To be or not to be Super Spectrum popular?

Somehow a long time ago, specifically Monday June 30, 1997 at 08:46 Alex Letaev
wrote by Tim Yunaev:

TY>> So you _seriously_ claim that to count 2+2? do you need
TY>> a 200 MB system and a frequency of 166 min? :))))))))
AL> What about it! For example, Microsoft says: “You’ve grown up - get NT!”!!!

Similarly, different [beeps] say - you’ve grown up, throw away Spec, buy a PC.
Do you see the analogy? :)

AL> This means that if you are cool, then you definitely need NT, and
AL> then everything else!

NT mustdie. Linux, FreeBSD & OS/2 - rulez forever (little offtopic :)

TY>> Not in everything. Spectrum has a much more convenient assembler, for example.
TY>> (I’ve hated Intel’s ASCM since the 8080). There are still many of its
TY>> advantages specifically over the PC, as well as over other computers.
TY>> Interesting - I can name it.
AL> It’s good that you agreed! And then there are those who
AL> are sure that speckies are _all_ worse than PC!

Let them be sure of themselves. My neighbor is sure that if the union had not collapsed,
we would have already lived under communism, but this does not interfere with my life at all.

TY>> For example, about a calculator at 166 MHz - is this subject to motivation?
AL> see above!

In the fact that above I highlighted the word “need”definitely." I hope you don't need to
convince that 8086 is enough to calculate 2*2 (and even more difficult)?
By the way, we once used spreadsheets on the Zx Spectrum to
calculate balances (accounting).

AL> Who won't they buy a PlayStation for games? There is an answer - because this
AL> _our_ country, a country where good things are not they love, where they love filthy
AL> Microsoft, where IBM is the best home computer, where Stump 200 dad
AL> buys his 6-year-old son so that he can play doom (in the future, this
AL> son will turn out to be a StarFaker!), etc., and where, unfortunately, not everyone
AL> will understand the charm of the Spectrum!!!

No, the reason is completely different. you get _a lot of software, games
etc almost for free. Most of these games are interesting. In addition, you can also work on the computer, write programs, etc. Do you know how much one
good game costs on a Panasonic 3DO or Sony Playstation? And how many of these
games do we have?

TY>> Do you think that these people will buy another (third) computer? Not
TY>> supported by other software than the one that they already have
TY>> I doubt it.
AL> Some will buy it!

Some will. But there will be few of them. So, the release will not pay off?

P.S. Let me remind you - we are discussing: was it worth releasing Sprinter or is this idea
doomed? failure?

P.P.S. Today a friend bought it for his son128k+TR-DOS+AY, they listened to Song
on lines all day. Cool :)

And on the Song in lines emulator it doesn’t play at all. Why? :(

With respect, Tim. [Team AMD - Amiga Must Die]
[Team Aries Rulez Forever]

TY> P.P.S. Today, an acquaintance bought 128k+TR-DOS+AY for his son, they listened to Song on lines all day
TY>. Cool :)

TY> And on the emulator Song in lines doesn’t play at all. Why? :(

I didn’t launch Song In Lines, but Fuxoft Soundtrack 4 (or whatever
is spelled correctly?), in which the same music and even a little more,
I ran it normally under Lunter2.01, even in tap I threw it off the cassette
in those distant times when the Shalaevsky emulator haven't really worked yet.

__
__/// /With/ /Best/ /Regards/ 39:245/1.0@amiganet
\XX/ /Alex/ /Kovrigin/ 2:5000/28.19@fidonet

TY>>> Some. But there will be few of them. So, the issue won't pay off?
AL>> We'll wait and see.

TY> We'll see. Although, if the real price is $155 per computer, and
TY> it contains more than $1 of profit :), then they will buy it - you need a modem
TY> and communication software, at least a terminal and www-browser.

We hope that such programs will appear immediately.

TY>>> P.S. Let me remind you - we are discussing: was it worth releasing Sprinter or is this
TY>>> idea doomed to failure?
AL>> I think it’s worth it, as long as the compatibility with the spec is normal,

TY> Yes, this is important.
TY> BTW, let’s make a list of the most common
TY> circuit errors leading to incompatibility:

TY> 1. Reading data onto the bus during an interrupt (by /M1 & /IORQ)
TY> kempston-joystick and AY. The consequences are clear. 2. The upper two digits
TY> of port 0xFE when read are not equal to one (there were three programs that did not
TY> work because of this) 3. Kempston curve, with a free handle it is not read
TY> 0 4. Blockheads who access computer ports not at their addresses (00
TY> instead of FE, 0F instead of 1F, FD instead of 7FFD etc) 5. Incorrect length
TY> of the interrupt pulse and their non-standard position (BTW there are two
TY> standard) 6. Non-standard quartz in the clock generator (instead of 14MHz -
TY> 13350 etc)

The interrupt confirmation bus should read a stable #FF. Not only that, 0 must be read from the kempston, and in case of non-connection, the idle
bits must be 1, since, for example, the same Gunship, if it detects 0, then it sits dead on the kempston, and no other control is possible. In my opinion, the interrupt has only one standard: the int pulse must arrive at the beginning of the frame and have a duration of 11-9 µs. There is also the position of the paper, relative to
int, since with the same number of clock cycles in the interrupt,
the paper can be higher and lower, and we lose multicolors and see the sprite
becoming under the beam. Multicolors do not depend on quartz, and this only results in a loss
of performance, since the speed of the int will accordingly
change along with the entire frequency (including the scan and clock cycle of the processor) and this
is compensated by adjusting the scan of the monitor, the only problems are with the
loders from the tape, but here the beats of the tape recorder's rotational speed are much
greater. As for memory ports, the issue is controversial and there can be many standards: on the one hand, #FD instead of #7FFD is incorrect according to the passport, but on the other hand, on
Speccy brand (not 3+) when clicking pages through #FD, everything will work.

Once upon a time, specifically Wednesday July 09, 1997 at 09:03 Alex Letaev
Tim Yunaev wrote:

TY>> you need a modem and communication software, at least a terminal and
TY>> www-browser.
AL> Let's hope that such programs will appear immediately.

Hope is very good. But are there _already_ willing to write them?
(naturally, that _they themselves_ will not appear?)

AL> the fact that 0 must be read from the Kempston, and in case of non-connection
AL> the idle bits should be 1, since for example the same Gunship if
AL> detected 0, then it sat dead on the Kempston, and no other control is possible.

imho, this is a glitch gunship Many programs believe that only 0.

AL> should be read from kempston. As for memory ports, the issue is controversial and there may be
AL> many standards: on the one hand, #FD instead of #7FFD is incorrect according to the passport, but with
AL> on the other hand, on a proprietary Speckie (not 3+) when clicking pages through #FD, everything
AL> will work.

Hmm. There is also a crooked decoder, according to A15 | A1 ?

IG> But why? No, maybe I missed something, but, nevertheless, I
IG> am still interested in what kind of computer it will be? As far as I understand
IG> it is calculated as a _home_ computer. That is, his main
IG> goal is to introduce the beginning boy (I exaggerate) to the computer world. And
IG> it’s the issues of programs/languages/etc that the Spectrum is so famous for. Get
IG> the basics for further transition to something more modern, capable
IG> of making money. Why does a beginner need a www browser? I'm not against this,
IG> but why? The goals of creating a computer?

I am increasingly convinced that, given our average standard of living, it is optimal for the home
to have a Speckie, or A600, or 286. And the rest is disproportionately expensive
for basic Macs (if suddenly you have to buy software at world prices, I don’t
think that everyone will run out to buy Windows 95 for $150)! And anyone can buy a spec disc. And why is the Sprinter not a modern computer for the home? After all, in the West the situation with computers is different, there a person looks at the world soberly, and if he has a small company. then he buys 286, since she will calculate his entire balance overnight. For home, he takes an A600 or a Mac, but
inexpensive, and exactly what he needs! And we have stump-200 pro for our 5-year-old son, so that he can play the game! Of course, he is a Russian person with a broad soul, but maybe a long time will take its tolltime of “computer hunger”, but the fact is that when choosing a computer we are too wasteful! With our average
income, the average foreigner could hardly scrape together enough money to spend on specs!

In a letter dated Monday July 14, 1997, Alex Letaev reported to Igor Gruzdev:

AL> I am increasingly convinced that, given our average standard of living, for a home
AL> it is optimal to have a Speckie, or A600, or 286. And the rest is disproportionate
AL> expensive for basic Macs (if suddenly you have to buy software at world
AL> prices, I don’t think everyone will run out to buy Windows 95 for $150)!

I don’t think so either. Everyone will run to the market and buy a CD "Everything for Win'95"
or something like that for 30 KRUB. By the way, about the fact that you have to buy
software at world prices - In America there are 35% of illegal copies, in Europe 50% (And here -
95% of illegal copies :))

AL> And anyone can buy a disk for speck. And castati, why isn’t the Sprinter
AL> a modern computer for the home? After all, in the West the situation with computers is different,
AL> there a person looks at the world soberly, and if he has a small company, then
AL> he buys 286, since it will calculate his entire balance overnight. For
AL> at home, he takes an A600 or a poppy, but an inexpensive one, namely the one that
AL> needs!

But they have a different psychology there. They spend money not only on computers, but also on software. And before buying a computer, they will think - “what kind of software can I afford and what kind of hardware does it require?”
We limit ourselves to only buying a computer. Then we buypirated copies at
cheap or we just buy them from friends.

AL> And we have a stump-200 pro for our 5-year-old son, so that he can play the game!

That’s for sure - now even the four DX4-100s are not considered computers.

Regards, Andrew. Tuesday July 15 1997 20:26.

:))))))))))))))
In the west, 486 has already been forgotten as a class. In general.

AL> For home, he takes an A600 or a poppy, but it’s inexpensive, and exactly what
AL> needs! And we have stump-200 pro for our 5-year-old son, so that he can play the game
AL>!

Hmm. So, games like Warcraft II, for which the normal minimum is
DX2-66/16/PCI Video, are released for our new Russians?

In the West (States?) the situation is completely different. The people got greedy. A decent computer (Pentium-133) can be bought for _one_ normal monthly salary (not to eat for a month :)))))))) And no one will buy 286, 386, 486, etc. By the way, it is already extremely difficult to buy 486 from us (only with your hands).

AL> Of course, a Russian person is a broad-minded person, and maybe the long
AL> time of “computer hunger” is taking its toll, but the fact is, when choosing a computer, we are too
AL> wasteful!

If you mean the discrepancy between capabilities and needs, then this is not so.
And to calculate the balance of even a large company, much less total is required capabilities
of the system than for, say, an emulator of some kind of aircraft.

AL> With our average statistical income, the average
AL> foreigner would hardly have scraped together the money for a spec!

I don’t quite understand. :)

TY>>>> and communication software, at least a terminal and www-browser.
AL>>> Let's hope that such programs will appear immediately.
IG>> But why? No, maybe I missed something, but, nevertheless, I
IG>> am still interested in what kind of computer it will be? As far as I understand
IG>> it is calculated as a _home_ computer. That is, his main
IG>> goal is to introduce the beginning boy (I’m exaggerating) to the computer world. And
IG>> it’s the issues of programs/languages/etc that the Spectrum is so famous for. Get
IG>> the basics for further transition to something more modern, capable
IG>> of making money. Why does a beginner need a www browser? I'm not against this,
IG>> but why? Goals of creating a company?

AL>> This is not a Gunship glitch, in principle it should be determined by the idle bits
AL>> whether the computer has a Campstone, and Gunship does the right thing!
AL>> Our circuitry is most likely to blame here.
TY> Does anyone know how it was done on a proprietary one?

How do I do it? I realized that there are idle bits in one, and when the Kempston is plugged into the connector,
they become zero, and this tells the program that the Kempston
is connected.

AL>> In +3 there are pages or additional ones at a different address, or instead of
AL>> the ROM can become, again, out at a different address. Perhaps this is
AL>> #1FFD, but I couldn’t figure it out because I haven’t met
AL>> alive +3 in my life.
TY> And I haven’t seen it.

I searched for information for a long time and didn’t find it. :-(((I saw most of the Speckie models,
tested several models, but +3 I think no one came to us.

TY> Alas. About 60%

Oh, emulators!!! :-))) Well, it’s okay, soon Titus will write an emulsion for Ami with full (to
the limit) compatibility!

It’s quiet outside the window, and I’m sitting and writing a response to a letter written from Tim Yunaev to Alex
Letaev Tue Jul 15, 1997 at 01:23 pm...

IG>>> I understand that it is calculated as a _home_ computer. That is,
IG>>> its main goal is to introduce a novice boy (I exaggerate) to
IG>>> the computer world.
TY> Yes. But what could the computer world be like now without communications?

Hmm. Of course there is a mature idea, and the authority of the MOA also hints at this, but I
believe that everything comes together in order to create a computer. With the www-browser, it can already
be considered as a cheap substitute for other platforms for using the Internet, perhaps
this makes sense, but I will remain in my opinion that first of all there should
be developmental programs.

Once upon a time, specifically Wednesday July 16, 1997 at 04:32 Igor Gruzdev
wrote Alex Letaev:

IG> Yes, but he never answered my question. ;) A home computer
IG> does not need a www-browser, I hope no one will argue with this?

I will.
And I will argue that it needs an IRC-client, FTP-client, FIDO-software,
a full-fledged terminal, etc.

The Internet is now relatively cheap, especially since many have the opportunity
to set up dial-up for themselves at work from home -> freebies. Moreover, many
buy PCs specifically for working in networks.

IG> It (the home computer) would be more useful in a set of languages ​​(BASIC/Pascal
IG> etc.), graphic/music editors, and other things that can captivate in
IG> _creativity_. IMHO.

First of all, what age generation is the computer being developed for?
If for 10-16 years, then yes. And a bunch of beautiful games wouldn't hurt.

Somehow a long time ago, specifically Thursday July 17, 1997 at 08:42 Alex Letaev
wrote by Tim Yunaev:

TY>> And how is it done on a proprietary one, does anyone know?
AL> As I understand it, there are idle bits in one,

That is, 255 is read from an empty data bus?

AL> and when The Kempston is plugged into the connector, they go to zero, and this
AL> tells the program that the Kempston is connected.

That is, when reading the Kempston-joystick, the insignificant bits should be zero?
That's what I was talking about!

TY>> Alas. About 60%
AL> Oh emulators!!! :-))) Well, soon Titus will write an emulsion for Ami
AL> with full (to the limit) compatibility!

Unfortunately, 100% emulation cannot be achieved using a non-hardware method :(