Insanity #10 30 ноября 2001

История

Sinclair v. Wintel - Creator ZX Spectrum and its new project.

          ... Clive Sinclair snobbery against Wintel ...



  $% Surv! V0r, 2oo1


  Who if not us, spektrumistam, it is known that in the 1980's
Clive Sinclair shocked the world with his electronic PC price
less than 100 pounds sterling per-ekzempplyar. Then it was
real shock. Now he shares with us his idea to make a
revolution in the portable PC and thus teach a lesson to Intel.


  E-shop through the Internet is http://E-Bay.com
sell-all-else is new, but already rare and collectible
copies of the very first computers ZX Spectrum, which
carefully kept nearly 20 years in someone's caring hands.


  Completely predictable situation that a person who in the 
early 80-ies, filled the personal computer market

with a price of less than 100 pounds-sterling, already today 
bears plans for his return to the world stage of computer

producers with a new project - a personal computer for
half the cost of any of its competitors. A little later, the 
project got its name - Spectrum 2000.



  Since its declaration has already passed two years. Fits
the end of the year and the 2000th. In 1999 Clive Sinclair, the 
first publicly stated his plans in this regard, the views on 
this subject appeared on the Internet. His idea, in principle, 
is responsible desires of any potential consumer computers

cheap goods! But every other computer maker does not
may be incompetent in this sensitive to their fate
question.


  He understood that processor manufacturers in pursuit of power
its silicon advances do not allow users to
to master the information previously provided architecture. 
Megahertz been replaced by gigahertz, but the program each year 
require more resources, although a more thoughtful approach to 
their establishment, they would be able to operate on less 
powerful equipment, and would cost an order of magnitude 
smaller. Is extensive path of development of computers and 
someday he himself will lead to deadlock.



  On the way to solve this problem is a problem called
Wintel: a tough bunch of software companies -
Microsoft and the microprocessor - Intel. As a result of their
cooperation until recently it was almost impossible
submit a PC without an operating system other than to
Windows. Lawsuit against Microsoft's monopoly in the world
software provided an opportunity to market new
name, and now the computer is not always associated with
trademark of Microsoft.


  The emergence of Linux as a competitor to Windows and the 
rapid development of this operating system, as well as the 
emergence of competing railroads Intel, forced Sinclair to 
ponder the question that needs of customers still are not always

satisfied. That is to say it in just means that demand does not
gives rise to a proposal that society needs.


  Still, Intel and Microsoft continue to dominate the market
computer technology, but it is tempting to think will not last
as long as competitors are breathing them in the neck and even 
on some positions can come out ahead. Nevertheless, mass

computer is still based on the architecture, the proposed
Intel, in order to overcome the monopoly
drawback is absolutely required an unconventional approach.


  On this score Sinclair suggested an interesting idea - 'If
Linux operating system was able to reverse
situation in the operating system market, there must be 
something is capable to do the same, but the market itself

computers. If the result is the same, why pay more for
the same Windows, if you can get almost for free
Linux? '. Same story with the iron.


  Microsoft initially worked for architecture from Intel, then
While the Linux source code open to everyone and fundamentally
perhaps the entire Linux system to move under any hardware, any
computer architecture. It would not require such substantial
investment, while, as if it took on the Spectrum
porting Windows.


  For Linux, it does not matter which processor is installed in 
the car, at the while for Windows it is always important 
presence of the component compatible with Intel, which means 
every day you want more more processor speed, more rapid

memory, the new devices. Spiral upward to infinity
up. Therefore, if we talk about the new Spectrum'e, then
appropriate to speak about LINUX. But the inventor
warns against the idea that Linux is bound to be
used in its development. This is one of the contenders for his
place.


  Sinclair's idea is based on its latest development, which
was released back in 1988. Computer Z88 is not reached
sales levels of their predecessors in the family of Z, but
inventor did not abandon his ideas. He understood the main
cause of its failure - the use of non-standard display in the
computer. Then the technology was not sufficiently developed 
that imposed restrictions on the establishment of a 
full-fledged product. Now, according to Sinclair, there comes a 
time when the idea Z88 may return in the guise of modern 
technology, even with the LCD. 


  As part of this thesis, the conversation about the operating 
system is very important, because it is one of the essential 
parts of the project. Sinclair eagerly hunting for a solution, 
which in its opinion must necessarily exist.



  How, then, will actually do something that will
work is not worse than anything else and at the same cost twice
less? Let us not doubt the knowledge Sinclair, his experience
allows him to make judgments about what is real exercise, but
that there is no '.


  Few people are aware that when the Sinclair ZX80 and made his
ZX81, so a surge of interest around the lottery game machines, 
which was created by the public, in fact, he struck the first 
blow to the nascent empire PC. This gave time for the emergence 
of special kinds of people, faced one on one with the 
temperamental stuffing 16-kilobyte ROM. Of them came out today 
System programmers, the creators of computer games and internet 
portals. Low-budget computer pushed the date of birth PC. What 
he famous!



  Is it possible the second coming, twenty years later?


  Sinclair's opinion on today's market of computer technologies
stops at the most basic of modern things, the production
which reached its perfection and not so expensive
15 years ago. Formula of the computer alternative
Wintel architecture can be expressed in a simple listing of 
those merits, in search of the most successful combination which

work every day thousands of minds: a suitable operating system,
Cheap and high quality display, powerful microprocessor.


  Like any other their device, Sinclair plans
distribute computer using the regular mail. He does this
for over twenty years since the inception of
Micro-ZX80, to Z-bike and a miniature
radio. His inventions form a market, not
requiring the army of agents for the sale of PC-devices, which
exists in the world. Therefore, Wintel and costs such a fortune.
They have no choice just like to resell the purchased,
a profit and re-buy to sell. Vicious circle.


  Intel keeps its customers on their toes,
regularly run campaigns for the advertising of their very
expensive processors. But shame them for what they sell their
goods at high prices would be just silly. Works here
Act - do not want, do not take it.


  Criticism but should be subjected to one of the technical
making, which is currently used. Processor and
computer memory are connected by wires, they
originally conceived as two devices, which, however, in
You can always be replaced - to put a new, more
powerful processor, or another line of memory. However, it would
much better, according to Sinclair, if memory and the processor
placed in a computer under one 'roof', ie create a single
device, a chip that is said on one crystals.


  In this case, your computer's performance will be
depend only on your financial capabilities. Will realistic
at any time to add not only an additional processor
computer, but also memory, which will be designed
for him. And all of this - a single monolithic chip.


  The idea is interesting enough. But we can not naively assume 
that Intel does not possess such information. The company 
produces multiprocessor device, but they are focused

exclusively on the corporate level. Servers are not yet
available to a wide customer, and they are not that they need. 
This allows the company to organize its policies so that

actually manage to get a lot of money with two segments
market later than losing one of them in the pursuit of
uniformity. Therefore, says Sinclair, in the near future
expect some new situation with these things. All
yet remain in their places.


  But the problem can be solved, at least about her
will think more seriously. And here's why.


  Video games is the developing trend in the
computer world. Specifically for the game coming up with crazy
variety of options and attributes of the game. The Pursuit
for more realistic and dynamic picture and sound
companies producing video game consoles are ready to go to any
victims in the hope to be the first in this race.


  And here it would be unfair to accuse them of bias
approach to solving the problem of speed and hardware
software. We must remember that they are not Microsoft.


  Only just emerged game console Sony Playstation II.
Her appearance proves that there is no limit to perfection
technologies. In comparison with the computer Pentium III, the 
last is weak-willed giant, and Sony gives a head start on

image and capabilities that their repetition on a Pentium III
require additional investment in him by
the buyer in half the cost of the computer itself, while
as users of PS-II would not worry about the headache
switching to another operating system.


  What happened? The answer is simple - Sony has not
stuck with the policies of the consortium Wintel.


  First, the producers of video game consoles do not have to 
deduct osummy to fund the use of the operating system in its 
product, such as Windows. Any manufacturer of video game 
consoles interested to make their product more robust,

quality and cheaper. And consequently, all programmanaya
firmware prefix is ​​always the result of the efforts of the 
most manufacturer's instructions.



  Secondly, like the same Sony, uses in the production of
their PS-II elemental base of their intra-corporate
production (at least by Japanese firms) for the same
reasons that were outlined above. Without listing a penny in
Wintel, Sony has achieved simply fantastic
the result - it is one of the few who absolutely makes no
Wintel chance to win themselves in their territory. Even a child
Microsoft - game console X-Box, has all the hallmarks
strain, defects which seal displayed on any PC.
Comments, I think, unnecessary.


  That is why, Sinclair believes he still under
prosperous circumstances will return to the big
business. The formula of the computer is simple: the 
microprocessor is not less efficient than today's desytopov, 
but cheap, a little less memory, but fast, cheap display. Here

the word 'cheap' is not synonymous with the word 'defective'.


  Sinclair's problem lies in the fact that on the basis of the
common technology to do what others could not
companies. He believes that the company certainly aware of all 
these ideas, but in the pursuit of profit, they are forced to 
enter the buyer misleading.



    As a result, his proposed solution, he said that he could
achieve a result, when his computer would cost twice as
cheaper than its counterpart on Wintel, at the same time
performance will not concede to its competitor. Should
once again noted that Sinclair did not want to make an analog PC
with his hands, he will do as always something new to
his characteristic innovative approach to solving the problem.


  You are here the analogy with the Amiga did not like?


  Certainly, interest in Clive Sinclair is not only
simple idea to create a computer, but also to get some profit,
inachae from an economic point of view it will simply
impracticable. We just have to wait and think that after all
Sinclair estimates will not remain on paper even twenty years.