Answers to the letter № 87-90.

663131 28.09.99


             Dear Nemo!


   I do not know if you get this letter or
No, but my heart is so much boiling,
I decided to write. I am writing you in hopes of getting 
answers to their questions, too long I was in a state of 
complete ignorance regarding Spectrum'ov and compatible with 
them. 

   The first, and probably the main issue at
that I would like to hear the answer,
would be: what state of affairs in the market
Spectrum-compatible machines in your region (here refers to 
Peter). With his parties want to inform you that in our city, 
and the whole region, the status of any due to lack of market 
as such. Although one feels that the demand for home computer 
is, but, unfortunately, no proposals. I remember, I read your 
article about the Spectrum market in which

asked to expand production in
regions. In general, the idea is not bad, but on
Today, even very good, although
Of course this is my purely personal opinion. In
Basically today I am willing to take risks and
to do a similar production with the full awareness.

   I also want to share some
their observations on the architecture and circuit design, and 
most importantly - know your opinion on this matter. I want to 
just to warn you that I'm a programmer, and no radio engineer, 
and microprocessor technology is just my hobby. So please do 
not judge me harshly. 


    I'll start with the principal - from the processor.


   Installing a Speccy Z180 was a progressive decision on your 
part, sorry that it has remained misunderstood nor programmers 
nor users. And why not try to install the Z380? Of course,

it will have to completely redraw the
circuitry machines, however, received
with the opportunity to offset the costs of this venture.


            Now for the memory.


   I do not know how you do in St. Petersburg, and in our
City KR565RU7 costs 20 euro / pcs.,
t.e.160 rub. over 256 KB. In this connection,
I got the idea of using the 40 pin
SOJ from PC graphics: 512 kb in one case, 40 ns, the value of 
1.5 - 2 bucks. One "shot" can "kill" a few

"Hares."

   On a separate video controller conversation.
Here, in principle, no changes are necessary. However, there is 
a domestic Spectrum one drawback - the video output. That 
video, or rather its absence, is today a strong deterrent. Of 
course, abandon RGB should not, however, worth thinking about

shaper PTSTS in the PAL. For
Now nobody will solder your favorite and, of course, expensive 
imported TV, to connect "some

(I am quoting most of) the computer in color. "
Yet it would be nice to have a video input for
synchronization from an external video signal and
also box in it (the signal), a computer image. This would allow 
the use of the Spectrum as Title car for small studios and 
homes to those who have a video camera.


   Well, in general, and for all. 'll Look forward to feedback. 
N. 


                                 08.10.99


              Dear N!


   1. Spectrum'ov about our region
Things are not much better than in the whole
in Russia. One city, even large enough that it solves. In 
general, in Russia the situation is quite clearly visible in 
the "Open Letters". Read it, if do not be lazy.



   2. And who will engage your market? Uncle or something? He 
can do, but does not take a - expensive for you to be.

So somehow let themselves.


   3. Expand production in the regions.
In this area already has some
experience, rather negative than positive. The main difficulty, 
as it turns out, is not willing (and capable of something to do 
professionally) - them something just missing. No structures

places, not professionals. Attitudes toward
this venture with the public naive amateur.
While the main difficulty lies in how to sell, not how to do. 
Now attempt to change somewhat the conditions of the problem. 
Namely, try to produce locally rather

simple, but necessary for Spectrum'a
device. The basic fee is - no more
What kind of testing ground to understand
what's what and learn how to work - to develop relationships. 
If it's possible they can be devaysa barter exchange. As a 
result, everyone will be interested in selling it as his own 
devices, and others. As for the "full awareness"

it is limited to time, ie as
the delay, and volume.

   In addition, in certain regions
difficulties with accessories and advertising
support. In Saint-Petersburg, for example, RS-debris
navezennogo nouveaux riches, just to the knee.
And if something is missing, get abroad, the Finnish dump.


   4. Z180. Progress - is not always good and sometimes bad. If 
the level of market development and user does not meet the 
technical parameters, how would be great they were, - the 
effect is negative. Namely, mass psychosis and 
mashinopoklonnichestvo. A sort of pagan Papuan cult, fueled by 
television and yellow computer press. Effectiveness and impact 
technology to all naikruteyshimi its technical characteristics 
is zero. I can reference to Z180 state that has not yet 
reviewed the problem and the real application architectures 
Z180. Why do electron microscopes, if they are to hammer nails? 
This at least uncomfortable. Hypertext system and the shell 
decelerated, OS' moves from scratch, copyright does not 
observed. Z180 ideologically designed on the RAM 1Mbayt. To 
write a program this volume with existing methods and

ways of organizing work required
15 years. Members 15 years of waiting will not, but on the 
contrary - 5 times during this time throw out your computer. 
New software is created, according to my estimates, 2-3% per 
annum from the existing, approximately the same rate going 
fleet renewal. Proceeding from this, change the architecture 
quickly 3% per year is also impossible. It is an objective 
RESTRICTIONS. 

   "Obtained in this opportunity."
Refers to the technical specifications, is not it? In fact, the 
"possibility" often impossible to realize in practice.

This is nothing but the imaginary consumer value. Development 
of the market determines level of effective use of technical 
resources / values, but not vice versa. This is the very sultry 
PC shnaya chimera, which is implanted in the ocean with filing 
of our birth-nouveau riche. Pagan temple with the idol of 
"Progress" in the center. Regular "Potemkin village". Better

to corn planting that is - less damage
it would be. All this applies mainly to
IBM. But also to Spectrum'u is also relevant. Members are 
regularly exposed to the TV and then, like zombies, saying: 
"One ... One megabyte megahertz ... One pixel ... Some even in 
the mouth becomes sweet, this is what comes ...



   5. 'Now the memory. " 20 euro / pcs. you
the city should not chip, but: 1) the fact
sales, 2) the costs of finding a buyer;
3) bringing up the price. The wholesale price of the ICs in
market day 2 - 3 rubles. Actually
PMI is even cheaper, but it is necessary to: 1)
search, 2) to bend down and pick up from the garbage bin. 
Generally speaking, the percentage / rate component in the 
price of a computer is much lower than commonly believed among 
users. 

   As for "40 pin SOJ on PC graphics cards, the problem is not 
in their price, and in their number. Scrape commercial quantity 
needed for production, unlikely. This case has already been,

was that way in 92-93. We have put in the floppy drive 
controller 556RT14 (15). The first 200 pcs. we really bought 
quickly and very cheap, but then, when the surplus stock

the market was over, we asked them to
manufacturer. By such wild price
that the PCB had to throw -
This proved to be CHEAPER.


   6. Video controller. Here I agree with you - it is really 
necessary. But just as I do? I had a conversation with the 
audience of R & D - we have an institution engaged in 
television. They are there podhalturivayut - make Encoders

Camcorder. They could be and
Spectrum set. Having a stable order
a camcorder, you can do any,
arbitrarily small quantities and under
Spectrum. But the trouble is that the video processors in 
Spectrum'ah differ a, ie in varying degrees NOT MEET 
TELESTANDARTU. There are, for example, machines (and the market 
lot), in which 320 lines (instead of the 312/313). A

This means that the standard encoder or
will run awry, or does not
work. And then, who will it be to fluster thereby forming 
machine, ie "Customized" the place? As the saying goes, 
"non-standard, is punishable by law." In this case, life 
imprisonment on the right coder. However, not all is lost. 
There are a SCART. In fact, the signal is, like RGB, right on 
the video amplifier. Therefore, excellent quality and 
uncritically to minor deviations from standard.


   All of the above applies to the post production.


                                (C) Nemo.

428037 16.06.99


   Many thanks for ISDOS and documentation on IC 44256. I 
apologize for the delay forced the expulsion of the disc. 

   RAM 44256. I was not going and not going to expand on those 
components of IC. Much attractive in this regard RU7. In the 
near future, perhaps, I had them (44,256) you have 'll order.


   Expanding memory in Speccy, in this
If a Delta-C02 "48 KB (Cheboksary
these components, dam), it becomes
second life. Prior to that, they usually gather dust
people in any corner. A fly
constantly new components costly.

   And yet, a soldering iron I do not get bored because
it is still my profession.


                                 09.08.99


   I hope that you are there in St. Pete is not extinct. If 
not, how there getting on my order (the motherboard

KAY-1024/3SL/Turbo). And then there seems to me that you have 
already forgotten about me. Write. 

   P.S. Postal Order N 0313 on
21/06/1999, the prepayment was carried out with
assuming a ratio of 2.5 => 250 rubles .* 2.5 =
625 rubles.


                                 14.09.99


      Hello, dear Nemo!


   When you send me a motherboard
KAY1024? To buy it, I had
part with their computer The => some
months, sitting without a beloved Speccy, and this
for me not very pleasant.

   I would like to get it as soon as possible, and
I'll die of boredom. I hope this happens before the next 
millennium? 


                                 29.09.99


   Well, how much you can slow down? For all
this time could be this mother
fee (KAY-1024) from Peter to Cheboksary and
back forward 6 (when the letter
comes to you, and 7) times.

   You promised me to send KAY-1024 More
in the first week of September. I'm not talking about
previous conversation on the phone, where you
promised to send KAY in 1 - 2 weeks.
When you go from verbal promises to the case and send it to me?

   And anyway, why do not react to
my letters?



                    08.10.99

              Dear N!


   Consistently respond to all 4 letters: The letter dated 
06/27/1999: 


   1. RU7. Book, will be very happy.
Although kilogram. And no delays - they
remained as non-liquid after removal from
production KAY-256. (B KAY-1024, you
noticed, there are megabitniki CH1S1000). Their
More than a thousand pieces at the moment. If
will order more than a few sets (> 50 - 100 pcs.), I advise you 
to call, specify the conditions - will be significantly 
cheaper. What is indicated in the price - is the price of 
sending one set, rather than the cost of PMI.


   2. When modifying the old computer you
take responsibility for their
further efficiency. And the old
Technology has the ability to break down. Except
addition, as far as I know, the Delta -
C02 "no floppy drive (or, in extreme cases, it is remote) - it 
is very unreliable and inconvenient - MODIFICATIONS it is not 
eliminated. 


   The letter dated 18/08/1999:


   1. Ratio of 2.5 to function in April
In 1999 you did translate 21.06.1999, ie
in June (ratio 2.7). Ie paid
Order at the old price. I quote the price list:
"These prices are valid for payment in
Within one month after receiving
Price List. AFTER THAT DATE MUST Pricing (ratio).
Nevertheless, the order has been accepted for execution, but 
not as high priority. I prefer to delay sending than venturing 
all this scramble for a fee (at least 25

p).. So that nothing you write that about you
forgotten.


   Letters from 27.09.1999, from 10.07.1999:


   Acknowledge the fact of inhibition. Once again, explain why. 
Over the summer, have asked TWO Times more cards than in the 
spring. Between so many years of experience indicates

that summer sales were down in half. Production was chilled. As 
a result, any high level of three times! 

   Here you are, for example, that would be done on
my place? Refused to money? Was
decided to man up machines
OVER list price list and that compensate for delays. Besides, 
was urgently The order of reference - now 40 working days from 
the receipt of money, but not 20 (Price: revision date 
6/21/1999). Ie potential buyers were put

advised that the term Click to enlarge. (In
principle of time could not increase, but in this case would 
increase the price). Other options were not. To

increase by 50% to 2 - 3
months. In order to increase the volume on the
100%, needs at least 4 -6 months. Because this is not 1992 -
NO super-profits. To increase the production of needed funds. 
So this increase in terms of reference - this attraction 
credit. In this case, you can keep the price (At least at the 
level of inflation and devaluation). Due to this, the spring 
can be will increase by approximately 75%

(As compared to the spring of this year). Presumably, it will 
increase to as much sales (including the negative effect

from an increase in terms of distribution). Please
attention, and seventy-five percent, rather than
SRT and not two hundred, which is unrealistic.

   "1 - 2 weeks. In September came wholesaler of Belarus. We 
had to give up? Tell him that, well, enjoy sightseeing Peter 
and drive back? Wholesalers all, everywhere and always served 
without waiting in line. As for the "second" two weeks, it just 
did not have enough components to install, had to lose Time and 
money buying their own (Individually), vpaivaya and forging. On 
this unspeakable joy became known through

week after your call, when the board
done with the installation.

   As you can see, the letter to respond. Perhaps with the 
inexcusable delay. But What could you say? Through "1 - 2 weeks?


                                (C) Nemo.


   P.S. To somehow compensate for your extra hassle, I suggest 
that the following order shipping costs - as an exception. 
Order by ordinary mail. 

360032 30.06.99


           Hello, Nemo!


   About a month ago got away from you HDD ST3144A company 
Seagate. Test it with a friend who KAY-1024, and although 
occasionally when reading from the screw popped error 7 (read 
error), decided that's just not the same settings and screws

driver settings on the system diskette
(Screw not boot, at least
Selecting "HDD boot" menu at 128 leads to a crash). Since the 
premise yet come, and KAY-1024, a lot of time

spent on making the appropriate
Corps, and now the exams.

   So, when I got finally, to
screws, it appeared that all the parameters
are correct, and the error appears 7
almost every file, and run some leads to hang.

   After exhausting all possibilities to solve this
problems in the IS-DOS'e, ventured into the extreme
measure - to reformat the screw with IBM'ke
in order to put in KAY already clear, but
there it was. When the initial inspection
configuration of the computer I get a message that an error 
screw, then the error controller (depending on the jumper in

HDD). Only one conclusion - the hard drive "broken", even 
though IS-DOS'e him and read a directory (Directories only good 
and readable). 

   In this connection, sending the hard drive along with a 
system floppy disk replacement. If there are any additional 
conditions or have to pay - let me know doplachu.



                          Sincerely, N.

360032 10.10.99


              Dear N!


   Unfortunately, you did not specify the complete name and 
patronymic, so a delay obtaining parcels. It will look like 
this: You come to the post, we'll see your passport - and if 
"AA" have been guessed correctly, packet you will not give out. 
(Full name and OTCHNSTVA - a mandatory requirement, otherwise 
the packet will not be accepted for delivery). Further, the 
request will go to Peter and attempt to guess will be made more

times. If you already have and the second time to guess
fails, then you have to write a letter
asked to specify the (decrypted) IO in
Name Name - Is as much part of the address as the street name 
and house number, because mail, in fact - the mechanism. And it 
will be "Scroll" idle until the name

not match.

   Now, specifically on the screw. Obtained
from you screw installed in the IS-DOS'e not
failed. Check on the PC also pointed to
FAILURE screw. Ie it is not about
failures and faults. Who is to blame
- Dark matter. After installation and verification of the screw 
is packaged and sent, - He could be damaged and before the 
transfer to e-mail. Next - almost (but SCREW already packed) - 
but dolbanut it hard. Then you something to do with it (most 
likely that "flew" it is at this stage).

Further back Email (again RISK) and route
testing / installation (again, the risk).
Probably the correct decision will be if
You pay 150 rubles. for a new 80 MB
screw (as received). It is installed to
Attached is a new floppy disk (for him).

                                (C) Nemo.

445030 21.09.99

Please send catalog. In particular, how much
XTR-MODEM and software for it.
    No more thoughts.


                                 21.10.99


              Dear N!


   XTR-production temporarily suspended modems. Ready Modem 
type XTR will appear not earlier than 2 months. That As for the 
software to the modem, then the question at Today it is 
necessary to divert Logros. Kogda appear ready modems

may be able to distribute software to them and
directly from the manufacturer of modems. Offer to pay in 
advance (although there is confidence that they will be 
produced) is impossible, because not sure what will 
manufacturer's price. Watch for prices. 


                                (C) Nemo.

P.S. About the thoughts - without comment.