass this offer on to his readership. Why? I have heard from various sources about BB ideas on how to give the SAM a hard drive and have spoken to him direct on this score about compatibility with other hardware. Two weeks ago I purchased a harddrive for my laptop, which rejected the new organ. This was the catalyst that started the interface design. I will not be going into competition with BB on the HD front (unless it is a total cockup or he treats me like shit again). I am creating a PIO type of interface and hopefully a DMA version (for speed transfers and yet to be tried out) which will possibly be cheaper to build than the design I think BB is using. I am open to offers if anyone want to buy the designs. My overall opinion is that BB is the idealist as he seems to be living in a world of 'the SAM is perfect and needs no improvement'. Okay he may not have the fund available to support new hardware but that is NO REASON to refuse to help people who are trying to support the machine that forms part of his livelihood, is it? Incidently, I have not seen an advert for the SAM anywhere other than in Format, Fred etc. which collectively cover a very small user group when compared with the computer user as a whole.
Martin Rookyard (personal replies c/o [EMAIL PROTECTED])
