Super Spectrum - myths and reality

30 May 97 03:26 -- Andrew MOA told Vyacheslav Mednonogov about Super Spectrum
- myths and reality:

VM>> And that’s not the only thing. For those who like to program,
VM>> for novice programmers, such a machine is perfect,
VM>> after all, in essence, it’s still the same Spectrum.

AM> For “programming” the machine plays almost no role at all. The role
AM> is played by _tools_ (that is, software) that are _available_ on this machine.

I just meant that between the user and the machine on the Spectrum there are no
impenetrable shields, like MS Windows, behind which the machine itself is no longer
visible. Those. I sat down, read the book, and go ahead - even in BASIC/at least in
assembler.
And using Sprinter creates the illusion that you have at your fingertips a powerful (in
graphics) machine, almost IBM or Amiga, the resources of which
(the same graphical bells and whistles) are easy and accessible to manage.
That is, IMHO, this is good for less qualified programmers, than
for example, you :))

With warm greetings, Slava.

AM>> The role is played by _tools_ (that is, software) that are on this machine
AM>> _available_.

VM> I just meant that between the user and the machine on the Spectrum
VM> there are no impenetrable shields, like MS Windows, behind which the machine itself
VM> is no longer visible.

Is it necessary to “pierce” them for the inexperienced user?

VM> I.e. sat down, read the book, and go ahead - even in BASIC / at least
VM> in assembler.

Well, if you go to a bookstore and look at the shelves...

VM> And using Sprinter creates the illusion that you have at your fingertips
VM> a powerful (in graphical terms) machine, almost IBM or Amiga, to manage
VM> whose resources (the same graphic bells and whistles) is easy and accessible.

Again, “almost” and “easy”. The percentage of amateurs (in the good sense of the word)
using some of the capabilities of my ROM for their own purposes is quite low...

VM> That is, IMHO, this is good for less qualified programmers,
VM> than, for example, you :))

To paraphrase: a beginner writes everything himself and from scratch, and an experienced one uses
libraries? But, after all, when the user _understands_, he will probably be offended.
:)

Andrew

Mon 09-Jun-97 00:36, Andrew MOA (2:5030/25.1@fidonet) wrote a letter
Vyacheslav Mednonogov:

AM> Again, “almost” and “easy”. The percentage of amateurs (in the good sense of the word)
AM> who used some of the capabilities of my ROM for their purposes is quite
AM> low...

I tried. One day. Use the window. However, the amazing speed of displaying symbols discouraged them. Of course, I understand that you are clicking the banks four times, etc... but, nevertheless, if it were faster, then maybe the percentage (see
above) would be higher (pun ;).

With best wishes, Vladimir.

09 Jun 97 00:36 -- Andrew MOA told Vyacheslav Mednonogov about Super Spectrum
- myths and reality:

VM>> I just meant that between the user and the machine on the
VM>> Spectrum there are no impenetrable shields, like MS Windows, behind which
VM>> the machine itself is no longer visible.

AM> Is it necessary for an inexperienced user to “punch” them?

I think that Spectrum is still alive, because... it is open to the user who wants to "do something like that." Remember REVIEW-2 by one of the Moscow
magazines: 30-odd percent are coders (!). Where else is there such a thing?

From here the logical conclusion is that over time Spectrum will become more and more popular, because... there will be no other outlets left (just kidding :))

Warm greetings, Slava.

VM> I think that Spectrum is still alive, because... it is open to the user
VM> who wants to “do something like that”. Remember
VM> REVIEW-2 by one of the Moscow magazines: 30-odd percent are coders
^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
POLL 3 MAXIMUM newspaper 51 =))

Hasta la vista, Vyacheslav! See you in Eden!

·∙ Novikov Sergei AKA Spirit/CS [Team ZX ASM] ∙·

VM>> user who wants to “do something like that.” Remember REVIEW-2
VM>> by one of the Moscow magazines: 30-odd percent are coders
SN> ^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SN> POLL 3 MAXIMUM newspaper 51 =))

Yes, Spectrum is alive, but for how long? I said recently... I live among the oldest
users, and among the youth... well, they learned to code a little (and on the Spectrum
you can’t write anything except in assembler - this is also an indicator that former
Spectrumists are the best programmers on other platforms) and went to hell...
In short, I may be a fatalist, but the subject only has a maximum of two years left to live... or for now
his old ones fans (like me) will not die a natural death... :(
It's a shame, of course, but what to do? Buy a new Sprinter? Yes, I'd rather
restore the branded Spec and buy an Amiga 4000 with an Axel on PowerPC than a Sprinter
:(

Sincerely, Alexey Ivanov