On-Line #21 28 января 1996

Интервью     Пресса

Press Conference - Frequently Asked Questions (revised answers readers' questions).

            PRESS CONFERENCE


(C) OLDMAN


   Greetings to all! I read "SPECTROFON 16", or rather, the 
rubric "From the world of a bat, or more precisely, an 
interview with themselves and thought 'well, why I have such a 
column is not? ". Well, not so no, letter to us by E-Mail 
almost did not come, because readers find it more logical to 
simply call me and ask all the accumulated problems and 
complaints to me personally (agree, it's silly to write: So, I 
called Peter, and I'm using pages "ON-LINE", Pete replied ...). 
Actually, I'm Pete has long been answered by using some other 
means of communication, so which "water in a mortar to pound." 
On the other hand, tomorrow calls Serega and asks the same 
question ... By the way, over phone calls I: In general, I 
agree that it's easier and not have anything against this, 
though, you just imagine how many calls a day I have to stand 
... So do not be offended when I did not in spirit, "You just 
called me, at least, the twentieth ... 


   And it would be fine: write me at the station BBS, 
operating, in addition to basic tasks, the transfer of mail to 
the newspaper, I am, comfortably sitting in a chair in front of 
the monitor, calmly and unhurriedly check my mail and thinking, 
to whom I am the same call, and someone will answer "on the 
pages." Then you can separate section to start, I even invented 
a name (and maybe stole ...) - "you ask? Answer!". 


   But it's the lyrics ... In the meantime, spend-ka I to myself
press conference. Why not? I'll try to remember what I have 
repeatedly asked for it. 


   QUESTION: Where are the materials, articles, descriptions, 
etc.? 


   ANSWER: We have a constant heading and section editors who 
write these same articles or looking for "writers". In 
addition, We rarely (but aptly) refer to the materials and the 
readers themselves. I must warn you that although we strictly 
observe the copyrights of reporters and would not publish an 
article without the consent of the author, we reserve the right 
to correct and adaptation, of course, agreeing with the author, 
if possible. 


   QUESTION: How to contact the newspaper (to send her 
materials, ask questions, make a claim ...)? 


   ANSWER: In general, I have already answered that question 
above (even higher), except that information each time is 
printed at the end of the newspaper (though I realize that most 
of the dump car barely caught sight of the section "AD"). I 
want to add just that to transfer the material to a specific 
section corresponds better to the editor. 


   QUESTION: Where can I get fresh numbers?


   ANSWER: As soon as the newspaper is made, and to do so may
not only be on Monday (release date numbers), but earlier,
number is sent to multiple stations BBS, and then deal with the 
spread of the users stations. In addition, newspaper sold in 
various places (besides places "general"). Long distance 
"ON-LINE" is distributed in the same way as all else (I mean 
informal channels). Personally, I welcome any distribution 
"ON-LINE", as anywhere, at least for camels in Africa.



   QUESTION: How much did you pay contributors, as themselves
earn on advertising and selling and why, in general, free
edition for sale?


   ANSWER: We did not pay the authors. The only thing they
can get from us - it's the glory (and the attendant troubles), 
our positive attitude to them and any help regarding the 
software. Advertising is also accepted free of charge and we 
always take, yet allows the information space. We do not sell a 
free newspaper, it engaged in its sellers. But we do not mind 
this, otherwise the paper would not get to those for whom the 
modem still a luxury. Naturally, no one will stand in the 
street and handing out diskettes for everyone. As for the price 
and form of the sale (you can sell a disk with one edition of 
the newspaper, but you can with ten), then let it remain at the 
discretion of the implementers and hanging on to their 
conscience ... 


   QUESTION: But why not publish a newspaper (for example
SPECTROFONa?


   ANSWER: Well, we're humble guys ... And then, who's not 
published? Yes we are on every corner is distributed in printed 
form (go, at least for Mitinskoe market to Mr. SOFTSTARu). 
Moreover, you yourself can do personally to the publication of 
newspapers yourself! Discard the shell of the newspaper on a 
disk text file and print it to the printer in any format. Then 
you can hem and even make the cover. Appear to be as necessary!



   QUESTION: What are the opportunities of the shell and what 
her keys?



   ANSWER: Press the "H" ...


   QUESTION: And why do not you realize the possibility of 
including graphics and music in the shell?



   ANSWER: The most frequently asked question for. Sometimes, 
it means: What do poorly? Well, firstly, to do this, of course 
possible. But let's think about whether you need? 


   To begin, we take for granted the opportunity to read the 
newspaper and on 48k machines. Deal? Next: the text we have 
about 36 kilobytes. How do you think is better: to make it a 
little more, then read or more, then see? If you think that 
pictures more interesting, buy megademy. If on the contrary, 
you - Our readers and the more you do not need to explain. If 
you want both of them, then let me remind you that SPECTRUM

not made of rubber, how would this be desirable.


   Well, let the music in the 48th mode, you can not download, 
but as be with the graphics? The only way out: make a newspaper 
loadable by parts. In addition to poisoning my life, this is no 
good will achieve. And as the drive to press reset at the same 
time text and graphics? As in "SPECTROFON" e - screen files? 
Then, If you decide to print a newspaper, for a start please be 
a dozen disks (I just now thought that it would be necessary 
and to do so still get entered each time the file name). And 
how much space disk takes such a monster? How do you like it if 
"ON-LINE" on the BBS station will occupy sectors 1000 and pump 
it should be half an hour? And finally, I would like to remind 
you: you need to log (appearance), recedes into the background 
for the paper (the main thing - the information). And we - this 
newspaper, and, information (mostly). 


   Now we are about the "weak": Mild! I'm not just doing a 
newspaper. Also in my possession is not such a monster 
graphics, as distinguished Mr. Usmanov (all from the same 
unforgettable "SPECTROFON" a). Although, the monster of music I 
know. In any case, the manufacturer of the magazine regularly, 
once a week, is impossible. Well, like, this issue sorted out. 
Although, I'm not sure that was convincing ... If someone does 
not agree, write to - bet ... 


   QUESTION: After a short time after the
"ON-LINE", there have been several similar publications. How do 
you feel about this phenomenon? 


   ANSWER: Probably, under the "you" means the entire 
newspaper? Then, it's hard to say ... From a well (as you can 
see, I was involved in a game of "Press Conference") can say 
the following: firstly, I believe that the emergence of such 
publications is not connected with the birth of "ON-LINE", and 
caused, above all, successful development dial-up network 
SPECTRUMe, I just used it to predict and As you see, was not 
mistaken ... Secondly, some had appeared since and completely 
disappeared after the first or second issue (editorial hard 
life!). And finally, I am personally delighted to perceive the 
appearance of regular paper (magazines publish pulls a few)! 
Moreover, I am ready to provide any support for beginners 
edition! I'm not afraid of competition. From the fact that 
there was "LIME TREE" or "DR.LONGMAN NEWS", our newspaper will 
not stop reading. A stop - re-classified in the superintendent 
... 


   Q: What programs do you use when creating a newspaper?


   ANSWER: For some reason, all interested in this issue. As if
if you know what is made using a particular software product, 
then do something similar - a snap ... And I did and do not 
hide: reader wrote in antediluvian times with TASM 3.1 and STS 
3.2, the text I write, and treated with ZXWord 2.5 + 
(irreplaceable thing, when you need the speed), the other 
editors use it as a text editor as SPECTRUM, as well as on 
other platforms. 


   Basic word processing is a publishing system
computer Power Macintosh-II. Involved in this well-known
You as a sysop - ALEX. This allows you to quickly format text 
and to correct the existing bugs. By the way, do not to think 
that the presence of publishing so much easier our lives and, 
through it, we are in a privileged position relative to other 
publications in SPECTRUMe. From errors are not insured by us. 
Especially, the new version of the system only installed on the 
computer and user dictionary Spelling is not replenished themed 
"ON-LINE" and the Spectrum For the same reason, the text of the 
newspaper is not guaranteed to remove all typos in full 
automatic (when running out the terms and text is "blindly", 
without displaying). But in any case, the final text meets all 
accepted standards.



   Incidentally, if you read the contents of the custom 
dictionary that can be completed automatically - it's cleaner 
any anecdote (We have already given you this opportunity in the 
previous issue)! 


   Boxed text in the ASC LZPAC 4.5. That's all that
happiness is necessary. By the way, soon I'm going to write a 
new shell, respectively, using more modern software. 


   QUESTION: Why is there no promise of the hit parade 
demonstrations intro and so on?



   ANSWER: No statistics - no charts. No one voluntarily
writing is not going to. That will hold "vsemodemny 'poll - will
You hit parade (and not a single number). And yet, not sure
You may be interested only view our editorial staff.


   PS: And can really make a similar category. E-mail your 
questions. Of course, we will respond not only to those of 
them, which relate to the newspapers and believe me, you can 
trust us. 

                    MDM 496-8508; 12:00 / 21:00
                    ZX Net: 095:1641684 .. 4968508
                     dmitry@oldman.zx.msk.ru