Topic - My Choice - PC.

AY-Track: "PERPLEXED TRILOGY - 2"
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(C) S. Veremeenko
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            My choice of PC!

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   Until recently, the Spectrum-compatible computer was the 
most widespread and 

       mass in the CIS countries. Spektrumis # You were the 
most active and most-# more creative team programmisZ # Comrade 
enthusiasts. This has been facilitated W # primarily 
accessibility Spectrum, 

  # Both in terms of low prices and
with # in the ease of development of a professional.

  # Quite a number of Paul
       transducer provided an incentive for programmers to 
create new programs, especially games. Recently Many hobbyists 
working on Spectrum'e, reached a very high qualifications that 
allowed them to create a very decent program, successfully 
competing written by professionals. However, the emergence of 
videopristavok, the most simplest of them have parameters 
significantly exceed the parameters of Spectrum and landslide 
falling prices for PC-compatible computers have led to what 
gamers - foundation on which rests the popularity of

any home computer - unanimously rejected "Pentagon" and 
"partner" in favor of Super Nintendo and the Pentium. 
Spektrumisty (this term I mean not users and programmers - the 
fans) faced a choice-to remain faithful

Spectrum'u and slowly die out from the aimlessness of their 
work or move to another platform.


   The problem of choosing a different platform is no longer
exists. Its uniquely chosen by His Majesty player. I do not 
think that for every hundred PC, we can find at least a couple 
of computers another type, comparable to the class. Therefore, 
most of yesterday spektrumistov switched on the PC, and still 
preserved as usually have it in mind. The problem is

that PC - it is really a computer
entirely different class. We have to regret to say that 
"transition" to PC for many more hours of active

spektrumistov ends at the phase of development of computer 
games. 

   We are witnessing the destruction of
unique subculture spektrumistov, torn communication fades 
creativity. This process is exacerbated by the position of some 
stubborn spektrumistov, especially manufacturers of 
Spectrum-compatible computers, which insist on the need to 
preserve the hopelessly outdated platform Spectrum. They do not 
understand or pretend do not understand that care needed to 
maintain spektrumistov, not outlived its Age Spectrum'a. You 
can understand a person, in perfectly mastered the Spectrum and 
not confident that he could save the reputation of "luminary" 
among PC users, or producer, has spent much time

and funding to develop "advanced" model
Spectrum.

   The only way out of this situation - a massive and, if 
possible, while still surviving the transition, the most 
persistent spektrumistov platform MS. We have already lost so 
many. Procrastination and fluctuations threaten the complete 
disappearance of the concept - amateur programming. Continued 
work on computer lishivshemsya users, as futile as attempts to 
improve it. No improvements have not returned to its former 
popularity Spectrum'u. The user has selected RS, and we only 
need to submit to this choice. 

   What is MS? This computer is surrounded by
mass myths, which, like most
myths in general, have nothing to do with reality.
1. MS is too expensive.

   Compare the prices so different on
its parameters and capabilities of computers
as Spectrum and PC is difficult. For
example we can take the best of the existing 
Spectrum-compatible - ZX-Scorpion Turbo and date in excess of 
Scorpion all parameters of an order of magnitude, 386DX-40.

At a comparable package (the same can not be viewed - even the 
most minimal for "treshki" significantly higher than the 
maximum possible skorpionovskuyu) price "Treshki in half to two 
times less! And if you are strapped for cash, and you really 
have to start with 386, you can still upgrade

computer in the future, and with minimal losses. When you 
upgrade to the Pentium have to replace several blocks that have 
just thrown out because sell them will not succeed. But their 
total price - just 20 ... $ 30! And with "upgrade" to the 
Pentium Scorpio will have its disposed of entirely. And it is 
already 200 ... $ 300. It turns out that "treshka" will cost you

ten times cheaper than the Scorpion, with ten
times the best options! There is something to think about.
2. MS is very difficult to master.

   Yes, MS is more difficult Spectrum. But how
from any computer, it has several
levels of development. At the level of complexity of MS BASIC 
is not much more than the Spectrum. But if the Spectrum BASIC 
is impossible create not only competitive, but

even just a more or less decent
program, on a PC, thanks to its high speed and good graphics,
BASIC (especially if it is Visual Basic)
it is quite possible to create, and there are examples
game, comparing the quality of Spectrum, written in assembler. 
Assembler MS Spectrum is somewhat more complicated, but

programming it provides a
absolutely stunning results. MS programmers do not often use 
the Assembler in its pure form, most assembler fragments used 
in programs written in high level languages. But yesterday 
spektrumista not spoiled Pascal or C + +, literally grow wings, 
when he meets with the opportunities offered to him TASM'om. I 
know this own experience.


   In this comparison of MS and Spectrum concludes, because 
other possibilities besides BASIC and assembler at Spectrum no. 
Pascal and C for the Spectrum - rather exhibits cabinet of 
curiosities than tools. For the PC as a compiler with all 
well-known programming languages. The most interesting for 
hobbyists certainly C + +. He wrongly considered

too complex and even arcane. C + + complex
to the programmer, who studied programming in Pascal or 
Fortran. Although C and is considered a high-level language, it 
is closer to Assembler, which seems to rise to its

"Disrepute." But it is precisely this circumstance that makes 
it easier, I would even say "native" to spektrumista does not 
who suffer from allergies to Assembler. Concepts used in C, 
almost entirely borrowed from the assembler. Pointers to the 
addresses of variables, increment, decrement variable shifts, 
work with the processor registers and the individual bits-all 
from what the programmer-mathematician is not on their own - 
quite usual for spektrumista. 

   Strictly speaking, this complexity
start only when running on the system
level in protected mode. Ring privilege descriptor tables, 
gateways, virtual memory. This is all you need is if you are 
invited to work with Microsoft on the next version of Windows. 
In Otherwise you can always

choose the level of complexity, the work on
which gives you pleasure.
3. Creating a game programs for the PC has no future.

   Sometimes we hear is an opinion-writing software for the PC 
level DIZZY no meaning, and games such as DOOM write more

teams of programmers Professionals
(Option - using supercomputers), and we compete with them.

   First, the popularity of the game is not determined by the 
complexity of programming and Number of megabytes, which she 
takes on disk, and entertaining story, the quality of

graphics and sound. In our
conditions, the decisive factor may be
russkoyazychnost.Dobrotny "Quest" or "adventyura with good 
graphics and the Russian language simply doomed to success.


   Secondly, the complexity of creating three-dimensional
militants are exaggerated by those who
not trying to make them. What Spectrum'e
is a high-class programming, aerobatics, to PC - usually quite 
routine work. Case that PC Tools absolutely incomparable with

Spectrum. On the Spectrum did significantly better ArtStudio 
not and will never be the same program on a PC of this class 
are considered obsolete 10 years ago. Additional levels for 
DOOM and Heretic write humanities students for a couple of 
weeks. If you look at lists of authors of the most popular 
three-dimensional toys, the programmers out there are not more 
than two or three other musicians, artists, managers, and even 
photographers. 

   One of the most famous creators of modern computer games, D. 
Ratcliffe, in his book quite skeptical

programmers to professionals in
the field of computer games. They do not teach
it universities. According to him, to write a decent toy 
"on-book" is impossible. Apparently, therefore, almost no our 
games on the PC that spektrumisty with the necessary skills for 
such a feat, instinct and intuition are still afraid

MS.

   If these arguments do not convince you, then
give you another one. Program on the PC
Nice! All the efforts of programmers Spectrum negated by the 
primitive graphics and low productivity. On the PC can

be implemented either, the most sophisticated
fantasy. The same "demonstrashki on Spectrum
demonstrate the virtuosity of programming, and on the PC - the 
author's imagination, because no, even the most cunning, 
scrolling viewers will be surprised.