Re: [Ql-Users] What would you most like to see in a new versionof QDOSMSQ?
Apart from the fact that you would need several orders of magnitude more processor power and a massive operating system rewrite to drive that little lot, it's a grand idea. ;) Honestly, I think the future of the QL - as with most retro computing - lies in emulation, but that doesn't have to be limited to emulation under Windows, MacOS or Linux. ... but I like the sound of an SD card reader emulating a microdrive. Adrian -Original Message- From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Lee Privett Sent: 29 January 2011 01:21 To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] What would you most like to see in a new versionof QDOSMSQ? Part of the charm of the QL is the distinctive black box look so lets keep it as is (although I do like the 'pimp my QLs' seen here and there), if Quanta or others are looking for new projects to keep the QL alive then emulating everything that the current PC/MAC world has, is hardly exciting if the existing QL hardware doesn't meet even the most of todays basic computer standards (how will that attract new blood to the QL hive?). So shouldn't the expansion slot be revisited with a small harddrive + memory, the display output replaced by an HDMI port, the tv modulator output replaced by USB2 or USB3 connector, the microdrive with an SD card slot, net1 and net1 3.5 sockets replaced by audio in and out and QDOSMSQ is a plugin flashrom, I dont see what the problem is :-) Lee Privett - Sent from my Laptop running XP but emulating the QL using QPC2 - Original Message - From: Malcolm Cadman q...@mcad.demon.co.uk To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 10:58 PM Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] What would you most like to see in a new versionof QDOSMSQ? In message 4d415c3e.2020...@dunbar-it.co.uk, Norman Dunbar nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk writes Hi Norman, Something for everyone ... :-) All of the things that you list are quite technical considerations. Most users you want something that does something very well without them having to bother too much about it. Hence the embedded capabilities being shown by mobile phones and ipads, etc. The new way or working is moving towards being a more intuitive interaction between human and machine - hence hand movement and touch, etc. So, a new OS would have to be a new paradigm, in the first place. I may regret starting this, but as the subject says, what would you like to see in QDOSMSQ given that we were starting from scratch with the intention of writing a completely new OS? Disclaimer: No, I'm NOT thinking of writing one! For me, the following: * Ability to hook into the OS from any language, Basic, Assembler, C, whatever. * A windowing system that is simple to use. From any language. * Libraries that applications can link to at run time, as opposed to static linking at compile time. * Multitasking, obviously! * A file system that is not restricted to 36 characters. See http://qdosmsq.dunbar-it.co.uk/blog/2009/05/whats-wrong-with-this-file -system/ for a pseudo-rant on the matter. * Industry standard floating point format. * Industry standard graphics format(s) - PNG, for example. JPG if we must! SVG would be nice. * Speed and efficiency! ;-) Cheers, Norman. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ 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 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
On 28 Jan 2011, at 22:18, Tony Firshman wrote: My view is that Quanta is still needed and rightly so - plenty of people are still returning to the QL and need a source of knowledge and hand-holding, it is just that Quanta needs more members and particularly committee members to help drive it forward. I see no point in winding up Quanta. Of course Quanta should not be wound up. What an idea. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
On 29/01/2011 09:58, gdgqler wrote: On 28 Jan 2011, at 22:18, Tony Firshman wrote: My view is that Quanta is still needed and rightly so - plenty of people are still returning to the QL and need a source of knowledge and hand-holding, it is just that Quanta needs more members and particularly committee members to help drive it forward. I see no point in winding up Quanta. Of course Quanta should not be wound up. What an idea. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm If the future of Quanta is in legal jeopardy due to breaches of the constitution, then the constitution needs changed to reflect members needs (availability of officers). If the constitution cannot be changed (because it's the constitution) then Quanta needs to become Quanta 2011, only problem I see is the transfer of funds - sure there is a way though All the best - Bill ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Quanta News
The deadline for Quanta magazine contributions is approaching (5th February) and because the magazine will contain AGM information it will have to be done pretty much to schedule (despite technically not having an editor...) If anyone has any material for the news pages, now would be a good time to send them to me at: news AT quanta DOT org DOT uk Thank you, Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QL Forum
Just been on QL Forum (www.qlforum.co.uk) and am impressed with the number of postings in January. Pete and Rob have done quite a good job with this - well done guys. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL Forum
On 29 January 2011 12:40, Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk wrote: Just been on QL Forum (www.qlforum.co.uk) and am impressed with the number of postings in January. Pete and Rob have done quite a good job with this - well done guys. Dilwyn Jones Thanks Dilwyn! :) We hope the site will continue to grow and grow! Rob. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
-- From: Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 10:05 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply I don't want to become embroiled in the discussions over the constitution of Quanta and without seeing the minutes of the meeting at the end of the AGM, I presume that the committee co-opted John under article 5.8 which says that The Committee shall have power to fill vacancies by co-opting ordinary members to the Committee. Such members shall have a vote in committee and shall serve until the next Annual General Meeting. It does not say anywhere that the co-opted members cannot serve as officers and vacancies is wide enough to be interpreted as meaning three officers and not more than 6 other committee members, unless I am missing something, but I agree that the constitution is badly worded. With respect the answer is already there. Clause 5.8 says specifically ordinary members. The 2005 amendments created a structural difference between ordinary members and officers of the committee. Perhaps one of the lessons of this is that constitutional amendments should never be railroaded through without proper discussion. I was a member of the committee at the time and even we ordinary members of the committee were given just 10 minutes notice of the proposed amendments on a take it or leave it basis, Best Wishes, Geoff Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
-- From: Billy bill.wa...@btinternet.com Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 11:02 AM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply If the future of Quanta is in legal jeopardy due to breaches of the constitution, then the constitution needs changed to reflect members needs (availability of officers). If the constitution cannot be changed (because it's the constitution) then Quanta needs to become Quanta 2011, only problem I see is the transfer of funds - sure there is a way though All the best - Bill ___ Hear! Hear! It would be possible for Quanta to be wound up to make way for Quanta 2011 although it probably could not be done until 2012. There was a precedent for this in the Netherlands where Sin_QL_Air was wound up and in the same week, I believe, a new Sin_QL_Air was created, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL Forum
Just been on QL Forum (www.qlforum.co.uk) and am impressed with the number of postings in January. Pete and Rob have done quite a good job with this - well done guys. Dilwyn Jones Thanks Dilwyn! :) We hope the site will continue to grow and grow! Rob. When I first heard about the QL Forum I was afraid it might fail because unlike the QL Users mailing list you can't just sit back and wait for the messages to land in your inbox! You have to actively log in and read. Actually, that wasn't quite right because it supports RSS - I usually just go to qlforum.co.uk and click FEEDS in my browser (can't remember what it's called in Firefox) . That way I get a feed (a fairly long listing of the text of the posts) which I can quickly read and if I want to post a reply I can login to do so. And the FEEDS can give you either all postings or just the new ones since you last visited. When I was on earlier today I noticed the list of people on included some bots. Looks like the Forum is actively letting the search engines find it and process the postings. If I'm right on this, it means that the search engines will respond to people searching for things relating to QL which happen to have been discussed, which is good because more and more people use forums and the information will be out there for people to find and hopefully more and more will find the QL still exists and hopefully either become new or returnign visitors as we have seen a few examples of here in the last year. What we need now is more and more ideas like this on how to reach out to people to attract them to, or back to, the QL. I've noticed that the little QL-specific search engine on my home page gets a fair bit of use, so there are people out there looking for information. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Finally a reply - from the Treasurer
Having read with interest Geoff Wicks' musings about the errors in QUANTA's ways, I would like to give you all, the facts that both me and the QUANTA Committee considered to be in accordance with the current (at that time) QUANTA Constitution. I joined the QUANTA Committee in April 2001 - see copy of the minutes of the A. G. M. for that year - as an ordinary Committee member and was asked to take on the duties of (head) librarian - there being no other librarians anyway. At the A. G. M. in the following year - 2002 - following the resignation of both Bill Newell and John Taylor I was nominated as Treasurer to the QUANTA Committee - a post that was amalgamated with that of Membership Secretary - two posts that were seen to be connected by the payment of subscription and the handling of QUANTA funds. Similarly, the posts of Software Controller and Librarian were also combined - a post undertaken by the then Software Controller John Gregory which meant that I relinquished my previous role of Librarian. Early in 2005, QUANTA Committee discussed and then decided that moves ought to be put in place to limit the length of time served by committee members (Officers and Ordinary members) with the result that members were asked to approve Special Resolution No. 1 (Changes to clause 5 of the QUANTA Constitution) at the A. G. M. in April 2005. The original discussions on this topic came from comments heard that the QUANTA Committee were getting stale and had nothing further to offer.The Resolution was approved and the Constitution was duly updated and re-issued to all members in February 2006 as Issue 2 Revision 0. This revision was deemed to be effective from that date. At the date of the A. G. M. 2009, both John Mason (Chairman) and John Gilpin (Treasurer), under the new clause 5 of the constitution were due to stand down and in accordance with Clause 5.5 they, JM JG, by agreement decided that John Mason would stand down since he had served slightly longer than John Gilpin on the Committee without a break. The following year (April 2010), having served continuously on the committee since 2001, (over 6 years) and as an officer since 2002 (over three years), John Gilpin tendered his resignation from the committee (under clauses 5.2 and 5.4 of the constitution). At this point, April 2010, John Gilpin's QUANTA membership status reverted to that of Ordinary Member.There were no nominations for the post of Treasurer/Membership Secretary and immediately following the A. G. M. the new committee held a meeting where they co-opted John Gilpin (Ordinary Member) onto the committee under clause 5.8. By agreement of all concerned, John Gilpin was asked to carry out the duties of Treasurer/Membership Secretary until The Next A. G. M. - see clause 5.8. - to see if anyone had decided to take on this role. One has to pay quite a lot of money to have clauses drafted which are word perfect with no errors and/or ambiguities by a professional and the committee having submitted the Special resolution approved at the AGM in 2005 to it's members and having not received any requests to amend the same the then committee deemed that the suggested modifications were adequate for the purpose intended - to limit the time served on the committee to six continuous years for ordinary committee members of which not more than three continuous years may be served as an officer With all Geoff Wicks' working experience as an officer of the British law Courts, surely he could have spotted what he seems to feel are these anomalies while they were still at committee stage and suggest further discussion (even if that would have meant putting any ill feeling between himself and other Committee member(s) in abeyance for a while!) rather than find objections some six years later. My suggestion to him and any other QUANTA Members now is this: If there is anything about QUANTA that you don't understand or that you disapprove of then drop a line to the Secretary expressing your concerns and give the Committee the opportunity to discuss the matter(s) instead of joining the vast majority of QUANTA Members in their apathy. Perhaps he could also suggest the basis of a Special resolution to be put before the Members at the coming A. G. M. in April in order to remove what he feels are errors in the constitution.. What we DON'T want is a document which is far more wordy and difficult to understand than the one we already have. QUANTA's Constitution is NOT written in stone. All it needs is for a member, be they ordinary member, committee member or Officer, to propose a Special resolution to be put before the members at a General Meeting (A. G. M.or Special General Meeting) for approval as has happened on numerous occasions in the past, but DON'T leave it to someone else to do and then criticise their efforts because no one else had the guts to get up and be counted. To me it seems that
Re: [Ql-Users] QL On A Stick
Dilwyn, Would anyone be willing and able to help us with this? I'll gladly send a CD copy of the Windows version to anyone willing to help. Bung me over the CD then please and I'll see what works and what doesn't. I have access to XP running in an emulator on this laptop plus OpenSuse 11.2 64 bit, OpenSuse 11.3 32 and 64 bit, OpenSuse 11.4 64 bit, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.5 64 bit, Linux Mint 10 64 bit, PCLinuxOS 32 bit as well. I can even, god forbid, install Ubuntu as well - just to make sure I cover the popular versions. Oh, ok, Fedora too then, if I must! :-) 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] QL On A Stick
On 29 Jan 2011, at 15:31, Norman Dunbar wrote: Would anyone be willing and able to help us with this? I'll gladly send a CD copy of the Windows version to anyone willing to help. Bung me over the CD then please and I'll see what works and what doesn't. I have access to XP running in an emulator on this laptop plus OpenSuse 11.2 64 bit, OpenSuse 11.3 32 and 64 bit, OpenSuse 11.4 64 bit, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.5 64 bit, Linux Mint 10 64 bit, PCLinuxOS 32 bit as well. I can even, god forbid, install Ubuntu as well - just to make sure I cover the popular versions. Oh, ok, Fedora too then, if I must! What's wrong with Ubuntu. I have managed to get NET_PEEK and DISP working under UQLX on Ubuntu v 9.04 under VMware on a Mac. George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Hands Up!
To all those who responded to my original email by saying that Quanta should not close: Hands up those who are prepared to be editor of the Quanta Magazine. Now hands up those those who are prepared to be treasurer of Quanta. And if no one has put their hands up to either, how the hell do you expect Quanta to survive? Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply - from the Treasurer
But this is a discussion we should have had a year ago when I first posted on this issue. And in reply to your private email - no I'm not angry, Best Wishes, Geoff PS Guess who I have upset by posting this at the top! -- From: John Gilpin thegilp...@btinternet.com Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 3:15 PM To: ql-users ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply - from the Treasurer Having read with interest Geoff Wicks' musings about the errors in QUANTA's ways, I would like to give you all, the facts that both me and the QUANTA Committee considered to be in accordance with the current (at that time) QUANTA Constitution. I joined the QUANTA Committee in April 2001 - see copy of the minutes of the A. G. M. for that year - as an ordinary Committee member and was asked to take on the duties of (head) librarian - there being no other librarians anyway. At the A. G. M. in the following year - 2002 - following the resignation of both Bill Newell and John Taylor I was nominated as Treasurer to the QUANTA Committee - a post that was amalgamated with that of Membership Secretary - two posts that were seen to be connected by the payment of subscription and the handling of QUANTA funds. Similarly, the posts of Software Controller and Librarian were also combined - a post undertaken by the then Software Controller John Gregory which meant that I relinquished my previous role of Librarian. Early in 2005, QUANTA Committee discussed and then decided that moves ought to be put in place to limit the length of time served by committee members (Officers and Ordinary members) with the result that members were asked to approve Special Resolution No. 1 (Changes to clause 5 of the QUANTA Constitution) at the A. G. M. in April 2005. The original discussions on this topic came from comments heard that the QUANTA Committee were getting stale and had nothing further to offer.The Resolution was approved and the Constitution was duly updated and re-issued to all members in February 2006 as Issue 2 Revision 0. This revision was deemed to be effective from that date. At the date of the A. G. M. 2009, both John Mason (Chairman) and John Gilpin (Treasurer), under the new clause 5 of the constitution were due to stand down and in accordance with Clause 5.5 they, JM JG, by agreement decided that John Mason would stand down since he had served slightly longer than John Gilpin on the Committee without a break. The following year (April 2010), having served continuously on the committee since 2001, (over 6 years) and as an officer since 2002 (over three years), John Gilpin tendered his resignation from the committee (under clauses 5.2 and 5.4 of the constitution). At this point, April 2010, John Gilpin's QUANTA membership status reverted to that of Ordinary Member.There were no nominations for the post of Treasurer/Membership Secretary and immediately following the A. G. M. the new committee held a meeting where they co-opted John Gilpin (Ordinary Member) onto the committee under clause 5.8. By agreement of all concerned, John Gilpin was asked to carry out the duties of Treasurer/Membership Secretary until The Next A. G. M. - see clause 5.8. - to see if anyone had decided to take on this role. One has to pay quite a lot of money to have clauses drafted which are word perfect with no errors and/or ambiguities by a professional and the committee having submitted the Special resolution approved at the AGM in 2005 to it's members and having not received any requests to amend the same the then committee deemed that the suggested modifications were adequate for the purpose intended - to limit the time served on the committee to six continuous years for ordinary committee members of which not more than three continuous years may be served as an officer With all Geoff Wicks' working experience as an officer of the British law Courts, surely he could have spotted what he seems to feel are these anomalies while they were still at committee stage and suggest further discussion (even if that would have meant putting any ill feeling between himself and other Committee member(s) in abeyance for a while!) rather than find objections some six years later. My suggestion to him and any other QUANTA Members now is this: If there is anything about QUANTA that you don't understand or that you disapprove of then drop a line to the Secretary expressing your concerns and give the Committee the opportunity to discuss the matter(s) instead of joining the vast majority of QUANTA Members in their apathy. Perhaps he could also suggest the basis of a Special resolution to be put before the Members at the coming A. G. M. in April in order to remove what he feels are errors in the constitution.. What we DON'T want is a document which is far more wordy and difficult to understand than the one we already have. QUANTA's Constitution
Re: [Ql-Users] QL On A Stick
On 29/01/2011 04:55, gdgqler wrote: On 29 Jan 2011, at 15:31, Norman Dunbar wrote: Would anyone be willing and able to help us with this? I'll gladly send a CD copy of the Windows version to anyone willing to help. Bung me over the CD then please and I'll see what works and what doesn't. I have access to XP running in an emulator on this laptop plus OpenSuse 11.2 64 bit, OpenSuse 11.3 32 and 64 bit, OpenSuse 11.4 64 bit, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.5 64 bit, Linux Mint 10 64 bit, PCLinuxOS 32 bit as well. I can even, god forbid, install Ubuntu as well - just to make sure I cover the popular versions. Oh, ok, Fedora too then, if I must! What's wrong with Ubuntu. I have managed to get NET_PEEK and DISP working under UQLX on Ubuntu v 9.04 under VMware on a Mac. George Managed to get uQLX working on Ubuntu etc. I don't know what NET_peek or DISP are. I haven't expertise to fiddle; I just want the emulator to start seamlessly. That is why I asked (yes it was me) if uQLX could be put on a stick so that I wouldn't have to work through an install. Bryan H ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL On A Stick
Part of the reason the uQLx has not been so seamless is that it supports a variety of Unix systems on a variety of CPU's. To make it seamless, a version would have to be compiled for a variety of Unix flavors, including a variety of Linux flavors (and the different install packages). The first time I tried uQLx, I had it running under IRIX on a Mips R5000 chip (not very common). I think the best that can be hoped for is for the QL-on-a-stick for Linux would support only the x386 platform and not the other chip sets that Linux supports. I can assist with the testing as I can get a hold of a number of Linux systems (probably all Red Hat), but I do have access to a VMware system that might have other Linux images. Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL On A Stick
On 29/01/2011 06:47, Timothy Swenson wrote: Part of the reason the uQLx has not been so seamless is that it supports a variety of Unix systems on a variety of CPU's. To make it seamless, a version would have to be compiled for a variety of Unix flavors, including a variety of Linux flavors (and the different install packages). The first time I tried uQLx, I had it running under IRIX on a Mips R5000 chip (not very common). I think the best that can be hoped for is for the QL-on-a-stick for Linux would support only the x386 platform and not the other chip sets that Linux supports. I can assist with the testing as I can get a hold of a number of Linux systems (probably all Red Hat), but I do have access to a VMware system that might have other Linux images. Tim Swenson Where can I get to from the x386 platform; not on the West Coast Main line I'm sure? Bryan H ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL On A Stick
Part of the reason the uQLx has not been so seamless is that it supports a variety of Unix systems on a variety of CPU's. To make it seamless, a version would have to be compiled for a variety of Unix flavors, including a variety of Linux flavors (and the different install packages). The first time I tried uQLx, I had it running under IRIX on a Mips R5000 chip (not very common). I think the best that can be hoped for is for the QL-on-a-stick for Linux would support only the x386 platform and not the other chip sets that Linux supports. I can assist with the testing as I can get a hold of a number of Linux systems (probably all Red Hat), but I do have access to a VMware system that might have other Linux images. Tim Swenson Not knowing anything about Linux, I don't know if what Bryan asked for is feasible. At the moment, with QL On A Stick you can copy the CD to a USB pen, then plug it into a PC with Windows and it will just go, no fiddling with settings etc. (unless you really want to change something!) Can this be done with Linux systems? Is there any way of putting uQLx, QLay for Linux, or even QPC2 demo with/without WINE such that users like Bryan can just have an uQLx (or whatever) on that pen drive, then just plug it into any computer with Linux, mount the drive if necessary, and go? Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
On 28/01/11 20:29, Geoff Wicks wrote: -- From: Dilwyn Jones dil...@evans1511.fsnet.co.uk Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 3:09 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] [QL-Users] Sandy Futura (PDF from Urs) Snip John Gilpin will be standing down from his numerous committee roles at the AGM and the new post holders should quickly find that his emails suddenly arrive in their inbox, provided we (or Geoff, any ideas???) don't invent devious ways to force him to stay against his wishes ;o)) Dilwyn asked me a question just before Christmas which I deliberately did not answer as I did not wish to interfere with the democratic election process. I know nothing about the current state of nominations, but as the deadline is Monday it is time to reply. I don't know why I am bothering. About a year ago I posted a detailed clause by clause interpretation of the Quanta Constitution arguing that the committee had misunderstood the constitution and that John Gilpin did not have to step down from the committee until 2012. I invited people to dispute my interpretation on legal grounds and no one, but no one, has done so. Not even Quanta who cannot justify their own interpretation in the same detail. Instead of taking my advice the committee stuck two fingers up at me - or more correctly as there were 6 committee members at the time - 12 fingers. What the committee did last year was absolute crass stupidity. It was not their intention, of course, but they have almost certainly placed Quanta on the wrong side of British law. And not just civil law. Should anyone doubt my qualifications for expressing such a firm opinion may I remind you that for a quarter of my working life I was an officer of the British law courts. Somewhat perversely Quanta's breach of the constitution and of British law could be its salvation this year. John Gilpin was appointed treasurer in two clear breaches of the constitution. As he voluntarily resigned from the committee at the 2010 AGM he lost his status as an officer and the full rigours of clause 5.2 applied to him. Under the constitution he became not just ineligible but, more strongly, forbidden to be treasurer. The co-option was also irregular as the committee have no powers to co-opt an officer. Clause 5.8 only permits the co-option of ordinary committee members. In other words neither the constitution nor British law recognised John as a valid committee member or a valid treasurer. Legally he did not sit on the committee last year. By the next AGM he will not have been a committee member for a year and thus can stand again for office. However this has to be by the nomination of two members before 1st February. As he was not legally on the committee last year, he will also have to pay his £14 subscription before the nomination paper is signed. Having written all this let me be the first person to state in public that the time has come for Quanta to be wound up. When an organisation is reduced to breaching its constitution to survive it has become a gigantic farce. If we needed Quanta we would be using it. In practice the active members of Quanta represent under 10% of the UK QL community and under 5% of the international QL community. The demise of Quanta is something the QL community can survive, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Quanta should continue,if there is a breach of constitution then change it. Why not wind up, this type of topic and start writing much needed applications programs that can show the QL Operating systems power. -- Regards Derek ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL On A Stick
On 1/29/2011 11:07 AM, Bryan Horstmann wrote: Where can I get to from the x386 platform; not on the West Coast Main line I'm sure? Bryan H The x386 platform is on the CalTrain line in Santa Clara, near the Intel Corporate campus. :-) BTW, that usage of platform is not quite that common on the West Coast. Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply - from the Treasurer
Hi Geoff, Suggest you look up transactional analysis in google especially critical parent and willful child roles. In law in the UK there is a differentiation between criminal and civil law. Any perceived violations of Quanta's constitution will fall in to civil law, unless you are suggesting fraud according to the criminal definition of this. If not then if there is a legal case to be made because of some injury, someone, an individual or group of individuals, needs to sue. It seems on this list at the moment only you feel there is a case to be made. The question then is are you going to sue Quanta. If not then what is your purpose. Kind Regards Duncan -Original Message- From: Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Sent: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 17:42 Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply - from the Treasurer But this is a discussion we should have had a year ago when I first posted on this issue. And in reply to your private email - no I'm not angry, Best Wishes, Geoff PS Guess who I have upset by posting this at the top! -- From: John Gilpin thegilp...@btinternet.com Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 3:15 PM To: ql-users ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply - from the Treasurer Having read with interest Geoff Wicks' musings about the errors in QUANTA's ways, I would like to give you all, the facts that both me and the QUANTA Committee considered to be in accordance with the current (at that time) QUANTA Constitution. I joined the QUANTA Committee in April 2001 - see copy of the minutes of the A. G. M. for that year - as an ordinary Committee member and was asked to take on the duties of (head) librarian - there being no other librarians anyway. At the A. G. M. in the following year - 2002 - following the resignation of both Bill Newell and John Taylor I was nominated as Treasurer to the QUANTA Committee - a post that was amalgamated with that of Membership Secretary - two posts that were seen to be connected by the payment of subscription and the handling of QUANTA funds. Similarly, the posts of Software Controller and Librarian were also combined - a post undertaken by the then Software Controller John Gregory which meant that I relinquished my previous role of Librarian. Early in 2005, QUANTA Committee discussed and then decided that moves ought to be put in place to limit the length of time served by committee members (Officers and Ordinary members) with the result that members were asked to approve Special Resolution No. 1 (Changes to clause 5 of the QUANTA Constitution) at the A. G. M. in April 2005. The original discussions on this topic came from comments heard that the QUANTA Committee were getting stale and had nothing further to offer.The Resolution was approved and the Constitution was duly updated and re-issued to all members in February 2006 as Issue 2 Revision 0. This revision was deemed to be effective from that date. At the date of the A. G. M. 2009, both John Mason (Chairman) and John Gilpin (Treasurer), under the new clause 5 of the constitution were due to stand down and in accordance with Clause 5.5 they, JM JG, by agreement decided that John Mason would stand down since he had served slightly longer than John Gilpin on the Committee without a break. The following year (April 2010), having served continuously on the committee since 2001, (over 6 years) and as an officer since 2002 (over three years), John Gilpin tendered his resignation from the committee (under clauses 5.2 and 5.4 of the constitution). At this point, April 2010, John Gilpin's QUANTA membership status reverted to that of Ordinary Member.There were no nominations for the post of Treasurer/Membership Secretary and immediately following the A. G. M. the new committee held a meeting where they co-opted John Gilpin (Ordinary Member) onto the committee under clause 5.8. By agreement of all concerned, John Gilpin was asked to carry out the duties of Treasurer/Membership Secretary until The Next A. G. M. - see clause 5.8. - to see if anyone had decided to take on this role. One has to pay quite a lot of money to have clauses drafted which are word perfect with no errors and/or ambiguities by a professional and the committee having submitted the Special resolution approved at the AGM in 2005 to it's members and having not received any requests to amend the same the then committee deemed that the suggested modifications were adequate for the purpose intended - to limit the time served on the committee to six continuous years for ordinary committee members of which not more than three continuous years may be served as an officer With all Geoff Wicks' working experience as an officer of the British law Courts, surely he could
Re: [Ql-Users] QL On A Stick
On 1/29/2011 11:03 AM, Dilwyn Jones wrote: Can this be done with Linux systems? Odds are it can be done. Most of the QL emulators can be run as simple executables. If system variables need to be set, then a shell script wrapper can be written. Expecting Wine to be installed. That might be a bit of a stretch. I would first start with the native apps. Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Need for Speed
Hi, I posted on this last a few years ago. I am in the processing of completing a build of a new PC. One check I use is to see how many bogomips I can get from QPC2. On my last system Windows XP, Core 2 duo 2.4Ghz, 2 GB RAM etc I got around the 150 bogomips level, just less than a Q60 68060 80MHz 48MB with manages 156. With the new PC QPC2 finally trounces 1998 QL type hardware emulation achieving 220 bogomips. PS is Core i7 3.09GHz, 6GB RAM Windows 7. QPC2 version is the same 3.33. Is there a 64bit version of QPC2 able to utilize multicore PC processors? Duncan ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply - from the Treasurer
-- From: matras...@aol.com Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 7:49 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply - from the Treasurer Hi Geoff, Suggest you look up transactional analysis in google especially critical parent and willful child roles. In law in the UK there is a differentiation between criminal and civil law. Any perceived violations of Quanta's constitution will fall in to civil law, unless you are suggesting fraud according to the criminal definition of this. If not then if there is a legal case to be made because of some injury, someone, an individual or group of individuals, needs to sue. It seems on this list at the moment only you feel there is a case to be made. The question then is are you going to sue Quanta. If not then what is your purpose. Answer a simple question, but the answer has to be not as a layman would answer but as a lawyer would answer: Can a person who has been appointed treasurer of Quanta in a breach of the constitution - a legally binding document - legally sign cheques under British law? Best Wishes, Geoff _ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
-- From: Derek Stewart de...@q40.de Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 7:46 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply Geoff Quanta should continue,if there is a breach of constitution then change it. Why not wind up, this type of topic and start writing much needed applications programs that can show the QL Operating systems power. No committee = no Quanta, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
On 29/01/2011 12:54, Geoff Wicks wrote: -- From: Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 10:05 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply I don't want to become embroiled in the discussions over the constitution of Quanta and without seeing the minutes of the meeting at the end of the AGM, I presume that the committee co-opted John under article 5.8 which says that The Committee shall have power to fill vacancies by co-opting ordinary members to the Committee. Such members shall have a vote in committee and shall serve until the next Annual General Meeting. It does not say anywhere that the co-opted members cannot serve as officers and vacancies is wide enough to be interpreted as meaning three officers and not more than 6 other committee members, unless I am missing something, but I agree that the constitution is badly worded. With respect the answer is already there. Clause 5.8 says specifically ordinary members. The 2005 amendments created a structural difference between ordinary members and officers of the committee. Perhaps one of the lessons of this is that constitutional amendments should never be railroaded through without proper discussion. I was a member of the committee at the time and even we ordinary members of the committee were given just 10 minutes notice of the proposed amendments on a take it or leave it basis, Best Wishes, Geoff Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Hi Geoff, Actually, I disagree and this is where the constitution is badly worded - ordinary members is also used to describe members of Quanta, not just the committee and I would therefore interpret this clause to mean that the Committee can fill vacancies by [co-opting members of Quanta] to the Committee - ordinary members is used in clause 4.1 to refer to the membership of Quanta (or are you suggesting that only the spouse of officers could ever be an associate member? In fact the wording of clause 5.0 uses the term 'other members' to refer to the members of the committee who are not officers - nowhere is the term 'ordinary members' used in this sense. - It's discussions like this that I used to love when I was a solicitor and/or company secretary - invariably the person asking the question never wants to hear the official answer which always has to be well it CAN be interpreted as - nothing is ever definite when it comes to the law, that's why in pages of legal documentation, you never see full stops, commas, or semicolons - it leaves it more open to interpretation - and more money for the solicitors! -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
Hi Geoff, Actually, I disagree and this is where the constitution is badly worded - ordinary members is also used to describe members of Quanta, not just the committee and I would therefore interpret this clause to mean that the Committee can fill vacancies by [co-opting members of Quanta] to the Committee - ordinary members is used in clause 4.1 to refer to the membership of Quanta (or are you suggesting that only the spouse of officers could ever be an associate member? In fact the wording of clause 5.0 uses the term 'other members' to refer to the members of the committee who are not officers - nowhere is the term 'ordinary members' used in this sense. - It's discussions like this that I used to love when I was a solicitor and/or company secretary - invariably the person asking the question never wants to hear the official answer which always has to be well it CAN be interpreted as - nothing is ever definite when it comes to the law, that's why in pages of legal documentation, you never see full stops, commas, or semicolons - it leaves it more open to interpretation - and more money for the solicitors! -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services Ho hum, so we're down to trying to define the word member now are we? I freely confess to knowing nothing about constitutions, never being able to understand them etc (and usually like being on committees even less, even though I'm also on the committee of a local craft association). This sort of discussion does my head in - and that's not directed at and no disrespect intended to Rich, Geoff or anyone else. I joined the comittee to do the sorts of work I do now there, and have no ambition to become an officer of any committee. It would be nice if someone like you with legal training could redraft the problem areas so that any necessary amendments to the constitution could be proposed when the opportunity arises, with some certainty that it might resolve this matter before too much damage is done. I know it's a minefield, of course. Of course, the ideal solution would be to have enough members volunteering to serve on committee that this type of clause is not needed. We have opportunities for a treasurer, membership secretary, magazine editor for example! Technically, it's not too late. Get your nomination paper to Quanta's secretary by the end of January (although you might have to scan and email it in the next day or two to her - hope Alison is ready for a last minute rush!). After all, we could _POTENTIALLY_ end up with no Quanta, which surely can't be in anyone's interest. Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] OT - News clip - free Wi-Fi hotspots
Hi, News clip, that could be useful for all of us. O2 to launch free Wi-Fi hotspot network Taking on BT and The Cloud, the mobile operator plans to give customers and non-customers alike access to free Wi-Fi via 15,000 hotspots around the UK http://nl.zdnet.co.uk/da4BsBDaic/ivBvH -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply - from the Treasurer
I asked a friend who could give an opinion and she said: The question here is, If a person is appointed to a position in contravention of the Constitution, is the appointment invalid or is it merely improper. If the appointment is invalid, the person is not the position holder and cannot conduct the actions of the position lawfully. If the appointment is improper, they can - the failing not occurring in their actions but in the actions of their election. Another, broader concept applies here. The Constitution is the rules of the organization, and they can be nullified by a vote which ignores or overrides them. In this case, the election of an individual to a position they are explicitly barred from holding is a nullification of those elements of the Constitution, and is improper. It is not illegal. The organization should then revisit and revise the Constitution. The person holding this position in this case can lawfully sign a cheque. Opinion of Jacqui Webb, Head of Commercial Law, Partner. So that's that. I'm sorry to see Quanta falling into this type of problem as the membership shrinks. It would be prudent for Quanta to recognize their new role as Guardian of the Data and to trim the burden of their Constitution to better face the reality of the world in which they now operate. Good luck! Dave Dave ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] OT - News clip - free Wi-Fi hotspots
On 29/01/2011 22:34, Malcolm Cadman wrote: Hi, News clip, that could be useful for all of us. O2 to launch free Wi-Fi hotspot network Taking on BT and The Cloud, the mobile operator plans to give customers and non-customers alike access to free Wi-Fi via 15,000 hotspots around the UK http://nl.zdnet.co.uk/da4BsBDaic/ivBvH This makes me laugh - I sent back one BT router because it did not allow you to turn off the open Wi-Fi access (luckily I had a slightly earlier one which allowed this to be switched off). My broadband is slow enough as it is, let alone with others tapping into my Wi-Fi. I wonder how many other people are actually willing to accept slower broadband to provide these Wi-Fi hotspots to anyone passing? -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
From the discussion I can get a feel for what might be the issue that is being discussed. Over the last 12 years I've been on the Board of 4 different non-profits. I've written the By-laws (what you guys are calling the Constitution) for one non-profit. The only time the By-laws really come into play is when someone thinks that the organization is not behaving properly. I was in one non-profit where there were two factions and we really needed the By-laws to keep everyone playing properly. In another non-profit, the By-laws stipulate how long an officer may hold an office. We've ignored this part of the By-laws because there is no one stepping up to take over the office. If we followed the By-laws all of the officers would be termed out and with no one stepping up to take over, the organization would basically have no Board. If someone does step forward to complain, we'll volunteer them for an office. :-) Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
On 29/01/2011 23:29, Timothy Swenson wrote: From the discussion I can get a feel for what might be the issue that is being discussed. Over the last 12 years I've been on the Board of 4 different non-profits. I've written the By-laws (what you guys are calling the Constitution) for one non-profit. The only time the By-laws really come into play is when someone thinks that the organization is not behaving properly. I was in one non-profit where there were two factions and we really needed the By-laws to keep everyone playing properly. In another non-profit, the By-laws stipulate how long an officer may hold an office. We've ignored this part of the By-laws because there is no one stepping up to take over the office. If we followed the By-laws all of the officers would be termed out and with no one stepping up to take over, the organization would basically have no Board. If someone does step forward to complain, we'll volunteer them for an office. :-) Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm With so much experience - maybe we should nominate Tim to the committee? !! On a more serious note, I wonder how many people on this list do not subscribe to Quanta - if so, are they willing to share their reasons why? The same question probably should be asked about QL Today subscription -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
On 1/29/2011 3:51 PM, Rich Mellor wrote: With so much experience - maybe we should nominate Tim to the committee? !! Nice Idea, but I think it will be a hell of a commute for me to attend any Quanta meeting. Even by phone, I'm 8 time zones away from the UK. I've let my QL Today subscription lapse because it's been 3 years since I've sparked up any QL emulator (and longer for original system). I still have my QL stuff around and don't see getting rid of any time soon, since I might come back to it. After over 25 years, I've just come back to some ZX81 assembly programming. I've been tempted to dig into the garage and digitize all of the IQLR newsletters that I have. Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] What would you most like to see in a new version of QDOSMSQ?
Norman Dunbar wrote: On 27/01/11 15:48, gdgqler wrote: Of course. but why at runtime? Code reuse and/or share-ability. If you have 10 applications running and each one needs the same library code, isn't it much better to have one copy used by all, rather than running the system with 10 copies of the same code? That way, the space hogged by the 9 duplicates can be used to run another application? I dont get you. Whats wrong with toolkits and Things? They work like dlls. If the punter doesnt have loaded what you need you can always load it from the program's home directory. Per ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Android
Does anyone know if there is enough of Linux left in Android to compile and run uQLx? Has anyone tried? Per ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Android
A little Google searching and it looks like the answer is No. No X windows, no standard GNU libraries, etc. Looks like most of the apps are java-based. Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Android
El 30/01/2011 1:27, Timothy Swenson escribió: A little Google searching and it looks like the answer is No. No X windows, no standard GNU libraries, etc. Looks like most of the apps are java-based. But if it has a hackable kernel, and you can use (or add) console frame buffer support, you might be able to build and run a static executable app, so no need for GNU libs. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
On 30/01/2011 00:05, Timothy Swenson wrote: On 1/29/2011 3:51 PM, Rich Mellor wrote: With so much experience - maybe we should nominate Tim to the committee? !! Nice Idea, but I think it will be a hell of a commute for me to attend any Quanta meeting. Even by phone, I'm 8 time zones away from the UK. I've let my QL Today subscription lapse because it's been 3 years since I've sparked up any QL emulator (and longer for original system). I still have my QL stuff around and don't see getting rid of any time soon, since I might come back to it. After over 25 years, I've just come back to some ZX81 assembly programming. I've been tempted to dig into the garage and digitize all of the IQLR newsletters that I have. Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm It was said in jest really Tim - although surely virtual meetings are possible... It's a shame you have not kept up the QL Today subscription - maybe you could be persuaded it is worthwhile, just to keep a track of what is happening. Have you signed up to the ZX80/ZX81 forums - some interesting things on there as well about assembly programming - www.rwapservices.co.uk/ZX80_ZX81/forums/ -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk http://www.rwapservices.co.uk -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Finally a reply
On 1/29/2011 5:32 PM, Rich Mellor wrote: Have you signed up to the ZX80/ZX81 forums - some interesting things on there as well about assembly programming - www.rwapservices.co.uk/ZX80_ZX81/forums/ Rich, you must be getting old. Don't you remember my signing up and a few e-mails about the Board. Or were asking me about it as a way to plug the board :-) Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
