Re: [Ql-Users] For 1 person only - or maybe just 2!
On 28/08/2017 19:51, Giorgio Garabello via Ql-Users wrote: Hi Geoff, About your dictionaries ,, Qtyp is still a commercial program? Giorgio 2017-08-28 20:41 GMT+02:00 Geoff Wicks via Ql-Users < ql-users@lists.q-v-d.com>: Thanks for the email. It's a good point, but as it happens the dictionaries and word lists are all technically my copyright. Frankly the quality of the non-english dictionaries supplied with QTYP and otherwise available to QL-ers was very low. I spent a good deal of time updating and correcting, splitting the english dictionaries into UK and USA spellings and adding new words. In fact the Dutch and English dictionaries I supply were largely my own work, but sometimes I had to call on help from native speakers of the other languages. I am happy that I can make them freely available to others outside the QL community, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List
[Ql-Users] For 1 person only - or maybe just 2!
I have always said that one of the strengths of the QL is that it caters for minorities. For the one person - or maybe two people who are interested - the 2017 version of my UK General Election analysis program is now available on the downloads page of my website. www.gwicks.net/justwords.htm I am making some changes to the dictionaries page of the site. Currently I am getting about 1,500 hits a month on the page and I have a feeling they are not QL-ers. The search engines have discovered me and I have become an established word list download site. In the circumstances I am currently modifying the plain text lists from the QL to the PC character set, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List
Re: [Ql-Users] Test email
On 08/05/2017 12:30, Marcel Kilgus wrote: Dilwyn Jones wrote: Modern IT is getting so bad we will soon be better off going back to pencil and paper. I don't quite get why you don't just click yourself your own hosting provider including a domain and eMail service and be done with it. This costs as much as two coffees per month but I've been using mine for 15 years now and never looked back. Sounds like the free stuff is not working out for you so well anyway. I agree with Marcel on this. I used a free host for several years and was very satisfied until it was taken over by another firm. Initially all went well but slowly the advertising on the site became more and more doubtful until it reached the point where Norton rated the site as being dangerous, not because of my content but because of the advertising. I did think of closing the site, but a revival of interest in the advice content gave me second thoughts. Since 2011 I have used a commercial host, 1&1, and I have been very satisfied. Last year I payed £55.75 for the hosting and the domain. Although the QL interest in the site is diminshing I am developing non- QL content so that I can justify maintaining the site. The main snag with a commercial host is that they assume you are a business and you get regular requests to update your contract with new facilities. BTW if Dilwyn's site is down I think I am right in saying that Urs' The Distribution has an image of the site, Best Wishes, Geoff The main snag ___ QL-Users Mailing List
Re: [Ql-Users] SuQcess now freeware
On 13/03/2017 15:45, Bob Spelten wrote: Hi All, I have removed the trail limitation for SuQcess 2.05 on my site. Three language versions can now be downloaded. I have used it almost daily over the past 10 years and am aware of bugs in the program, although nobody else has reported any problems. I am busy testing the fixes and updates but I do expect to need a few more weeks before v2.06 is finished. SuQcess forever, Bob I did some work on SuQcess many years ago, but I can't remember much about it. I have a feeling that someone asked me to write a rule list for Dutch and this was the great strength of the program that you could set up your own version. If I remember correctly the big snag was that it started a new job with each search, but never cleared out the old jobs so that it continued to use memory until the machine crashed. I hope this is sufficient to stimulate any one else's experience of using the program, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List
Re: [Ql-Users] Email attachments
On 13/01/2017 22:40, Norman Dunbar wrote: And I have been known to keep the "Microsoft tech support" people on the phone for hours! At least when they are talking to me, they are not ripping off some unsuspecting person. Mind you, I wouldn't do any of the above with windows, even in a vm! Cheers, Norm. This is off topic, but whenever I am phoned by "Microsoft tech support" I put on my most sanctimonious voice: "My dear boy, if the Good Lord had meant us to use computers he would never have given us the abacus.", Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List
Re: [Ql-Users] Online SuperBasic Manual.
On 04/11/2016 19:09, Ralf Reköndt wrote: - Original Message - From: "Geoff Wicks"I am not sure whether I was the writer of the tools that Rich refers to, Text87 was always the most difficult of the QL word processors as no one has ever been able to unravel the file formatting. I will never understand, why Fred does not open this format. ___ QL-Users Mailing List I wonder whether the probem may be that Fred used some library routines that he would be legally entitled to use in his own programs, but which were not his copyright and thus he cannot release the code. Not sure whether or not this would affect releasing the file formatting though. Another thing that fascinates me is the compression routine for QTYP. Did TT use a standard routine? The reason is that the dictionaries page on my website has taken off with over 1,000 hits in the last quarter and it now comes high on the search engines. Most people are downloading the QTYP versions which indicates to me they are usable in other programs. Nice to know that work you did for the QL years ago is still relevant, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List
Re: [Ql-Users] Withdrawal of my personal Software Preservation Project
On 07/07/2016 14:31, Rich Mellor wrote: On 07/07/2016 11:13, Wolfgang Lenerz wrote: Hi, Just my 2 cents worth. As I understand it, Rich came under attack from some (as yet unnamed) sources because he (i) sells old programs for the QL and (ii) sent take-down notices (or was suspected of sending them) to sites that apparently hosted copyrighted files without the owners’ consent. It goes without saying that being attacked for these actions is just unacceptable. I’m alarmed, Rich, that this should cause you health problems. I believe that the echo your decision got on the list here shows that people here do support you. Except for the health problem, I’m not sure that I understand why this causes you to stop your preservation project. Surely the best strategy to adopt is to ignore the who bring these attacks - and go on as before ? I think, Rich, that you should publish here extracts of the offending emails or whatever form that correspondence took, together with the author’s names, so that I, for one, could be sure not to have any contact with them. The discussion now seems to center on whether all QL software should be made available for free. I agree with much of what Marcel writes, in that I also think that all of this 30+ years old software **should** be free. Like Marcel, I’m in the process of releasing my commercial programs as freeware, as and when I get around to it. However, the decision to do so is mine and nobody else’s. Likewise, the decision for others to do so with their software is theirs. Do I think that that old software should be released for free, like Marcel does ? Sure ! Would I, like Marcel, refuse to pay a cent for any old game ? Yup : if it isn’t free, I don’t even look at it. But I don’t see what’s wrong with copyright owners holding on to their property, nor with Rich trying to sell some software and make some money from it. I do not understand the mindset of people who believe that these things MUST NECESSARILY be free and if they aren’t, then the copyright owners and traders are evil, and fair game for any sort of abuse (I’m not accusing anybody on this list of thinking that way!). Is the fact that some copyright owners try to make a buck off their software in any way nefarious or detrimental to the QL scene ? In other words, do we loose users because of it ? I don’t believe so. I frankly fail to believe that someone new to the QL scene would look at it, look at the software available, think « hey that’s a game I must have » and then go away when he discovers that the game is still being sold…. As to the problem of hosting these still copyrighted files, I like Marcel’s analogy with (minor!) traffic law violations – you can choose, say, to double-park « just for a few minutes » and run the risk of getting a fine. Likewise, you can also choose to host copyrighted files and run the risk of criminal proceedings (with much higher penalties). The risk of being sued is probably minimal. The operating words being « probable » -i.e. not certain, and « minimal » i.e. not null. It is up to each of us to assess that risk and ask themselves whether they want to run it. However, as one of those darned lawyers myself, what would I tell a client if he asked me whether he should/could host copyrighted files (w/o the copyright owners’ permission, that is) ? The answer would be a clear and unequivocal « no ». QL forever! Wolfgang ___ QL-Users Mailing List Maybe with our legal backgrounds, we both see the need to protect rights and for that reason neither of us would get involved in hosting copyrighted files. I think the need to obtain the copyright holders' permission is paramount - if you do not bother to approach them and are later found out as having breached their copyright, then it is a much more fraught position than if you contacted them first and ascertained what they would like to happen. I have come into this discussion late as my online time has been restricted recently. Unlike Rich and Wolf I am not a lawyer, but I was on officer of the British law courts for over 9 years and both think legally and know the importance of upholding the law. I have discovered that you usually achieve more by working through legal channels than evading these. Rich is a good example. In practice he has achieved far more in preserving QL software than any of his critics. It is not just software that is a problem. At the turn of the decade Dilwyn transferred several QL publications into e-reader formats. Others jumped on the bandwagon and not all were as careful as Dilwyn to ensure legal compliance. I remember talking to Dilwyn in my role as editor of QL Today and in his role as Quanta news editor to discuss who we could and could not trust. Just as Rich has to uphold the integrity of his website, so Dilwyn and I had to uphold the integrity of our magazines. At the time there was a lot of clamour for an electronic version
Re: [Ql-Users] Carlo Delhez
On 29/10/2015 11:03, Bob Spelten wrote: This weekend I came across the sad announcement that Dutch programmer Dr. Ir. Carlo Delhez had died a week before. He was only 48. He was a familiar name among Sinclair users. He wrote programs for ZX & QL computers, both commercial and freeware. Among them Coral Basic - an extension bringing SuperBASIC to the ZX81 - and ZX emulators for the QL and PC. His Ungif tool has seen regular use on my systems. He was not a club member nor a regular visitor at meetings but I remember talking to him in Eindhoven briefly, about 20 years ago, a very nice person and full of new ideas. Our thoughts are with Carlo's family. Bob This is indeed sad. I never met Carlo, but I did have contact with him sending him Dutch and English word lists for his QLingo program, way back in 1995. He was probably not so well known outside the Netherlands, but he did produce some interesting software. I am currently doing a massive task of sorting out my QL floppies to decide which need copying to a more modern medium. I came across Carlo's disk and thought I must have a look at it again. Unfortunately some of the programs do not seem compatible with QPC2, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List
Re: [Ql-Users] Assembly eMagazine - Issue 2, now available.
On 19/07/2015 18:31, Norman Dunbar wrote: Finally! http://qdosmsq.dunbar-it.co.uk/downloads/AssemblyLanguage/Issue_002/Assembly_Language_002.pdf Enjoy. Cheers, Norm. I have just updated my newspage and checking that your weblink was working correctly I came across the question on page 13. As part of the Just Words! service I can give you the answer as Theses. Incidently on another topic the 2015 version of my General Election analysis program is now available on the downloads page. www.gwicks.net.justwords.html Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Assembly eMagazine - Issue 2, now available.
On 22/07/2015 20:05, Derek wrote: Hi Geoff, The link does not work, should the be slash after .net Sorry about that - I hadn't noticed. Corrected it is www.gwicks.net/justwords.html Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QPC2 and Win 8
On 19/07/2015 09:39, Wolf wrote: Good grief, whatever gave you that impression? You can freely choose where your qxl.win file should lie, of course! Wolfgang On 07/18/2015 11:36 PM, jms1 wrote: The real problem is the locations for the win1 to 8 is hard coded in the scource of smsq and smsqe. Either alter the source code, assembling or hack smsq.bin or smsqe.bin by removing the drive locations, and keeping the file the same length by adding nulls after. I have done this for years and the win files finish in the same directory smsq(e).bin ___ 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 A qxl.win file doesn't even have to be on a hard disk. When Roger Godley was doing his GD Xchange upgrade he sent me each of his updates on a small qxl.win file. I saved them to pen memory and then adjusted the QPC2 device list temporarily at runtime, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QPC2 and Win 8
On 17/07/2015 18:07, peterfox wrote: Hi Geoff, Thank you for coming back to me. I am very vague about making QXL.Wins but is the command that you have given me is used in Windows or QPC2? From within QPC2. I can understand your problem as I have also been grappling with it this week. Usually I save basic to a dos file as it is not corrupted, but I am now working on the last stages of the 2015 edition of my General Election program and needed a a pure QL environment. I set up a temporary win3 file to do this and discovered quite a lot in doing so, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QPC2 and Win 8
On 17/07/2015 10:06, Marcel Kilgus wrote: I have no idea how you even managed to do put them there in Windows 8, this should be pretty much impossible for normal users. Also, they would be write protected there. Note for everybody: DO NOT PUT FILES IN C:\ Search your drive for other copies of QXL.WIN which are more recent. The ones in C:\ are obviously not the ones you're actually working with. Marcel I have had a similar problem that I have only discovered this month and Marcel has explained the reason. When I went over to Windows 8, I transfered my .win files using a pen memory. The result was that I could read the win disk but not write. When you formatted a win disk formerly it was saved on the C: drive. If you format a win disk under windows 8 it is saved in a subdirectory. I cannot remember the path but the command PRINT WIN_DRIVE(x), where x is the number of the drive, will give you the path. Marcel is now going to slap me on the wrist for being a naughty boy, because I copied the win drive from the subdirectory to C:. Even here I can both read and write, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QPC2 and Win 8
When you formatted a win disk formerly it was saved on the C: drive. If you format a win disk under windows 8 it is saved in a subdirectory. I cannot remember the path but the command PRINT WIN_DRIVE(x), where x is the number of the drive, will give you the path. Sorry a typo. The command is PRINT WIN_DRIVE$(x) Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] A little trumpet blowing
This is blowing the trumpet for both myself and the QL. The new edition of Family Tree magazine, which is in the shops tomorrow, contains an article I have written on DNA and surname distribution. It is illustrated by three maps that were all drawn on the QL using the Just Words! mapping software - with, of course, grateful thanks to Hugh Rooms for his work on the Mercator projection. The editor asked me for some information on how I had drawn the maps to help readers who may like to try it for themselves. I had to explain to her that it was not possible on a PC and that you have to use a QL, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Firefox speed problems (OT)
On 24/02/2015 11:19, François Van Emelen wrote: Hi Geoff, It is rather difficult to test internet speed. I have been testing a dozen of progs with Frefox and Opera (installed temporarily) and all but one require Flashplayer to be active. The results are all more or less the same: download=20 Mbps , Upload=9 Mbps. The only one that doesn't need Flashplayer is 'SpeedOf.me (test server in Amsterdam 1) . Results: Download = 17 Mbps, upload = 9.70 Mbps. No tests with Internet Explorer because I don't want to use it. Have a nice day. François Van Emelen Indeed this is the problem. The BT speed test uses both your default browser and flashplayer. It means I cannot test speed with flashplayer inactive. The problem seems to be that the Firefox implementation of flashplayer consumes a huge amount of processing power so it slows down your whole system. It all explains the nightmare I have had with the website of my local newspaper - very slow and often crashing. A lot of the advertising uses flashplayer. With it turned off it is useable, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ 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] Firefox speed problems (OT)
This is strictly speaking off topic, but given the number of us that are using Firefox as our default browser probably still relevant and helpful. Last week I went over to fibre broadband for financial reasons. My contract with BT was coming to an end, and to tempt me to stay they offered me fibre at an introductory low rate which saves me about £100 over the next 18 months. Even when I am paying the full price it is still cheaper than my former broadband. I was promised a speed of about 40Mb, but when I did the speed test I was getting only 10Mb. It took me quite a while to track what was going wrong and only after I had the bright idea of temporarily making IE my default browser. Hey presto It has a speed of 37.5Mb. From my internet searches it appears there is a long history of compatibility problems between Firefox and the Adobe Flash Player plugin. I am shocked by just how much it slows down Firefox. Most of the information on the internet is from two years ago and there does not seem to be any obvious solution. Mozilla can suggest nothing better than try a reset and other users have resorted to using an earlier version of Flash Player. I wonder if others on this list have come across similar problems and if they know a solution. What I have done in the interim is to reset the plugin to Ask me. As I only regularly visit two sites where Flash Player is essential this is not a handicap. If you are having speed problems with Firefox, you could try the same solution and see if that improves matters, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] 2014 review
Somewhat belatedly, because I had to give priority to a family history project that I had promised an editor, I have posted a review of 2014 on the news page of my website. www.gwicks.net/justwords.html Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] OUT NOW!
On 03/11/2014 22:42, John Gilpin wrote: After following the thread, on this list, regarding the interest in Jan Jones's book QL SuperBASIC - The Definitive Handbook, I was asked by QUANTA to see if I could set up a rapport with Jan to see if she would give QUANTA permission to re-publish her book in electronic format - PDF or e Book formats - You may remember that the book was first published by McGraw-Hill (UK) Ltd. in 1985 and due to overwhelming demand by QUANTA Members and with Jan's permission, the QUANTA LIMITED EDITION was published in July 1989. Many QLers (both QUANTA members and non-QUANTA Members) now have copies of either the original or the QUANTA Reprint. At first, when I contacted Jan, she expressed surprise that this book was still in such great demand and said that she would consider our proposal to re-publish the book and get back to me. As a person who has said on many occasions that any reprint of the book, in electronic form or otherwise, was best done by Quanta, I have say a big thank you to John and Quanta, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 report
On 30/10/2014 18:45, Urs Koenig (QL) wrote: Geoff Wicks wrote: Somewhat belatedly the QLis30 report is now on the newspage of my website: www.gwicks.net/justwords.html Great report Geoff! Currently I'm having problems displaying your QLis30 webpages http://www.gwicks.net/QLis30.htm and http://www.gwicks.net/qlis30dinner Did you take them down? The http://www.qlis30.org.uk/ (updated today) and maybe other places in the web are still linking those pages. Urs ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Indeed I did take it down as the workshop was over. However, I have just uploaded it again, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 report
Somewhat belatedly the QLis30 report is now on the newspage of my website: www.gwicks.net/justwords.html Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 - first goal achieved!
On 10/10/2014 10:12, Dilwyn Jones wrote: The Dinner information page is on Geoff Wicks's site - http://www.gwicks.net/qlis30dinner.htm Holiday Inn, 132 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6UA. - there is a link to Google maps from Geoff's page. The page says function room open from 7pm. I assume that if there are any last minute changes (I haven't heard of any) Geoff will raise his head at some point to tell everyone! Dilwyn Jones -Original Message- From: p...@zx81.de Sent: Friday, October 10, 2014 10:01 AM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 - first goal achieved! May I ask for a reminder about the details when and where (Adress) today's dinner will be taking place? There have been loads of mails about the dinner of course. But now it's getting closer I try to find the details ;-) Kind regards Paul Thanks for the help - when Paul sent his message I was between Derby and Chesterfield on my way to Edinburgh and was totally out of contact. Also thanks to everyone who made QLis30 such a successful event. I hope to write an account before the end of the week, but I have only just had time in the last few minutes to download the photos. We had 26 people at the event which is slightly lower than we would have liked. We thought we would have about 30. The hall proved to be perfect for the number. As so often happens with this type of event it does not go exactly to plan. At one point we abandoned most of the planned program because everyone was so busy working at their machines and deep in discussion in small groups. This was the whole point of the event and we felt that presentations would only interrupt it. At that stage the projector was already set up for a presentation which eventually took place two hours later at the end of the afternoon, so there was no possibility to set up a public Skype link. I later discovered it would have been impossible anyway as the wifi had crashed. Two special words of thanks. At the Friday dinner Valerie Taylor, wife of John former treasurer of Quanta, declared that catering was something that men were incapable of and immediately offered her services for the Saturday,. She did a magnificent job for lunch assisted by Sarah Gilpin. Second word of thanks to Quanta. For all the faults they made some months ago when we were first discussing QLis30, they fully redeemed themselves in their help with this event. In particular the support with collecting payments for the dinner. Incidentally the cost of the workshop was about £300. Worth thinking about for the future, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 another presentation ready...
On 07/10/2014 21:21, Urs Koenig (QL) wrote: Hi all, I took 2 days off from work to complete the update of QL is 30 2014 The Distribution. I'm ready to demo the current state (RC2) at the workshop in Edinburgh. http://www.qlis30.org.uk/#TheDistribution I will take my notebook computer with me. Best would be to present with a beamer. Length of the presentation can vary from 10 minutes to an hour. See you in Edinburgh this coming weekend. Cheers, Urs -- http://www.qlis30.org.uk http://www.youtube.com/QLvsJAGUAR https://plus.google.com/104042128125238901905/posts Sinclair, QL, ATARI, JAGUAR, NUON, APPLE more... Ever wondered what QLvsJAGUAR is about? http://www.qlvsjaguar.homepage.bluewin.ch/QLvsJAGUAR.html ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Thanks for the offer. I am suggesting that we keep presentations short - say 20 minutes - and then try to encourage discussion. We shall have a projector at QLis30, kindly provided by Quanta, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 by the back door
Just a reminder that we are asking all people coming to QLis30 to go to the rear of the church. This includes people arriving on foot. There is a path from the front of the church to the Gyle Hall, but I am told it is a maze. There is a danger you could get lost and your skeleton found by archaeologists in hundreds of years time as a well preserved example of early Sinclair man. On leaving the church go down the first road on the left signposted Racquets Health Club. Watch out for the large parking area on the left. There is a gate directly by the Gyle Hall on the parking area, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 by the back door
On 08/10/2014 15:00, Derek Stewart wrote: Hi Geoff, I have always found that a serious of sign posts indicating the route to be taken is a great help. Regards, Derek Already prepared!, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 name badges
On 06/10/2014 21:42, extdgl42 wrote: I will not be present at QLis30. Please donate the funds I committed to the dinner to expenses of the meeting. Don't waste a dinner. My regards to all the QLers I would've enjoyed meeting. QL Forever! Doug LaVerne 37830 USA As a barely even peripheral member of the QL community, I had to realize that U$D 1000s for a trip had dubious aspects when the same $$ is needed for important reasons in the US before early November. Thanks again to all. I eagerly await news of the event! ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm I am sorry to hear this. It would have been nice to meet you for the first time, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Native GUI and TCP/IP software at QLis30
On 07/10/2014 08:52, pg...@q40.de wrote: Fantastic. By the way, if the tables are planned in advance: It would be perfect to be in the middle between Paul and Derek. I need Derek for the Q60 demos and Paul to participate from his German-British power converter ;-) This should not be a big problem. We have reserved 5 tables for the German group and we were going to suggest that all your tables were together. We will probably reserve one side of the hall for your use, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 name badges
It has been suggested that we should have name badges at QLis30. These are not compulsory, but they will be available at both the dinner and at the workshop. The badges are plain plastic pin on types 7.5cm x 4cm. You will have to provide your own content on a piece of paper that can be slipped inside the badge. You may wish to do this in advance. It has been suggested that it would be useful to have your country included and possibly your QL forum name. The QL forum will be present at the workshop, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 name badges
On 06/10/2014 12:53, Geoff Wicks wrote: It has been suggested that we should have name badges at QLis30. These are not compulsory, but they will be available at both the dinner and at the workshop. The badges are plain plastic pin on types 7.5cm x 4cm. You will have to provide your own content on a piece of paper that can be slipped inside the badge. You may wish to do this in advance. It has been suggested that it would be useful to have your country included and possibly your QL forum name. The QL forum will be present at the workshop, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Sorry I was a bit too quick in writing the original. I have discovered cards in the packet that fit into the badges. However you can still design your own badge - printed ones look far more professional, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 Skype address
The QLis30 Skype address is QLis30. Sorry it will be difficult to remember :-D . I am not sure yet what use we will be making of Skype, but it is a useful facility to have. BTW Overseas attenders will need to bring electrical conversion plugs with them, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql-Users Digest, Vol 127, Issue 11
On 03/10/2014 15:39, paul wrote: PS I hope this email comes over safely - BT have just made major changes to my email account. I have lost all my sent files on Thunderbird, although they are still on the BT server. Must find a way to downlodd them. I know on my ISP server that I can mark messages as unread and move them to the inbox and thunderbird will then re-download them for me to get locally Thanks for the help, but this is not so convenient as I need them in the sent folder. I have discovered a way of transferring sent emails manually, but it cannot be done in bulk, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 monitor appeal
On 03/10/2014 17:10, Derek Stewart wrote: Hi Geoff, If the mail is still on the Server, all you have to do get Thunderbird to download the messages from the server, to the email client. Regards, Derek Thanks again for the help. Unfortunately it does it for the inbox, but not for sent items. I even tried marking all sent items on the server as unread, but that did not work either. However I am still happy - BT mail is no longer Yahoo under an assumed name, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 - Thanks Rich!
On Monday Rich sent out a newsletter to his customers containing a link to the QLis30 website. On the same day I had 138 hits on the site and I estimate that about 80 of these were on the the QLis30 webpage. Thanks Rich, Best wishes, Geoff www.gwicks.net/Qlis30.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 monitor appeal
Is there any one with a car who could bring a CRT Multisync Monitor with 15 pin VGA input to QLis30? We would like this to help one of the German guests with a presentation, Best wishes, Geoff PS I hope this email comes over safely - BT have just made major changes to my email account. I have lost all my sent files on Thunderbird, although they are still on the BT server. Must find a way to downlodd them. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 - first goal achieved!
I am pleased to report that we have achieved the first aim of QLis30 - attracting an international group of QL-ers. Of the 22 people who have booked dinner 11 come from the UK and 11 from overseas. On the Saturday we shall have QL-ers from Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Finland, Switzerland and, of course, the UK. I think we can boast of having the first truly international QL event to be held in the UK. It will be a unique opportunity for UK QL-ers to meet users from abroad. Again a reminder. We are asking people who are likely to attend, and have not already done so, to let us know so that we can estimate attendance. We have made a decision to expand into a second hall, the Lennon Room, where we shall probably hold the presentations. Please note there are a limited number of tables, so please book in advance, Best Wishes, Geoff www.gwicks.net/QLis30.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30
I understand there was some discussion on the QL Forum about QLis30 and the question was raised whether there would be a bring and buy stall. There is no tradition of doing this in the UK, but it is an idea. Would there be interest? We would only be able to make 1 table available for bring and buy. I have today updated the activities section of the website. It is not a final program but gives an idea of what will happen. There has been a lot of interest in QLis30 - over 478 hits on the main website and 108 on the dinner page - but we don't know how his will translate into attendance. We were hoping dinner bookings would provide us with some indication, but unfortunately it has not. We would be grateful if people who hope to attend could let us know. www.gwicks.net/QLis30.htm Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 Dinner
On 04/09/2014 21:49, Derek Stewart wrote: Hi Geoff, I have got no problems with the menu, except I do not like whiskey these days... I was looking at the proposed activities, do you have a programme of events yet? Will I be able to update/buy software of hardware. Regards, Derek Thanks for the email, but tut, tut. Whiskey is Irish, but whisky Scottish. John is going to ask if there will be a drinks list available and also if we need to give/get advice about the various types of whisky. As far as the program is concerned I am now at the stage when I am twisting a few arms. What I am suggesting to people is that we keep the presentations relatively short in the hope that we can then have a good discussion with lots of ideas flying around. I still intend to stick to the three main themes of hardware. software and (electronic) communications. Another thing I would like to do is profile some of the classical software that has been preserved or re-released. I would be interested in hearing from a gamer who would like to demonstrate either in a formal presentation or informally at a table. I have already opened a Skype account for the workshop, although I still have to do final tests that my laptop can cope. As I am new to Skype I may need someone to sit beside me and hold my hand (metaphorically, of course). I hope to have at least one presentation via Skype. There will be no traders present at the event, although, of course, the German hardware developers will be there, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 Dinner
On 05/09/2014 19:12, Norman Dunbar wrote: Evening Darren, Speaking as a Jock, can I just say that whisky does indeed taste like floor cleaner! I am just curious - how do you know what floor cleaner tastes like? Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 Dinner
On 01/09/2014 19:34, John Gilpin wrote: Hi Geoff, Please can you confirm that the Starters, Main Courses and Desserts advertised on the QL is 30 web site are interchangeable. That is, can we mix and match the courses - otherwise how do we plan our dinner? Are the Sample Menus fixed meals offered? What starter and Dessert go with the Haggis, Neaps and Tatties? or can we please ourselves? Please advise. Kind Regards, John Gilpin.(Confused QLer) QUANTA Membership Secretary and QUANTA Treasurer membership @quanta.org.uk treasurer @quanta.org.uk Our apologies for the uncertainty and the mixed messages there have been over the dinner. It has been just as confusing for us as for anyone else. The problem has arisen because we are dealing with two different sections of the hotel and we were getting mixed messages. We are being housed in one of the conference rooms and they are used to fixed tailor made menus with the price determined by the client. However we are being offered menus at the standard price. The problem with mix and match is that a combination taken from the three different menus could mean that some one chooses three items that in total come to more than the standard price and that would mean booking in advance and a possible increase in the cost. For this reason the hotel had suggested choosing one of the three standard menus. For clarification: Cranachan in menu 1 is toasted oatmeal soaked in whisky and raspberries in whipped cream and honey laced with whisky. Skirlie in menu 2 is toasted oatmeal mixed in mashed potato. Haggis bonbon is similar in appearance to a scotch egg, but with a filling of Haggis instead of egg. John Sadler and I thought that menu 3 was probably the best to opt for as it is the most neutral of the three, but we will listen to any opinions before booking. www.gwicks.net/qlis30dinner.htm Just a note about the bar arrangements. The room is situated on a different floor from the bars and restaurants. Our numbers are too small to justify a bar in the room, but there will be a waiter service. I hope this clarifies matters, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 dinner
Just a reminder that bookings for the QLis30 dinner close this weekend. I have added the payment link to the dinner webpage: www.gwicks.net/qlis30dinner.htm Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Returnees
Earlier this month I had a brief email exchange with a returnee who will be at QLis30. He queried whether there would be any former QL luminaries at the workshop. This was not for nostalgia purposes, but he instead would like to learn from them. Why did they do what they did? Why did they not do other things? What were the problems that prevented them doing what they would like? To some extent it echoed some remarks made by Simon Carr on the QL Forum: Speaking as only a recent QL user, and having followed this thread since last year, I have to admit that I am not sure what a QL is 30 event would be about, or what its purpose would be, beyond a group of people getting together and saying 'hurrah'. As such, I can't really build much personal enthusiasm for what would currently seem to be a rather nebulous event.--- ---Personally, what I would be REALLY interested in would be some event in which some of the experts from this forum, QUANTA and perhaps even some of those involved in the development of the QL being brought together to present a 'how to be inspired with a QL' event, and one that is very practical in nature. Just something a little more dynamic than a retrospective view over 30 years. I don't know whether there will be many returnees at QLis30, but I wonder whether we should take a look at their needs. After all I don't want the workshop to be purely a nostalgia event, but I want it to give a new impulse to the QL. We owe a lot to the returnees especially in the UK. Indeed without them the UK scene would have fairly stagnant over the last five years. I would be interested in hearing what returnees would like from us, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 Dinner
Just a reminder that payments for the QLis30 dinner should be made by next weekend. Because of continuing problems with the SQLUG bank account we are asking all people to pay by the Quanta PayPal account: https//quanta.org.uk/ql-30 This will take you directly to Quanta's PayPal account for the dinner. Many thanks to Quanta for this facility. We would have been in a difficult situation without them. The Holiday Inn have indicated that if we want they would make the main course the quintessential Scottish meal of Haggis, Tatties and Neaps often accompanied by a wee dram. (Tatties are potatoes and neaps turnips) Haggis is sheep's offal cooked with onion, oatmeal and spices and tastes far nicer than it sounds. I had some delightful haggis for breakfast at Kinlochbervie in June. However it is not to everyone's liking and we would like to hear your opinions. Aparently there is a regional dish in North Hesse called weckewerk that is a form of Haggis, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 dinner - urgent
On 13/08/2014 17:45, John Gilpin wrote: Hi all intended diners at QL is 30 Dinner. QUANTA has, today added an extra page to it's Web Site containing two new PayPal Payment buttons which can be used to pay for the dinner at the QL is 30 event. In an effort to limit the possibility of misuse by the general public who have general access to this site, this new page has not been added to the navigation details and will therefore be difficult for anyone to find without the following info:- Please enter (or Copy) the FULL URL into your browser. The URL is https://quanta.org.uk/ql-30/ any problems, please let me know. Kind Regards, John Gilpin. QUANTA Membership Secretary and QUANTA Treasurer membership @quanta.org.uk treasurer @quanta.org.uk Thanks John. This is very helpful, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] [ql-users] Sudoku. Was: screenshoots
On 30/07/2014 02:55, paul wrote: On 1/9/2006 6:17 AM, Phoebus R. Dokos (Φοίβος Ρ. Ντόκος) wrote: Την Mon, 09 Jan 2006 03:33:44 -0500,ο(η) nor...@dunbar-it.co.uk έγραψε: snip In addition, Geoff, I have *almost* got a working Sudoku generator giving the options of easy, medium, hard and bloody hell - I even generate an unsolvable grid with only 4 blank spaces :o) Here is one of the many websites with potential generators: url: http://www.lemo.dk/sudoku/index.html BTW: Incorrectly it is mentioned (I think by Geoff) in the latest QLT that Sudoku is of Japanese origin. Sudoku was originally called Number Place and it is an American invention dating to 1979 (Together with the ZX80) Watch this space . well that was just plain smart (Duh, NOT!) a reply to a 8-1/2 year old message Never Mind You did have me fooled there for a moment! What had I missed? It was a QL Today challenge many years ago! Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 dinner - partners permitted?
Sorry I note I had not made it clear if wives and partners were permitted at the dinner. Of course they are!, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 dinner
On 18/06/2014 21:49, p...@zx81.de wrote: As I am coming from a foreign country I definitely prefer a Scottish meal when I visit Scotland. I have thought up a good Scottish Menu ;-) Starter: Porridge Main Course: Haggis, Tatties and Neeps Dessert: Deep Fried Mars Bar (Well that's buggered up my working relationship with SQLUG!) Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 dinner
On 19/06/2014 08:46, Colin Mckay wrote: I expect to attend the event, and the evening meal. I opt for the carvery. If this is to be at the Toby Carvery in Corstorphine, then I can thoroughly recommend it from visits there approximately 4 years ago. However, seating probably would be on the basis of find a seat for yourself. At lunch times it can be quite crowded. Is it expected that accompanying womenfolk will be welcome to attend the dinner? Colin McKay 34 Taylor Avenue Tel/fax 01505 70 4471 Kilbarchan Johnstone Renfrewshire PA10 2LS ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Actually if it is the Carvery it will be in the Holiday Inn as we think that will be the a venue that could accommodate a large number, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 dinner
At the moment we are looking at a lot of the mechanics of QLis30. One of the things that is causes us a problem is the possibility of a QLis30 dinner. We want to do this as we believe informal contacts as just as important as the event programme. When we sounded out opinion on the date, you gave us some helpful suggestions and we would like your ideas about any dinner. Our main problem is that it is impossible to estimate numbers attending QLis30 at this stage. There has been an enthusiastic response to the web page - 168 hits so far - but that does not translate into attendance. It is more an indication of interest. The first question would be whether people would prefer a dinner on the Friday evening or as an after workshop event on the Saturday. The latter would be slightly easier to organise in that we could get final numbers (and a deposit!) on the day itself. The other question is the cuisine. At the moment we are looking at 3 options: 1: A traditional British Carvery 2: Italian 3: Chinese By large numbers the first would probably be the easiest, but we have had a good recommendation for the Chinese which is near to the show venue. However, I wonder whether UK QL-ers have had enough Chinese cuisine stuffed down their throats in Manchester!, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 web page
On 15/06/2014 20:09, Tobias Fröschle wrote: Hmm. Page doesn't work for me. 'you don't have permission to access...' Regards, Tobias I have no idea what has gone wrong here. Could it be the device you are using? Try going to my normal website and access the page from there. www.gwicks.net/justwords.html To add to Derek's comment I have only tested with Firefox and IE. I noticed the google maps reproduced less well on IE, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 web page
On 16/06/2014 12:48, Geoff Wicks wrote: On 15/06/2014 20:09, Tobias Fröschle wrote: Hmm. Page doesn't work for me. 'you don't have permission to access...' Regards, Tobias I have no idea what has gone wrong here. Could it be the device you are using? Try going to my normal website and access the page from there. www.gwicks.net/justwords.html To add to Derek's comment I have only tested with Firefox and IE. I noticed the google maps reproduced less well on IE, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Adding to my reply to Tobias, I have just been accessing my statistics. Over 70 people visited the site yesterday. I note a small number of people failed to access the site. Most had forgotten the .htm. Although the site is not case sensitive, your browser may make it so. It is QLis30.htm ie upper case QL and lower case is. Many thanks Urs for the link - I had a lot of hits via this link. As a way of saying thank you just a reminder of Urs' site: www.QLis30.org.uk Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 web page
The QLis30 web page is now online: www.gwicks.net/QLis30.htm It is permissible to download the logo at the top of the page and place it on your own website provided a link to QLis30 is added (hint! hint!). Just a word about tables because I caused a bit of a stir when I last mentioned this. When you see the hall you will realise why I am calling QLis30 a workshop and not a show. The hall is smaller than would be usual for a typical Quanta style QL show and this means there is a limit on the number of tables we shall have. Priority will have to be given to the hardware people as they have lots to demonstrate. To be fair to all the non hardware people I am thinking of setting up a largish communal hot table so there will be space to work on your laptop etc. for an hour or so even if you have no table of your own, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Edinburgh is go!
On 15/05/2014 17:16, Dilwyn Jones wrote: One thing I would appreciate from Quanta is if someone would be prepared to say a few words about electronic participation in meetings. I am not thinking in terms of the technical details, but more how it has turned out in practice. I have participated in a Quanta committee meeting by speakerphone group call, and the AGM this year by a Skype group call. The speakerphone meeting was less than perfect, because although those of us on phones could hear each other well, we could not hear some of those at the meeting itself. The committee agreed to look into obtaining a purpose made phone, which has more than one microphone to pick up those around the table a bit better, although I don't know if one was purchased or not. The telephone conference call was via an 0845 dial-in. We were told to dial in about 5 minutes before the meeting started, which gave enough time to identify ourselves and make sure we could hear each other. This type of call can become difficult if several people talk across each other, so one person (e.g. Chairman) needs to be in charge and ensure people speak in turn and invite comments from those on a phone, as it is easier to catch Chairman's eye in the room if you want to speak - telephone guests potentially at a disadvantage, although in our case Sarah handled this very well. The disadvantage with this is that it is after all an 0845 number based system, which would be more costly for anyone overseas. For this year's AGM, we used the Skype group call system (audio only). Three of us (Lee Privett, Dave Park and myself) participated - there was no video but I think we were identified by our avatars on screen at the AGM. Like the conference call, we connected about 5 minutes beforehand to set up, identify ourselves, check volumes etc. Keith (webmaster) had provided us with the Quanta Skype name beforehand, which we put in the contacts list and used to originate the call. I don't know if it was the same at the AGM end, but when someone on Skype talked, there was an on-screen highlight which helped identify who was speaking. Call quality was great, and as I was using a headset (rather than telephone handset) it let me operate the computer at the same time, e.g. if I needed to look something up during the discussion. If we couldn't hear someone at the meeting, we were able to ask and have Chairman repeat what was said. We had done a quick test call that morning as it was new to some of us, but it all seemed to work first time, apart from me plugging my earphone and microphone plus the wrong way round on my PC for a few seconds (age, eyesight...) With both methods, the participant dialled in rather than someone at the meeting calling us. With regards to bandwidth - the connections are made at the server end and just the one two-way link to the server, so you _do not_ need a separate bandwidth for each participant, luckily, or it might put a strain on the broadband if you have a fairly slow connection at the venue - the fact it['s all joined together at the server end means it should work even on fairly slow broadband at the venue. Up to 10 participants can take part in a Skype _video_ group call (5 recommended for best quality). Callers can be on Windows, Mac, or Xbox One (if you have Xbox 1 Live Gold membership, whatever that is) (more platforms planned - Skype website says mobiles and tablets etc planned soon too). Skype website says up to 25 people on a group _audio_ call. Hope that helps... Dilwyn Jones ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Actually I was hoping to get this information in October, but never mind. This is about the level I was thinking of - more how it works out in practice than technical information - although some technical information would be welcome. I must say it must be quite difficult for the chairman to run the meeting. I know from when I chaired the AGM you rely heavily on visual contact to assess the mood of the meeting and who would like to speak. As Lee added - thanks to Lee also for his reply - there are protocol questions to watch. I get the impression from what you and Lee write that there were teething problems, but no more than you would expect from a first attempt. When we put electronic participation in meetings in the constitution I envisaged it as being a provision for sometime in the future, and I never expected it to be used so soon. No doubt a compliment to Keith's technical abilities, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Edinburgh is go!
On 14/05/2014 20:48, John Gilpin wrote: Geoff, I have been following your ramblings about the QL-is-30 Workshop with more than a little interest (but not much!!) Your comments regarding the help and interest for this event coming only from overseas, leads me to see that you have experienced the same apathetic response that the current QUANTA committee members have, for many years, experienced from the South-UK QLers (and especially QUANTA UK Members). Although the percentage attendance of the UK QUANTA members at QUANTA events during the last decade has been unacceptably low, it is far greater than the attendance of the OS QUANTA Members (which one can count on one had with half the digits removed!). It will be interesting to see what the attendance is like in Edinburgh from both UK and OS. So far of the names I have 9 are overseas and 8 UK. (I believe there are two more overseas but I do not have their names.) All told 6 countries should be represented. Those of you who have spent some time as a QL Trader have the benefit of a wider address book of QLers than QUANTA has (their address book is limited to UK and OS members past and present), which gives you the edge when it comes to filling the void left by the apathetic UK QLers. All the OS QUANTA members, have been invited (like the UK ones) to every event that QUANTA has put on, be it a Workshop (one or two days in length), Show or any other name that you would like to call it (QUANTA has consistently called it a workshop on the grounds that it is the attendees who make it into whatever type of event they want, when (and if) they get there.) In practice I don't think Quanta shows have been workshops for about 10 years, with the exception of QLis21 and possibly 2011 when we had Quanta issues (constitution and subscription). You have also identified that when QUANTA were able to attract UK people with any QL savvy to a QUANTA event, then we used them to give a talk or demonstration (and under the direction of a previous QUANTA Chairman, contributed financially to their out-of-pocket expenses - a move which has been greatly criticised as QUANTA Workshops/Annual General Meetings cost too much to put on). But then, QUANTA has got both money that it is not afraid to spend (since no one else seems interested in using it) and some equipment which you are welcome to use if you need it (Projector Screen for presentations). Very good policy and much appreciated. I was going to make use of it when I did the activities for Solihull in 2007, but I think my speakers all said it was not necessary. As far as I know we don't need to use any of Quanta's equipment, although I was prepared to request the projector. The church are being generous in letting us use their facilities. One thing I would appreciate from Quanta is if someone would be prepared to say a few words about electronic participation in meetings. I am not thinking in terms of the technical details, but more how it has turned out in practice. It is also fair to say that the current QUANTA Committee have been in service for many years unlike some other EX-QUANTA committee members who, when times got tough, backed away from their volunteered responsibilities, or resigned from QUANTA altogether! And finally, you seem to have accepted that one needs local people on the ground to investigate the availability of suitable venues for an event such as QL-is-30 and expecting people to travel hundreds of miles to do this is a complete waste of time, effort and money. So we wish George Gwilt, John Sadler and all the QUANTA SQLUG Subgroup all the best in their efforts to host the QL-is-30 event in 2014. See you all there. :-) Indeed George and John have not yet been given all the credit they have deserved, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Edinburgh is go!
On 14/05/2014 19:10, j...@sinoda.demon.co.uk wrote: Hi Geoff, Let me say that the 2012 Quanta AGM was when I decided that I would never go to another Quanta show. It was a two day event with nothing whatsoever planned on the Saturday. I spent most of the time wondering whether I could quickly devise a presentation and not having my original material with me eventually gave up and left the show early. (My QL project at the time was the Just Words! QL mapping page that I had felt was too much of a minority interest for a show presentation.) Then I am that minority. Of the top of my head, I would be interested in how you converted the mapping data, what zero point did you use, had you thought about pulling in data from the openStreetmap project. After that I would be interested in how QWord was written, how to convert other dictionaries, what to look out for when writing for all the different systems, what are the differences, what makes it hard to write are where would you want to see development, what is too far behind and what is way out ahead, To be quite honest I doubt if I could tell you much technically. The mapping data all came from Hugh Rooms and were publically available NASA files. He did not have broadband at the time so I downloaded for him and sent him a CD. The big problem was that they also contained a lot of extraneous material and it was a huge effort to extract this. The only program I found, both QL and PC, that could cope with the file size was Perfection! I converted latitude and longtitude to QL x,y co-ordinates via a short SuperBasic program using Hugh Room's formulae. Any database containing data in the form Lat, Long could be used. I believe one QL has plotted simple maps of airports from publically available data. QWord took several years to write and as new QL possibilities came along they were added. Frankly it is very bulky code and really needs a complete rewrite. The reason you have to have different versions for different languages is that the grids are optimised for maximum word generation, based on the frequency of words in that language. This was information I already had from writing Solvit-Plus. The next day there were two events planned, George Gwilt and Adrian Ives. I was impressed that Quanta managed to get Adrian to the show as his work was the hot topic of the time. Both presentations were badly attended - about half the people present stayed at their tables instead. After his talk Adrian gave a live demonstration at his table. There were just 6 of us interested. I was one! I was really disappointed at the lack of interest in Adrian, given all the effort he had put into the QL. At the end of a show the committee had a post mortem. What was their answer in 2013? A carbon copy of the 2012 event! I had more fun personally at the 2013 event, but that was because we were trying to get speed comparisons between different emulators which started out because I was having such problems running the SMSQmulator compared to uQLx on a Raspberry Pi. Although it is a long way off, what talks/plans have been offered so far? Will there be WiFi and if so what is the bandwidth, especially if you are hoping to have Skype users? Are you going to restrict any WiFi for those Skyping in? Do you want people to set up tethering to MiFis to share out load? Will it be recorded in any way such as film or just written down so the information could be shared with those who cannot attend? A good place to say something about the situation. As far I can see at this stage there are three main areas: HARDWARE will probably dominate and more or less look after itself. Peter will be there together with some other German hardware specialists. We also hope to have a Skype link to Dave in the USA. SOFTWARE is a bigger problem as it is a bit in the doldrums at the moment. I have had an interesting email from one of the Germans with some thoughts about the present state of QL software and I think these would form a good basis for discussion. I also think we should give some attention to software preservation which has been one of the themes of the last five years. Would there be a place for something on QL Games? I have no one in mind at the moment. Finally if anyone has a software project ongoing we would be glad to hear. COMMUNICATIONS. It is one of my hobby horses at the moment, but I think we could make more effective use of the internet. All being well this will be the first UK event with a presentation by Skype. The problem is that none of the QLis30 organisors has any Skype experience. I think it is my job to put my money where my mouth is and to make learning to use Skype my personal QLis30 project. As far as the WiFi is concerned we do have permission to use this, but I don't know if there are conditions or the nature of the church's connection. At the moment no filming of the event is planned. Should anyone
Re: [Ql-Users] Edinburgh is go!
On 15/05/2014 17:12, Paul wrote: Are geoff. George and John the three that will receive my promised QL-SDs? If I get your Adresses I can already send them to you (or whoever will receive them) . They are supposed to be used by you. They are not supposed to be prices for lottery (or however this should be called) Kind regards Liebe Grüße Paul Probably not as I no longer have useable native hardware. Nice offer all the same! Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Edinburgh is go!
On 14/05/2014 08:42, Derek Stewart wrote: Hi Geoff, All the Quanta Shows are were all called Workshops. Most Quanta Workshops that I attended in the past had sub themes and interested talks going on. When I used to organise QL/Quanta Workshops, I always had programme of events issued in advance and handed to each attendee. I also tried, make a positive view on the event. Do you have a proposed programme of events. Regards, Derek Very good point, but you have not organised recent Quanta shows which have slowly deteriorated over the years. In fact I believe you have not organised a Quanta event for well over 10 years. Remember QL2004 and QLis21 and how the broad programme of events were announced in advance. Go to the newspage of my website (www.gwicks.net/justwords.html) to see the republished web pages for the two shows. Sadly scarcely a single idea for the programme of QLis30 has come from the UK, but the Germans have made some helpful suggestions and are offering themselves as presenters, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Edinburgh is go!
On 14/05/2014 12:31, j...@sinoda.demon.co.uk wrote: I had planned to attend Edinburgh, not to give a talk, but to gain information and learn. However, as I seem to fit all the criteria that Geoff has mentioned, I am happy if it is considered that I am not the target audience for QLis30. If the plan is that everyone must give a talk, as I do not have a talk planned I will not attend, but I still think the show will be fascinating and I wish you all the best. You are the sort of person we want at Edinburgh. You don't have to give a talk, but you have something valuable to contribute. I just don't think there is a role for AE at the event. Let me say that the 2012 Quanta AGM was when I decided that I would never go to another Quanta show. It was a two day event with nothing whatsoever planned on the Saturday. I spent most of the time wondering whether I could quickly devise a presentation and not having my original material with me eventually gave up and left the show early. (My QL project at the time was the Just Words! QL mapping page that I had felt was too much of a minority interest for a show presentation.) The next day there were two events planned, George Gwilt and Adrian Ives. I was impressed that Quanta managed to get Adrian to the show as his work was the hot topic of the time. Both presentations were badly attended - about half the people present stayed at their tables instead. After his talk Adrian gave a live demonstration at his table. There were just 6 of us interested. At the end of a show the committee had a post mortem. What was their answer in 2013? A carbon copy of the 2012 event! Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Edinburgh is go!
On 13/05/2014 14:44, pg...@q40.de wrote: Hi, we had a little conversation about Geoff's recent post on the German QL forum. In conclusion, we are glad if *everybody* who is interested in the QL, is very welcome at the meeting in Edinburgh. Our hope is that nobbody feels discouraged, in case of limited QL skills. The more QLers come, the better. For one personal example, Paul had no QL skills whatsoever, when we first got in touch. Now he made QL-SD possible. All the best Peter Sorry if I caused some confusion here. Of course everyone is welcome. I was mainly concerned about UK QL-ers who have only known Quanta shows and have rigid ideas about how QL shows should be run. (And that includes Quanta's committee.) Edinburgh is not a show but a workshop. I would hate someone to spend a lot of time and money coming to Edinburgh and then finding the event was not what they were expecting. Frankly the last Quanta show I attended was ghastly. A lot of people sitting at their own table doing their own thing with scarcely any mixing. If that happened at Edinburgh it would destroy the event, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Edinburgh is go!
The Edinburgh QLis30 event is booked for 11th October 2014. This was the date that most people wanted. The venue is the Gyle Hall of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Glasgow Road, EH12 8LJ. The venue is on the main road from Edinburgh city centre to Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow. The bus service too and from the airport has a bus stop outside the church. We shall be posting a dedicated website giving details of accommodation and travel arrangements, but this is unlikely to be online before mid June. I need to go to Edinburgh to do some research and photography for the site. I am in Edinburgh on 31st May and 6th June so it is saves me time and money to wait until then. So far 17 people from 6 lands have expressed an interest so we have achieved our first aim of getting an international group of QL-ers together. There are Marriott and Holiday Inn hotels on the same bus route as the church but we shall publish detailed information of these and other hotels on the website. Also travellers from the continent may like two early details. Any one wishing to come by car may like to consider the overnight DFDS ferry from IJmuiden in the Netherlands to Newcastle. This would save a long drive in the UK. Any one thinking of travelling by Eurostar should note that the London terminal is next door to Kings Cross station with trains to Edinburgh. We hope to have Skype at the event, but none of the organisers has Skype experience. I hope to have this by October, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fwd: QLis30 update
On 04/05/2014 09:54, Urs Koenig (QL) wrote: Geoff Wicks wrote: One of our considerations is that Edinburgh is a tourist destination. If we hold the event too early it could be too busy and hotels too expensive. October might be possible, I had a discussion with my family this morning. We could imagine spending our autumn vacation in Scotland. Perfect dates for the QLis30 show would then be Sat Oct 4 (favourite) and Sat Oct 11 2014. I really hope that a QLis30 show will happen this year. QL forever! Very best, Urs -- http://www.qlis30.org.uk ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Thanks for this message. I was about to write another update. We had decided that the best dates would be either 18th or 25th October. We were uncertain about 4th October because 3rd October is a public holiday in Germany. We were uncertain whether the Germans would want the event on a public holiday weekend. For a similar reason we thought it better not to go for 11th October. However from private emails there may just be a consensus for early October. Could people indicate - including those who have sent their preferences - if they would prefer either 4th or 11 October rather than 18th or 25th? This is urgent as George Gwilt wants to book the venue next week. (Obviously there could be a problem if the venue already has bookking for the possible dates), Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Printer query
On 17/04/2014 10:51, Dilwyn Jones wrote: Hi everyone, I got asked the following question by a user in Italy – does anyone know the answer? Dilwyn Jones my printer epl 6200 (advanced) is practically out of service (after 12 years). for the new printer I am evaluating a s SAMSUNG printer series C 410 B/W.laser type,scanner and fax included,Samsung Universal Printer Driver 2 PLC6. Before buying, THE VENDOR has accepted to verify the compatibility of Samsung printer with QPC/QPCprint installed in my computer (Window 7) now working correctly with EPL 6200. For preparing the Emulator in view of the compatibility test ,I think that I should use INSTALL_BAS . HOWEVER,the list of printers in it does not include any model of PRInters even by far similar to SAMSUNG: my question is: what kind of selection should I do and which are the fundamental instructions to include beside the choice of PARALLEL PORT ? ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm I have a very old Samsung laser - about 14 years old - will have to be pensioned off when the present toner cartridge is empty. Not 100% compatible with XP, but no serious problems with Windows 8 using Samsung Universal Driver 2. This is in spite of having to use a parallel to USB cable. I have no problems with QPC and QPCprint. The settings I use are Par4 with the printer option ticked and use filter ticked, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fwd: QLis30 update
On 08/04/2014 18:10, Dilwyn Jones wrote: From my point of view, I know of no particular weekend that is not possible for me, although I expect that early autumn might be preferable for me. At this stage, I don't know if Rich is still hoping to go ahead with the event he proposed earlier. Obviously the later in the year, the more the risk of weather disruption. Dilwyn Thanks for the reply. One of our considerations is that Edinburgh is a tourist destination. If we hold the event too early it could be too busy and hotels too expensive. October might be possible, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Fwd: QLis30 update
Sorry if I am inflicting this on you for the second time, but it has not come in on my email and I fear it is lost in cyberspace. We are asking for some help on the date of QLis30. Original Message Subject:QLis30 update Date: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 19:00:06 +0100 From: Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com We think we have found the hall we would like to use for QLis30. It is a church hall with a WiFi facility. These means the event would be on a Saturday. The hall is near the airport and there is a Marriott Hotel in the same street. We shall be doing research on other hotels, and once things are more definite I'll host a dedicated event page on my website giving all the details. Before booking we would like to sound out opinion. The event will be held in the Autumn, but are there any weekends you would prefer or think we should avoid? Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30
On 30/03/2014 23:08, Dave Park wrote: snip Will this be a QUANTA event or independently organised? Dave I an not getting involved with the choice of venue and financing. This is primarily an SQLUG event and they have the local knowledge that I don't have. As Colin Mckay has said SQLUG has only 4 members and they do need extra help. I was actively involved in organising the programmes for QL2004 and QLis21 and am happy to help SQLUG with this expertise. It is for SQLUG to decide what involvement Quanta has in the event. However, given Quanta's insistence that all committee members have to have their expenses paid they would seem to have excluded themselves from the event. For all that I think Quanta has an important role to play especially in the field of electronic communication. It is a paradox that an organisation that has shown itself unable to run a website, is nevertheless a pioneer in electronic participation. There is a lot we can learn from them. Please note that everything is still at a provisional stage. this discussion helps us to plan. However the information we would really like is an approximate idea of attendance, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL-is-30 Edinburgh
Thanks for the email. You have raised a lot of important points. On 31/03/2014 09:56, Colin Mckay wrote: The latest suggestion was that in terms of a meeting room, the event would extend over one day, i.e. a Saturday. Supposing the hours will be between 10am until 6pm, i.e. 8 hours, how will the various topics suggested by Geoff relate to each other in terms of time, and sound interference? This is not possible to say at this stage. It depends on who attends and what they have to offer. Not everyone is happy to give a presentation - some may prefer to give demonstrations at their table. At QL2004 and QLis21 I had two software authors whose work I wanted to profile, but both disliked public speaking. They agreed to let me present their programs and to be present to correct me if I made mistakes and to answer any questions. How to divide the time is one of the great problems. A criticism of QLis21 is that there was too much planned. I had planned a mixture of technical and general items and expected people to choose what they attended. In practice this did not work out. For example Dilwyn and Marcel had a full hall for a presentation on EasyPtr. An outside interest could be introduced in the form of a talk from a member of Edinburgh University's Computing Department on general computer developments, just to give the boffins of the QL world something to aim for, also general interest. A good suggestion and not ruled out. Anyone any ideas? Will the event be open to the public? If so, then a two day meeting could be more appropriate with only one day open to the public. QL people would be needed to deal with the public. SQLUG can provide at best only four members, unless some coffin lids will be prised open. In principle QL shows are open to everyone. I am not happy with two day events because my experience is that the second day tends to be a downer. At QLis21 people worked very hard on the first day and were tired as a result. Many enjoyed a relaxation in the bar after the show dinner and some overindulged. The next day few people ate breakfast. Most got up after 10.00 and went straight home. I had just 8 people for my GD2 colour tutorial that today is one of the most popular items on my website. It is harder to find venues for two days and I suspect they are the more expensive venues. Colin McKay 34 Taylor Avenue Tel/fax 01505 70 4471 Kilbarchan Johnstone Renfrewshire PA10 2LS ___ 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] A funny coincidence.
On 29/03/2014 22:05, John Gilpin wrote: Now, there's a funny coincidence - or is it? Starting with Geoff Wicks' empty email at 19:12 on 28/03/2014 I have received *THREE *copies of all emails from this list instead of my usual two ( All quanta.org.uk email addresses are registered with this list and having two roles (Treasurer and Membership) I get two copies by default). I know that Geoff has strange influences over anything QL but was this silence meant to be truly deafening??:-) Once Geoff got his voice back - well since his email datelined 12:26 today 29/03/2014 - my in box has only received the usual two copies. Now Geoff and I have worked together over many years - sometimes agreeing, and sometimes not, and I recognise his influence over the QL scene but this is truly weird :-) Does anyone have an answer? Easy John. Quanta is seen by GCHQ and NSA as a subversive organisation, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30
This is another email with pasted text. I have used a different technique and it worked OK in a test. Hopefully it will transmit without problems: ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30
Second attempt to avoid retyping: Holding an event in Edinburgh is to a certain extent risky. There is no large QL community within the immediate catchment area. This means we have to attract QL-ers from outside the area and I think these will be mainly the more active QL-ers whom you might term the movers and shakers of the QL community. One advantage of Edinburgh is that it is an interesting city and some may wish to extend their stay for a short holiday. There would also be plenty for partners to see elsewhere in the city when we are busy QL-ing. One problem for us is that we have no idea what numbers to expect. When I talked to George Gwilt last weekend he suggested anywhere between 10 and 50! Some indication of numbers would give us an idea of what to do at the event. It has been suggested that if we can get the developers and more active QL-ers together, we do not need an extensive program as they will automatically provide some of the content. An interesting argument worthy of discussion. HARDWARE Recently hardware is where most progress has been made and should have a prominent place at the event. Peter Graf would like to attend and Dave Park hopes to participate online. I think they will have much to contribute. GAMES I wrote my account of the last 5 QL years (www.gwicks.net/justwords.htm) with QLis30 in mind. One of the things that surprised me was that games have been an area of great progress. Rich Mellor has put a huge amount of effort into preserving and re-releasing vintage software and it also relevant is that many of the recent additions to Dilwyn's website have been software re-releases. I think this is worthy of a slot at QLis30. I would welcome ideas on how to build on this theme. SOFTWARE This is a difficult area as most of the recent software progress have been the emulators rather than new applications. Again I would be interested in suggestions on how to profile software at the event. Have there been any benefits from the loosening of the SMSQ-E licence restrictions? ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS I would like to have an internet facility at the event, but thought this might not be possible. However John Sadler has indicated that 2 of the possible 4 venues have WIFI. We may need some technical help. I think we could do far more electronically. As far as I know there has only been one online presentation at a QL show in Italy a few years ago. Quanta did set up a WIFI network at their 2012 AGM, but I don't think much use was made of it. I think, if they are interested, Quanta could have a valuable contribution to make following the constitutional change to permit electronic participation in all meetings. There has already been individual participation electronically at committee meetings and the AGM. At this years AGM there is a choice of participating personally; via Skype; or via telephone conferencing. An even more interesting development is that Quanta will soon have its first overseas committee member. In short if Quanta is interested in describing their electronic participation experiences then we should give them a slot. So far there have been few suggestions about the content of a QLis30 event. I hope this will provide a starter for more ideas. So your feedback, please, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Aargh!
On 28/03/2014 19:29, Dilwyn Jones wrote: Probably the first time I've seen Geoff lost for words... :-D Dilwyn -Original Message- From: Geoff Wicks Sent: Friday, March 28, 2014 7:24 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: [Ql-Users] Aargh! Sorry about the problems. Content I pasted is not being transmitted. I'll try again, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ Be very wary, Dilwyn. Be very wary. In my probation/trade union days management feared me most when I was silent. It was a sign I was planning something. Yours subversively, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30
On 28/03/2014 22:22, jms1 wrote: Dear QLis30 fans. That is one thing that SQLUG has not thought off. I can imagine it will enable a number of people to take part who otherwise would not be able to attend. Will an optical fibre connection and wireless router to the internet do? What other facilities would be desirable to achieve this? John Sadler SQLUG On 2014-03-28 19:51, Dave Park wrote: Hi Geoff, I am happy to support this. When this gets off the ground, I will send in my sponsorship money well before the event is held. If you choose a location that has reasonable internet access, I'd like to attend by telepresence, and show off some of the items we're designing and making, a few more of which should be available by then. Exciting times! Dave Just a quick reply. An internet link is one of the things that might be difficult, although I am hoping to find a way round these. I'll go into more detail when I write about the possible program shortly, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30
___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Fwd: QLis30
Sorry about the first message. I am not sure what happened. Below is the original: Original Message Subject:QLis30 Date: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 19:12:47 + From: Geoff Wicks gtwi...@btinternet.com To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] Aargh!
Sorry about the problems. Content I pasted is not being transmitted. I'll try again, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 pledge...
On 04/02/2014 08:35, John Gilpin wrote: Further to your emails Re: [QL-Users] QLis30 pledge..., I have great pleasure in advising you as follows: At a meeting of the QUANTA Committee on Sunday 02/02/2014, the topic of a Workshop to celebrate QLis30 was discussed and it was decided that if, due to Rich Mellor's ill health, we (QUANTA) will not be able to support his venture in Cambridge, then we would like to add our name to the QLis30 pledge such that we will match the fund up to a maximum of £500. It was also decided that QUANTA may offer further support by attending the event to show a QUANTA presence. This came about after much discussion regarding QUANTA's willingness to support such an event and how much we should be prepared to spend in order to differentiate between over-spending and not wanting to support both of which have received some criticism of late on this list. As we do not continually monitor this email list, please address any further correspondence tocommit...@quanta.org.uk - thanks. Thank you Quanta. This is a very fair offer and realistically the maximum you can afford. However, a warning. Has the thinking progressed further than finance, a hall and tables? So far I have heard no one come with plans of how you would fill such an event. The great success of QL2004 and QLis21 was that we had an idea of the program the details of a venue, and we publicised those ideas right from the start. By comparison QLis25 was a damp squib. I seen no point in QLis30 unless is has a wider benefit for all QL-ers including non-attendees and unless it gives the QL a kick into the future, Best Wishes, Geoff PS I already have an idea for three topics I would like to see, but want first to hear ideas from other people. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 pledge...
On 04/02/2014 17:20, Dave Park wrote: Here's one: I would try to have a skype video link established, since I cannot attend in person. I would run a virtual stall showing my new range of products. Depending on when in the year it is organised, this might be the new UltimIDE, the UltraQ multi-interface board, or even QL2! I would be able to offer show pricing... Dave Sandy Electronics Good, a Skype link is a good idea, although we have had this idea in the past but nothing happened in practice. However, several years and Quanta's recent Skype experience on, there is more hope on this occasion. We now have four possible topics. Any more? Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Today 30 years ago...
I forgot to mention it in my email yesterday. I had my weekly statistics report. 70 people have accessed the Last Five Years article and, more interestingly, 50 the QLis30 article. There is some interest in the subject. Another interesting statistic was that 10 visitors came to the site via the links on Dilwyn's blog. Thanks, Dilwyn, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Today 30 years ago...
On 12/01/2014 00:18, Urs Koenig (QL) wrote: January 12th, what does this say to us? Right, on that date 30 years ago, the Sinclair QL Professional Computer has been launched. Let's celebrate with some great stuff for all Sinclair (QL) enthusiasts! Visit this new website: http://www.qlis30.org.uk QL forever! Cheers, Urs P.S. There's even more to come. Stay tuned... -- In the spirit of Urs' virtual QLis30 suggestion I thought it would be a good idea to look back 10 years on how we celebrated the 20th and 21st Birthdays of the QL. I was responsible for the activity programmes for both QL2004 and QLis21 and I also hosted web pages for both shows. As a reminder I have reposted both web pages on my website. If nothing else it shows what the hot QL topics were 10 years ago. It is also interesting to note the detail we went into on travel arrangements and accommodation. The web pages are accessed from my news page: www.gwicks.net/justwords.htm For those who are saddened that there are still no firm plans for a QLis30 event, the situation today is not so different from that of 10 years ago. Quanta had behaved in a similar way in 2003 giving the impression it would organise QL2004 although it had no intention of doing so. It was only at the very end of 2003 that we realised that there was no chance of a Quanta QL2004 and decided at the beginning of 2004 to hold the event in Eindhoven. Three of us Jochen Merz, Sjef v.d. Molengraaf and myself set up ourselves as the ad hoc committee. On the first of February I met the Quanta committee and the then chairman was scathing about our plans. I didn't realise what a puny little organisation Sin_QL_Air was that would be incalpable of running a local show let alone an international one. QL2004 was doomed to failure and the entire committee smirked at me. The irony was that I was the only person present in the room who had been a member of Sin_QL_Air for 7 years. (The inverted commas are because under Dutch law Sin_QL_Air had donors nor members.) I also knew that in the 1990s Sin_QL_Air had run an international show once a year that was a high spot on the QL calender. It was only on 27th March we had our first face to face meeting as organising committee and we only had one other on 12th June. The event was held on 16th October. After the June meeting we decided to set up a dedicated show website that was regularly updated and this proved to be very effective in raising interest in the event. Even so it was a nerve-wracking time because the activity programme only got off the ground at the last minute. Jon Dent's offer to attend followed by Nasta's intention to come finally got the activity programme off the ground. At the last minute we had a disappointment when the school refused to let us use some facilities such as their projector and PA system and we had do some some rapid improvisation. However we had visitors from nine or ten different countries including most of the developers and those of us who were at the New Canton restaurant after the show will never forget the atmosphere. QL2004 gave a much needed boost to the QL community. There is still time to organise another boost by a QLis30 event, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The Last Five Years
On 07/01/2014 03:50, Timothy Swenson wrote: I've been sitting out the conversations about Quanta, QL Today, etc, but I thought I would chime in here. When it comes to volunteer projects, we have to remember the old adage: You can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink Having been on the Board of 4 non-profits, and know how hard it can be to push volunteers to get things done. For QL websites, we really have to wait for a volunteer to step up and do something. Geoff is right about needing a place for long form articles. At the moment, I use two QL websites; the QL forum for news and short discussions, and Dilwyn's site for downloads and basic QL information. I have not done any longer QL writing in a while, but if I did, there is not a single location for it. I'd probably host it on my website and point to it from the QL forums (I've done this some recent ZX81 work). Now, some have suggested that Quanta step up and fill some role, mostly an article oriented website, but they may not be able to find a volunteer to do that. I'm working a new website for a local Museum, but I'm so rusty with HTML stuff that it is a bit of a struggle and not very enjoyable. Eventually, someone will get frustrated enough and do it themselves. This might be enough of a catalyst that gets others involved. Until then all the gnashing of teeth will do nothing. I do admit until a few minutes ago, it had been years (8+) since I visited Geoff's web page. I did not know it had a news section. I've really only been focusing on one website for my QL news (ok, on the mailing list). I don't know if Geoff announced his news section on the QL forum. If he did, I missed it. So, if people to have long-form articles for the QL, don't just leave it sitting on your local system. Use the existing web sites that we do have. If you don't have a location to host it, ask the mailing list for someone who can. If we have enough authors writing new material, that might encourage someone to create a newsletter. Tim Swenson ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.ht Perhaps I should explain the background. Originally I had a site on a free host financed by sensible and relevant Google adverts. This went well until the host was overtaken by another host with doubtful advertising. I took the decision to go over to a commercial host and have not regretted it. I rewrote the site for the new host and eventually added a news section to encourage regular visits to the site. This was more news summary than news. After the closure of QL Today I decided to expand the news section, especially as Quanta's previously good news coverage had disappeared. I have been experimenting with in depth news coverage but kept quiet about it to see the reaction via the statistics. My present host has really good statistics. This year was my first attempt at publicity and it been very successful. In my farewell article in QL Today I did plead for an in depth website, but no one seemed to be interested. I suggested that Tony Firshman offers cheap hosting - Dilwyn's site is hosted by Tony, but also said I would be able to host it on mine. If I hosted it, I was thinking of a sister site to Just Words! possible called QL in Depth. I did warn in my article that there are legal problems with an open website because of, for example, copyright and potential libelous content, but I am well used to subediting for QL Today and I think these would be problems that could easily be addressed, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] The Last Five Years
On 03/01/2014 10:04, Derek Stewart wrote: Hi Geoff, I like your web site, no problems with Firefox and PDF plugins, but I am using Linux. Regards, Derek Thanks for the compliment. Since the closure of QL Today I have had a 50% increase in hits on my news page. It happened suddenly and sharply in September and has remained stable since then. I think this indicates there is a demand for online news. Quanta would be advised to get its news service back online ASAP. On Thursday and Friday 40 people accessed the Last Five Years article, which is very encouraging. I have been keeping very quiet about the changes to the news page, but watching the statistics carefully. The in depth articles are popular. In my last QL Today piece I suggested we needed an in depth website, but only one person reacted (hartelijk bedankt, Bob!) . I still think there is a place for online articles if anyone is interested. If we work hard we can make the 30th QL year something to be proud of as Dave Park suggested, Best Wishes, Geoff www.gwicks.net/justwords.html ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] The Last Five Years
If anyone is still interested in organising a QLis30 event, I have written an account of the last five QL years. There have probably been more positive developments than most of us think, but also a few disappointments. It is available on the news page of my website: www.gwicks.net/justwords.html Just a word of caution to Firefox users. I am currently having problems with the PDF plug in following an upgrade last week from Windows 8.00 to Windows 8.1. Apparently this is affecting other users after various upgradings. If you get a problem either download the pdf file or, better still, click on Open with a different viewer and choose Adobe, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30
On 03/12/2013 15:15, Peter wrote: Urs Koenig (QL) wrote: [...] 8. It should not be restricted to the QL only, but at least be themed and addressed as an all Sinclair event. Open for everyone, even for alien retro computer systems (ATARI, COMMODORE, AMSTRAD, etc.). Even at a Sinclair-only meeting, the QL would already be an almost negligible minority. If the scope is widened to even more systems (with even bigger user base), the QL completely moves out of focus. I have attended retro meetings in the past - they are nice if one is primarily interested in general computer history and chat, but I would not travel to England for just that. For my taste, QL is 30 requires a very clear focus on the QL! I would definitely prefer a dedicated QL event with an audience of only 10 or 20 persons, to a general retro meeting with 100 or more. The recent German QL meeting has proved how busy and interesting a small event can be. Maybe I'd drive 50 km for a general retro meeting, 300 km for an all Sinclair meeting, but to motivate me for travelling to the UK, only the QL will do ;-) Please consider this just my personal taste - if the majority prefers a general event, it's fine. I agree with Peter on this. We need to think small - quality not quantity. If a meeting of 10 people results in benefits for the whole QL community then it is a worthwhile event. Small events are easier and cheaper to organise. You can use smaller and cheaper halls - workplaces, schools, church halls or - dare I say it - a scout hut. Catering can also be done cheaply and easily. Tea, coffee, biscuits plus soup and rolls. For this reason I liked the idea of a possible Edinburgh event especially as Peter and other German users had expressed an interest. It would be the core of a good meeting. I have already announced my intention not to renew my Quanta subscription in January. I would be happy to give the £20 saved as a contribution to the cost of a hall, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30
On 11/11/2013 22:31, John Gilpin wrote: On 11/11/2013 19:54, Geoff Wicks wrote: On 11/11/2013 19:14, Derek Stewart wrote: On 10/11/13 16:57, Geoff Wicks wrote: On 09/11/2013 20:27, Derek Stewart wrote: On 09/11/13 16:21, Norman Dunbar wrote: Evening all, new job, no time for hardly anything at the moment, so a serious delay in replying. In the event of there being a QL is 30 event, in the UK or abroad, it is highly unlikely that I would attend. Cheers, Norm. Hi, Why not have a QL Show in each country and we support each other... How very kind of you to offer to organise and finance the UK event! Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Please do not be silly... I am not being silly. You are the one that's being silly. Someone has to organise a UK show and Quanta has refused to do it, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Hey, Hang on Geoff, I cannot find any record of QUANTA refusing to organise a UK show - ever. Who's organised the AGM weekend for the past decade or so? If QUANTA have failed to organise the right TYPE of event, then that's a different issue. It hasn't been for the want of asking for someone else (or some other sub-group) to put on a suitable event that QUANTA can use to hold their AGM at. I seem to recall that it was you who condemned one of the very few other offers of help as unsuitable venue - a point that the QUANTA Committee had to agree with after receiving your report. Another occasion of You die if you do and you die if you don't I think!! Can YOU get information from the QUANTA Membership regarding just what they do want As usual John you have missed the point. We are talking about a specific event. When I suggested the Birmingham venue was unsuitable I continued to work for an alternative and in fact organised the activity program for that event. That is the difference between Quanta and me, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30
On 11/11/2013 20:59, Richard Mellor t/as RWAP Services wrote: On Mon, November 11, 2013 8:54 pm, Tobias Fröschle wrote: Am 11.11.2013 um 21:00 schrieb Peter Graf: SQLUG could probably find a location and maybe pay for the hall in Edinburgh or even possibly Glasgow. Would be somewhere different and attract people both from the continent and Britain? Who would come? QL is 30 in Scotland sounds cool :) I would try to come. Peter I might as well - It's way too long I have not been there. Tobias Actually, it might be a good idea - but the main issue is whether speakers would be willing to travel! Good to see so much interest and let's hope it can be pursued, but can we be clear on one point. This would not be an alternative to a continental event. This would be a UK event. Who is going to finance and organise? Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30
On 11/11/2013 07:53, Wolfgang Lenerz wrote: Hi, Why not have a QL Show in each country and we support each other... How very kind of you to offer to organise and finance the UK event! Let's not get sidetracked. I'd like to repeat my earlier question : can anyone guestimate how many people would attend? What about the last 6 or 7 shows, either in the UK or abroad : how many people came (roughly?). Then let's be serious. What is the minimum number you would want at a continental show to ensure its viability? Personally I would see nothing wrong with an attendance as low as 12. With the type of people who would be likely to attend a continental show you are likely to get a good cross fertilisation of ideas that will, either directly or indirectly, benefit the entire QL community. Unfortunately we cannot say the same about the UK because, unlike the continent, there is no experience of running small scale shows, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30
On 11/11/2013 15:27, Wolfgang Lenerz wrote: Hi, Then let's be serious. What is the minimum number you would want at a continental show to ensure its viability? Actually, none. I just want to get a feel for the number that *might* come. Suppose someone were to organize something. Would it make sense to organise a location that can hold 20 people? 30? 100? etc I'm quite aware that any number anyone can give is highly speculative, but at least I'd get a feel of what one might expect. Personally I would see nothing wrong with an attendance as low as 12. With the type of people who would be likely to attend a continental show you are likely to get a good cross fertilisation of ideas that will, either directly or indirectly, benefit the entire QL community. Ah yes, quality not quantity...:-) Thanks for your input! I am suprised that so far no one has referred to the numbers attending the 25 year Lucerne show. I believe about 20 people attended. I am not sure that the Quanta attendance figures in their present form are helpful, so a little amplification. As far as I can tell of the people who have recently attended a Quanta show only four have ever been to a continental event. There is a complication that attendees at Quanta shows represent only about one twentieth of the UK QL community and a further complication that there have been no UK shows in the south for over 10 years. Thus the number of potential UK attendees is probably higher than 4, but I suspect you could still count the total on your fingers, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30
On 11/11/2013 19:14, Derek Stewart wrote: On 10/11/13 16:57, Geoff Wicks wrote: On 09/11/2013 20:27, Derek Stewart wrote: On 09/11/13 16:21, Norman Dunbar wrote: Evening all, new job, no time for hardly anything at the moment, so a serious delay in replying. In the event of there being a QL is 30 event, in the UK or abroad, it is highly unlikely that I would attend. Cheers, Norm. Hi, Why not have a QL Show in each country and we support each other... How very kind of you to offer to organise and finance the UK event! Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Please do not be silly... I am not being silly. You are the one that's being silly. Someone has to organise a UK show and Quanta has refused to do it, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30
On 09/11/2013 20:27, Derek Stewart wrote: On 09/11/13 16:21, Norman Dunbar wrote: Evening all, new job, no time for hardly anything at the moment, so a serious delay in replying. In the event of there being a QL is 30 event, in the UK or abroad, it is highly unlikely that I would attend. Cheers, Norm. Hi, Why not have a QL Show in each country and we support each other... How very kind of you to offer to organise and finance the UK event! Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QLis30 programme
On 30/10/2013 17:01, Geoff Wicks wrote: I shall be just as happy with no feedback at all. No feedback is also feedback! There have been three items of feedback - all meaty and helpful - but three is not enough. I am, however, quite happy with the outcome as it gives clarity to the situation. This makes life easier for three people: 1: Quanta Reprehensible though Quanta's behaviour has been, they can now state with certainty that there is no evidence of widespread interest in QLis30. 2: Rich Any doubts about whether or not the event he wants would be a QLis30 event have been removed. He can now claim that the financial and manpower demands he is asking of Quanta are at the lowest level. 3: Me I have now been able to take a final decision on something I have been seriously considering for the last 18 months. I shall not be renewing my Quanta subscription in January, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] R: R: QLis30 programme
On 03/11/2013 22:52, Davide Santachiara wrote: Dear Geoff, Ian, Of course with my email I had no intention whatsoever to propose an event in Italy. The last international meeting was held here in 2003 and the boundary conditions for its organization were already at the limit 10 years ago. I just wanted to provide a feedback on the way we organized the last event knowing that we would have had a limited attendance. Best regards Davide Thanks for the two emails. For me there was no misunderstanding at all. My problem is that in the UK there has only ever been one type of show and there is no longer any interest in that type of show. I have been trying to get over the message that there are other types of show and that we can learn fron what has happened in other countries, including Italy. For this reason I very much welcomed your first email, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] R: QLis30 programme
On 03/11/2013 16:51, Ian Pine wrote: I'm not sure which country is preferred to hold an event but I could not justify the expense of travelling outside UK at the moment. If to be held in UK what about seeing if something could be done in co-operation with The National Museum of Computing http://www.tnmoc.org, perhaps at their place in Bletchley Park? One advantage is that there would be plenty of other computing history, aside from the QL, to attract visitors. I've been meaning to make another visit to Bletchley Park for ages, so a one-day QL event there would certainly coax me out of my armchair. Ian. I hope I have not caused confusion. If there is an event it would be a UK event. My personal opinion is that there is no point in having a traditonal Quanta show. They are burnt out and are of no interest to the members. Last year's show at Manchester was the worst I have ever attended. Two days with just two presentations both on the Sunday. Scarcely any mixing and badly attended presentations. I had the impression that some people were only there because they felt they had to be and just stayed at their tables doing their own thing. At the end of the show the committee had a tut tut session and asked how we could approve attendance. They came up with a brilliant solution for this year - a carbon copy of last year! And then Sarah grumbles why attendance was bad and screams APATHY in the Quanta Magazine. (Although she did spare us the capital letters this year.) We have to break with this pattern. That's why I referred to shows abroad as possible models. Let's stop having the obsession with numbers and instead look at the quality of the event. I don't know whether Bletchley Park would be financially feasible, but I like the idea of combining some form of social activity with the business. It would also get us back nearer to the South of England. No problem with day travel for the commitee - Bletchley is on the West Coast Line which also serves the small village of Manchester. The venue is 300 metres from the station, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QLis30 programme
So far discussion of a possible QLis30 event has been on whether or not such an event should be held at all; whether it should be a two day or one day event; and whether anyone will bother to attend. The most important thing - the content of the event - has scarcely been mentioned. In fact I believe that Dilwyn and I are the only people to have made suggestions. If we can't do better than that we should forget the whole business. If we are expecting Quanta to finance an event then they have a right to expect a detailed business plan rather than just a vague idea. There is no point in having an event that will be nothing more than a Manchester show at another location. To concentrate our minds on the content of the event, I have devised this little exercise. The scenario is deliberately very restrictive to avoid unnecessary side issues. In practice I would expect the actual event to be more flexible. The QLis30 event will be a single day held in the function room of a hotel between 10.00 and 16:00. There will be only the one room available the size of which will be determined by the program of the day. Only three tables will be permitted. One for Quanta, one for Dilwyn and one for Rich. Any other person wanting a table would have to apply with a good motivation. The first thing we have to decide is the target group of the event. This may seem a strange concept, especially to UK QL-ers who only know one type of show - a large hall with lots of tables and possibly presentations. However if you look at shows worldwide there have been a wide variety of styles. For example QL2004 was a day for the developers more than for the punters. Recent continental shows have had a small, but enthusiastic, attendance and have had an above average technical content. The former North American shows also had a small, but enthusiastic, attendance and always included lively social events outside the formal sessions. A few years ago there was a successful event in Italy attended, if I remember correctly, by about 12 people. Several were no longer QL-ers and the event was a form of reunion. It included a video presentation by Daniele Terdina from America. A small number of people attending is not necessarily a negative thing. It depends on who the people are and whether they can produce something out of the event that can benefit the QL community at large. I have used a hotel function room because of access to catering. Do we, for example, include catering as part of the day's events? A communal buffet lunch or even a sit down lunch? A structured relaxation session in the bar? (The bar at QLis21 was well patronised after the show dinner with some Quanta members becoming Brahms! It buggered up the programme for the following day.) The content is open ended, but has to be entirely on the theme Qlis30 - that is looking at the past or looking to the future. Thus a presentation on the QLSD would be on topic but one on assembler off topic (sorry George!). I for one would like to see some brainstorming over the future especially in a non QL Today world and I suspect, shortly, a non Quanta world. We would have about 6 hours to fill. You can do a lot in six hours. I hope we can have a lively discussion on this list from which we can build up the structure of a possible event to put to Quanta. (Or decide to do privately? I would not rule that out.) I prefer an open discussion, but I will understand if anyone would prefer to contact me privately. I shall be just as happy with no feedback at all. No feedback is also feedback! Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Why?
On 24/10/2013 11:48, Rich Mellor wrote: On 24/10/2013 08:11, Dave Park wrote: It sounds like Rich is making a proposition that Quanta should at least investigate, without individuals shooting it down in flames. One thing it does is give Quanta access to a lot of Sinclair fans who aren't QLers - which is the best form of advertising for the QL there is. imvvho Dave I don't think that Geoff was trying to shoot the proposal down in flames - I just don't think he probably quite understood the proposal. I understand that the Chairman of Quanta is currently away and hopefully we can get some comments from Quanta next week Let's not confuse two entirely separate things. When I write I am writing purely about whether or not Quanta will celebrate 30 QL years. What Rich does is between him and Quanta. You cannot hold a Quanta QLis30 event if only two members of Quanta have to attend. Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Why?
So the questions which arise are: a) What would people wish to see at such an event b) What would be the deciding factor on whether people would want to attend c) Should the event be organised and run by Quanta, or do people think it would be better to have a wider Sinclair event at which Quanta would be represented? d) Is anyone willing to help organise such an event? e) Where should it be held (and yes, that means people living south of the M25 must expect to travel north of London !) unless you are going to organise the event. Good questions and I have been thinking on much the same lines. In fact I am working on an idea of a exercise to be posted on this list to test whether people have any ideas or whether there really is interest, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Why?
We need to inject some realism into this discussion and that means looking in some detail at Quanta's finances. We have to stop thinking that Quanta has a huge pot of gold. Admittedly there is still some gold, but it is a very small pot. In practiced Quanta's finances are in a more serious condition than most members realise and there is no quick fix for the problems. Quanta has made a financial loss in 8 of the last 10 years and, on average, the loss works out at £700 per year. Almost £600 of that loss is down to the QLis21 and QLis25 events. In other words these shows have made a major contribution to Quanta's present financial trouble. Now consider income. On the last available membership figures we now have under 100 subscription paying members. On the basis of this figure I would predict a future annual income between £2,000 and £2,500, and probably nearer the lower value than the higher. A QLis30 event run on the lines of the previous two shows would cost more than Quanta's income in 2014. In the worst case scenario it would cost one and a half times the annual income. In those circumstances I would fully support John Gilpin when he says we cannot afford QLis30. Where I depart from Quanta is they have failed to look at alternative ways of running a 2014 event. In particular they have not looked at the possibility of a 1 day event. I have suggested that this could be done for £1,000. This is not a figure that I have just thought up for this discussion, but one that I reached a year ago and suggested in a QL Today editorial. Quanta's problems is that is still lives in the world when it had 2,000 members and has the mentality that what we have always done, we always have to do. It needs to start thinking simply and go back to first principles. Learn how to organise a no frills show. It is what happens at a show that is important and not the Quanta frippery. I would urge Quanta to go back to the drawing board and look at the possibility of a 1 day event. I have considered Rich's proposal carefully and I like it, but sorry Rich, you have not produced for me a business case. I have no idea from what you write how much the show would cost Quanta. If you want this show to go ahead you really need to do more homework. I need to know who the partners will be, how reliable they are, and what the relative costs would be for Quanta. I need to know an estimate of attendance and, given that there was a loss on the last occasion, what you anticipate the loss to be. I also need to know more than just the venue costs. As Sarah has pointed out there are many other costs to a show. Venue costs represented about a third of the total costs of QLis21 and about a half of the costs of QLis25. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the discussion so far, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Why?
On 19/10/2013 20:16, Dilwyn Jones wrote: A celebratory event would be great if we could find a suitable venue, not too expensive and could be certain of visitors. Rich has suggested the Computer Museum as a venue and it's the closest we've got to one, I think. It needn't necessarily be a Quanta event, Rich has mentioned the possibility of organising it himself if his health allows and someone was able to help him: time to privatise a Quanta workshop perhaps? Unfortunately, with my partner's ill health over the last year (hi Ann!) , my commitment to Quanta has been a bit less than I'd like it to be) over the past few months, and I haven't been involved with the workshops planning at all apart from the odd email in response to Rich's efforts. The only other way to run an event like this is to find a smaller affordable function room, perhaps do a QL History type of display again, plus any other celebratory little events we could think of. But we've been there before of course. I'd like a special event to occur less year, but I'm uneasy about whether it could become value for money and best use of funds if the will and commitment wasn't there for it to stand a good chance of success. So let's try picking up the pieces and seeing what could be done. 1: The idea of the Computer Museum would be great, but it is too expensive. Probably the best bet would be a one day event in a hotel function room. That would solve any catering problems. (But we should check on their hygiene ratings. The Allesley scores a 2/5 and the much vaunted Pond Quay habitually a 1/5). 2: The event could be combined with the Quanta AGM, but it would not be necessary. Provided it is held in Manchester Quanta can easily organise an AGM without a show. A event later than April would give us more planning time. 3: We would need to think about a program with something more than an exhibition. One thing I would like to see is getting some of the movers and shakers together to discuss how we should handle the post-QL Today world. Also we should bear in mind the possibility of Quanta being wound up. I think this could be a possibility in 2015. 4: Let's not get too hung up about a low attendance. It will be what happens at the show more than numbers attending that will be important. 5: I don't think it is unreasonable to ask for Quanta funding up to £1,000. After all they still had £7,869 in the bank at the end of 2012. And recently that have been willing to spend £692 on a non-functioning website. Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL Today + DVD (QPC2)
On 27/09/2013 10:34, Rich Mellor wrote: I thought I would just add my pwn comments on the sad demise of QL-Today. Many thanks for all of the efforts and contributions which have been made over the years - I always enjoyed reading the magazine and following various articles. It was interesting that, despite being a member of the QL-users mailing list and also the QL forums, there were always snippets of news which never found their way into other avenues of disseminating information. It was interesting to see that the former owner of SD Microsystems who wrote some of the early business software, acquired this issue out of interest and we have been talking about the QL Wiki. One minor comment that has come back from him is that the version of QPC2 on the DVD could not access his disk drives, whereas q-emulator could - seems very odd - has anyone else noticed this? I am in touch with Stephen on this one. He seems to be having general problems with QPC2 that are difficult to understand. I've got an idea on how to help him, but I have a little work to do on it. Incidentally because he was an early QL software developer (and also other early systems) he has a QL compatible printer, but he says he is having difficulties printing out from Qemulator, Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL Today + DVD
On 24/09/2013 17:38, Per Witte wrote: Great DVD! Nice last read! I particularly enjoyed Marcel's piece on how QPC came to be. Thanks for that. Now its over, mainly due to the lack of copy and readers, which in turn is probably due to much reduced activity. For my part, I stopped contributing due to the almost total lack of feedback. You spend hours of free time on something, doing your best to make it relevant, intelligible and enjoyable, and then pour it into a black hole. Pointless. In my case, it was probably the QL-community telling me to shut up and take up knitting instead; I don't think you should blame yourself. It is a universal problem in the QL community. in the case of Norman and others, perhaps it was merely the silence of eager anticipation. The tragedy is that Norman now has had feedback and knows from the number of people that registered with him how much his articles were appreciated. I found it frustrating as editor of QL Today that we had very little feedback. In the later years there was a heavy emphasis on assembler and I wondered whether it was too technical for most readers. Given the reaction to Norman's registration offer I think perhaps not. The problem is it is virtually impossible to tell the difference! Duh! In a commercial environment feedback is amply provided in terms of profit/loss (and complaints), however on the free/open/voluntary scene it is much harder to tell whether more of the same is wanted, correction is needed, or whether its time to change tack. I think that this laziness(?) is one of the reasons for our rapid demise. I think one of the problems we have is that there are many people in the QL community who are loyal to the QL, but who are no longer active QL-ers. We should never forget how revolutionary the QL was at the beginning and how much that meant to people. Since the last issue was published I have had an email from a former trader from the black box days who came across some old issues of QL Today on eBay. He now seems to follow my website and is one of the people who bought a subscription to volume 17 to get the DVD. He has never seen QPC and is looking forward to trying it out. One of the things I like about the web is that you get feedback from the statistics although it is not easy to discover who are the QL-ers and who not. (I get numerous hits from China - their search engine robot!) Nevertheless I get an idea of what topics people are interested in. This is one of the reasons I think an in depth website would be a good idea, but, guess what, no feedback! Finally to get on my favourite hobby horse, the Quanta officers want the members to be apathetic. The organisation has frequently stifled discussion and the constitutional amendments in the last decade were designed to decrease democracy rather than increase it. Thanks to those who persevered for so long! Goodbye QLToady! Thanks from me to our, all too few, faithful writers. I first felt QL Today was becoming editorially unviable 3 years ago, but we managed to go on for another 3 years. I particularly liked the practical nostalgia content of the final issue, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL Today + DVD
On 19/09/2013 21:17, Dilwyn Jones wrote: Geoff Wicks wrote: It was Jochen you have thank. I objected to the last two words on the grounds that there were no known QL-ers in Wales, Probably true, we all (3 of us?) probably use QPC2 now! Posted from a reinforced bunker at an undisclosed destination. The bunker-buster has just been launched ;-) Dammit, I'd forgotten you were the Launchpad expert! Best Wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QL Today + DVD
On 19/09/2013 18:17, Dilwyn Jones wrote: On a personal note, as the first editor of the magazine, it was so nice that the last words on the back cover of the very last issue were in Welsh, not sure of that was a subtle and personal note or not, but in case it was (and knowing Geoff it might well have been) thanks for that and for the number of times my name appears in this last issue. Dilwyn Jones # It was Jochen you have thank. I objected to the last two words on the grounds that there were no known QL-ers in Wales, Best Wishes, Geoff Posted from a reinforced bunker at an undisclosed destination. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Phillips CM8833 Monitor
On 02/09/2013 12:29, Bob Spelten wrote: Op Mon, 02 Sep 2013 10:33:18 +0200 schreef Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk: Does anyone have the correct lead to connect a QL to a Phillips 8833 monitor - it has a scart like socket and an 8 pin din on the back. Unfortunately, the standard QL monitor lead only has a 6 pin din on the monitor end... Connecting the QL directly to the 8-pin din will not work. The plug is based on the 270 degree 3-pin din, with added pins, so the numbering is a bit odd but should be on the plug itself: 4 2 5 1 8 3 6 ^ 7 4= blue, 2= red, 5= intensity (?), 1= n.c., 8= vertical sync, 3= green 6= ground, 7= horizontal sync In my notes I found that blue gave yellow on white, red gave cyan and green gave magenta. VS HS both connected gave a sync distortion, probably just VS will do. So it may need some signal conversion to work. I use the scart connection myself (input II), through a small box where I added some resistors. 7= blue, 11= green, 15= red, 20= video-in, used for vertical sync through a 1K resistor. Also the RGB switch at the back should be pressed. Each colour is fed through a 330 Ohm resistor (could be 220) and connected to ground with 75 Ohm to pin 17. The monitor was used for my Spectrum so predates the QL/SGC it's connected to now but is still working well. I can scan the manual and schematics if you want it. I had an Ancona monitor which was Phillips under an assumed name. I also have dug out the manual and the pin connections Bob gives are the same. I would just add that pin 8 is Vertical sync. I disagree with Bob that a direct connection to a QL does not work, although it is a bugger to make up a cable - especially if your soldering is as bad as mine. IIRC you should regard it as either an RGB or a composite input and just make the connections for which of the two you want. You will probably find a standard 3 pin composite cable will work although obviously RGB gives better quality, Best wishes, Geoff ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
