currier@romeo.cs.duke.edu (Bob Currier - DCAC Network Comm. Specialist) (09/08/89)
I realize that this is comp.sys.atari.st, but am hoping that with the large numbers of European readers I may get a response. I am looking for anyone that is still using the Sinclair QL system. Remember it? *$@!#$ microdrives?!! I just reactivated mine after a 2.5 year stint of dust gathering, and am wondering if there are any users still left. I am particularly interested in learning of any sources of public domain software, or user groups. My intent is to give the QL to my son, if I can find some good software. I currently have Turbo, and the Assembler Workbench, but I don't think a 9 year old is ready for 68k assembler! If I don't hear from anyone, I think the 'ol QL is destined for the dustbin. sigh Bob Currier Network Communications rdc@northlab.ac.duke.edu currier@romeo.cs.duke.edu dynamo@tucc.bitnet ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ts@chyde.uwasa.fi (Timo Salmi LASK) (09/09/89)
bc> for anyone that is still using the Sinclair QL system. Remember it? bc> I am particularly interested in learning of any sources of public domain bc> software, or user groups. My intent is to give the QL to my son, if I bc> If I don't hear from anyone, I think the 'ol QL is destined for the bc> dustbin. sigh There still are QL users around, and an active users association called Quanta. It publishes a monthly newsletter and maintains a large Public Domain library. Membership Secretary is Philip Borman, 25 Grosvenor Crescent, Grimsby, South Humberside, DN32 0QJ, England, and the Chairman is Alex Tegg, 36 Manor Avenue, Wood End Fields, Cam, Dursley, Glouchester, GL11 5JF, England. There is also a QL World Maganize, but I am afraid I do not have the details for you about it at the moment. I have been an active QL user myself since 1985, and I have written quite many of the programs in the Quanta library. This is not, however, and advertisment for Quanta. I have no other connection with them, and I must say that personally I have been less than satisfied with the association. (Anticipating one question. Should you be interested in getting my QL programs, please contact Quanta, not me, about them. In other respects, please feel free to contact me electronically.) During the last couple of years I have more and more transferred my attention and applications to the PC side of things. If fact I have a resonable PD program library available for PC users with FTP (file transfer program) capability at the University of Vaasa, Finland. Nevertheless, I still have, and occasionally use my QL. In a way I feel this shift has been a pity, because the QL (when augmented with a proper disk drive) is a very nice machine, and was (and in some respects still is) well ahead of its time. For example, it has multitasking, which the PC community still effectively lacks. (The true reason behind this is that QL uses Motorola 68000 processors, while PCs are tied down to the Intel 808x processor history.) The problem of the QL is that, even before folding, it lacked a proper support from the late Sinclair Ltd. What we had was an advanced computer (at the time), with LOUSY! marketing and non-existent user support. And afterwards Amstrad, which bought it out, has had a consistent policy of trying to kill the QL phenomenon, without quite succeeding. (I think I shall never again buy any British computers, thank you very much the two of you.) Of cource, there are also technical weaknesses in the QL, and one (besides the microdrives) is telling. The serial ports lack proper buffering, and this renders modem usage very tricky. Perhaps this is one of the reasons for the fact that so very very few QL users are in evidence on bulletin boards. ................................................................... Prof. Timo Salmi (Site 128.214.12.3) School of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, SF-65101, Finland Internet: ts@chyde.uwasa.fi Funet: vakk::salmi Bitnet: salmi@finfun