Roll of Honor - Mail No. 1: open letter from Dmitry Klenov about information hunger on the ZX Spectrum.

__________________________________________

(C) RAM TOP aka Dmitry Klenin
__________________________________________

Ze PagaN:
---------
 Immediately before the publication of the magazine,
I received a rather lengthy letter
from Dmitry Klenov. He really asked for the publication
                rejoice in his message, because
                is experiencing acute in-
                formational "hunger" and...
                but, however, about everything you
                you will find out from his letter.
                The author's text will be accompanied by
                follow the mark "RT",
 well, my meager comments
                taria - "ZP", of coZZZ ;))
So let's go...

RT: I don’t even know how to start this letter...
I think that first you need to introduce yourself.
I'm Dmitry Klenov, (strange last name?) nick
name - Ram Top. I am 21 years old.
   I am writing to you for the first time. And, in general, letters
I only wrote when I was in the army. That's whyI apologize in advance for the "uneven" style due to
provisions. I just don’t want to “hit the dirt”
face" in front of smart people (that's you), and es-
if you print a letter, then before the whole scene
Noah Spectrum!

ZP: Te-ek-sir, a good start ;))

RT: Well, now, actually, about the reason,
prompted me to write this letter. Cases
things turned out so that I apparently stayed
the only "survivor"
Spectrumist of the city of Yeisk, Krasnodar
edges...

ZP: We must sadly admit that in recent
It’s time for a statement of this type to simply
slipping more and more often :((

RT: Our town, although small (about 90
thousand), but my search for “brothers in mind”
did not give positive results. (And mo-
maybe I was looking badly? ;)) And so, in order not to give
my ZX will die from software hunger,
find associates, friends, and "expand
spheres of influence,” I decided to write to you.

ZP: Well, he did the right thing, one associate
I think you already have it ;)

RT: One of my friends studies in Krasnodar and
brings me 3-4 new dis-
ka...

ZP: Ah-ah-ah! I can't remain silent! Diman, and you
still calling THIS guy a friend?! Remind me
him that MAIL has existed for a very long time!
Well, just a complete disgrace!!! ;)

RT: So ZX-Format #07 fell into my hands.
I widened my eyes and was very surprised to see
then a new type of software is informational.
I read it from cover to cover. That's it
then I had the idea to write to someone
something.

ZP: I hasten to reassure you, such a thought is
is on everyone's mind, and I'm no exception ;))
I still remember 1994-95 and the ZX-REVIEW ;)

RT: But I was confused by the “issue date” of the magazine
- 1997. And since he came to me in
hands in January 2000, it turns out that
About three years have passed since its release.

ZP: Logical...

RT: I was afraid that during this time a lot
could change, and no one will answer me.
   But in August 2000, a message came to me.
sings Deja Vu #09 for '99...

ZP: Ah-ah! Is this that lame magazine ;)?

RT: Only after that did I decide to write.
I haven’t yet figured out what exactly to write about...
   I just want totell you something huge
THANK YOU for your work!!! For what you were
eat and you will eat! (If we stay).

ZP: Well, then, please! And your THANK YOU,
Dmitry, let me tell everyone many times
The media of our long-suffering den, have
known in common parlance as the CIS.

RT: I believe that it is precisely because of such media,
Spectrum survived the difficult times of "dominance"
MS, and continues to live (the main thing is that he is
found its “niche” between PC, Amig, etc.).
I want to provide free (!!!) assistance
great and unbearable assistance to your magazine.
True, I'm not good at music, but drawing...
kami, animation and various articles I would like
I was happy to help!

ZP: Only an idiot would refuse such a proposal
provisions! And since we don’t consider ourselves like that,
we’re melting and we’re not going to count, then... WE’RE WAITING!

RT: I beg you to answer me (by letter),
because ignorance is the worst! (Better bitter
truth than sweet lies, or hope to die-
the last one!!!)

ZP: Well, well! Where do such murderous thoughts come from?
at 21, Diman? Of course I will answer, and not
only by letter! In the envelope you will find ours
the last Dezhik as a gift, so that at least somehow
- to cheer you up!

RT: I don’t know whether to tell you or not how I
fell on the Spectrum? History, in principle, is usual -
maybe not, it's up to you to judge. Well, I think
you can tell, and at the same time remember old
good times. In general, I saw ahead-
high Spectrum back in the winter of '93! But I'll start
from afar...
   My father is a military man, that’s why it happened
that my childhood was spent in Ukraine (Lutsk).
In the sixth grade I started going to the Pio Palace
uneven There was a computer club there. stood
IBM-compatible Search. Since then I
and became, one might say, a computer fan-
Tom (or a maniac? :-)).
   By the ninth grade we move to our homeland
parents - Kuban. There, with new friends, I
and saw the ZX-Spectrum 48k for the first time. Well, co-
Of course, with a tape recorder. I remember then
I was very surprised, because according to my then
ideas, to have your own per-
Personal computer is a pipe dream!

ZP: I would say more - complete perversion ;)

RT: And here on you - an ordinary guy has a hundred
it at home A real personal computer!
True, simple, without a disk drive, with a ma-
lazy memory, but still!
   In short, it was 93-94. Found it quickly
myself three friends sitting on a ZX. Became
play with them, but I was more drawn to
write something in BASIC. Moreover,
I was the best at this.Now I need to say a little about friends.
Timych, I'm sorry, but not a line about you! At least
you're one of my best friends, but
you've never really spectroumed!
   My second friend is Sanek Fedulov - aka
LoFo...

ZP: I should note that nick name Fedulo-
va "drawn" somewhat "incorrectly". Above the
forgings "o" should have two dots, like
in German, for example, the language. Unfortunately,
in a font used in a magazine, this is not
considered. Therefore, further in the text I say:
and I will indicate - LoFo. And may he forgive me
Allah! ;)

RT: In short, Sanya fumbled and fumbles well
electronics!
   The third kent is Sergey Denisov, aka DEN$.
Gray is a person who has a lot of
crazy and interesting ideas, but he himself
hands do not reach to bring them to life. About
This is evidenced by at least such a case (according to
boor) that in the 7th-8th grade, having watched enough
someone's film, he was simply delirious with the idea of creating
give a robot based on a processor... (now
attention) ... based on the processor "Yaytselov-
ki". There is such a domestic game, also
older than imported electronic tetris!

ZP: Well, this is not an out of the ordinary case -
wow! For example, in my snotty childhood I dreamed
become none other than a tiger! Why? Himself
I don't know! But they say that I succeeded ;)RT: In general, in 1995 I bought for the first time
yourself a Spectrum! I note that he (Spectrum)
was a rarity in such a wilderness as Yeisk. Pos-
le purchase the question became how to connect me
Spectrum. I vividly remember how my Kent
LoFo back in 93 served the “killed” syn-
chro-mixture from your computer to the same killer
That black and white TV. I just shudder,
when I remember the quality with which we played
rallied by LoFo in DIZZY 3. The upper half of the screen
the wound was smeared to the right with terrible force
and plus to all this on the screen there were views
for some reason, the blurred contours of the object
Comrade, and the objects turned out to be simply dark -
mi.
   So, I'm going into detail again! to me
I would really like you to publish
my letter. But I'm afraid that with such a number
quality of text (or water), the material will show -
Xia uninteresting, plus there will be a break in
take it on your computer.

ZP: Yes, indeed, it cost me a lot
efforts to force myself to pound this text
off the page!!! Well, that's a lot! But you're pro-
strength... and I did ;)

RT: But I still hope that in winter I can
show your journal with this letter to yours
friends, former Spektrumist!

ZP: My warm greetings to LoFo & DEN$ !!!

RT: In short, thanks to LoFo my ZX is connected
chen according to an interesting scheme: sound / sync signal -
- to the AUDIO/VIDEO output of the video recorder, and from it
TV signal to TV. So it turns out black
-white image.
   And RGB is already directly through 10uF 16v to
Toshiba kinescope. The quality is amazing!
Thanks again LoFo! By the way, he
is now in the hospital after surgery
stomach. I would like to wish him speedily
get better and drink together again
beer! Come on, Sanya, get better!

ZP: PLAYGEAR COMPANY/BDA joins
this wish! For the sake of beer and Spectrum one hundred
it drags out even our worthless existence
nie;)!

RT: After connecting, I started
"The First Great Correspondence" - I rewrote
my favorite games. In the middle of 95
Yes, a stall opens on the radio market for software
for Spectrum. Back then everything was still on cassette tapes.
I buy literature and games, master the computer.
   '96 is coming. Dendy and
Sega. My friends are starting to gradually cool down
from Specky. At the end of 96 closes
stall for ZX. Hard times are coming, but
I'm not giving up Spectrum. I accidentally buy a ROM
90 with SAVE/LOAD turbo mode. At this time
my friends are starting to empty their cash registers
you're listening to the music. Then I start feverishly
"The Second Great Correspondence". Everything thatyes
from friends, I’m rewriting it for myself.
   By this time I am already writing quite well in
Basic. At the end of 96 wrote my first
serious program. This is a training program
MA in Biology, was accepted as
computer science exam at school (grade 11).
The school then had the 286th RS and the 48th "Bay"
you" of the Brest plant.
   Beginning of '97. School is over where
now? I want to become a programmer. I think
I'll find out where to go. While I'm "du-
small" a summons comes to me from the military registration and enlistment office -
ta! We've arrived...

ZP: Creepy..!

RT: I'm joining the Strategic Missile Forces as a signalman...

ZP: Wow! And I hung out there for two years ;)!

RT: First, half a year of training in Kap. Yar, after
the other one and a half are in Kansk. Serve
I'm promoted to senior mechanic of the space station
ical connection. I am establishing contact with Omsk,
Moscow, Chita, Vladimir and other cities
at SCS "Crystal".
   But here is the spring of 99. You understand - DMB!

ZP: Of course! Dembel is inevitable, like collapse
imperialism!;)

RT: In general, I visited your area! When-
Yes, I was driving home, passing by Chelyabinsk,
Novosibirsk, etc.I come home, take it out of the closet, bend it
which took place in the spring of 1997. and a dusty ZX. Pro-
I try to fix it, but it doesn’t work. I'm straining LoFo, and
The ZX comes to life. I'm starting to remember everything and...
re-walk past toys.
By this time, friends had completely abandoned
whether Specky, but at the same time they didn’t “sit down” anywhere.
Everyone is studying - there is no time. I'm getting ready to
go to university.
   November '99 arrives. DEN$, which
studies in Krasnodar, brings me non-working
melting 128 and three disk drives: Russian, Bol-
Garish and Japanese. I'm straining LoFo again, and
he repairs 128. Disk drive (Japanese) connected
I'm smart enough too...
   I'm starting to thoroughly enjoy my work
with a disk and undertake the "Third Great
Correspondence", i.e. transferring games from tape to
disks. DEN$ brings me from time to time
disks.
   It's like I'm rediscovering Spect-
room! ZX-Format 7 falls into my hands. Very
I am surprised and at the same time feel
when I find out that our domestic
circuit engineers make 256/512/1024 kb Spect-
rooms, and even connect a hard drive! Du-
May - not a damn thing!!! This is cool! Which
a huge step forward! And I start to feel
to fight again lagging behind the rest of the world,
but now having 128kb!
   Again, I find out that it has been there for a very long time
music processor for Specky, and also
cooler than General Sound! Moreover, people have been redistributed -
They are moving Spectrum from 3.5 MHz to 7 MHz! Those. loss-
shake calculations in 2times! I should have seen it all
Clive Sinclair, I think, would definitely eat!

ZP: In that case, it would be better for him not to
see! ;))

RT: Okay, I won't swear and will continue
further...
   January 2000 I get music
cal processor AY, which connects
LoFo, and a little later the CM 6325.01 printer
good technical condition. But he is under
failed to connect. The whole one was "spoiled"
a week on this matter, but to no avail!
The “scientific poking method” didn’t work this time.
chatted...

ZP: I would advise everyone to use your
The above method is only for the first marriage
night, but not in circuit design ;))

RT: And the documentation is neither on the computer nor on
no printer. I would be very grateful if
tell me the information you need. Just in case
I'll let you know what I have on my computer
KR580VV55A. The computer works from one common
quartz 8 MHz. Drive controller and computer
made on one board. The Z80 takes an hour-
tota 4MHz. But I don’t know the type of ZX I have.
The printer has a 37-pin output connector
Centronics type. I don't know anything else...
   July 2000 I am entering the Taganrog Ra-
Diotechnical University. I will study
to become a programmer... Well, I'm done
your "short"history! I'm sorry for
"water" and everything else! Now let's move on
to more interesting - my questions and expressions
calling, criticism and gratitude, etc...
   Let's start, perhaps, with statistics. Want-
I would like to see a table in your journal
Spectrum models produced today. What-
the main indicators would be indicated: RAM;
ROM; CPU SPEED. Which clone does he belong to?
and all other information: what OS
is it worth it, is there a HDD, etc. I think this in-
formation will be useful to many spectrumis-
there are people like me who sit on 128k and
They think - do I need my 128?

ZP: Hmmm... THE THING, of course, is interesting,
as some illiterate people like to say,
new grandchildren of Dzerzhinsky, but just from the age of
tism is a little tight in this regard... Table
It turns out too small! For today-
Nowadays, they are mass-produced only
current Spectrum models: Scorpion & Kay. Oh
I personally don’t know anything about others. Voz-
maybe there are still “underground” strains somewhere?
povki, but this is unlikely! Bring
here the technical characteristics are above-
Valuable cars (even on the rights of advertising;)) are not
I see the point, you can “get them” anywhere -
but the information is frivolous;)) As for
the second question is often asked, that is, this is enough
exactly a hackneyed expression: upgrade is inherent;))
From any "naked" 128 can be created with
great desire and definitepeople's skills
Bogo "monster" to your taste. Well, is it necessary?
you are 128, then it depends on what
you are going to solve problems on it! By
by and large, turning a blind eye to many things,128
kb is quite enough to use practically
literally all the software, BUT...! There is always BUT!Ra-
You’re unlikely to have to deal with amenities!
By convenience I mean here (that
I have, then I’ll enter ;))) extended memory into
first of all, of coz. Other "gadgets"
also leave a pleasant impression of the
bots...

RT: Maybe buy me an IBM for "business", but
Specky for the "soul"? And if you buy a Specky,
then you need information - what are the possibilities,
price and where you can buy it. I think that
By doing this you will provide an invaluable service to the provinces.
cial spektrumistam!

ZP: Good people! Have mercy! Well, you really
you don’t want to do anything yourself! "Polis-
hide" any electronic media (section "Recommendations"
Lama"), and you will find a bunch of advertisements for the sale
the same as any “hardware” on Spec, and sa-
my computers! Decide on your choice and
buy for your health... Elementary!

RT: Another question, by the way, it is related to the
previous For three years now (if not more)
rumors, statements, pre-
provisions, etc. due to the increase in
screen mode capabilitiesSpecky. Although
maybe all this has been brought to life a long time ago, I
I haven’t heard about this only because of my “se-
growth" and "backwardness". But still I wanted
so that you enlighten the people on this issue.

ZP: Ugh! The same eggs, only in profile!
Dmitry, don't misunderstand, please, we can't-
we can restore neither your spaces nor
anyone else's! Extended screen-
the new regime was, so to speak, already “invented”
long time comrade of VMG (if I’m not cheating
memory?) and successfully implemented. But
it is not widespread
chilled due to the lack of software for it. Scheme
can be found in Fido or in old media, as well
also detailed information.

RT: Now you will hear criticism of
programmers. I noticed that the above-mentioned
group of people, a bad shadow appears
the tendency to churn out countless options
muzykalok, assemblers, commanders and fall-
blacksmiths. On the one hand, it's good that
people write for Specky, but on the other hand,
if the programs are almost the same in age
possibilities, then why such a quantity? After all
the main thing is quality, not quantity! People
they write what is easy and what is partially possible
but rip from similar programs. How
something new, your own - so something already
not enough! Although on the other hand - not for me
judge them, because I’m nothing instrumental -I didn’t write anything!

ZP: Forgive me, Diman, but of all this-
I would leave only the last paragraph
proposal... I can imagine what kind of swear words le-
they are now moving in your direction from the gentlemen prog-
rammists!;) But they are right! I wonder
how can you write a program the first time?
mu, satisfying in its capabilities
both the author and the user? Precisely to
beat of acceptable quality, it is necessary
do a few, so to speak, “rough drafts”
program options. The artist never
immediately draws a finished version of the picture,
he draws dozens of intermediate options
(sketches, drafts) of the future canvas! And
why not be in so many topics
Assemblers? Someone wants to work in
ALASM; some people like XAS or MASM, well
and someone in ZEUS is not averse to perverting -
Xia, and I don't see anything wrong here. After all
a carpenter never works with just a chisel
for example, he has a set of them, although the function
They have one special offer! In a word, here you can dis-
judge ad infinitum, but your point
view, alas, is wrong...

RT: Probably 1.5 weeks have passed since then
days since I last took on this
letter. The fact is that there were different
difficulties. But the worst thing is that it broke-
Xia my 128th. It was not possible to do it, and
I was already starting to think that I would sit behind Speckyonly
However, in the event that his memory is more
over 128 kb!

ZP: 8>() ...

RT: And then suddenly a message came to me -
reply to my letter. Me, when I was hatching the idea
write to you, just in case I found a person
century (from an advertisement in Deja Vu), which is closer
lives and also wrote him a letter.
I was very glad that they answered me. This one
man - Sergey Kolesnikov, he is the author of the
cases "For Dummies" in your magazine. Via
I want to say THANK YOU to your magazine! to his
with a letter he opened my eyes to reality
activity on the Spectrum stage.
   But I didn’t finish the story. Do you understand my feelings?
when I get my hands on a new one
disk, and I don’t even have anything to read it on!!
I had to urgently get a st-
I remove the 128th board, and remove it from my (on
which the board covered) the entire periphery. I
I don’t know much about computer hardware, but pa-
I know how to hold a yowl. In general, I achieved
black and white images on Color TV, under-
turned on and repaired the old keyboard, and
connected the drive. I happily asked
maturing the disk, but after 15 minutes it happened
there was trouble! He began to slide off the stool
drive troller, something shorted, and dis-
The drive has started to format the disk! In the end I
was left without a catalog, and there were no copies of the catalog
it was. In short, total bummers :(!
   Now here's a request!since I don't
confident in fixing my old 128, and
the hardware I switched to because of the accident,
I’m not completely satisfied (and even the 128th).
I want to ask you to give me at least some...
-some information where I can buy Spec-
trunk? I would like Scorpion 512kb and 7MHz
CPU (if there is one), or at least 256
kb and 3.5 MHz. In general, I would be grateful for
any information on this matter! I'll consider
any suggestions! I really would like to
not to drink second-hand, but if there are no options, then
I'll take a used one.

ZP: Look, or better yet, read the same ZX-Format!

RT: That's all for now! Try to find
time to answer me! I would be very grateful
flax!

ZP: Well, well, we are grateful to you too,
but next time, Dmitry, try,
if you want your letter to be published,
Go ahead, send it electronically! A
then type 20 kilobytes of text from a sheet for me
I wouldn't want to do it again ;)
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