RE: [ql-users] QL on Stick
Yep. Tooling costs the earth. And, with a lot of companies we work for, the tooling plans are either sold to them, or destroyed, so that further ones cant be made, should the company have wished a limited edition of whatever device they commissioned. I'm asked one of the guys in the know to look at the back catalogue to see if we have a regtangular case there, but I doubt it. Even if we did, you'd probably find the rights to it don't belong to us anymore, but to the company that asked for it. Ho Hum Darren. -Original Message- From: Tony Firshman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 20 May 2005 14:27 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL on Stick On Fri, 20 May 2005 at 11:49:05, Darren Branagh wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) That would be lovely, a real 3D shaped USB Stick with the microdrives being the USB plug cover cap. I can probably get those purpose made, but at a 100 print run, expect to pay about 2,000 quid each at least!! Exactly. The tooling cost of the real QL case was, I think, £30,000 in the 80s. (we did one in the shape and colour of a human finger last month - the fingernail removed to show the USB connector - very classy!) I think the print run for those was about 25,000 units, was for a US Telecoms company. Mind you if there is tooling for a rectangular case, then that might be cost effective. Isn't the tooling the really expensive bit? Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ 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] QL on Stick
Yes, you're missing something!! :-) We where talking of getting a mounded case made in the shape of a QL. Could be done, but for 100 or so units, would cost the earth. The sticky label idea wouldn't work - they'd wear off in about 5 mins of throwing them about, and the stick is not square, its tapered and slightly rounded at the ends - a label would crease and look awful. We can print directly onto the stick, the same way promotional pens and keyrings are done, and it looks great. But it's a minimum order of 100. Cheers, Darren. Am I missing something here, or could Darren just get some transparent sticky labels (e.g. from Avery) and laser print a QL picture or something onto them and wrap it around the body of the QL Stick? Dilwyn Jones That would be lovely, a real 3D shaped USB Stick with the microdrives being the USB plug cover cap. I can probably get those purpose made, but at a 100 print run, expect to pay about 2,000 quid each at least!! -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.322 / Virus Database: 266.11.14 - Release Date: 20/05/2005 ___ 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: RE: [ql-users] Digital Precision Software
Sounds good to me. I completely forgot about Abandonware in PC terms. I think we should make all these unknown status programs available in a site for download, labelled abandonware, and on the head of the downloader be it. God, we're talking about 10-15 year old QL programs here. Hardly a market for em, and nobody is going to get rich. There is a lot of decent software in this category, and it's a shame to see it sit idle when people could be getting some use from it. Cheers, Darren. -Original Message- From: Duncan Neithercut [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 22 May 2005 20:57 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: RE: [ql-users] Digital Precision Software It bugs me also. See rest of world : Computer Active computer magazine 12th to 25th May feature on how to find and play vintage PC games. They mention ww.abandonia.com a site for freeware, shareware and so called abandonware == programs no longer sold or supported by its developer. They note that abandonware is technically illegal but that the copyright holders are not harmed financially by this distribution of discontinued software. It happens in PC land where the market money amd lawyers are so much bigger and agressive. Why then are the theoretical rights of absentee copright holders in the QL world where the market is zip according to all our traders such a mega issue? No one can be harmed when sources/modifications are released where there is no market. How about this - even in a PC 100% of zero is always zero. When will the upgrade of Perfection be release in DWJ web site. Duncan Neithercut -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of gwicks Sent: 17 May 2005 22:17 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: RE: [ql-users] Digital Precision Software - Original Message - From: Darren Branagh To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 3:43 PM Subject: RE: RE: [ql-users] Digital Precision Software This is one of the many things that bugs the hell out of me. I wish there was a statute of limitations or similar on software, whereby after x years the stuff became free. I'm sure freddy would agree to releasing it as freeware, or certainly for a giveaway price. I mean, what real use is a piece of 10 year old QL Software other than retro/curiosity value? You're hardly gonna run the world with it... There is so much good usable software out there and nobody knows its user status - is it freeware, charityware, commercial, or what? And if we had some certainty on a lot of this, a lot of users may be attracted back or stay with the QL to use them, purely as tinkerers. I can pick up a copy of PC World, Computer Shopper, PC Pro or any other PC Magazine and find a pile of software (often once costing hundreds of pounds) stuck to the front cover for the 4.99 cover price, and much of this is less than 2-3 years of age. You usually find v.3 or whatever on the cover disc with an offer to get the new v.4 inside at a reduced cost - yet here we are debating the status of software that hasn't been sold at all, never mind updated, for over a decade. Why are people so reluctant to give this stuff away? There is no money in it anymore. Just ask any trader :-) END RANT/ Don't forget Freddy V. may have sold the software, but that does not mean he is the copyright holder. I have said this many times before on this list. There are doubts about the copyright position of several of the ancilliary programs that formed part of the total Perfection package. When I enquired many years ago, no one was sure of the exact copyright status of Spellchecker, for example. If my memory serves me correctly when Turbo became PD permission had to be sought not just from Freddy V., but also the various authors, 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 Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] QL on Stick
On Mon, 23 May 2005 at 10:05:42, Darren Branagh wrote: (ref: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) Yes, you're missing something!! :-) We where talking of getting a mounded case made in the shape of a QL. Could be done, but for 100 or so units, would cost the earth. The sticky label idea wouldn't work - they'd wear off in about 5 mins of throwing them about, and the stick is not square, its tapered and slightly rounded at the ends - a label would crease and look awful. We can print directly onto the stick, the same way promotional pens and keyrings are done, and it looks great. But it's a minimum order of 100. I reckon that a QL printed on the stick is a lot better than nothing at all. How about a white stick, with a black QL printed on as large as is feasible. The lettering of the keys (and the Sinclair and QL) would simply be the white case plastic showing through. Tony -- QBBS (QL fido BBS 2:252/67) +44(0)1442-828255 tony@surname.co.uk http://firshman.co.uk Voice: +44(0)1442-828254 Fax: +44(0)1442-828255 Skype: tonyfirshman TF Services, 29 Longfield Road, TRING, Herts, HP23 4DG ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [ql-users] Software behaving badly
In message [EMAIL PROTECTED], David Tubbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes At 13:53 22/05/2005 +0100, you wrote: Now for suggestions of software behaving badly ... that is valued / well used software in need of enhancement or remedial work for now and the future. My idea was with a view to a table of what WORKs where, particularly all those version numbers, and if extra memory is required, or some underlying toolkit. Yes, that would be there as well. Which would identify any software that users had a particular interest in, and which may then lead to enhancement or remedial work. Parked somewhere on the web it could save any number of lengthy, and repeated responses Easy enough ... when the hard work of the list is done. -- Malcolm Cadman ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
