Spectrum Progress #02 19 января 1997

Интервью

Forum - An interview with Nikolay Noskov and Ivan Makarchenko, creators of "PETERS".

  Today, our companions will be people trying to make a 
technical revolution in the world Spectrum. And they obviously 
have weighed his chances. But it best to judge you, dear 
readers. A until the present you Nikolay Noskov, CEO of Peters 
and the head Project Sprinter, as well as Ivan Makarchenko,

specialist firm Peters and developer of the new
computer. Went to meet them, we
decided to leave alone the technical issues, and
hear from the creators of the prospects who are waiting for a 
new car that bears the working title Sprinter.




  Spectrum Progress: Nick, tell me what Sprinter may attract 
users in the near future, there is not even written by its 
advanced software mode? 

  Nikolay Noskov: Even now, when using traditional
Spectrum'a, you can use a whole megabyte of RAM. That is, you 
use 256 kilobytes, as usual, for example, Scorpion or something 
else and the remaining memory is organized as

ramdisk at more than 800 kilobytes.
This is actually the capacity of one floppy disk. You all
diskette there are resetting and this disc works just fine. 
Then, if you want to write the contents of the floppy disk.


  SP: It seems to have done on MBytes
Profi ...

  NN: M-m-m ... Thus, Sprinter has
really working ramdisk. Now.
There is a graphics accelerator and it just
You can use ...

  SP: There is a view video accelerator?

  NN: It's not quite video accelerator, it is even
incorrectly. This is an accelerator-screen operations
core and video RAM. It speeds up the operation as
mainly RAM and a video RAM. That is, if
you write a program, you first, use
clock frequency of 14 MHz (and the program will already be
rotate faster), and secondly can use the features accelerator: 
transmittals the use of tables accelerator to convert from one 
format to another ... 

  Ivan Makarchenko: That is recoding the symbol table.

  NN: Yes. Very convenient for a text editor ... Besides all 
this, making, for example, game for conventional Spectrum'a its 
small screen, you can, considering the inclusion of more modes 
high resolution on the part of which is occupied by border'om. 
There you can make a nice frame or display additional 
information. Even in this version of the program will be more 
interesting than a standard Spectrum'e, and the work requires 
programmers to the relatively small. It is only necessary to 
provide option to run your Games Sprinter'e.



  SP: This is what we talked about new software, and how things 
are going with the old, already grown fond games? That is, 
whether provided by the compatibility level comparable with the 
level of compatibility of the same Scorpion?


  NN: What do you mean - Scorpion ... As far as I
I know from Scorpion just disgusting compatibility with 
Pentagon'om. Not every game It goes ...


  SP: By the way at the time were some of the disputes
existing machines closest to the ZX-Spectrum.

  NN: In this dispute, we do not want to get involved. Y
We will provide various options for the port configuration. 
Regardless of whether under that written program, under the 
Scorpion or the Pentagon, it can be used. Enable the desired 
mode configuration and work. We have solved the problem

like this. In order not tormented, deciding who
are holier than the Pope ...

  MI: Schematic configuration of ports allows for four choices, 
if I is a 128-ROM and eight, if - 256-I.


  HH: Well, eight, as I understand it, nobody needs - we do not 
have a lot of formats, computers ... In general, the problem we 
have decided the case, so all existing software, except tied to 
various tricks (such as Shadow monitor) should work. Well, we

hold, of course, tests. Now a lot of programs focused on 
something or otherwise. For example, recoverable in a few 
Logros'e hundreds of floppy disks and see what would have 
worked as a computer with all kinds of programs. You may also 
like take part in testing that would confirm later that yes, 
indeed found fairly complete compatibility, or vice versa -

incompatibility. This must be done publicly to doubt themselves 
transgressed Saboya. Let bring with them a diskette that is not 
screaming that we altered the program ... Or carry out 
independent tests. Floppy disk to arrive in the sealed box :-), 
guarded by special :-)), Commission will reveal its :-)))... 
Vobschem question compatibility principle for us and we pay him 
much attention. 


  SP: Yes, it is already clear. And how are you going
to solve this problem: users are not sure
that programmers will write new programs
for Sprinter'a and therefore questioned whether
buy it, and programmers are not sure
users will buy this computer and
doubt that their programs will pay off. As
cut this knot?

  HH: This node is cut ...

  SP: Simple?

  NN: M-m-m ... Generally speaking, this problem
somewhat artificially, I think so ...

  SP: And yet with what you want to start?

  NN: We want to start a comprehensive manner. Because
when the computer is finally ready ...
Indeed do a preliminary stage, when we
We are confident that the computer is running as
expect, before it goes into a series of
we will conduct extensive outreach company among programmers 
and consumers. I say that we already have a small queue

on this computer. We have a few months
simple hand twist, they say, when we can
buy ... So ... The question of whether
buy it? Will! Because about half of the
those who wish - Scorpion'ov owners who
heard about a new computer and want to surrender their
machines to buy our product.
The only thing that interests them, whether the program 
compatibility. Well, of course - will shadow monitor.


  MI: So you got used here.

  HH: Yeah, they got used to it ... With the shadow, we monitor 
the issue will be resolved in any case. Because that is in the 
shadow businesses some features that convenient and necessary. 
In general, the most interesting things we try to implement at 
home, so that it was.



  SP: The most valuable thing in the shadow businesses, then 
that program You can stop pokapatsya in it, then start the 
next. And then there is the issue of protection Copyright. You 
do not care? 

  HH: I agree. Moreover, it turns
what? It turns out that someone stops,
search in the program, then break the protection,
if she was there. After you give a copy of the compromised
program to a friend, friend, brother. The program starts to 
drag on different computers and then the problems begin. 
Suddenly, the program starts fail, begin to pull at 
programmers, producers, they say, how is it I immediately 
bought it, and at I was not working. Where did you buy? Where do

did this version? .. You know, the one possibility that has 
been laid Zonov was laid Four years ago, when everyone enjoyed

this case involved the question of what will have to protect 
copyrights of programmers no standing, it was all about the 
collective farm, all around my ... Now the situation is 
different and objective should not be profitable either to us 
or you so that everyone can plow your program.

We are not profitable, because then we come to the claims that, 
say, your computer does not working with such and such 
programs. I tired to explain that, guys, buy licensed software. 
And such a situation must occur. 

  SP: Calls for honesty may be ineffective ...

  HH: And maybe it is not necessary ... And I think that the 
computer must be other benefits sufficient weight to a man 
refused to like it and at the same time not given from the 
computer. That is some netralnye features (such as stopping and 
printing the pictures) do not allow ispahabit design programmer 
to leave. After all, this service features that are needed for 
anyone. 

  SP: That there is a button Magik your computer be?

  NN: Yes, it will.

  SP: This would be done in Scorpion'e, then
there will be some sort of shadow menu, or will
somehow intercepted?

  HH: You see the shadow monitor this sort of thing ... Here 
you are asking what will happen? And I want to know and what 
you need? 

  SP: :-)

  NN: Will what you need!

  SP: :-))

  NN: I would not like to think that has something to do
and impose it to people, they say, that we have done and
buy everything here in this form. Here we have to go
on the contrary: the guys that you want, we will
do it!


  SP: But let us return to the previous question ...

  NN: About who will buy and who will write programs ...? In 
the first stage, say in During the ninety-seven, Sprinter'om

might well be trading as high-speed Spectrum'om, which works 
faster with the programs and has a more developed periphery. In 
addition, many asked what would be a megabyte of RAM, even on a 
normal car ... So even in this kind of computer to satisfy 
increasing demands sufficiently large number of people through

more RAM, through the development of the periphery, for
by high-performance, due in
Eventually, the same rich text
regime, which is convenient to work with a text
editor. If you need to work with the document and make it 
qualitatively, please turn on your computer and you're doing. 
And if you still use the existing decoder, it can be prepare 
documents better than even on the PC.


  SP: And what decoder?

  MI: Seven decoder for two hundred and fifty
six characters. They are located in RAM, which means
they can load from disk ...

  NN: Yes, you can load from disk and have
always at hand. It is better even than on PC ...
Thus, the computer will find a demand
and we'll keep track of customers and continue to work with the 
programmers. Like, my friends, passed three months, sold a 
certain number of computers ... 

  SP: Programmers should be a machine to
write something ...

  NN: Yes, it is not a problem ... That's just
No problem.

  SP: Programmers are not sure what to get
their disposal machine, technical documentation, and so on.

  NN: Why are they not sure?

  SP: About Peters few people know. No information was 
available. 

  NN: That's another matter. But we are conscious for a while 
retarding the process of advertising, because they wanted to 
wait for what would be the machine normally earned. Because the 
way we passed the autumn and ninety-six, was very heavy. 
Several stages, and every time - just about it, good luck. And 
again! Reach a certain stage, when the machine stops working at 
all because you have another step to raise the frequency and it 
all cuts. Assume full pererazvodish fee, then a piece of 
formiruesh, arguments, and again, again, point blank. AND only 
the third time we have made payment so that all parts have 
earned each other on the frequencies on which to. Because in 
order to rotate the information through the video RAM

and to operate the accelerator and the palette,
These chips operate at forty-two megahertz.

  SP: But now, when the computer is running, we should probably 
catch up time ... For example, many are interested put you in 
the declared eight hundred thousand?


  NN: stowed. We've got plans have not changed,
then there is a computer with one megabyte of RAM, a
normal operation will cost in the range of eight hundred 
thousand. We will not pull up the price because we have the 
opportunity, if the board itself would be too expensive to save 
the expense of other components.


  SP: Maybe you are planning to pay back for
due to sales? How many computers do you plan to
sell for the first time production?

  NN: The question is what should be in six months to sell 
several hundred pieces. 

  SP: And this is real?

  HH: It is enough really. The fact that we have
There are applications from everywhere. For example, from the 
Urals, from Vladivostok, from Sochi, from Blagoveshchensk. From

Ekaterinburg called a very interesting person.
He is also the developer of a graphics accelerator for the 
Spectrum. He told me so proud imagine that I knew immediately 
that it is widely known in narrow circles of people :-). I felt 
ashamed that he did not know and I honestly in this case. As 
this most ... y Bunin, it seems ... "I have not read 
newspapers, and if there is a war, will be announced in 
regimental order :-). 

  SP: Ideas graphical expansion was somewhat, but few schemes 
have come ... 

  NN: Vobschem can not say that there is no
interest. Because children from Vladivostok,
for example, asked as soon as possible
to put his party's computers because of their
cool enough, everything a connection option pisishnogo modem. 
They are going to organize there your network, and computer 
classes, I think. 

  SP: A motherboards nobody was interested?

  NN: Yes, just Blagoveshchensk and Yekaterinburg
asked the board to be converted. We are not against it. Who do 
not like changing your computer entirely, we are ready to sell 
him a fee. Then is not a question that during the first

six months to maximize profits. I even
is not my goal right away to recoup the costs, although the 
money already invested a lot and that would return them need a 
year of work ... 

  SP: So going through?

  HH: Sure. I think no problems. Will
trade and simultaneously advertise. Endow
All vendors of advertising materials. By
as the more sold computers, the
more people will know about it. Hardest
strip, strip of misunderstanding, we have already passed.

  SP: Well, we can only enjoy your
optimism and desire to work. On behalf of all our readers, we 
thank you for it interview, good luck and hope that this

meeting did not last, devoted Sprinter'u.