ZX Pilot #34 20 июля 1999

Будущее Спектрума

about different - Destiny ZX-SPECTRUM, or notes of the old lamer. How not to die Spectrum.

              O R W A N O M



(C) CAPTAIN FLINT


                          "Not every lamer

                          will coder -

                          but each coder

                          was lamer! Than

                          different prod
                          vinuty lamer by

                          Novice yuze
                          pa? "

                          (From the folk mu
                          Drost lamer)



            Fate ZX-SPECTRUM

                   or

          Note the old lamer.


   Unbridled enthusiasm of the neophyte (I
SCORPY about a year) feat me to study
virtually all electronic cri de coeur
(Such as magazines and newspapers) to razdavavshihsya
expanses of the former great power over the past 2-3 years. And 
in terms of his modest age (32 years) and other little things 
in life (like doing some missions in a pair of points not cold) 
I thought that despite the imagery and brightness of many 
publications on development platform ZX-SPECTRUM nowadays, they 
do not suffer from an excess of science, systemic, and other 
attempts to logical thinking, trying to instill in the "upper 
school". Immediately say, that the critics of this opus, which 
"believes," "expect," "exactly know" - I argue I will not, as 
soon agree with them on any issue. For those who love 
somnevatsya and prove - the article is open for discussions.


   I. So let's begin. First - this Clarifying
CHALLENGES - something as simple as 5 cents - not to give
die platform! But what constitutes "Platform"? I see that it 
consists of the following representatives of the (contingent): 

   1) Producers of hardware;

   2) Producers of software;

   3) Distributors (most often, and that
both);

   4) nick (of all stripes and shades).

   The platform will die if completely
disappears 1.2 or 4 contingent. With respect to
3 is not critical, although quite
uncomfortable.

   By whom is the most painfully will
catastrophe in case of death (pah-tfutfu) ZX-Spectrum in the 
CIS? 

   Certainly not by the distributors -
will be selling CD-ROMs, video cassettes and
etc., and it's obvious now. Example -
studio engineers in the city of Kaliningrad.

   Producers of "iron", switch to production of car alarm 
systems, electrical rods, AONov, etc., repair intel'ovskih

machines. And not too many of them left today. In addition to 
St. Petersburg's Scorpion'a, Nemo and Peters'a, other signs of 
life, how-to and no.


   Producers of software, people mostly
already "advanced". They often than
SPECCY, stands next to "stump" or AMMY, there
outputs in the network, some dating and
communication. You'll see, will beat anywhere by system 
administrators or in any Net'e find customers.


   A nick? ZX-user, it is often people who have enough money to 
go SPECCY with a potato, rather than the more powerful 
platform, although the remnants of self-esteem do not allow the 
final "odednitsya or "Osegitsya. The most severe loss they 
incur. And it is the invisible eye of thousands of them sad 
eyes leads to my fingers keyboard.


   CONCLUSION: - I think is clear, users should not
to die manufacturers of hardware and
software. Although the latest abuse it
is not worth, because the influx of new users is largely 
dependent on manufacturers. 

   II. Assessment of the situation. First of all
We estimate the consumer niche for ZX-SPECTRUM in the market of 
computer technologies CIS and the position of its competitors.


   1) The playing area - mostly
hijacked prefixes. The more expensive games on CD-ROM, cheap on 
cartridges. Even a Pentium can not compete with them. A / box 
and P-266 and above - it's too expensive pleasure.


   Conclusion: ZX now be regarded as an accessory, with a focus 
on making games on the topics do not require powerful graphics. 
For example, card games, different table, some strategies

and, of course, adventyury.

   2) office area (business and management) - in the CIS average
and expensive category firmly engaged
MS, to fight this stupid and useless
because it is clearly not Spectrum'ovskaya niche.
But in the category of small cheap cars
(Soho) and small business management
structures - Vacant and necessary, the remaining EU-ki and 
286-s collapse from old age. The more expensive MS often have 
no money, since it is clear that the new versions Windows and 
MHz'ami INTEL'ovskih processors still can not keep up. Question 
- "Do Small office computer? "more than once raised, from the 
Internet to queue for a beer. When working in the IS-DOS 
(especially with the HDD), and can and bringing to mind the OS 
domain, SPECTRUM can be this machine. I personally know three 
people who use it in this hypostasis.


   Conclusion: - Perspectives from a low-cost
Categories of this trend fairly well, but whether they will be 
implemented? Unresolved questions remain about the increasing 
number and quality of software in this direction, Modern 
Literature for Dummies, advertising, but do not do the 
producers no hardware or software, unfortunately :-(


   3) Teacher direction (training
someone something) - with the current
Financing of Education and the Armed Forces of the classes used 
ZX-SPECTRUM 48 the most, what is real. Heard that

it tried to deal with a firm "Peters."
Question to the Petrograd magazines: - what about
it now? The main drawback of this
direction - disunity software. Not bad if by software companies 
(or those who consider themselves to be :-) posobirali any 
different training prog on various topics, often it is not even 
in quality, but the number will go, and plain text files, the 
main thing that was a lot of different material (itself a 
teacher). After all, unfortunately often at school destination 
computer is seen as a manual for learning "in computer", and 
when it turns out that there is no "Vindoza", then

just a reaction of rejection.

   Conclusion: - here the most negative
shows "marginal" (as Nemo) ZXplatformy, and without a firm 
engaged ZX-software here can not do anything. Again, not to 
fully utilize the chance! Well, about the universal 
Spectrum'izatsiyu school: - / beautiful Of course, like any 
tale ... 

   4) The direction of the electronic media - and the magazines 
have a different and good, and newspapers Prada is largely due 
to the fact that no publications :-( But it is usually written 
Sinkleristami for Sinkleristov, and yet it is not difficult to 
vary the direction, and do not necessarily sit days stuffing 
texts, and on their PC and network enough remains only to 
convert. Books brochures, manuals in the first place and

much more. Shall not fantasy is not enough? Indeed, among the 
most Spektrumistov enough talented people ... By the way,

"Hand over" the idea - disc anthology of someone
popular bards (rock singer), for example, V. Tsoi. On the drive 
(s) lyrics, melodies capture, biography, scanned photos and 
drawings, with hyperlinks. 

   Conclusion: - the direction is not sufficiently effective. 
The untapped potential of its still very high. 

   5) Work in networks - are very happy that
in a promising direction ZX developing quite successfully, 
particularly in capitals. Odnaznachno it - the future, and all 
parties a platform to work in this direction. Although the 
Russian reality, - 1,5 phone on 2 village pereshibit hard here 
and RL, and Maki, and AMMY and our SPECTRUM in a row ... 

   Conclusion: - Viva telephones
the whole country! :-) (Itself without the phone).

   6) And finally the most SPECTRUM-direction - the computer as 
a hobby (a little programming, a little hardware as possible 
help in the work, etc.) - this is due to what continues to live 
SPECCY in our country among the users and alternatives low and 
moderate (income CIS citizens) are not yet available. Almost 
everyone who is involved in MS or are only suitable for him to 
play or, more often working in the field of commercial 
technologies, MS. Broad masses Russian population, fearful of 
"upgrade to intel'ovski" (and the economic crisis) the old PC 
does not take, and the new, as and Maki, prices bite. The 
question arises - what about the AMIGA? Yes no how! AMIGA 
SPECTRUM'u not a competitor! Now try to prove this nonsense. 
AMIGA - another machine price category. You saw a man finally 
clicked to SCORP'a or PROFI on the AMIGA 500, 600? I'm not! Who 
goes, that, at least for A1200, and from 40

MHz'ovym Axel, add value CDROM + HDD, about the monitors have 
to say no will! It turns out the price as the P-90, P-133.

Let it amizhniki try to challenge! AND
do not have to blah-blah about the work on the A1200 naked, 
from the TV! Sam would A1400, saw how it works, but there is a 
saying about the sheep's pelt :-)


   Conclusion: - Based on the foregoing, it is necessary
build a strong alliance (symbiosis), - SPECTRUM => AMIGA, 
instead of RS 286 => PENTIUM. In terms of creating such a huge 
union Thanks ZF, Oberon'u and other ZX-media. All

firms dealing SPECCY, too, would do well on this (about 
AMIGA'h) think. A Amiga on the ZX-SPECTRUM. And last

this direction: - this is the last bastion of the platform and 
decisive, and to fight here need to the last.


   III. FINDINGS AND REQUIRED ACTIONS. And so,
responding to one of the eternal issues in Russia - "Where are 
we?", proceed to the remaining two - "Who's to blame?" and 
"What to do?" By the first question I want to say the following 
items. In dispute ZF and OBERON'a - blame the user

or not guilty, right now, when new
Software can be counted on the fingers, probably OBERON right 
after all. The point here is not user, more precisely, and it, 
too, but only with On the one hand. In reality, ordinary 
provincial nick is not convenient to handle neposretstvenno 
authors. Do not always know the address, many authors, and he 
alone, and etc. etc. Us to mass,

much easier to deal with one - two
Software companies do not necessarily
local. And the question here is not the price, and in
ease of handling (for example, I and
ZF-5, 6, 7, legal and "Black Crow"). Then
is a matter of a distribution system. And there is a
I have deep, though not proven suspicion (I confess, is sinful, 
not good for people bad to think) that not all the pure in the 
relationship between firms selling ZX-soft and its producers. I 
would like to hear views of people standing closer to it

process. We must also note that the "principled" position of 
some authors write software for specific types of machines, too 
does not contribute to improve the situation. Nick, of course, 
just not saints, but when they begin to "hang all the dogs," 
then It reminds one anecdote, about the system, in

which one is the commander in the leg ... :-)

   Now the most important - strategy and tactics to strengthen 
and develop ZX-SPECTRUM platform taking into account all the 
above nonsense: 

   1. Targeting manufacturers of hardware and
software for technology lovers (creativity) and soho-business 
(small control structures). 

   Key features:

   a) Low price (a positive example
- SPRINTER);

   b) Slotnye technology (example: SCORPION
and KAY);

   c) The emphasis on work in the networks (up to the Internet
inclusive);

   d) Expanding the range of software for small
office.

   2. Propaganda platform ZX-SPECTRUM.

   Key features:

   a) The first rule of propaganda (as Goebbels) - propaganda 
is not among his own, and among strangers;


   b) Use all available means
Media, magazines, newspapers, ads
to promote SPECCY;

   a) Establish regional fan clubs ZX-SPECTRUM, networks, 
information through them all the users on the news and 
developments, setting SPECTRUM'ov in various gambling halls;


   d) Information about your ZX-platform
in different networks (the Internet - a must!), in computer 
centers of various kinds; 

   e) Promote ZX-SPECTRUM at work, school, residence;

   e) Be sure to re-establishment of at least one printed 
magazine (thick paper); 

   g) The creation of electronic books from
orientation.

   3. Arrange the standards applied in
the organization of additional memory ports
expansion of the periphery, in the software.

   Healthy criticism should not go into
ohaivanie machine of another brand. Best
Alternatively, the user evaluates the model of computer on 
which he works, and the statements on the theme - "why on this 
.. is not my wonderful program? "and

"Swamp our best!" - Have already got
above the roof.

   4. Nick should be possible to support the manufacturers (who 
can not financially, at least morally :-) And then juzat there 
will be nothing and not on anything. 

   General conclusion: if now every Sinklerist not penetrate 
the responsibility for the fate of the platform, you will soon 
have to take our heaped SCORP'y and PROFI as Radio scrap.