Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30
Derek Stewart wrote: > Why not have a QL Show in each country and we support each other... Hi folks, back on the QL retro track (after being busy with the JAGUAR for a while) I would like to share my thoughts about a QL-is-30 event. I already had some email back and forth with Rich last spring. 1. The QL (community) definitely deserves such an event. 2. Such an event should be hold in the home country of Sinclair and the QL, in England. 3. It should be an international event, addressing visitors from all over the world. 4. It should be held at an attractive place/city where beside the show visitors (and their families) can enjoy other activities may it be historical, cultural or just shopping/dining. 5. Catering does not have to be a priority as because of #4 there will be plenty of restaurants/c-stores/markets of all quality and price ranges available. And, BYO food/drinks always works at such events. 6. The event should be 2 days, a full weekend. Held in either in late April/Mai or in September/October 2014 (to leave the summer free for family vacations and avoid the cold and travel-unfriendly winter). 7. The event should be a good mixture of activities in a meeting room (traditional QL show style), with desks for tinkerers, users and traders and sessions & talks in a lecture room. 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.). 9. The event should be promoted to a much wider audience than only posting it to ql-users and ql-forum. More forums, retro-magazines, facebook, twitter and the like. Even e-mailshots to (former) Sinclair/QL users. Taking all this together my favourite location is Cambridge may it be at the Cambridge Campus of the Anglia Ruskin University (with the option to visit the Sinclair building) or in the Centre for Computing History. London would also be an option as it is always worth visiting. I'm pretty sure continental visitors mostly agree with my thoughts. Together with my Swiss QL friends I ran the "QL-Mac-are-25" international show - the last big scale QL show - in Lucerne 4 years ago with a similar concept. The website (with facts & figures, pictures, videos and presentations) of that event is still up at http://tinyurl.com/ql-mac-show. We had some 50 visitors. Thanks to the remaining funds of the Swiss Sinclair User Group and donations by QUANTA and others the event has been fully sponsored and could be ran as a free entry event (no admission fee). Total costs were CHF 3257 whereof CHF 2532 were for the posh venue (rooms and associated services). All work and travel by us enthusiast was voluntary and unpaid. 10 days ago there was the E-JAGFEST 2013 in Duisburg, Germany - a two days international event celebrating the 20th anniversary of the ATARI JAGUAR - which was ran on a similar concept. There were some 50 visitors from Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and Switzerland. Budget was tight, so a fair admission fee applied. And back to topic, two QLers - Jochen and myself - attended. Here's a playlist of videos about that event http://tinyurl.com/Jag-is-20. Jochen and myself can be seen in part 10. Even life is not easy and things get complicated sometime, I would definitely work hard to attend such an event. Excuses like my car is not fit, I don't like trains, a 4 hours trip within Britain is horrible, etc. sound strange to me (and most likely to other continentals who will travel much longer ways and days). If you're a Sinclair/QL enthusiast then such things should not stop one from attending the show. Just my two pennies... QL forever! Cheers, Urs ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30
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. All the best Peter ___ 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
I think we should hold the event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas has many convention halls and are ideally set-up for hosting such a popular and successful event. Las Vegas has also worked hard to build the infrastructure required to feed the massing hordes. Furthermore, Vegas has entertainment and services needed to properly support the QL community in the manner to which it has become accustomed. Why Las Vegas, though? It's a holiday destination. Once you accept that for most people, traveling internationally to get to any location means taking a holiday or vacation, you logically end up in a situation where it makes sense only if the location is vacation-friendly. Las Vegas is vacation-friendly! Now, I can hear what you're saying... "Dave just suggested Las Vegas because it's in Murica!" No, not so. It will require less travel for all you Europeans than it would for me. For me it would be a 4,200 mile (6,760 km) round trip drive. But I'd do it. :) Sorry, I can't go on any longer :) Folks, I love and care for you all, but I want to bang your heads together. It doesn't matter if the show is large or small, here or there. We can barely even put on a show, so the fact one might happen at all is a miracle. There have been at least three good offers to host a show, and one clear request for movement and funding by Quanta, and yet nothing has happened. It is now very VERY late in the day to hit the April/May target for a show. Everyone feels let down and nobody feels responsible. For my money, I think Rich's (RWAP's) offer to host a show was the most sound, and represented the combination of good location, minimal cost, and best exposure to other users to grow the community. However, watching us squabbling like little girls must have been very off-putting for him. We should be thankful if he even thinks it's worth serving this community any more. We should all be ashamed. Dave On Tue, Dec 3, 2013 at 12:42 PM, Geoff Wicks wrote: > 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 > -- Dave Park Sandy Electronics, LLC d...@sinclairql.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30
Agree! Let's get behind Rich's offer. Kenn Sent from my iPad > On 3 Dec 2013, at 19:26, Dave Park wrote: > > I think we should hold the event in Las Vegas, Nevada. > > Las Vegas has many convention halls and are ideally set-up for hosting such > a popular and successful event. Las Vegas has also worked hard to build the > infrastructure required to feed the massing hordes. Furthermore, Vegas has > entertainment and services needed to properly support the QL community in > the manner to which it has become accustomed. Why Las Vegas, though? It's a > holiday destination. Once you accept that for most people, traveling > internationally to get to any location means taking a holiday or vacation, > you logically end up in a situation where it makes sense only if the > location is vacation-friendly. > > Las Vegas is vacation-friendly! > > Now, I can hear what you're saying... "Dave just suggested Las Vegas > because it's in Murica!" No, not so. It will require less travel for all > you Europeans than it would for me. For me it would be a 4,200 mile (6,760 > km) round trip drive. But I'd do it. :) > > Sorry, I can't go on any longer :) > > Folks, I love and care for you all, but I want to bang your heads together. > It doesn't matter if the show is large or small, here or there. We can > barely even put on a show, so the fact one might happen at all is a > miracle. There have been at least three good offers to host a show, and one > clear request for movement and funding by Quanta, and yet nothing has > happened. It is now very VERY late in the day to hit the April/May target > for a show. Everyone feels let down and nobody feels responsible. > > For my money, I think Rich's (RWAP's) offer to host a show was the most > sound, and represented the combination of good location, minimal cost, and > best exposure to other users to grow the community. However, watching us > squabbling like little girls must have been very off-putting for him. We > should be thankful if he even thinks it's worth serving this community any > more. > > We should all be ashamed. > > Dave > > >> On Tue, Dec 3, 2013 at 12:42 PM, Geoff Wicks wrote: >> >>> 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 > > > > -- > Dave Park > Sandy Electronics, LLC > d...@sinclairql.com > ___ > 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 is 30
If a "QL Is 30" happens at all (and it's more likely in September next year than April) wouldn't it be great if Peter was able to bring a Q68 (and any other personal QL projects he has working by then!) to show us at such a meeting! Dilwyn Jones -Original Message- From: Peter Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 3:15 PM To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Ql is 30 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. All the best Peter ___ 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
