• The C64 is crap

    From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 11:51:37
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Let's look at the evidence:

    Slow. A poxy slow processor, hence the reliance on hardware based sprites to make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.
    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown, and really *REALLY* blocky graphics. How
    I laugh whenever I see digitised pictures on a commode 64!
    Crap games - Paradroid Vs. Quazatron. No contest. Carrier Command. Lovely fast 3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the Commode? Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip grating away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior??? What are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?
    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.
    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer. Even typing nothing on it get's that stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode. At least we could type a program in basic 15 times faster on the Speccy, with a decent system for finding mistakes. Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold around the world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only manage about 22 million.
    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.
    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being superbly designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.
    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with huge keys (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype). Spectrum, small, light, powerful!

    --
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  • From ferrousp@ferrousp@aol.com (Tim Knight) to comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 10:56:59
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Looking to pick a fight? You got one.....

    Let me ship you a large jar of good American Vaseline, and your boyfriends can do some "gliding" of their own........

    CT
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  • From Roland (.funxiun.)@NOSPAMusenetNOSPAM@NOSPAMfunxiunNOSPAM.808 (808=com) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 13:11:15
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    here we go again...

    R.
    http://www.funxiun.com

    .dark.elektronix.
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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 12:14:00
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:11:15 +0200, "Roland (.funxiun.)" <NOSPAMusenetNOSPAM@NOSPAMfunxiunNOSPAM.808 (808=com)> wrote:

    here we go again...

    That's the best counter-argument you could come up with. In that case, I am right. The C64 was, is and always will be crap.
    --
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  • From albert@albert@pikkukorppi.cs.tut.fi (Ojala Pasi 'Albert') to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 11:23:47
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    In article <9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com>,
    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
    Let's look at the evidence:

    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.

    66046 bytes of RAM when you include the 1024 nybbles of color RAM.
    All accessible with a bit of 6510 assembly.

    Maybe you should take part in the 1k game competition to prove your
    points?:-)

    -Pasi

    --
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    "Ah, a radical?"
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  • From Peter de Vroomen@peterv@ditweghaluh.jaytown.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 13:24:07
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Crap as opposed to what? Or is this simply a sad attempt at trolling?

    PeterV


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  • From Peter de Vroomen@peterv@ditweghaluh.jaytown.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 13:26:46
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Oh, opposed to the Spectrum...

    Well, let's say that I own 3 C64's and 2 speccies. Both speccies have all
    sorts of technical problems and remind me of Lada's: you have to keep
    working at them to keep them running, and the occasional bash will help. The C64's remind me of Nissan's: nobody actually wants them because they are
    ugly, but they offer the best value that money can buy.

    PeterV


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  • From Peter de Vroomen@peterv@ditweghaluh.jaytown.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 13:28:32
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Tulip is reviving Commodore and the C64, by the way. At first only in
    software (i.e., they are going to market an official C64 emulator, which
    will probably kill the C64 emulation/abandonware scene), but they are
    speaking of hardware too.

    PeterV


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  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 12:54:51
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Peter de Vroomen" <peterv@ditweghaluh.jaytown.com> wrote in message news:3f13e4f6$0$49111$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl...
    Oh, opposed to the Spectrum...

    Well, let's say that I own 3 C64's and 2 speccies. Both speccies have all sorts of technical problems and remind me of Lada's: you have to keep
    working at them to keep them running,


    I never had any trouble with mine (apart from, of course, all the millions
    of 'c90' games I used).


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  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 12:55:51
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    they are going to market an official C64 emulator, which
    will probably kill the C64 emulation/abandonware scene


    That's alright, most people didn't know one existed!

    ;o)


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  • From paul s@nospam@nospam.forme to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 11:57:13
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Peter de Vroomen wrote:

    Tulip is reviving Commodore and the C64, by the way. At first only in software (i.e., they are going to market an official C64 emulator, which
    will probably kill the C64 emulation/abandonware scene),

    Now that will take some doing, if it's going to be successful. Especially
    when you got the excellent open-source VICE Commodore emulator, available
    on most OSs.

    Are there any really any successful commercial 'pay money for' Speccy emulators? I know there are a few *shareware* ones. But from what I've seen
    and read most people are using Spin or Spectaculator, or if your using
    Linux, Fuse.

    but they are speaking of hardware too.

    Depends on the market their aiming at I suppose. I believe the Peters-Plus Sprinter Speccy compatible has been somewhat successful in Russia, etc.

    --
    Paul S
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  • From Lister@fache@blueyonder.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 13:22:30
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 11:51:37 +0100, The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

    Let's look at the evidence:


    <snip>

    Who plays a computer like this?

    David, it's over to you.




    --
    www.ferg.tk - Oh, look, I just can't be arsed.
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  • From James Sill@sill@mcleod.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 07:39:58
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com...
    Let's look at the evidence:

    Aw, you're just jealous.

    Ownership of one of those "Spackdrum" units breeds in the owner such a sense
    of inferiority that they are compelled to chronic disbelief of the 64's superiority.

    Sill


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  • From Sinclair QL@ql@dokos-gr.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 12:47:24
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Την/On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:38:42 +0100,ο(η) Frodo Morris <graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk> έγραψε/wrote:

    Sinclair QL wrote:
    Την/On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:28:32 +0200,ο(η) Peter de Vroomen
    <peterv@ditweghaluh.jaytown.com> έγραψε/wrote:

    Tulip is reviving Commodore and the C64, by the way. At first only in
    software (i.e., they are going to market an official C64 emulator,
    which
    will probably kill the C64 emulation/abandonware scene), but they are
    speaking of hardware too.

    PeterV




    See.... you're running by yourselves and still managed to finish last ;-)
    Although Amstrad hasn't (technically) got the Sinclair name anymore, ZX

    Hmmm, seems like the internet has passed you by....

    http://webdb4.patent.gov.uk/tm/number?detailsrequested=C&trademark=1191859 http://webdb4.patent.gov.uk/tm/number?detailsrequested=C&trademark=1196410

    Amstrad *has* got the Sinclair name these days, and I claim my five (R) symbols.


    Hehe, actually I was trying to find that info for some time but for some reason I couldn't get the UK patent office to return anything on the search.... it's besides the point anyway. (Just for the heck of it, I based
    my belief on the fact that Sinclair started trading again under the
    Sinclair Research name.... of course that demands a huge discussion in legalese, but nonetheless I admit I was misguided in my assertion and therefore here are your five (R)s :-).
    That would also explain why Sir Clive never got back into computers anymore after the Z88...
    Oh well...

    And of course none of this changes the fact that a C64 IS CRAP.

    (That cannot be said for an Amiga of course as ... a: It's not technically
    a Commodore creation and b: its OS was designed on a Sinclair QL :-) (Of course)

    Phoebus



    --
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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 13:57:08
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 11:23:47 +0000 (UTC), albert@pikkukorppi.cs.tut.fi (Ojala Pasi 'Albert') wrote:

    In article <9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com>,
    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
    Let's look at the evidence:

    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.

    66046 bytes of RAM when you include the 1024 nybbles of color RAM.
    All accessible with a bit of 6510 assembly.

    Maybe you should take part in the 1k game competition to prove your >points?:-)

    But 64K is 65536 bytes, so it only proves again that you never had access to the
    full memory!

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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 13:57:34
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:24:07 +0200, "Peter de Vroomen" <peterv@ditweghaluh.jaytown.com> wrote:

    Crap as opposed to what? Or is this simply a sad attempt at trolling?

    Not at all! The C64 is crap. It's the truth, can you not handle the truth?

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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 13:58:36
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:26:46 +0200, "Peter de Vroomen" <peterv@ditweghaluh.jaytown.com> wrote:

    Oh, opposed to the Spectrum...

    Well, let's say that I own 3 C64's and 2 speccies. Both speccies have all >sorts of technical problems and remind me of Lada's: you have to keep
    working at them to keep them running, and the occasional bash will help. The >C64's remind me of Nissan's: nobody actually wants them because they are >ugly, but they offer the best value that money can buy.

    Well, I've never had any problems with my speccy, but I have seen loads of knackered commodes.

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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 13:59:29
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:28:32 +0200, "Peter de Vroomen" <peterv@ditweghaluh.jaytown.com> wrote:

    Tulip is reviving Commodore and the C64, by the way. At first only in >software (i.e., they are going to market an official C64 emulator, which
    will probably kill the C64 emulation/abandonware scene), but they are >speaking of hardware too.

    As opposed to the Speccy, which has been revived already in the Emailer, and at the same time, our emulators are legal.

    So the C64 is still crap!

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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 14:00:12
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 11:57:13 GMT, paul s <nospam@nospam.forme> wrote:

    Peter de Vroomen wrote:

    Tulip is reviving Commodore and the C64, by the way. At first only in
    software (i.e., they are going to market an official C64 emulator, which
    will probably kill the C64 emulation/abandonware scene),

    Now that will take some doing, if it's going to be successful. Especially >when you got the excellent open-source VICE Commodore emulator, available
    on most OSs.

    Are there any really any successful commercial 'pay money for' Speccy >emulators? I know there are a few *shareware* ones. But from what I've seen >and read most people are using Spin or Spectaculator, or if your using
    Linux, Fuse.

    Yes, there was, Z80 did very well.

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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 14:11:01
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 14:00:48 +0100, Carl Woffenden <carl@bigredswitch.co.REMOVETHISBIT.uk> wrote:

    When I was a young lad being a Speccy owner meant bashing the Commodore >crowd simply 'because'... but then one day I actually used my mate's
    64... and was amazed! Really! I'm a big fan of the Speccy and all things >Clive but I gotta say the 64 is a great machine.

    They're great for doorstops, draught excluders, or to keep a good fire going (as
    we found out a while ago), but really, no use at all for anything else.

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  • From Floris van den Berg@flvdbergMASTER@NOSPAMwxs.nl to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 15:35:52
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> schreef in bericht news:9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com...
    Let's look at the evidence:

    Ok. Even though it's obvious this guy is trolling i'm going to defend my beloved c64 step by step. I guess i'm just bored.

    Slow. A poxy slow processor, hence the reliance on hardware based sprites
    to
    make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.

    Slow compared to... the spectrum? Compared to current PCs? Obviously a c64
    is slower than a PC. The system is 15 years old for crying out loud. Nevertheless, it runs 2 layers of parallax with a large number of sprites without any problems (take the game No Mercy for example, or the excellent
    game Hawkeye).

    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown, and really *REALLY* blocky
    graphics. How
    I laugh whenever I see digitised pictures on a commode 64!

    Again, terrible compared to... what? The IFLI modes looks pretty good for
    the limited pallette the c64 offers.

    Crap games - Paradroid Vs. Quazatron. No contest. Carrier Command. Lovely
    fast

    Good games: Last Ninja, Batman The Caped Crusader, Spy vs Spy, Outrun
    Europe, Ghostbusters, Batman the Movie, Spikey in Transylvania, No Mercy, Operation Wolf, Giana Sisters... shall i continue?

    3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the Commode?

    Commodore had at least 2 3D games. Elite and Castle Master.

    Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip
    grating
    away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior???
    What
    are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?

    The SID chip even played samples (with pretty decent quality i might add).

    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.

    Yes we had.

    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the
    worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer. Even typing nothing on it get's
    that
    stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode.

    Oh well. It worked for me.

    At least we could type a program in
    basic 15 times faster on the Speccy, with a decent system for finding
    mistakes.
    Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold
    around the
    world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only
    manage
    about 22 million.

    Last thing i heard 6 million people are still using the c64. And Tulip is
    now resurrecting them. I don't see anyone resurrect the Spectrum.

    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer
    to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.

    Have to agree there. The 1541 is horrid slow. A speed loader cartridge
    helps.

    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being
    superbly
    designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.

    Maybe, but that's not a good point why the MACHINE ITSELF sucks. And
    besides, it's now 15 years later; you can get one with a pack of milk now.

    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with huge
    keys
    (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype). Spectrum, small, light, powerful!

    Personally i love the looks of the commodore. In the old days i especially liked the Amiga-style box. Nowadays i prefer the older model because it
    stores a better sid chip. I have both models by the way.

    Floris


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  • From fritzr@fritzr@dc4pc.net (Fritz Reinders) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 06:36:02
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:<9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com>...
    Let's look at the evidence:

    Competition: IBM PC/XT
    Graphics: Hercules Monochrome
    CGA 4 colors selectable from 16 available
    Sound: built in speaker (This high tech sound device
    is still installed in today's PC's just select
    PC speaker :)

    For another well thought out bash there was Jerry Pournelle's review
    of the Amiga 1000 in Byte magazine years ago. He gave it 2 thumbs
    down at the time since the review machine had no hard drive installed.

    His opinion was: Full GUI ... who needs it?
    512k memory...His PC had 640k! So memory was lousy
    Multitasking...Who will ever need to run more than
    one program at atime?
    All of the above from 880k floppies...Requires 2
    floppies one after the other to boot. MS-DOS does
    it with one 360k disk & besides a real PC has a
    hard disk
    Summary: Pass on the MultiTasking, Windowed OS that runs from floppy
    or hard disk, you will never need it.

    He writes an MS Windows column nowadays.

    Of course Windows is much better it REQUIRES a hard disk and 128M
    memory. Not the puny floppy & 1/4M of memory the Amiga could use (His
    review machine had extra memory)

    Afterthought: MS Windows to this day has no task priority setting.
    The Amiga 1000 allowed you to run background tasks at low priority to
    so they didn't interfere with what ever else you were doing or run
    critical task at high priority so the game you were playing wouldn't
    interfere. This feature was prominently displayed in the review in
    Transactor magazine :)

    Fritz
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  • From fritzr@fritzr@dc4pc.net (Fritz Reinders) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 06:44:01
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:<9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com>...
    Let's look at the evidence:

    As for the Speccy I didn't note it in my first post as it didn't exist
    for many years after...it's competition is the Commodore Amiga series

    Read a bit of the official Sinclair history at: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/sinclairbasic/history.html

    Remember that first home computer under 100 pounds sterling (ZX-80/81)
    or $100 dollars (TS-1000)

    They really beat Commodore in price...

    Fritz
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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 15:32:07
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 15:48:16 +0200, "D.B." <sorry@no.spam> wrote:

    X-Archive-No:Yes

    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message >news:9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com...
    [snip crap]

    mmmm
    yawn
    [shrugs]
    ¨*PLONK*


    So does that mean that he has no valid proof that the C64 wasn't crap???

    Poor show dear boy!
    --
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    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Dunny@paul.dunn4@ntlworld.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 15:48:55
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Floris van den Berg" <flvdbergMASTER@NOSPAMwxs.nl> wrote in message news:3f140287$0$149$edd6591c@news.versatel.net...

    Ok. Even though it's obvious this guy is trolling i'm going to defend my beloved c64 step by step. I guess i'm just bored.

    You don't understand. This is "tradition" - only Starglider has gone and done it
    a bit differently. The Annual flamewar should start with a crosspost "The C64 was crap - Discuss" to c.s.c. We then start with petty bickering, until the real
    techy guys get involved, when we start having some well informed, interesting arguments about he relative merits of each machine.

    It's just fun, really. The last couple were excellent reading.

    Slow compared to... the spectrum?

    Technically, yes, it was slower than a spectrum.

    Last thing i heard 6 million people are still using the c64. And Tulip is
    now resurrecting them. I don't see anyone resurrect the Spectrum.

    I take it you have a large graveyard vote then? And Peters Plus are resurrecting
    the spectrum with the Sprinter, Amstrad recently released the emailer, Dave (the
    lurker) is doing the USB interface, Yarek (sp?) has done the YaBus and other mods...

    And there's a demo and coding scene for the spectrum just as large as the commode's.

    D.



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Frodo Morris@graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 16:03:32
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider wrote:
    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 15:48:16 +0200, "D.B." <sorry@no.spam> wrote:


    X-Archive-No:Yes

    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message >>news:9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com...

    [snip crap]


    mmmm
    yawn
    [shrugs]
    ¨*PLONK*



    So does that mean that he has no valid proof that the C64 wasn't crap???

    Poor show dear boy!
    Probably csc's answer to Lister, and has never actually *used* a C64.

    --
    Frodo Morris http://users.ox.ac.uk/~wadh1342
    All your bast are belong to us AKA Graham Lee, Wadham College SpectrumSofts currently on show at URL/speccy/: Speccy@Home SETI Client
    Also the home of iloveyou.bas, the first PC virus ported to the ZX82!!!

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Anders Carlsson@anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 17:11:24
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    "Dunny" <paul.dunn4@ntlworld.com> writes:

    And there's a demo and coding scene for the spectrum just as large
    as the commode's.

    Currrent number of 2003 MiniGames: Commodore 5, Sinclair 2, Amstrad 1
    with 2.5 months to go before the deadline. :-)

    --
    Anders Carlsson
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Roland (.funxiun.)@NOSPAMusenetNOSPAM@NOSPAMfunxiunNOSPAM.808 (808=com) to comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 17:32:44
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Why oh why?
    These 'discussions' are so boring.

    R.
    http://www.funxiun.com

    .dark.elektronix.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Roland (.funxiun.)@NOSPAMusenetNOSPAM@NOSPAMfunxiunNOSPAM.808 (808=com) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 17:50:12
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 12:14:00 +0100, The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:11:15 +0200, "Roland (.funxiun.)" ><NOSPAMusenetNOSPAM@NOSPAMfunxiunNOSPAM.808 (808=com)> wrote:

    here we go again...

    That's the best counter-argument you could come up with. In that case, I am >right. The C64 was, is and always will be crap.

    Let Google decide: http://www.googlefight.com/cgi-bin/compare.pl?q1=Commodore+64&q2=Sinclair+Spectrum&B1=Make+a+fight%21&compare=1&langue=us

    R.
    (*sigh*)
    http://www.funxiun.com

    .dark.elektronix.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 17:02:04
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Shaddy" <shad0w1@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:2bVQa.24874$Nf.65486@sea-read.news.verio.net...
    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message...

    So does that mean that he has no valid proof that the C64 wasn't crap???

    Hi.

    What is a speccy? Sorry for my ignorance, but I never even heard of it.


    That's alright, most people haven't heard of a C64 either!

    ;o)


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 17:04:09
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Roland (.funxiun.)" <NOSPAMusenetNOSPAM@NOSPAMfunxiunNOSPAM.808 (808=com)> wrote in message news:vj88hvsiak1fu76cjis78cucdom5uagssd@4ax.com...
    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 12:14:00 +0100, The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:11:15 +0200, "Roland (.funxiun.)" ><NOSPAMusenetNOSPAM@NOSPAMfunxiunNOSPAM.808 (808=com)> wrote:

    here we go again...

    That's the best counter-argument you could come up with. In that case, I
    am
    right. The C64 was, is and always will be crap.

    Let Google decide:

    http://www.googlefight.com/cgi-bin/compare.pl?q1=Commodore+64&q2=Sinclair+Spectrum&B1=Make+a+fight%21&compare=1&langue=us


    Decide what? I'm sure the word 'and' will get more hits than the word 'tits' but is it really a better word?


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From frink@frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk (Doctor J. Frink) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 16:44:46
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On 15 Jul 2003 16:32:43 GMT, Doctor J. Frink <frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk> wrote:

    !Z80 on RISC OS

    Oops, that should have been !Z80em.

    Frink (doh)

    --
    Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail'
    See his mind here : http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/
    Annoy his mind here : pjf at cmp dot liv dot ack dot ook
    "Joy!" - Stimpy
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Richard Wilson@rich@bitwise-systems.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 17:09:25
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    "Roland (.funxiun.)" wrote:

    Let Google decide:

    I think MicroMart already decided this one. If I remember correctly, the Amstrad CPC also beat the C64 in their Best Computer of all time
    competition!

    Richard
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From A. J. Moss@ajmoss@macpaint.fsworld.co.uk.invalid to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 18:41:37
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    This is a test.

    Starglider hates tests.

    --
    "If you send a letter to 'Cunt, London' it'll get to the
    Director-General of the BBC, you can be sure of that."
    -- Peter Cook
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Anders Carlsson@anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 19:48:56
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Richard Wilson <rich@bitwise-systems.com> writes:

    Currrent number of 2003 MiniGames: Commodore 5, Sinclair 2, Amstrad 1
    with 2.5 months to go before the deadline. :-)
    At least 1 of those is for VIC-20, not C-64.

    Two to be exact. On the other hand, there seems to be no entry for the
    48K Spectrum, or are we comparing Commodore 64 with Spectrum 128K rather
    than the classic 48K model?

    --
    Anders Carlsson
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From A E@aeisenhut@videotron.ca to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 14:13:51
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Fritz Reinders wrote:


    Afterthought: MS Windows to this day has no task priority setting.

    What? Are you kidding? Go to Task Manager, and right click on a process.


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Doctor@thedoctor@thedeathzone.free-online.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 19:43:39
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    In message <slrnbh8b5b.hrc.frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk>
    frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk (Doctor J. Frink) wrote:

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 14:00:12 +0100, The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 11:57:13 GMT, paul s <nospam@nospam.forme> wrote:

    Are there any really any successful commercial 'pay money for' Speccy >>emulators? I know there are a few *shareware* ones. But from what I've seen >>and read most people are using Spin or Spectaculator, or if your using >>Linux, Fuse.

    Yes, there was, Z80 did very well.

    !Z80 on RISC OS was very 'swish' indeed and seemed to be doing quite
    well last time I was in those waters. Dunno how it stacked up in the
    great scheme of emulation seeing as there aren't that many RISC OS users
    to start with, let alone with Spectrum fever, and even fewer willing to
    shell out 15 quid or so. But it must have been quite good cos it's one
    of the very few applications I've ever paid money for (and, no, I don't pirate) and I don't remember any PD or shareware emulators even working
    post RISC OS 3.50.

    It compared very well a few years ago but other emulators have since
    appeared and become superior.
    Spec128 has recently shown signs of life from its author on the
    AcornArcade message boards though.
    Cheers!
    --
    Graham
    The RISC OS software site - www.thedeathzone.free-online.co.uk/software
    The RISC OS hardware guide - www.thedeathzone.free-online.co.uk/hardware Deathzone Emulation - www.thedeathzone.free-online.co.uk/emulation
    The Main Control Room - www.thedeathzone.free-online.co.uk
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Doctor@thedoctor@thedeathzone.free-online.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 19:56:15
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    In message <bf0u11$fdu$1$8300dec7@news.demon.co.uk>
    Carl Woffenden <carl@bigredswitch.co.REMOVETHISBIT.uk> wrote:

    When I was a young lad being a Speccy owner meant bashing the Commodore crowd simply 'because'... but then one day I actually used my mate's
    64... and was amazed! Really! I'm a big fan of the Speccy and all things Clive but I gotta say the 64 is a great machine.

    Really??!?!?
    I could believe what a lucky escape I'd had when I first used a C64
    emulator (VICE) and played the C64 versions of the games I had for my
    Speccy. They were such crap!

    I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of C64 games that I
    think are better than their Speccy counterparts.

    When I was choosing my first computer I wanted a C64 (cos most people in
    my school had them) but we couldn't afford one (£240) so had to 'make
    do' with a speccy instead (£69). I'm so glad we were poor!
    Cheers!

    --
    Graham
    The RISC OS software site - www.thedeathzone.free-online.co.uk/software
    The RISC OS hardware guide - www.thedeathzone.free-online.co.uk/hardware Deathzone Emulation - www.thedeathzone.free-online.co.uk/emulation
    The Main Control Room - www.thedeathzone.free-online.co.uk
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Niall Wallace@niallarab@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 19:18:17
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Ah ha but

    if you fight Commodore vs Sinclair

    http://www.googlefight.com/cgi-bin/compare.pl?q1=Commodore&q2=Sinclair&B1=Make+a+fight%21&compare=1&langue=us

    Sir Clive Wins

    Niall

    "Roland (.funxiun.)" <NOSPAMusenetNOSPAM@NOSPAMfunxiunNOSPAM.808 (808=com)> wrote in message news:vj88hvsiak1fu76cjis78cucdom5uagssd@4ax.com...
    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 12:14:00 +0100, The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:11:15 +0200, "Roland (.funxiun.)" ><NOSPAMusenetNOSPAM@NOSPAMfunxiunNOSPAM.808 (808=com)> wrote:

    here we go again...

    That's the best counter-argument you could come up with. In that case, I
    am
    right. The C64 was, is and always will be crap.

    Let Google decide:

    http://www.googlefight.com/cgi-bin/compare.pl?q1=Commodore+64&q2=Sinclair+Spectrum&B1=Make+a+fight%21&compare=1&langue=us

    R.
    (*sigh*)
    http://www.funxiun.com

    .dark.elektronix.


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 21:41:50
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Fritz Reinders <fritzr@dc4pc.net> wrote:

    review of the Amiga 1000

    Yawn. Has anyone mentioned the Amiga? It wasn't even made by CBM.
    So, the reply to "the c64 is crap" is "The Amiga was better than the
    PC/XT"? Nice try, Commode User.

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 21:41:56
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Fritz Reinders <fritzr@dc4pc.net> wrote:

    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
    Let's look at the evidence:

    As for the Speccy I didn't note it in my first post as it didn't exist
    for many years after.

    c64: 1981
    Spectrum: 1982

    I guess you still do your maths on a c64.

    ..it's competition is the Commodore Amiga series

    As you wish. But the c64 is still crap.

    Read a bit of the official Sinclair history at: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/sinclairbasic/history.html

    And the c64 is crappity crap even compared to the ZX81.

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From dragonbreed@dragonbreed@aol.com (Marcel Gonzalez) to comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 20:39:19
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    ...mind you, that's normal for Commode Users.

    Talking crap behind a telephone line can be so much fun and liberating, eh?

    Marcel

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From shephed@smokey@twist1up.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 20:47:16
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 22:14:45
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "shephed" <smokey@twist1up.com> wrote in message news:oLZQa.796$ib2.120539@twister.neo.rr.com...
    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.


    No, you would be physically disabled. Retarded is when you have something
    wrong with your mind, a situation I'm sure you are quite used to.


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 23:18:26
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    shephed <smokey@twist1up.com> wrote:

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.

    Ohhh. *This* is the real stuff. You showed him!

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From gearc@troubles@the.door to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 21:38:14
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    At least 1 of those is for VIC-20, not C-64.

    A VIC-20, had one of those before i got my spectrum 128K. Spent zillions
    of hours typing if i wanted to play a game :-) after the taperecorder
    broke down : I couldn't afford another :-( .
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Thomas Mⁿller@eous@gmx.de to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 21:42:15
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Just a simple reply: If you don't like a certain (8-bit) machine, then just don't use it rather than complaining about others who like their C64 (I do
    and I don't really care about what you say). Every machine has it's own spirit. Some like it and others do not. If you're in love with your speccy: fine, that's your business - not ours.

    Regards
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From shephed@smokey@twist1up.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 21:58:54
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Phil-on-a-hill" <malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk> wrote in message news:7a_Qa.12187$nP.485@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...

    "shephed" <smokey@twist1up.com> wrote in message news:oLZQa.796$ib2.120539@twister.neo.rr.com...
    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.


    No, you would be physically disabled. Retarded is when you have something wrong with your mind, a situation I'm sure you are quite used to.

    You win! LOL


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From fritzr@fritzr@dc4pc.net (Fritz Reinders) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 15:00:17
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm



    So does that mean that he has no valid proof that the C64 wasn't crap???

    Poor show dear boy!

    Depends on the standard you're judging by. At the time it was
    introduced and
    for several years after it was a very advanced game & small business
    system.

    By the time the Spectrum 128 came out it was just about ready to
    retire. To judge it by how well it handled the standards of 8 to 10
    years after it's introduction it fares poorly on benchmarks.

    Of course you need to judge it by how well it actually handles what it
    is used for. On that standard it does quite well. Demo coders are
    still getting the C64 to do new things, and within the limits of 3
    channel sound (6 if the 2d SID modification is made) it has very good
    music synthesis capabilities.

    It's not able to handle VGA screens natively. So it might be said
    that it's graphics are poor. That's a matter of the standard you're
    judging by again. Commodore was pushing the limits of what could be
    done with a home game console when they designed the Ultimax and
    luckily for us the 'Max was expanded into a full blown small business
    system that was also a state of the art game console

    Of course there have been many hardware & software projects that added
    to the many capabilities of the C-64. 80 column hi res screens,
    multimeg memories, IBM compatibles harnessed as disk drives, internest connectivity to name a few.

    Of course the things that an 8bit 'can't' do such as a Windows OS
    (GEOS is one), a Unix knockoff (LUnix). I'm sure that there are many
    more 'impossibilities' running around out there and of course the
    severak multitasking/multiuser OSes running on C-64

    Personally I'd use longevity of the system on the open market as the
    best judge of the quality machines. The 64 to this day has the best
    claim to the best selling and longest market life of any computer
    made.

    The Apples went through many models offering partial compatibility
    with their predecessors. The Sinclairs and Ataris also limited
    compatibility between models as they changed regularly. The C64 made
    a few cosmetic changes to lower chip count & a case redesign, but it
    remained a C-64. Even it's successor the C-128 family offered a C-64 compatability that only a very few hardware intensive programs could
    break.

    All of this has been well covered here and elsewhere...didn't think a
    rehash was needed :)

    Fritz
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Dunny@paul.dunn4@ntlworld.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 23:17:22
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Thomas Mόller wrote:
    Just a simple reply: If you don't like a certain (8-bit) machine,
    then just don't use it rather than complaining about others who like
    their C64 (I do and I don't really care about what you say).

    Wooooossshhhh!!!

    <ducks>

    Jeez, that bugger was low! What was that? Eh? There was bags of height left? Maybe over *your* head there was :-)

    D.



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter Thomas@see-my-sig@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 00:02:41
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 20:47:16 GMT, "shephed" <smokey@twist1up.com>
    wrote:

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special >Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.

    At time of writing, this cliche has been used about 5,060 times on
    Usenet[1]. Please find something original to say.

    [1] According to google - http://tinyurl.com/h1pp

    --
    pete [at] ¦ In development: Beer Chaos.
    horseshoe ¦ You buy a shot of vodka or water.
    [hyphen] ¦ Anyone choosing to disbelieve it has to
    inn [dot] ¦ down it.
    co [dot] uk¦
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Axell@Axell@nosp.rogers.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 23:35:09
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm



    The Starglider wrote:

    Let's look at the evidence:

    Remove "wibble" in
    E Mail address
    TO REPLY.

    Why would I want to remove the wibble? It's is appropriate for you.

    wibble, v. [...] 2. intr. Brit. slang. To speak or write, especially at great length, without saying anything important; to
    witter or waffle; to talk drivel. Freq. with on. Also trans. with direct speech as object.




    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Jeff Ledger@jeff@NOSPAM.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 19:44:01
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.

    Typical flame war crap from the 80's... Same crap grammer and spelling
    issues..

    Pay attention class! If you fan the flame war, check your grammer.

    Note: "You might win, but your still retarted."

    Corrected: "You might win, but you're still retarded."

    ===============
    From Dictionary.com
    ===============
    your

    \Your\ ([=u]r), pron. & a. [OE. your, [yogh]our, eowr, eower, AS. e['o]wer, originally used as the gen. of ge, g[=e], ye; akin to OFries. iuwer your,
    OS. iuwar, D. uw, OHG. iuw[=e]r, G. euer, Icel. y[eth]ar, Goth. izwara,
    izwar, and E. you. [root]189. See You.] The form of the possessive case of
    the personal pronoun you.

    Note: The possessive takes the form yours when the noun to which it refers
    is not expressed, but implied; as, this book is yours. ``An old fellow of yours.'' --Chaucer.

    you're (yr; yr when unstressed)

    Contraction of you are.




    begin 666 oobreve.gif
    M1TE&.#EA#0`6`/ ``/___P```"'Y! $`````+ `````-`!8```(DA(^IR^T> @0HLFVOORHH@#^1V@!%:A6(:IIW9G.:()J]7VC1,H`#L`
    `
    end

    begin 666 schwa.gif
    M1TE&.#EA!@`/`/ ``/___P```"'Y! $`````+ `````&``\```(0A(^I>^$6
    ,&H@2N7MK9AP0% `[
    `
    end

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter Thomas@see-my-sig@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 00:56:00
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 19:44:01 -0400, "Jeff Ledger" <jeff@NOSPAM.com>
    wrote:

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special >> > Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.
    Typical flame war crap from the 80's... Same crap grammer and spelling >issues..

    Typical ISP-rule breaching crap from Jeff Ledger... Binary attachments
    posted even though these are text-only newsgroups!

    Pay attention Jess! If you post attachments on text-only newsgroups,
    your ISP account is at risk.

    Pay attention class! If you fan the flame war, check your grammer.
    Note: "You might win, but your still retarted."
    Corrected: "You might win, but you're still retarded."

    Note: "check your grammer."
    Corrected: "check your grammar."

    --
    pete [at] ¦ In development: Beer Chaos.
    horseshoe ¦ You buy a shot of vodka or water.
    [hyphen] ¦ Anyone choosing to disbelieve it has to
    inn [dot] ¦ down it.
    co [dot] uk¦
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From russ juckes@juckes@russandem.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 01:10:46
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On 15 Jul 2003 16:32:43 GMT, frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk (Doctor J.
    Frink) wrote:

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 14:00:12 +0100, The Starglider ><the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 11:57:13 GMT, paul s <nospam@nospam.forme> wrote:

    Are there any really any successful commercial 'pay money for' Speccy >>>emulators? I know there are a few *shareware* ones. But from what I've seen >>>and read most people are using Spin or Spectaculator, or if your using >>>Linux, Fuse.

    Yes, there was, Z80 did very well.

    !Z80 on RISC OS was very 'swish' indeed and seemed to be doing quite
    well last time I was in those waters. Dunno how it stacked up in the
    great scheme of emulation seeing as there aren't that many RISC OS users
    to start with, let alone with Spectrum fever, and even fewer willing to
    shell out 15 quid or so. But it must have been quite good cos it's one
    of the very few applications I've ever paid money for (and, no, I don't >pirate) and I don't remember any PD or shareware emulators even working
    post RISC OS 3.50.

    Going back a few years, but !Speccy by Carsten Witt ran hapily under
    RO3.5 - in fact one of the versions I tested had an amusing bug which
    meant that it would *only* run under either RO2, or RO3.5 - nothing
    inbetween.

    I paid for both !Speccy *and* !Z80Em.





    Outta here,

    Russ Juckes - Atari Jaguar, Jamma Cabinet & Sinclair ZX Spectrum Owner
    --
    http://www.russandem.co.uk "Knowledge is power"
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From amigo@amigo@nada.no to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 00:24:42
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    :roll:

    i wont bother reading all the followups.




    [ //\ //\//\ | G O ]

    http://mondodizzy.members.easyspace.com/
    Pixeling ( Mostly 8-bit ) - ***Updated 14 July 2003***

    http://dizzypetition.members.easyspace.com/
    Bring Back that Loveable EGG!


    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com...
    Let's look at the evidence:

    Slow. A poxy slow processor, hence the reliance on hardware based sprites
    to
    make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.
    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown, and really *REALLY* blocky
    graphics. How
    I laugh whenever I see digitised pictures on a commode 64!
    Crap games - Paradroid Vs. Quazatron. No contest. Carrier Command. Lovely
    fast
    3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the Commode? Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip
    grating
    away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior???
    What
    are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?
    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.
    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the
    worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer. Even typing nothing on it get's
    that
    stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode. At least we could type a
    program in
    basic 15 times faster on the Speccy, with a decent system for finding
    mistakes.
    Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold
    around the
    world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only
    manage
    about 22 million.
    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer
    to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.
    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being
    superbly
    designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.
    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with huge
    keys
    (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype). Spectrum, small, light, powerful!

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble"
    in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail
    address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O |

    ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo_______ ____



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Richard Wilson@rich@bitwise-systems.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 01:04:23
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Phil-on-a-hill wrote:

    Games?

    Some games are better on the Spectrum, some games are better on the CPC,
    and some games are better on the C64. All depends who developed it in
    the first place. IMO, all Hewson games are best on the CPC, most Ocean
    games are better on the CPC. Very few games used the CPC to its full
    potential, for example, only one game I know of uses a hardware
    pixel-scroll and split screen (ZTB - Mission Genocide).

    Richard
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Richard Wilson@rich@bitwise-systems.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 01:13:52
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Jeff Ledger wrote:

    From Dictionary.com

    Is there a real English dictionary there? Or just a yankee one? Bet it
    doesn't have "Grammer" in it, unless they've started listing actor
    surnames.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Rick@gonz9856@bellsouth.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 21:57:04
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    WOW!!! what a pointless argument we have here

    "Fritz Reinders" <fritzr@dc4pc.net> wrote in message news:40433c66.0307151400.23475837@posting.google.com...


    So does that mean that he has no valid proof that the C64 wasn't crap???

    Poor show dear boy!

    Depends on the standard you're judging by. At the time it was
    introduced and
    for several years after it was a very advanced game & small business
    system.

    By the time the Spectrum 128 came out it was just about ready to
    retire. To judge it by how well it handled the standards of 8 to 10
    years after it's introduction it fares poorly on benchmarks.

    Of course you need to judge it by how well it actually handles what it
    is used for. On that standard it does quite well. Demo coders are
    still getting the C64 to do new things, and within the limits of 3
    channel sound (6 if the 2d SID modification is made) it has very good
    music synthesis capabilities.

    It's not able to handle VGA screens natively. So it might be said
    that it's graphics are poor. That's a matter of the standard you're
    judging by again. Commodore was pushing the limits of what could be
    done with a home game console when they designed the Ultimax and
    luckily for us the 'Max was expanded into a full blown small business
    system that was also a state of the art game console

    Of course there have been many hardware & software projects that added
    to the many capabilities of the C-64. 80 column hi res screens,
    multimeg memories, IBM compatibles harnessed as disk drives, internest connectivity to name a few.

    Of course the things that an 8bit 'can't' do such as a Windows OS
    (GEOS is one), a Unix knockoff (LUnix). I'm sure that there are many
    more 'impossibilities' running around out there and of course the
    severak multitasking/multiuser OSes running on C-64

    Personally I'd use longevity of the system on the open market as the
    best judge of the quality machines. The 64 to this day has the best
    claim to the best selling and longest market life of any computer
    made.

    The Apples went through many models offering partial compatibility
    with their predecessors. The Sinclairs and Ataris also limited
    compatibility between models as they changed regularly. The C64 made
    a few cosmetic changes to lower chip count & a case redesign, but it
    remained a C-64. Even it's successor the C-128 family offered a C-64 compatability that only a very few hardware intensive programs could
    break.

    All of this has been well covered here and elsewhere...didn't think a
    rehash was needed :)

    Fritz



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From John Kavanagh@johnkavanagh@cpcoxygen.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 05:07:31
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Phil-on-a-hill" <malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk> wrote in message news:AZ%Qa.12253$nP.8874@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
    So it should, the CPC is a good computer. The only reason the Spectrum
    came
    second was due to its larger user base. C64 compared to Spectrum, well
    to
    me
    its a hard one, depends on what you looking for in a computer I guess.
    But
    CPC against the Spectrum, well the CPC win in every respect, well I
    can't
    honestly think of one thing that the Spectrum was better at?


    Games?

    You never played an Amstrad did you? Both computers share the same processor and sound chip so both versions of the same game would be more or less equal sometimes the spectrum version is better, other times it the CPC version.
    This got more to do with the programmers talents than the computers.

    Now on to the graphics. If a game was designed on the Amstrad to use all it graphical features it just blows the spectrum away, however a lot of the
    games were designed for the weakest computer so that porting over to
    different formats would be easier and cheaper, hence many Amstrad games look like Spectums dull O' graphics amd don't take advantage of the full 16
    colours on screen (more on the PLUS).

    Correct me if I'm wrong?

    Oh by the way I don't hate Spectrums or anything.


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Anders Carlsson@anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:00:50
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) writes:

    c64: 1981
    Spectrum: 1982

    I thought both were released during 1982. Was the C64 available
    anywhere in the world (US, Japan?) already in the end of 1981?

    --
    Anders Carlsson
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:32:52
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Fritz Reinders <fritzr@dc4pc.net> wrote:

    By the time the Spectrum 128 came out it was just about ready to
    retire.

    Why do you insist in comparing the c64 with the Spectrum 128? The 64 is
    crap even compared to the original 16K.

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:32:52
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Anders Carlsson <anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se> wrote:

    big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) writes:

    c64: 1981
    Spectrum: 1982

    I thought both were released during 1982. Was the C64 available
    anywhere in the world (US, Japan?) already in the end of 1981?

    Keine Ahnung :-)
    "C64 history" pages state 1981. Even if this was true, it's hardly "many
    years" before the birth of the Speccy, right?

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:32:53
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Jeff Ledger <jeff@NOSPAM.com> wrote:

    Pay attention class! If you fan the flame war, check your grammer.

    What's wrong with my grand-mθre?

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:02:51
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 00:17:37 +0100, "John Kavanagh" <johnkavanagh@cpcoxygen.net>
    wrote:


    "Richard Wilson" <rich@bitwise-systems.com> wrote in message >news:3F14353E.9728899@bitwise-systems.com...
    "Roland (.funxiun.)" wrote:

    Let Google decide:

    I think MicroMart already decided this one. If I remember correctly, the
    Amstrad CPC also beat the C64 in their Best Computer of all time
    competition!

    Richard

    So it should, the CPC is a good computer. The only reason the Spectrum came >second was due to its larger user base. C64 compared to Spectrum, well to me >its a hard one, depends on what you looking for in a computer I guess. But >CPC against the Spectrum, well the CPC win in every respect, well I can't >honestly think of one thing that the Spectrum was better at?

    Sales?

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:04:13
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 19:18:17 +0000 (UTC), "Niall Wallace" <niallarab@hotmail.com> wrote:

    Ah ha but

    if you fight Commodore vs Sinclair

    http://www.googlefight.com/cgi-bin/compare.pl?q1=Commodore&q2=Sinclair&B1=Make+a+fight%21&compare=1&langue=us

    Sir Clive Wins

    I wouldn't expect any other result. It's obvious!
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:07:04
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On 15 Jul 2003 19:48:56 +0200, Anders Carlsson <anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se> wrote:

    Richard Wilson <rich@bitwise-systems.com> writes:

    Currrent number of 2003 MiniGames: Commodore 5, Sinclair 2, Amstrad 1
    with 2.5 months to go before the deadline. :-)
    At least 1 of those is for VIC-20, not C-64.

    Two to be exact. On the other hand, there seems to be no entry for the
    48K Spectrum, or are we comparing Commodore 64 with Spectrum 128K rather
    than the classic 48K model?

    Well, yes. I can't see the point of comparing with the Commode 128, because that
    was even worse!

    I have never seen anything that was specifically written for the commode 128. Maybe there is now, but not when the machine was being sold!
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:09:54
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 20:03:08 +0200, "Steppe" <steppe_not_for@spam_demodungeon.com> wrote:

    The Starglider wrote:
    Ah! The typical American response. Not even bothering to look outside
    of their own country to see what else happens in the world. I bet you
    think WW2 started in 1942 as well, didn't you? The Commode 64 was not
    the leader, simple as that!

    Although I'm German and don't really feel offended by that, I feel that if >arguments like that enter the discussion it deserves a short and painless >*PLONK*

    If he had bloody read the post, he would see that I was critisizing the Americans, not the Germans!
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:11:58
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 21:57:04 -0400, "Rick" <gonz9856@bellsouth.net> wrote:

    WOW!!! what a pointless argument we have here

    As I side issue here, why the fuck did you:

    a) Top post
    b) Top post with one line of text, but leaving the rest of the post in???
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:12:31
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 18:41:37 +0100, A. J. Moss <ajmoss@macpaint.fsworld.co.uk.invalid> wrote:

    This is a test.

    BASTARD!

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:14:36
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 20:47:16 GMT, "shephed" <smokey@twist1up.com> wrote:

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special >Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.

    Again, this is the post that wins the "Crossed the line of taste" by offending several people who are disabled who post here.
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:16:17
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 21:42:15 +0000 (UTC), "Thomas Mόller" <eous@gmx.de> wrote:

    Just a simple reply: If you don't like a certain (8-bit) machine, then just >don't use it rather than complaining about others who like their C64 (I do >and I don't really care about what you say). Every machine has it's own >spirit. Some like it and others do not. If you're in love with your speccy: >fine, that's your business - not ours.

    But it is simply my job to ensure you all realise that the Commode 64 is utter crap. It was a useless machine, ugly, expensive, and just plain crap.

    Once you all realise this, you will lead happier lives.

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:17:52
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 19:44:01 -0400, "Jeff Ledger" <jeff@NOSPAM.com> wrote:

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special >> > Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.

    Typical flame war crap from the 80's... Same crap grammer and spelling >issues..

    Pay attention class! If you fan the flame war, check your grammer.

    Note: "You might win, but your still retarted."

    Corrected: "You might win, but you're still retarded."

    And Jeff wins the award for "Trying to stop a flamewar, but making it worse by posting binaries to non-binary groups, which is a worse offense".
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:19:21
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 23:35:09 GMT, Axell <Axell@nosp.rogers.com> wrote:



    The Starglider wrote:

    Let's look at the evidence:

    Remove "wibble" in
    E Mail address
    TO REPLY.

    Why would I want to remove the wibble? It's is appropriate for you.

    wibble, v. [...] 2. intr. Brit. slang. To speak or write, especially at great >length, without saying anything important; to
    witter or waffle; to talk
    drivel. Freq. with on. Also trans. with direct speech as object.

    I know, that's why I used it.

    But my argument still stands. The Commode 64 is crap. Always will be. Now don't try to change the subject.

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:20:38
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 19:57:03 -0500, "Dave Dahle" <dd-ah-le@dtg.net> wrote:

    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message >news:9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com...
    Let's look at the evidence:

    Shut up, you mindless, mouth-breathing, UTTER bastard.

    Mouth-breathing? How else would I breath (apart from my nose)? Through my ears???

    This is one of the funniest fuck-ups in a reply I have ever seen! Thank you Dave!

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:21:39
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:22:58 -0400, "Glenn P.," <C128User@FVI.Net> wrote:

    On 15-Jul-03 at 11:51am +0100, <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

    Let's look at the evidence:

    [ Snip! ]

    Rates an 8.7 out of 10 on the TrollScale[tm].

    Damn! Must try harder!

    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!
    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!
    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!
    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!
    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!
    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!
    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!
    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!
    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!
    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!
    THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP! THE C64 IS CRAP!

    --_____ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%% "Glenn P.," <C128User@FVI.Net> %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

    Oh, and your sig separator does not work.
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Anders Carlsson@anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 09:33:18
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> writes:

    I have never seen anything that was specifically written for the
    commode 128. Maybe there is now, but not when the machine was being sold!

    Off my head, I can only name three games I know existed in C128
    versions: Kikstart (?), The Last V8 and a cricket (!) game by Audiogenic.
    The last one was one of the very few I saw a review of in the Swedish
    speaking magazine I used to read. They didn't grasp much of the game.

    --
    Anders Carlsson
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Frodo Morris@graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:34:08
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Jeff Ledger wrote:


    I can't speak for csc, but in css there is a simple rule (and of course
    you read the FAQ before posting, didn't you? I thought so) and it goes
    like this...

    *THWAP*! NO BINARIES!!!

    abuse at athenanews dot com are being put on standby....

    --
    Frodo Morris http://users.ox.ac.uk/~wadh1342
    All your bast are belong to us AKA Graham Lee, Wadham College SpectrumSofts currently on show at URL/speccy/: Speccy@Home SETI Client
    Also the home of iloveyou.bas, the first PC virus ported to the ZX82!!!

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Etienne von Wettingfeld@etienne@xs4none.nl to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 09:40:24
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Anders Carlsson wrote:

    Off my head, I can only name three games I know existed in C128
    versions: Kikstart (?), The Last V8 and a cricket (!) game by Audiogenic.
    The last one was one of the very few I saw a review of in the Swedish speaking magazine I used to read. They didn't grasp much of the game.

    Echelon had a C128 version.

    --
    Etienne von Wettingfeld [SuSE Linux]
    Voice mail & Fax: +31 (84) 8835157 -//- www.doomdark.demon.nl

    { -*- Nam Et Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est -*- } MMIII
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 08:50:44
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "John Kavanagh" <johnkavanagh@cpcoxygen.net> wrote in message news:bf2k6l$vsa$1@kermit.esat.net...

    "Phil-on-a-hill" <malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk> wrote in message news:AZ%Qa.12253$nP.8874@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
    So it should, the CPC is a good computer. The only reason the Spectrum
    came
    second was due to its larger user base. C64 compared to Spectrum, well
    to
    me
    its a hard one, depends on what you looking for in a computer I guess.
    But
    CPC against the Spectrum, well the CPC win in every respect, well I
    can't
    honestly think of one thing that the Spectrum was better at?


    Games?

    You never played an Amstrad did you?

    Yes, I did.

    Both computers share the same processor
    and sound chip so both versions of the same game would be more or less
    equal
    sometimes the spectrum version is better, other times it the CPC version. This got more to do with the programmers talents than the computers.

    Now on to the graphics. If a game was designed on the Amstrad to use all
    it
    graphical features it just blows the spectrum away,


    YOU DON'T SAY! Next, you'll be telling me that the PC has better graphics
    than an Amiga (which obviously makes it a better machine in every respect
    known to man ... not).

    however a lot of the
    games were designed for the weakest computer so that porting over to different formats would be easier and cheaper

    Either that, or many more people made games for the 'weakest' computer
    because many more people bought, played and enjoyed the games more than they did on other formats?

    hence many Amstrad games look
    like Spectums dull O' graphics amd don't take advantage of the full 16 colours on screen (more on the PLUS).

    Hardly anything in the history of man took advantage of the Amstrad's full potential ... I wonder why that is?

    Correct me if I'm wrong?

    I did.

    Oh by the way I don't hate Spectrums or anything.




    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 09:17:46
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Axell" <Axell@nosp.rogers.com> wrote in message news:3F1490A3.FE69E14@nosp.rogers.com...


    The Starglider wrote:

    Let's look at the evidence:

    Remove "wibble" in
    E Mail address
    TO REPLY.

    Why would I want to remove the wibble? It's is appropriate for you.

    wibble, v. [...] 2. intr. Brit. slang. To speak or write, especially at
    great
    length, without saying anything important; to
    witter or waffle; to
    talk
    drivel. Freq. with on. Also trans. with direct speech as object.


    See: Jim Davidson


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Olaf@info@printgroup.nl to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 10:30:38
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip grating away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior??? What
    are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?

    Ah well, at least there are now two hardware-based synthesizers that use the good
    old SID to produce the sound and i must tell you those things really kick ass. So
    there must be something good about the SID-sound otherwise these synths would not be
    on the market. Sure, one SID does not sound like another but then again, if you compare two Roland Juno 60's with each other they do not sound the same either. So
    stop bitching the SID, it's a very famous chip with a very special sound that is
    still liked by many artists and some still use SID's for their music. Haven't seen
    anybody on stage with a Speccy to make music. Seen a lot of C64's and SID-Stations
    recently on stage.

    Olaf.

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter van Merkerk@merkerk@deadspam.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 10:31:58
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
    On 15 Jul 2003 19:48:56 +0200, Anders Carlsson
    <anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se>
    wrote:

    Richard Wilson <rich@bitwise-systems.com> writes:

    Currrent number of 2003 MiniGames: Commodore 5, Sinclair 2,
    Amstrad 1
    with 2.5 months to go before the deadline. :-)
    At least 1 of those is for VIC-20, not C-64.

    Two to be exact. On the other hand, there seems to be no entry for
    the
    48K Spectrum, or are we comparing Commodore 64 with Spectrum 128K
    rather
    than the classic 48K model?

    Well, yes. I can't see the point of comparing with the Commode 128,
    because that
    was even worse!

    I have never seen anything that was specifically written for the
    commode 128.
    Maybe there is now, but not when the machine was being sold!

    You are probably one of those people who still think the earth is flat.
    The fact that you didn't see something doesn't mean it does not exist.

    Even when the C128 was sold there was software specifically written for
    it. Though I admit it was mostly serious stuff like wordprocessors,
    databases, disk copiers...etc which benefitted most from the additional capabilities (memory, 80-column screen) of the C128. All improvements of
    the C128 over C64 are in the business use area. Besides the extra memory
    and maybe the faster diskdrive the C128 has little extra to offer for
    games compared to a C64. Considering that and the near perfect
    compatibilty with the C64, it makes little sense to write a game
    specifically for the C128. For minigames I cannot think of single reason
    why one would make one specifically for the C128 instead of the a C64
    version.



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From frink@frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk (Doctor J. Frink) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 09:18:53
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 21:38:14 GMT, gearc <troubles@the.door> wrote:
    At least 1 of those is for VIC-20, not C-64.

    A VIC-20, had one of those before i got my spectrum 128K. Spent zillions
    of hours typing if i wanted to play a game :-) after the taperecorder
    broke down : I couldn't afford another :-( .

    Behold my breathtaking stupidity:

    I also used to spend ages typing stuff in for my own programs but was
    never able to save them, the taperecorder just didn't seem to want to
    record onto anything, the record button wouldn't even go down (clue). So
    I just put up with always losing my programs.

    Many moons later, after the spectrum had given up the ghost, I finally
    realised the tape recorder would record happily if I actually put a tape
    it without the record-protect tab broken! The "argh!" could be heard in
    the next village.

    Frink

    --
    Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail'
    See his mind here : http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/
    Annoy his mind here : pjf at cmp dot liv dot ack dot ook
    "Joy!" - Stimpy
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From yihq@yihq@2nybbles.com (Zed Yago) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 05:21:09
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) wrote in message news:<1fy6khg.1pvmtwzxrhml9N%big-go@dplanet.ch>...
    Peter Thomas <see-my-sig@hotmail.com> wrote:

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 20:47:16 GMT, "shephed" <smokey@twist1up.com>
    wrote:

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special >Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.

    At time of writing, this cliche has been used about 5,060 times on Usenet[1].

    And another 30 times in the last 7 hours. This is the most stupid, most conceptually incorrect "tag line" I ever happened to read in my life.
    How can it be so popular?

    Because it is true.

    ZY
    PS: Shouldnt it read "Even if you win, you are still retarded." ?
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From yihq@yihq@2nybbles.com (Zed Yago) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 05:27:47
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:<q5v7hv0iurr8hcv60c4pph2admgiq1g77a@4ax.com>...
    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 11:23:47 +0000 (UTC), albert@pikkukorppi.cs.tut.fi (Ojala Pasi 'Albert') wrote:

    In article <9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com>,
    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
    Let's look at the evidence:

    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.

    66046 bytes of RAM when you include the 1024 nybbles of color RAM.
    All accessible with a bit of 6510 assembly.

    As an additional, does the fact that you can't count and 65536 bytes plus 1024
    nybbles equals 66048 bytes (and not 66046)?

    Well, the first 2 memory addresses are extremely hard to write to[1], so Albert subtracted them.

    ZY
    [1] At least if you want to access the RAM, not the Configuration.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Frodo Morris@graham.lee@invalid.wadham.oxford.ac.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 14:19:51
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Steppe wrote:
    Frodo Morris wrote:

    Y The Starglider wrote:
    If he had bloody read the post, he would see that I was critisizing
    the Americans, not the Germans!


    And I wanted to point out that I'm not feeling offended by that BECAUSE I'm German. I noticed that it was directed at the Americans.


    Oh come on, you know that you Don't Mention the War when there are
    Germans around - they either get upset or use it as a chance to
    advertise their new ZX81 membranes they have in stock.


    Hehe, I think those times are over. Most of the younger folks here are able to cope with the matter in an objective way. It's not the fact that WWII was mentioned, but that argument just didn't fit the discussion.

    True, true; my original post was a bit of a css in-joke though (cf the
    bit about ZX81 membranes), also Dont Mention The War is a famous quote
    by John Cleese in Fawlty Towers. I have it on good authority that of
    the twelve episodes made, the DMTW one was the only one not translated
    into German for your TV so you may not have seen it. Very funny,
    nonetheless.

    It seems that
    when Starglider is running out of arguments he has to throw around insults that
    are way beyond the waistline...

    Oh yeah? Well your mother was a hamster and your father smells of elderberries :-P

    Only joking...

    --
    FM

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Frodo Morris@graham.lee@invalid.wadham.oxford.ac.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 14:21:03
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider wrote:
    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 08:31:51 +0100, Frodo Morris <graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk> wrote:


    The Starglider wrote:


    If he had bloody read the post, he would see that I was critisizing the >>>Americans, not the Germans!

    Oh come on, you know that you Don't Mention the War when there are
    Germans around - they either get upset or use it as a chance to
    advertise their new ZX81 membranes they have in stock.


    Ooh! Cutting! Very cutting! I like this post!

    Oh dear, a complement, in the middle of a flame war. Are you losing
    your sting, SG? :-D
    --
    FM

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Floris van den Berg@flvdbergMASTER@NOSPAMwxs.nl to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 16:44:48
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    "Biggo" <big-go@dplanet.ch> schreef in bericht news:1fy5omr.1kdg2b31v5y3riN%big-go@dplanet.ch...
    Floris van den Berg <flvdbergMASTER@NOSPAMwxs.nl> wrote:

    Slow compared to... the spectrum? Compared to current PCs? Obviously a
    c64
    is slower than a PC.

    *And* it's slower than a Spectrum too.

    Ok. Fair enough. Can't argue with that then. Still, lots of great software
    came out for the c64.

    To the Speccy. What were they thinking at CBM when they decided to give
    the 64 16 shades of brown?

    You nicely evaded by comment about IFLI.

    Last thing i heard 6 million people are still using the c64. And Tulip
    is
    now resurrecting them. I don't see anyone resurrect the Spectrum.

    No need to resurrect something that's alive. New Spectrums are still
    sold today. *New* Spectrums, not second-hand brown doorstops.

    If there are still 6 million people using the c64 (which seems like an unrealistically large number by the way), the c64 is clearly not dead. With "resurrecting" i meant new machines will be produced.

    Personally i love the looks of the commodore.

    Ha! No wonder you manage to stand c64 graphics. You need glasses.

    If we all had the same taste, most women would be single.

    Floris


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Frodo Morris@graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 15:58:19
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Phil-on-a-hill wrote:

    YOU DON'T SAY! Next, you'll be telling me that the PC has better graphics than an Amiga (which obviously makes it a better machine in every respect known to man ... not).

    Only through third-party upgrades, the PC's native graphics capability
    is a pile of toss.

    --
    Frodo Morris http://users.ox.ac.uk/~wadh1342
    All your bast are belong to us AKA Graham Lee, Wadham College SpectrumSofts currently on show at URL/speccy/: Speccy@Home SETI Client
    Also the home of iloveyou.bas, the first PC virus ported to the ZX82!!!

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 16:03:11
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Frodo Morris" <graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk> wrote in message news:bf3p70$2sh$1@news.ox.ac.uk...
    Phil-on-a-hill wrote:

    YOU DON'T SAY! Next, you'll be telling me that the PC has better
    graphics
    than an Amiga (which obviously makes it a better machine in every
    respect
    known to man ... not).

    Only through third-party upgrades, the PC's native graphics capability
    is a pile of toss.


    Er .... yeah.


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Frodo Morris@graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 16:26:41
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Phil-on-a-hill wrote:
    "Frodo Morris" <graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk> wrote in message news:bf3p70$2sh$1@news.ox.ac.uk...

    Phil-on-a-hill wrote:

    YOU DON'T SAY! Next, you'll be telling me that the PC has better

    graphics

    than an Amiga (which obviously makes it a better machine in every

    respect

    known to man ... not).


    Only through third-party upgrades, the PC's native graphics capability
    is a pile of toss.



    Er .... yeah.


    OK, remove any and all expansion cards from your PCI, AGP and ISA slots,
    and tell me how good your PC's graphics capability is.

    Users of intel i810 systems need not participate.

    --
    Frodo Morris http://users.ox.ac.uk/~wadh1342
    All your bast are belong to us AKA Graham Lee, Wadham College SpectrumSofts currently on show at URL/speccy/: Speccy@Home SETI Client
    Also the home of iloveyou.bas, the first PC virus ported to the ZX82!!!

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter van Merkerk@merkerk@deadspam.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 17:30:33
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Only through third-party upgrades, the PC's native graphics
    capability
    is a pile of toss.

    OK, remove any and all expansion cards from your PCI, AGP and ISA
    slots,
    and tell me how good your PC's graphics capability is.

    Do the led's on the keyboard count as graphics?

    --
    Peter van Merkerk
    peter.van.merkerk(at)dse.nl


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Frodo Morris@graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 16:39:32
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Peter van Merkerk wrote:
    Only through third-party upgrades, the PC's native graphics

    capability

    is a pile of toss.

    OK, remove any and all expansion cards from your PCI, AGP and ISA

    slots,

    and tell me how good your PC's graphics capability is.


    Do the led's on the keyboard count as graphics?


    Only if you can get a higher resolution than the Speccy :-)

    --
    Frodo Morris http://users.ox.ac.uk/~wadh1342
    All your bast are belong to us AKA Graham Lee, Wadham College SpectrumSofts currently on show at URL/speccy/: Speccy@Home SETI Client
    Also the home of iloveyou.bas, the first PC virus ported to the ZX82!!!

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Christian Johansson@c64@combort.se to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 17:24:33
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    All of us who frequently visit the comp.sys.cbm news group love the C64 and
    we don't really care about your "evidence", which in big parts is incorrect
    or very subjective (at least I don't). We are going to continue to love the
    C64 no matter what you say. I have never used a Spectrum but it might be a
    good computer as well. I don't want to say that a particular home computer
    is better than another than. I think it has much to do with which computer
    you grew up with which one you think is best.

    /Christian


    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> skrev i meddelandet news:9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com...
    Let's look at the evidence:

    Slow. A poxy slow processor, hence the reliance on hardware based sprites
    to
    make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.
    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown, and really *REALLY* blocky
    graphics. How
    I laugh whenever I see digitised pictures on a commode 64!
    Crap games - Paradroid Vs. Quazatron. No contest. Carrier Command. Lovely
    fast
    3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the Commode? Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip
    grating
    away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior???
    What
    are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?
    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.
    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the
    worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer. Even typing nothing on it get's
    that
    stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode. At least we could type a
    program in
    basic 15 times faster on the Speccy, with a decent system for finding
    mistakes.
    Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold
    around the
    world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only
    manage
    about 22 million.
    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer
    to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.
    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being
    superbly
    designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.
    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with huge
    keys
    (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype). Spectrum, small, light, powerful!

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble"
    in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail
    address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O |

    ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo_______ ____


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Steppe@steppe_not_for@spam_demodungeon.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 19:27:34
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Christian Johansson wrote:
    All of us who frequently visit the comp.sys.cbm news group love the
    C64 and we don't really care about your "evidence", which in big
    parts is incorrect or very subjective (at least I don't). We are
    going to continue to love the C64 no matter what you say. I have
    never used a Spectrum but it might be a good computer as well. I
    don't want to say that a particular home computer is better than
    another than. I think it has much to do with which computer you grew
    up with which one you think is best.

    <stands up, slowly applauding>
    Folks, grow up and get a life! I think nobody really likes those stupid flamewars, so stop bugging us.

    /Steppe


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Anders Carlsson@anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 19:58:35
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Frodo Morris <graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk> writes:

    Users of intel i810 systems need not participate.

    Neither does users of Nforce and some VIA KM266 systems then? Both
    are available with onboard VGA, just like many of the older PS/2
    and 486-based systems. At least when it came to resolution, and in
    many cases palette these integrated low-end VGAs beat the shit out
    of both the Commode 64 and the Spackdrum series (AFAIK, that is).

    --
    Anders Carlsson
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Chris Young@chrisy@activatormail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 19:16:02
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 16:44:48 +0200, there was a flash of lightening and a clap of thunder. A voice, believed to be the voice of God (but later turned
    out to just be Floris van den Berg trying out a karaoke machine and having a few
    electrical problems) boomed out:

    If we all had the same taste, most women would be single.

    Statistically, aren't they anyway?

    Chris

    --
    +-------------------------------------------+
    | Unsatisfactory Software - "because it is" |
    | http://www.unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk |
    | Your Sinclair: A Celebration |
    +-- http://www.ysac.cjb.net/ --ICQ:28784166-+

    DISCLAIMER: I may be making all this stuff up again.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From deKay@andyk@lofi-gaming.org.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 19:16:15
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Soni tempori elseu romani yeof helsforo nisson ol sefini ill des Wed, 16 Jul 2003 08:14:36 +0100, sefini jorgo geanyet des mani yeof do comp.sys.sinclair, yawatina tan reek esk The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> fornis
    do marikano es bono tan el:

    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 20:47:16 GMT, "shephed" <smokey@twist1up.com> wrote:

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special >>Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.

    Again, this is the post that wins the "Crossed the line of taste" by offending >several people who are disabled who post here.

    Also, "shephed" should note that disabled != retarded.

    deKay
    --
    + Lofi Gaming - www.lofi-gaming.org.uk AC: deKay in Sponge
    |- ugvm Magazine - www.ugvm.org.uk Gamertag: deKay 01
    |- My computer runs at 3.5MHz and I'm proud of that
    |- Fave game this week: Windows 2000 Server (PC)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From hannibal@hannibal@videocam.net.au (hannibal) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 12:03:36
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    A C64 manifesto !!!

    The following message is not intended to morons like 'The
    Starglider','Biggo' and other people like this from both the Spectrum
    and the Commodore world, they all lack my respect. What can you admire
    in a soul that finds satisfaction and pleasure in some low and dirty
    actions like these ones. Instead of focusing your energy in something
    creative on the machine you love, you came here and throw with dirt
    and crap on us, only because you belive in the superiority of your
    computer. Who gives you the right to act like this? I often wonder how
    old are actually the people that start those stupid flamewars. If
    they're teenagers, than there is almost nothing to blame them for,
    we've all been like this in our lives. But what if they are grown up
    people, matures, what then? It is now when you really begin to pittyfy
    them. What small and insignificant pleasure they find in those
    actions? Those are the actions of a complexed character, someone
    affected and driven by his inferiority complexes. Is that sort of
    person, which never had any real friends when he was small, which was
    desperate to get a girl, but all he could managed was to masturbate
    constantly, telling to him how good he was and how nobody deserved
    him. It is like this how those guys get here and do those sort of
    things. The satisfaction and the illusion of making some noise, is the
    only thing they find pleasure in. But enough with this psichology
    crap, it's not what I wanted to say in the first place. I want to
    express my views on those 2 computer, Commodore and Spectrum.

    I myself have been a Commodore user for a long time, I can say that I
    grew up with this computer. And that's why I can say that I know it's
    powers very well. Also since a couple of years ago, I became
    interested in the Spectrum scene (mostly the russian side, the only
    part that is still creating for the Spectrum, since all the rest of
    the Spectrum scene seem to be driven only by frustrated englishmen). I
    want to tell to every flamewar-ist wannabe to go and actually check
    what the machine can really do, instead of coming here and acting like
    an ape. So, please dear Spectrum users, go and see what the Commodore
    can do, go and download an emulator (Vice) and look at Krestology
    demo, look there for the quality of the graphics and the amazing
    music, try to capture the flow of that demo, can you see the
    masterpiece? Move on to Deus ex machina, by the same crew, watch and
    drool at what the Commodore can do, look at the full screen photos,
    look at the amazing effect-music syncronization, go on then and check
    Royal Arte,+H2k, Soiled Legacy, Dutch Breeze, Digital Magic... (grab
    them from www.c64.ch). Have you done that? Look at how fast it loads
    using those mighty 2 bit irq loaders, I hope now you are convinced of
    how fast the 1541 drive can be. the Ok, now take you Spectrums, with
    which you probably can't do anything important these days, because
    most of the actual stuff produced for the Speccy runns on the russians
    clones, if you are unlucky, get yourself an Speccy emulator and start
    looking at the Spectrum demos. I have seen most of them, so I can pin
    point you to the best of them. So start with Dogma, Inbetween, Shit
    for brainz, Binary Love, ... etc. Are you shocked yet? Have you
    finally seen what the Spectrum can really do? Check that blocky
    graphics carefully, those giant pixels of the speccy are really scary
    no? :) look at the graphics, and compare them with Krestology and Deus
    ex machina? What do you say now? The only solution for you guys to
    enjoy the Spectrum demos is to get really drunk or watch them from 3
    or 4 meters so to see those ugly chunky effects in a better quality.
    Ok, enough with the graphics. What about the sound? Sid vs Ay? Here
    the difference is smaller. Most of the C64 sids rock, look at HVSC
    collection for them, and if you wanna be amazed listen to the ones
    from Mitch&Dane, GRG, Jeff, DJB ... I have that collection of 9000
    tunes of Speccy music. I have listen to most of it. Well from what I
    heard, nothing impressed me very much, the sound of the Ay simply
    lacks the melody of the Sid, it's to coarse, to metallic, it's to
    monotone, most of the speccy tunes use the same instruments and they
    sound almost the same (that fast style with ugly drums). But I must
    admit that a few speccy melodies captured me (covered amiga tunes)
    and I listen them very much. But overall, the Speccy can do very few
    with it's weak Ay/Ym chips (have in mind that the original spectrum
    didn't even had such a chip, it came with a beeper, now that's
    hillaroius, I simply don't know how those frustrated speccy users have
    the guts to even talk about this). Now, the last thing, the CPU, the
    main argument in every flamewar so far. Yes the z80 is faster than the
    6510. But that doesn't mean much. Because of the simpler architecture,
    the z80 eats a lot of tacts for it opcodes and it looses a lot of
    precious time with this. Also, the z80 inside a spectrum looses a lot
    of time with the graphics part, lacking a custom made graphics chip,
    like the Vic2 is on the C64. The speed advantage is insignificat, it's
    only noticeable in vectored graphics. Which are used in the demos
    only, the games in this mode simply suck. Let's go on to the games
    now. The spectrum fanatics brag and yell everytime that their games
    were better. They often compare the same games (the one that runns on
    the speccy vs the one that runns on the C64). Most of the time they
    are right, some games that were good on the Speccy, really suck on the
    C64. But this is only because the coders were lazy, and they ported
    the z80 code to the C64, instead of doing an optimized c64 version.
    It's not the fault of the computer, it's the fault of the programmers.
    Blame them. But this wasn't always the case. I'll start with some
    older games. Look at how Green Beret was on C64 and how dull and
    colorless was in the Speccy. Then look at masterpieces like Mayhem in monsterland, look at the colors (it had new colors on the c64, using
    all kinds of tricks), look at the Creatures series, Turrican (have you
    guys actually played Turrican on the speccy, it's hillarious) games
    that were impossible to create on the speccy, because it lacked way to
    many features. Look at the new games on the C64, look at what Cadaver
    did with the Metal Warrior series and BOFH, and wait for the upcoming
    4-th MW game, which will blow everything away. Some of the spectrum
    users said that the spectrum is still sold, but the quantities are so
    small that it doesn't even matter. Some say the c64 is ugly? Are you
    guys insane, have you actually saw a C64c? Just look at how beautiful
    the spectrum rusian clones are, they seem to be designed with an axe
    not with a machine. Didn't you found amusing how frustrated the
    speccy users are (this doesn't come as a surprise for me, as I too
    once had a Spectrum, in my youth, and I perfectly rememeber the moment
    when my dad smashed it to the wall, that damn thing reseted too often
    by itself). I didn't saw a commodore users starting a flamewar now,
    what is the purpose of this when you are perfectly satisfied with your computer? Look at how spread the Commodore is in the world, it's
    practically everywhere (all of Europe, US, Canada, South America,
    Australia (even Tasmania), even China, where the reds illegally cloned
    it massively, and in the end Iraq :))

    There are so many things happening in the Commodore world, the
    Spectrum user can only dream at what the commodore did and does. Let
    me tell you now about the modern things the C64 does today. As both
    the scenes are involved in improving their computers with hardware
    addons, I will talk about the SCPU. Yes, I am a happy user of such a
    device. A C=64 with a scpu kicks the Sprinter computer right in the
    balls, having 20 Mhz+16 Mb ram, while still maintaining most of the compatibility with a regular C64. I am curious to see how many
    Spectrum users had actually went online with their computer, using a
    16 bit multitasking Operating system which is both a GUI and a CLI.
    Who of them managed to get on irc, read/send emails, telnet to a shell
    account, using ftp, having their computer hosting a website and
    serving it with a http server, listening to an amiga mod, .xm, .s3m,
    or a .wav (in 8 bit quality with the Digimax), or looking at a JPG, or streaming a 5 Mb wav or Jpg directly in the SCPU Ram of a fellow C64
    users situated on the otherside of the world, and this in the same
    time, only with a C64+SCPU running multitasking Wings OS. You speccy
    users can only dream about those things. And there are more features
    developing for this OS.


    Indeed, the Spectrum scene is just a 'sect', but Commodore Scene is a
    religion !!!


    Please don't take my message as an insult to your computer, I have
    absolutly no problems or issues with the Speccy, I respect it for what
    it does. But please, stop being such morons and attack the C64 driven
    only by the hate that your computer is not so powerful and versatile
    as our C64 is. Let it be, use your Speccys quietly(learn this from the
    rusians speccy users, which are smart enough to igonore you and don't
    have your problems) or better come join the C64 scene :)))))

    Peace,
    Mihai

    PS. In the end, everything depends on the man behind the computer, be
    it Commodore or Spectrum, it is only him who can do the magic.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 22:04:34
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Zed Yago <yihq@2nybbles.com> wrote:

    big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) wrote in message news:<1fy6khg.1pvmtwzxrhml9N%big-go
    This is the most stupid, most
    conceptually incorrect "tag line" I ever happened to read in my life.
    How can it be so popular?

    Because it is true.

    It isn't. Special Olympics are for physically disabled persons, while "retarded" refers to mentally handicapped persons.
    True or not, it's a stupid thing to say, not because you're telling
    someone "you're retarded" (which, in fact, you're not), but because
    you're putting down an entire "class" of people who have nothing to do
    with the discussion.

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Etienne von Wettingfeld@etienne@xs4none.nl to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 22:07:40
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Biggo wrote:

    It isn't. Special Olympics are for physically disabled persons, while "retarded" refers to mentally handicapped persons.
    True or not, it's a stupid thing to say, not because you're telling
    someone "you're retarded" (which, in fact, you're not), but because
    you're putting down an entire "class" of people who have nothing to do
    with the discussion.

    They don't? I thought they were in the Speccy camp.

    --
    Etienne von Wettingfeld [SuSE Linux]
    Voice mail & Fax: +31 (84) 8835157 -//- www.doomdark.demon.nl

    { -*- Nam Et Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est -*- } MMIII
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter Thomas@see-my-sig@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 21:32:37
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 16:39:32 +0100, Frodo Morris <graham.lee@wadham.ox.invalid.ac.uk> wrote:

    OK, remove any and all expansion cards from your PCI, AGP and ISA
    slots,
    and tell me how good your PC's graphics capability is.
    Do the led's on the keyboard count as graphics?
    Only if you can get a higher resolution than the Speccy :-)

    They're green on my keyboard. I'm suddenly reminded of the Amstrad.

    --
    pete [at] ¦ In development: Beer Chaos.
    horseshoe ¦ You buy a shot of vodka or water.
    [hyphen] ¦ Anyone choosing to disbelieve it has to
    inn [dot] ¦ down it.
    co [dot] uk¦
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Darren Salt@news@youmustbejoking.demon.cu.invalid to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 21:39:52
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    I demand that Zed Yago may or may not have written...

    [snip]
    PS: Shouldnt it read "Even if you win, you are still retarded." ?

    PS. Shouldn't it read "Shouldn't it read"? :-)

    --
    | Darren Salt | d youmustbejoking,demon,co,uk | nr. Ashington,
    | RISC OS, | s zap,tartarus,org | Northumberland
    | Linux | @ | Toon Army
    | I don't ask for much, just untold riches...

    Consider your reputation. Try changing your name and moving to a new town.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter Thomas@see-my-sig@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 21:40:13
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 08:32:53 +0200, big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) wrote:

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special
    Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.
    At time of writing, this cliche has been used about 5,060 times on
    Usenet[1].
    And another 30 times in the last 7 hours. This is the most stupid, most >conceptually incorrect "tag line" I ever happened to read in my life.
    How can it be so popular?

    "Get a life" is another one that needs to be culled. The only people
    who say that nowadays are those in need of its advice.

    --
    pete [at] ¦ In development: Beer Chaos.
    horseshoe ¦ You buy a shot of vodka or water.
    [hyphen] ¦ Anyone choosing to disbelieve it has to
    inn [dot] ¦ down it.
    co [dot] uk¦
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter Thomas@see-my-sig@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 21:42:07
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 08:20:38 +0100, The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

    Shut up, you mindless, mouth-breathing, UTTER bastard.
    Mouth-breathing? How else would I breath (apart from my nose)? Through my >ears???
    This is one of the funniest fuck-ups in a reply I have ever seen! Thank you >Dave!

    Oh, shut up you finger-typing eye-seeing ear-hearing git!

    --
    pete [at] ¦ In development: Beer Chaos.
    horseshoe ¦ You buy a shot of vodka or water.
    [hyphen] ¦ Anyone choosing to disbelieve it has to
    inn [dot] ¦ down it.
    co [dot] uk¦
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 21:56:01
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 22:07:40 +0200, Etienne von Wettingfeld <etienne@xs4none.nl>
    wrote:

    Biggo wrote:

    It isn't. Special Olympics are for physically disabled persons, while
    "retarded" refers to mentally handicapped persons.
    True or not, it's a stupid thing to say, not because you're telling
    someone "you're retarded" (which, in fact, you're not), but because
    you're putting down an entire "class" of people who have nothing to do
    with the discussion.

    They don't? I thought they were in the Speccy camp.

    Couldn't be. We have class, and taste, and that's why we know that the C64 is crap.
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 21:59:01
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    So, so far, not one single commode user has come up with a decent argument to attempt to prove to us that the Commode 64 was actually any good (which it isn't).

    So, that must mean, that there is a lot of truth in what I said about it. Crap games, crap graphics, crap sound, crap design, crap cost (when released).

    I'm utterly stunned it lasted as long as it did!
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Bill Bertram@ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 22:14:43
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Oh god the Speculum shovelers are at it again...
    You're wasting your time, it's not really about the C64 being crap. The
    title to this thread translates to read: "The C64 is crap because my parents couldn't afford a C64 or an Atari 8-bit or even a BBC Micro, so they got me
    the Spectrum."

    It's all to do with jealously pure and simple. They know the C64 is good,
    but they'll swear theirs is better because of gameplay, only because that's
    the only thing they can say about their machine. (Yes I know the BASIC is better on the speccy before you jump in...) good games, big deal...

    Another reason they defend the Speccy is, it's British and the C64 is
    American. A few of the Brits are jealous of the US, this is just another
    angle for them to make fun of the USofA and to make themselves feel better.

    I love the Spectrum, it's a great little machine for what is was designed to
    do (and I own nearly all the models except the ZX80, 81 and the QL) I just find it a pity that the regulars on comp.sys.sinclair have this silly
    attitude. Sometimes I feel embarrassed to be a speccy fan to be honest. You can't even say "Commodore" without calling it commode, for gods sake!
    The people on comp.sys.cbm or the Amstrad newsgroup don't say spackdrum or speculum every time we mention the Spectrum, but you just can't let it go
    can you? I bet you were going to say, "You're taking too seriously blah
    blah, it's just a bit of fun!" Well I can't be bothered with your so called 'fun and games' because it isn't, it's more than the C64 vs. the speccy. There's no point for comp.sys.cbm'ers to defend the C64, we know what our machines can do, and we don't have to prove anything. Even if we did, you
    still choose to believe in the crap you're saying. I wonder if the Iraqi
    info minister owned a Spectrum... Similar mindset if you ask me...


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 23:17:20
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Christian Johansson <c64@combort.se> wrote:

    We are going to continue to love the C64 no matter what you say.

    That's the spirit.

    I'm sure you're also going to continue to top post, and to quote all of
    the preceeding message at the bottom of your replies.

    Strong opinions: I like this.

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 23:17:20
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    hannibal <hannibal@videocam.net.au> wrote:

    go and see what the Commodore can do

    I see: it can render a man verbose, dull and incredibly lacking in the
    humour department. Oh, and it's crap, btw. Discuss.

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From yihq@yihq@2nybbles.com (Zed Yago) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 14:27:54
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:<ipu9hv0e4va0s1oi1ojh85fgo0pm1q2m3k@4ax.com>...
    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 20:47:16 GMT, "shephed" <smokey@twist1up.com> wrote:

    Arguing over what 8-bit computer is the best is like winning the Special >Olympics. You might win, but your still retarded.

    Again, this is the post that wins the "Crossed the line of taste" by offending
    several people who are disabled who post here.

    ALARM! Political Correctness offended!
    Thanks, Starglider, for pointing out, that jokes about disabled,
    strangecolored and/or too old/too young People are strongly forbidden
    in a Flamewar.

    The Speckdrum might have the more queer Fellowship,
    but it still has only a Z80.

    ZY
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 23:45:07
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Bill Bertram <ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com> wrote:

    I wonder if the Iraqi
    info minister owned a Spectrum... Similar mindset if you ask me...

    Good argument, it closes oh so beautifully your "we're smarter than
    this" post.

    This is he point where I bring up Adolf Hitler and the thread stops,
    right? You know, Hitler, the guy who was Evil personified until another ex-friend of the USA started to act weird? Remember? He came before
    Osama, before Saddam, even before Noriega and Khomeini and (sorry if I
    seem to be over-explaining myself, pals, I'm replying to an AOLer after
    all).

    Naaaah, not even Hitler, fscked up as he could be, would have bought a
    c64. <gdrlh>

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Mike Leenders@mikeleenders@hetnet.nl to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 23:54:49
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Which one is frustrated???


    "hannibal" <hannibal@videocam.net.au> schreef in bericht news:4f35449c.0307161103.1dd921e@posting.google.com...
    A C64 manifesto !!!

    The following message is not intended to morons like 'The
    Starglider','Biggo' and other people like this from both the Spectrum
    and the Commodore world, they all lack my respect. What can you admire
    in a soul that finds satisfaction and pleasure in some low and dirty
    actions like these ones. Instead of focusing your energy in something creative on the machine you love, you came here and throw with dirt
    and crap on us, only because you belive in the superiority of your
    computer. Who gives you the right to act like this? I often wonder how
    old are actually the people that start those stupid flamewars. If
    they're teenagers, than there is almost nothing to blame them for,
    we've all been like this in our lives. But what if they are grown up
    people, matures, what then? It is now when you really begin to pittyfy
    them. What small and insignificant pleasure they find in those
    actions? Those are the actions of a complexed character, someone
    affected and driven by his inferiority complexes. Is that sort of
    person, which never had any real friends when he was small, which was desperate to get a girl, but all he could managed was to masturbate constantly, telling to him how good he was and how nobody deserved
    him. It is like this how those guys get here and do those sort of
    things. The satisfaction and the illusion of making some noise, is the
    only thing they find pleasure in. But enough with this psichology
    crap, it's not what I wanted to say in the first place. I want to
    express my views on those 2 computer, Commodore and Spectrum.

    I myself have been a Commodore user for a long time, I can say that I
    grew up with this computer. And that's why I can say that I know it's
    powers very well. Also since a couple of years ago, I became
    interested in the Spectrum scene (mostly the russian side, the only
    part that is still creating for the Spectrum, since all the rest of
    the Spectrum scene seem to be driven only by frustrated englishmen). I
    want to tell to every flamewar-ist wannabe to go and actually check
    what the machine can really do, instead of coming here and acting like
    an ape. So, please dear Spectrum users, go and see what the Commodore
    can do, go and download an emulator (Vice) and look at Krestology
    demo, look there for the quality of the graphics and the amazing
    music, try to capture the flow of that demo, can you see the
    masterpiece? Move on to Deus ex machina, by the same crew, watch and
    drool at what the Commodore can do, look at the full screen photos,
    look at the amazing effect-music syncronization, go on then and check
    Royal Arte,+H2k, Soiled Legacy, Dutch Breeze, Digital Magic... (grab
    them from www.c64.ch). Have you done that? Look at how fast it loads
    using those mighty 2 bit irq loaders, I hope now you are convinced of
    how fast the 1541 drive can be. the Ok, now take you Spectrums, with
    which you probably can't do anything important these days, because
    most of the actual stuff produced for the Speccy runns on the russians clones, if you are unlucky, get yourself an Speccy emulator and start
    looking at the Spectrum demos. I have seen most of them, so I can pin
    point you to the best of them. So start with Dogma, Inbetween, Shit
    for brainz, Binary Love, ... etc. Are you shocked yet? Have you
    finally seen what the Spectrum can really do? Check that blocky
    graphics carefully, those giant pixels of the speccy are really scary
    no? :) look at the graphics, and compare them with Krestology and Deus
    ex machina? What do you say now? The only solution for you guys to
    enjoy the Spectrum demos is to get really drunk or watch them from 3
    or 4 meters so to see those ugly chunky effects in a better quality.
    Ok, enough with the graphics. What about the sound? Sid vs Ay? Here
    the difference is smaller. Most of the C64 sids rock, look at HVSC
    collection for them, and if you wanna be amazed listen to the ones
    from Mitch&Dane, GRG, Jeff, DJB ... I have that collection of 9000
    tunes of Speccy music. I have listen to most of it. Well from what I
    heard, nothing impressed me very much, the sound of the Ay simply
    lacks the melody of the Sid, it's to coarse, to metallic, it's to
    monotone, most of the speccy tunes use the same instruments and they
    sound almost the same (that fast style with ugly drums). But I must
    admit that a few speccy melodies captured me (covered amiga tunes)
    and I listen them very much. But overall, the Speccy can do very few
    with it's weak Ay/Ym chips (have in mind that the original spectrum
    didn't even had such a chip, it came with a beeper, now that's
    hillaroius, I simply don't know how those frustrated speccy users have
    the guts to even talk about this). Now, the last thing, the CPU, the
    main argument in every flamewar so far. Yes the z80 is faster than the
    6510. But that doesn't mean much. Because of the simpler architecture,
    the z80 eats a lot of tacts for it opcodes and it looses a lot of
    precious time with this. Also, the z80 inside a spectrum looses a lot
    of time with the graphics part, lacking a custom made graphics chip,
    like the Vic2 is on the C64. The speed advantage is insignificat, it's
    only noticeable in vectored graphics. Which are used in the demos
    only, the games in this mode simply suck. Let's go on to the games
    now. The spectrum fanatics brag and yell everytime that their games
    were better. They often compare the same games (the one that runns on
    the speccy vs the one that runns on the C64). Most of the time they
    are right, some games that were good on the Speccy, really suck on the
    C64. But this is only because the coders were lazy, and they ported
    the z80 code to the C64, instead of doing an optimized c64 version.
    It's not the fault of the computer, it's the fault of the programmers.
    Blame them. But this wasn't always the case. I'll start with some
    older games. Look at how Green Beret was on C64 and how dull and
    colorless was in the Speccy. Then look at masterpieces like Mayhem in monsterland, look at the colors (it had new colors on the c64, using
    all kinds of tricks), look at the Creatures series, Turrican (have you
    guys actually played Turrican on the speccy, it's hillarious) games
    that were impossible to create on the speccy, because it lacked way to
    many features. Look at the new games on the C64, look at what Cadaver
    did with the Metal Warrior series and BOFH, and wait for the upcoming
    4-th MW game, which will blow everything away. Some of the spectrum
    users said that the spectrum is still sold, but the quantities are so
    small that it doesn't even matter. Some say the c64 is ugly? Are you
    guys insane, have you actually saw a C64c? Just look at how beautiful
    the spectrum rusian clones are, they seem to be designed with an axe
    not with a machine. Didn't you found amusing how frustrated the
    speccy users are (this doesn't come as a surprise for me, as I too
    once had a Spectrum, in my youth, and I perfectly rememeber the moment
    when my dad smashed it to the wall, that damn thing reseted too often
    by itself). I didn't saw a commodore users starting a flamewar now,
    what is the purpose of this when you are perfectly satisfied with your computer? Look at how spread the Commodore is in the world, it's
    practically everywhere (all of Europe, US, Canada, South America,
    Australia (even Tasmania), even China, where the reds illegally cloned
    it massively, and in the end Iraq :))

    There are so many things happening in the Commodore world, the
    Spectrum user can only dream at what the commodore did and does. Let
    me tell you now about the modern things the C64 does today. As both
    the scenes are involved in improving their computers with hardware
    addons, I will talk about the SCPU. Yes, I am a happy user of such a
    device. A C=64 with a scpu kicks the Sprinter computer right in the
    balls, having 20 Mhz+16 Mb ram, while still maintaining most of the compatibility with a regular C64. I am curious to see how many
    Spectrum users had actually went online with their computer, using a
    16 bit multitasking Operating system which is both a GUI and a CLI.
    Who of them managed to get on irc, read/send emails, telnet to a shell account, using ftp, having their computer hosting a website and
    serving it with a http server, listening to an amiga mod, .xm, .s3m,
    or a .wav (in 8 bit quality with the Digimax), or looking at a JPG, or streaming a 5 Mb wav or Jpg directly in the SCPU Ram of a fellow C64
    users situated on the otherside of the world, and this in the same
    time, only with a C64+SCPU running multitasking Wings OS. You speccy
    users can only dream about those things. And there are more features developing for this OS.


    Indeed, the Spectrum scene is just a 'sect', but Commodore Scene is a religion !!!


    Please don't take my message as an insult to your computer, I have
    absolutly no problems or issues with the Speccy, I respect it for what
    it does. But please, stop being such morons and attack the C64 driven
    only by the hate that your computer is not so powerful and versatile
    as our C64 is. Let it be, use your Speccys quietly(learn this from the rusians speccy users, which are smart enough to igonore you and don't
    have your problems) or better come join the C64 scene :)))))

    Peace,
    Mihai

    PS. In the end, everything depends on the man behind the computer, be
    it Commodore or Spectrum, it is only him who can do the magic.


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 22:57:03
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 22:14:43 +0100, "Bill Bertram" <ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com> wrote:

    Oh god the Speculum shovelers are at it again...
    You're wasting your time, it's not really about the C64 being crap. The
    title to this thread translates to read: "The C64 is crap because my parents >couldn't afford a C64 or an Atari 8-bit or even a BBC Micro, so they got me >the Spectrum."

    Oh yes, that was it, we have loads of money, so we'll sepnd more on a vastly inferior machine!

    It's all to do with jealously pure and simple. They know the C64 is good,
    but they'll swear theirs is better because of gameplay, only because that's >the only thing they can say about their machine. (Yes I know the BASIC is >better on the speccy before you jump in...) good games, big deal...

    As stated elsewhere, yes we do agree that the Commode 64 was good - as a doorstop, paperweight, draught excluder and for barbeques.

    Another reason they defend the Speccy is, it's British and the C64 is >American. A few of the Brits are jealous of the US, this is just another >angle for them to make fun of the USofA and to make themselves feel better.

    Everyone in the world *knows* they are better than the USA.

    I love the Spectrum, it's a great little machine for what is was designed to >do (and I own nearly all the models except the ZX80, 81 and the QL) I just >find it a pity that the regulars on comp.sys.sinclair have this silly >attitude. Sometimes I feel embarrassed to be a speccy fan to be honest. You >can't even say "Commodore" without calling it commode, for gods sake!
    The people on comp.sys.cbm or the Amstrad newsgroup don't say spackdrum or >speculum every time we mention the Spectrum, but you just can't let it go
    can you? I bet you were going to say, "You're taking too seriously blah >blah, it's just a bit of fun!" Well I can't be bothered with your so called >'fun and games' because it isn't, it's more than the C64 vs. the speccy. >There's no point for comp.sys.cbm'ers to defend the C64, we know what our >machines can do, and we don't have to prove anything. Even if we did, you >still choose to believe in the crap you're saying. I wonder if the Iraqi
    info minister owned a Spectrum... Similar mindset if you ask me...

    I think you'll find that there are some who constantly refer to the little black
    wonder as a "spackdrum". I find it most funny that they can't actually find a legitimate word that puts it down that rhymes!

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Damien Guard@damienguard@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 23:07:45
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    The Speckdrum might have the more queer Fellowship,
    but it still has only a Z80.

    Which part of the Z80 is a problem? The fact it has more registers, a
    faster clock speed or that the instruction set was more comprehensive
    and let you save ram?

    [)amien

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Darren Salt@news@youmustbejoking.demon.cu.invalid to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 23:16:40
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    I demand that Etienne von Wettingfeld may or may not have written...

    The Starglider wrote:
    [snip]
    We have class, and taste, and that's why we know that the C64 is crap.

    I may very well be. But I can't judge the Speccy because Holland is a
    wealthy country so everybody had C64s in my days.

    What? No BBCs? Strange people...

    --
    | Darren Salt | d youmustbejoking,demon,co,uk | nr. Ashington,
    | RISC OS, | s zap,tartarus,org | Northumberland
    | Linux | @ | Toon Army
    | Has Ian Collier caught up yet?

    You can never find any given item until you replace it or no longer need it. --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Duncan Snowden@dss@ukonline.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 22:25:05
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Derek Jolly. Tuesday. comp.sys.sinclair. Tch, eh?

    "shephed" <smokey@twist1up.com> wrote in news:oLZQa.796$ib2.120539 @twister.neo.rr.com:

    You might win, but your still retarded.

    My still retarded what?

    It would appear that the verb "to retard" isn't transitive in this sense; possibly it's some kind of technical term used in distilling industry:
    "Jings! All mah whisky got spoiled efter the still retarded. Er... Hoots
    mon, or something". Clearly, victory gained at such expense to one's
    machinery would have to be considered somewhat phyrric.

    Er, do you own a distillery?

    --
    Duncan Snowden.

    F Invalid file name, 530:4
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 23:29:30
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Mike Leenders" <mikeleenders@hetnet.nl> wrote in message news:bf4hq6$9kj$1@reader08.wxs.nl...
    Which one is frustrated???


    snip 10k message<

    Which one's a top posting n00b?


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 00:30:24
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Bill Bertram <ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com> wrote:

    I mentioned the
    Iraqi info minister because he spouts the total opposite of truth, like you flamers do... Has nothing to do with dictators...

    I mentioned dictators because US people have this habit of equating
    Evil=x, where "x" is the last pin-up enemy their president decides to
    invent. You live in the same nation as George Pinocchio Bush, and you
    talk about "truth"? Come on.

    lets see if they the go for the obvious insult, and you didn't disappoint,

    Hey, it's a flame war, it's supposed to be *made* of obvious insults.
    Play by the rules, bring up cheese or cows or watches, or anything you
    consider an obvious insult.

    You know you're right, we actually agree on something... only sane people by C64s

    Yep. One wonders why they decided to get mad on a breadbox. Spectrum
    users are still sane *after* they got their Speccy. :-P

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Bill Bertram@ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 23:41:50
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Biggo" <big-go@dplanet.ch> wrote in message news:1fy7spa.d2rabe11omc9nN%big-go@dplanet.ch...
    Bill Bertram <ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com> wrote:

    You live in the same nation as George Pinocchio Bush, and you
    talk about "truth"? Come on.

    Last time I checked, Tony Blair was the leader of my nation...

    Yep. One wonders why they decided to get mad on a breadbox. Spectrum
    users are still sane *after* they got their Speccy. :-P

    Nah, you missed "in" in front of that sane bit, mate. :-P


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Derek Jolly@derek.jolly@deadspam.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 22:47:34
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Duncan Snowden <dss@ukonline.co.uk> wrote in news:Yam2NN.AmigaOS.1C576420.13391FA3@tnt-6-20.easynet.co.uk:

    Derek Jolly. Tuesday. comp.sys.sinclair. Tch, eh?

    "shephed" <smokey@twist1up.com> wrote in news:oLZQa.796$ib2.120539
    @twister.neo.rr.com:

    You might win, but your still retarded.

    My still retarded what?

    It would appear that the verb "to retard" isn't transitive in this sense; possibly it's some kind of technical term used in distilling industry: "Jings! All mah whisky got spoiled efter the still retarded. Er... Hoots
    mon, or something". Clearly, victory gained at such expense to one's machinery would have to be considered somewhat phyrric.

    Er, do you own a distillery?

    No. I think if I did the shortfall after the years in storage would be a little too much to blame on the angels.
    --
    Derek Jolly (derek at rivetsoft dot freeserve dot co dot uk)
    Leaner, cleaner homepage: http://rivet.50megs.com/
    comp.sys.sinclair folklore FAQ: http://rivet.50megs.com/cssfolk.html
    YASPIC v1.5.1: http://rivet.50megs.com/speccy.html
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 01:03:59
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Bill Bertram <ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com> wrote:

    "Biggo" <big-go@dplanet.ch> wrote in message news:1fy7spa.d2rabe11omc9nN%big-go@dplanet.ch...
    You live in the same nation as George Pinocchio Bush, and you
    talk about "truth"? Come on.

    Last time I checked, Tony Blair was the leader of my nation...

    Erm... it's not a thing to be proud of, actually.

    You live outside the US and you use AOL? My God, the world's at an end.

    Nah, you missed "in" in front of that sane bit, mate. :-P

    Naah, the c64 is crap. :-P

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Decimal Cat@wells@acadia.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 19:26:16
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Just because you say it doesn't make it so.

    Is this really all you can find to do?

    --Decimal Cat

    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:oeo7hvsj6gufcf2ff2ntiv162rrq05m29q@4ax.com...
    On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 13:11:15 +0200, "Roland (.funxiun.)" <NOSPAMusenetNOSPAM@NOSPAMfunxiunNOSPAM.808 (808=com)> wrote:

    here we go again...

    That's the best counter-argument you could come up with. In that case, I
    am
    right. The C64 was, is and always will be crap.
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble"
    in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail
    address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O |

    ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo_______ ____


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Steppe@steppe_not_for@spam_demodungeon.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 01:48:00
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Hi Mike,

    thanks for the fullquote, I actually was into the mood of reading it again. Thanks so much!

    *rolls eyes*

    /Steppe


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter Thomas@see-my-sig@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 00:51:02
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On 16 Jul 2003 12:03:36 -0700, hannibal@videocam.net.au (hannibal)
    wrote:

    since all the rest of
    the Spectrum scene seem to be driven only by frustrated englishmen).

    The most prolific supplier of Spectrum hardware is an organisation
    called Sintech. They're from that well known part of England, called
    "Germany".

    Aye thank yew.

    Ok, now take you Spectrums, with
    which you probably can't do anything important these days,

    I like the way you said that after talking about music demos on the
    64.

    because
    most of the actual stuff produced for the Speccy runns on the russians >clones,

    Runs only on the Russian clones? I don't think so.

    The bulk of Spectrum software is from the machine's commercial heyday
    - the 1980s and early 1990s - all intended for the Spectrum 48/128.

    if you are unlucky, get yourself an Speccy emulator and start
    looking at the Spectrum demos. I have seen most of them, so I can pin
    point you to the best of them. So start with Dogma, Inbetween, Shit
    for brainz, Binary Love, ... etc. Are you shocked yet? Have you
    finally seen what the Spectrum can really do? Check that blocky
    graphics carefully, those giant pixels of the speccy are really scary
    no? :)

    The C64 has the chunky pixels, not the Speccy.

    I'll start with some
    older games. Look at how Green Beret was on C64 and how dull and
    colorless was in the Speccy.

    Colours != game.

    Then look at masterpieces like Mayhem in
    monsterland, look at the colors (it had new colors on the c64, using
    all kinds of tricks), look at the Creatures series, Turrican (have you
    guys actually played Turrican on the speccy, it's hillarious)

    Turbo Espirt on the 64.
    Feud on the 64.
    Target Renegade on the 64.

    My, how we laughed...

    Some of the spectrum
    users said that the spectrum is still sold, but the quantities are so
    small that it doesn't even matter.

    I guess VHS is better than Betamax then...

    Some say the c64 is ugly? Are you
    guys insane, have you actually saw a C64c? Just look at how beautiful
    the spectrum rusian clones are, they seem to be designed with an axe
    not with a machine.

    They aren't official.

    Didn't you found amusing how frustrated the
    speccy users are (this doesn't come as a surprise for me, as I too
    once had a Spectrum, in my youth, and I perfectly rememeber the moment
    when my dad smashed it to the wall, that damn thing reseted too often
    by itself). I didn't saw a commodore users starting a flamewar now,
    what is the purpose of this when you are perfectly satisfied with your >computer? Look at how spread the Commodore is in the world, it's
    practically everywhere

    Or was. Status of Commodore? Or was it Escom? Hmm...

    (all of Europe, US, Canada, South America,
    Australia (even Tasmania), even China, where the reds illegally cloned
    it massively, and in the end Iraq :))

    Iraq has suffered enough!

    There are so many things happening in the Commodore world, the
    Spectrum user can only dream at what the commodore did and does.

    Yes, I always wanted my disks to load in longer than 3 seconds. I
    could only wish the Spectrum's graphics look like they were done on a
    teletext system. I really wish the Spectrum's game library was far
    less than the current ~10,000 it is at the moment.

    Indeed, the Spectrum scene is just a 'sect', but Commodore Scene is a >religion !!!

    I agree, as religion holds back the progress of the world.

    Please don't take my message as an insult to your computer, I have
    absolutly no problems or issues with the Speccy, I respect it for what
    it does. But please, stop being such morons and attack the C64 driven
    only by the hate that your computer is not so powerful and versatile
    as our C64 is.

    Mhz?

    Let it be, use your Speccys quietly(learn this from the
    rusians speccy users, which are smart enough to igonore you and don't
    have your problems) or better come join the C64 scene :)))))

    I tried joining the C64 scene, but I had better things to do than wait
    for a C64 game to load, like having a couple of birthdays.

    --
    pete [at] ¦ In development: Beer Chaos.
    horseshoe ¦ You buy a shot of vodka or water.
    [hyphen] ¦ Anyone choosing to disbelieve it has to
    inn [dot] ¦ down it.
    co [dot] uk¦
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Sam Gillett@samgillett@msn.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 00:13:39
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    The Starglider aka Wibble wrote ...

    I think you'll find that there are some who constantly refer to the little >black wonder as a "spackdrum". I find it most funny that they can't
    actually find a legitimate word that puts it down that rhymes!

    spackdrum
    rectum

    Best regards,

    Sam Gillett aka Mars Probe @ Starship Intrepid 1-972-221-4088
    Last 8-bit BBS in the Dallas area. Commodore lives!













    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter Thomas@see-my-sig@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 01:20:03
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 23:07:13 +0100, "Bill Bertram" <ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com> wrote:

    I wonder if the Iraqi
    info minister owned a Spectrum... Similar mindset if you ask me...
    Good argument, it closes oh so beautifully your "we're smarter than
    this" post.
    Why thank you, how gracious of you... ;-)

    This is he point where I bring up Adolf Hitler and the thread stops,
    right? You know, Hitler, the guy who was Evil personified until another
    ex-friend of the USA started to act weird? Remember? He came before
    Osama, before Saddam, even before Noriega and Khomeini and
    No this is where you go off on a tangent about dictators... I mentioned the >Iraqi info minister because he spouts the total opposite of truth, like you >flamers do... Has nothing to do with dictators...

    The Iraqi Information Minister has nothing to do with dictators? Eh?

    I'm pretty sure that he was seen a few months back with one of the
    world's most famous blood-thirsty civilian-killing fascists.

    If you're looking for a pic, see this...

    http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2002/US/09/30/sproject.irq.regime.change/rumsfeld.80s.jpg

    ...although I'm not sure which blood-thirsty civilian-killing fascist
    it is. I do get confused.

    (sorry if I seem to be over-explaining myself, pals, I'm replying to an >AOLer after
    all).
    Ooh, how cutting, I'm a AOL user...

    Yes. Why?

    Made my day that has, you people are so
    predictable, I was going to use another email address, but then I thought, >lets see if they the go for the obvious insult, and you didn't disappoint, >lol

    Is that e-mail address part of a permanent AOL account? I mean, I know
    loads of people who have used AOL, I first started out with it. You
    know, just about everyone messes around with the "X hours free!" demo
    they get, then they cancel the service and move to a real ISP.

    I see no real reason to use AOL unless you like big bright colours and
    pop-ups.

    Naaaah, not even Hitler, fscked up as he could be, would have bought a
    c64. <gdrlh>
    You know you're right, we actually agree on something... only sane people by >C64s

    Yeah, that Stephen Hawking swears by 'em.

    I too swear by Commodores... usually "they're f**king s**t!".

    --
    pete [at] ¦ In development: Beer Chaos.
    horseshoe ¦ You buy a shot of vodka or water.
    [hyphen] ¦ Anyone choosing to disbelieve it has to
    inn [dot] ¦ down it.
    co [dot] uk¦
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Bill Bertram@ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 01:26:19
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Sam Gillett" <samgillett@msn.com> wrote in message news:TSlRa.14459$kI5.4831@nwrddc02.gnilink.net...

    The Starglider aka Wibble wrote ...

    I think you'll find that there are some who constantly refer to the
    little
    black wonder as a "spackdrum". I find it most funny that they can't >actually find a legitimate word that puts it down that rhymes!

    spackdrum
    rectum

    You forgot the best one of all "Speculum" lol


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From John Kavanagh@johnkavanagh@cpcoxygen.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 01:35:46
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Yes, I did.

    I'm happy for you! :-)

    Both computers share the same processor
    and sound chip so both versions of the same game would be more or less
    equal
    sometimes the spectrum version is better, other times it the CPC
    version.
    This got more to do with the programmers talents than the computers.

    Now on to the graphics. If a game was designed on the Amstrad to use all
    it
    graphical features it just blows the spectrum away,


    YOU DON'T SAY! Next, you'll be telling me that the PC has better graphics than an Amiga (which obviously makes it a better machine in every respect known to man ... not).

    Ok, think of it like this, the Amstrad has one up on the Spectrum due to graphics, but what is it that the Spectrum has up on the Amstrad? i know
    what you saying, like I prefer my CPC more than my Amiga also cause I'm not
    too happy about swapping floppies every few seconds for the OS etc. But the Amiga is surely the better computer overall. Let me know what the Spectrum
    has over the Amstrad, then I can die happy or something, lol


    however a lot of the
    games were designed for the weakest computer so that porting over to different formats would be easier and cheaper

    Either that, or many more people made games for the 'weakest' computer because many more people bought, played and enjoyed the games more than
    they
    did on other formats?

    Why would they enjoy the game more on a Spectrum, it depends on the game in question. By the way, is it not Commodore 64 that had more sales? Terrible machine.

    hence many Amstrad games look
    like Spectums dull O' graphics amd don't take advantage of the full 16 colours on screen (more on the PLUS).

    Hardly anything in the history of man took advantage of the Amstrad's full potential ... I wonder why that is?

    Cause they just too good maybe? lol

    Correct me if I'm wrong?

    I did.

    No you did not. In fact I corrected you.

    No need to thank me, it's my pleasure :-p

    John


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From John Kavanagh@johnkavanagh@cpcoxygen.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 01:39:33
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    So it should, the CPC is a good computer. The only reason the Spectrum
    came
    second was due to its larger user base. C64 compared to Spectrum, well to
    me
    its a hard one, depends on what you looking for in a computer I guess.
    But
    CPC against the Spectrum, well the CPC win in every respect, well I
    can't
    honestly think of one thing that the Spectrum was better at?

    Sales?

    Yes you got something, nothing technical but still it's something. See I
    knew every computer is good at something. Well Done! Now I can go around
    saying my Nissan is better than a Ferrari cause of "Sales" :-)

    NOTE: Not saying that Amstrad/Spectrum/Whatever is the Ferrari of computers
    or anything.

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble"
    in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail
    address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O |

    ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo_______ ____


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter Thomas@see-my-sig@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 01:45:44
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 01:26:19 +0100, "Bill Bertram" <ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com> wrote:

    I think you'll find that there are some who constantly refer to the
    little
    black wonder as a "spackdrum". I find it most funny that they can't
    actually find a legitimate word that puts it down that rhymes!
    spackdrum
    rectum
    You forgot the best one of all "Speculum" lol

    But that doesn't rhyme.

    --
    pete [at] ¦ In development: Beer Chaos.
    horseshoe ¦ You buy a shot of vodka or water.
    [hyphen] ¦ Anyone choosing to disbelieve it has to
    inn [dot] ¦ down it.
    co [dot] uk¦
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Richard Wilson@rich@bitwise-systems.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 02:50:20
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Peter Thomas wrote:

    I'm pretty sure that he was seen a few months back with one of the
    world's most famous blood-thirsty civilian-killing fascists.

    If you're looking for a pic, see this...

    http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2002/US/09/30/sproject.irq.regime.change/rumsfeld.80s.jpg

    ...although I'm not sure which blood-thirsty civilian-killing fascist
    it is. I do get confused.

    When was he last seen with Rumsfeld?
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Decimal Cat@wells@acadia.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 22:58:57
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    And you haven't yet come up with a single decent argument to prove to us
    that the Commodore 64 was actually a bad system at all, other than that it's your half-baked opinion. Saying "it's crap" over and over doesn't
    constitute factual proof - only opinion. :)

    But anyway. If we're going to go by Starglider logic, the moon is made of
    green cheese and I drove my car to Mars this morning. Since nobody has put
    up an argument against this, it must be truth.

    --Decimal Cat


    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:51fbhvcr8bmn4tredrr430jlvvni4672a8@4ax.com...
    So, so far, not one single commode user has come up with a decent argument
    to
    attempt to prove to us that the Commode 64 was actually any good (which it isn't).

    So, that must mean, that there is a lot of truth in what I said about it.
    Crap
    games, crap graphics, crap sound, crap design, crap cost (when released).

    I'm utterly stunned it lasted as long as it did!
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble"
    in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail
    address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O |

    ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo_______ ____


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Decimal Cat@wells@acadia.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 00:27:30
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    I've always thought the two scenes could benefit more from a friendly competition than from a "my platform is better than your platform" war. Competition drives development, and friendly competition allows the sharing
    of ideas under some circumstances. I've never even seen a Speccy, let alone used one - so I can only comment on the technical side of the C64 when this takes place. But until people get their heads out of their rectums and
    realize that personal attacks don't amount to anything more than a penis
    size contest (sorry ladies, no sexism involved - you can substitute in
    "breast size contest" or whatever), I just sit back and generally mock both sides of the argument.

    Who cares what's better? Use what you like. By the logic some of the people
    in this thread are using, your 8-bits are all crap because my P3/1GHZ@1030
    with a GeForce II MX and 256MB of Mushkin RAM at 2-2-2 and a 60GB Maxtor HD
    is better than your computers.

    --Decimal Cat


    "Dunny" <paul.dunn4@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:bf148n$9r19a$1@ID-106816.news.uni-berlin.de...

    You don't understand. This is "tradition" - only Starglider has gone and
    done it
    a bit differently. The Annual flamewar should start with a crosspost "The
    C64
    was crap - Discuss" to c.s.c. We then start with petty bickering, until
    the real
    techy guys get involved, when we start having some well informed,
    interesting
    arguments about he relative merits of each machine.

    It's just fun, really. The last couple were excellent reading.



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Etienne von Wettingfeld@etienne@xs4none.nl to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 06:58:59
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Darren Salt wrote:

    I may very well be. But I can't judge the Speccy because Holland is a
    wealthy country so everybody had C64s in my days.

    What? No BBCs? Strange people...

    Well, one guy did have an Elcorn Electron, claiming it to be superiour to
    the C64. But he bought a C64 when he had the money so he could play games
    like everybody else.

    --
    Etienne von Wettingfeld [SuSE Linux]
    Voice mail & Fax: +31 (84) 8835157 -//- www.doomdark.demon.nl

    { -*- Nam Et Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est -*- } MMIII
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Dave Dahle@dd-ah-le@dtg.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 00:42:34
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    "Biggo" <big-go@dplanet.ch> wrote in message news:1fy7pfd.vqtdr356svifN%big-go@dplanet.ch...
    hannibal <hannibal@videocam.net.au> wrote:

    go and see what the Commodore can do

    I see: it can render a man verbose, dull and incredibly lacking in the
    humour department. Oh, and it's crap, btw. Discuss.

    Simply unbelievable.

    Here someone gave you a point-by-point comparision / contrast between the 64 and Spectrum yet all you have to offer in exchange is THAT?

    Y'know, not only did you Spackdrum lusers LAUNCH this pissing contest, you Sinclair-heads have YET to tell us WHY the Spectrum is oh so much better
    than the 64 - all you guys have done is sling insults. To me, the Spectrum
    is and always will be JUST a ZX81 with color - I have owned one in the past,
    so I know of what I speak.

    Simply unbelievable.

    Dave


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From spacerogue5@spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 23:30:20
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:<9gm7hv8oukb1dimd9cd2v0ran797pmplro@4ax.com>...

    Are U refering to ZX Spectrum48 vs C64? HA HA HA HA!

    That rubber thing cannot be considered as a computer. What a Troll.

    Let's look at the evidence:

    Slow. A poxy slow processor,

    Wow!

    "6502 uses a single clock cycle (the base cycle, plus a cycle rotated
    90 degrees out of phase) to generate the timing for four internal
    execution stages, so that there were instructions which executed in
    one external 'cycle' (this is different from clock-doubling, which
    uses a phase-locked-loop to generate a faster internal clock which is synchronised with an external clock). Z80, uses the external clock
    directly, so an equivalent instruction would take four cycles, meaning
    a 2MHz 6502 would be roughly equivalent to a 8MHz Z80."

    I happen to have learned machine code from the book "Z80 & 6502
    Machine Code". Have you noticed that 6502 machine instructions execute
    in minimum 2, maximum 6 machine cycles, while Z80 machine instructions
    execute in minimum 6 (or was it 8?), maximum 20+ machine cycles.

    hence the reliance on hardware based sprites to
    make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.

    I bet you'll say the same thing about procesors in the last 20 years.
    "They are all crap. They use FPUs."

    Hardware sprites are a great idea, since sprites are common thing.

    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown, and really *REALLY* blocky graphics. How
    I laugh whenever I see digitised pictures on a commode 64!
    Crap games - Paradroid Vs. Quazatron. No contest. Carrier Command. Lovely fast
    3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the Commode? Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip grating away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior???

    beep, beep! hi hi.

    What
    are you all on?

    Common sence.

    Or are you all tine deaf?
    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.

    You never had access to the full 64K of RAM, because you don't know
    how, i have.
    It's quite simple, you'll just have to figure out.

    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the > worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer.

    Me too. :) Anyway, all old style interpreted Basic on 8-bit computers
    are infunctional. You can only play around with it.

    Even typing nothing on it get's that
    stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode. At least we could type a program in
    basic 15 times faster on the Speccy, with a decent system for finding > mistakes.

    Basic? How old are U? 4th grade?
    What if you have to type Pascal? You redefine the whole rubberboard?
    Axiom: Old style C64 has the best keyboard ever.

    Sales - The commode is dead.

    commode? I have no problem with that. :)

    At least Spectrums are still being sold around the
    world.

    As postcards. :))

    Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only manage
    about 22 million.

    There's got to be a lot of postcards around the world.

    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.

    1st you have to find it's position on the tape with your walkman.
    I've seen C64 load 64K in 10-20 sec, from disk. Seriosly, you could
    understand the advantiges of disk's only if you had one. Even if the
    disk is 50 times slower than tape.

    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being superbly designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.

    One Z80 rubber wraped.

    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with huge keys
    (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype). Spectrum, small, light, powerful!

    Useless.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 07:42:43
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 00:13:39 GMT, "Sam Gillett" <samgillett@msn.com> wrote:


    The Starglider aka Wibble wrote ...

    I think you'll find that there are some who constantly refer to the little >>black wonder as a "spackdrum". I find it most funny that they can't >>actually find a legitimate word that puts it down that rhymes!

    spackdrum
    rectum

    I'll give you rectrum, but Spackdrum? What the fuck is a spackdrum?

    Oh, and the C64 is still crap.
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 07:45:46
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 00:42:34 -0500, "Dave Dahle" <dd-ah-le@dtg.net> wrote:

    "Biggo" <big-go@dplanet.ch> wrote in message >news:1fy7pfd.vqtdr356svifN%big-go@dplanet.ch...
    hannibal <hannibal@videocam.net.au> wrote:

    go and see what the Commodore can do

    I see: it can render a man verbose, dull and incredibly lacking in the
    humour department. Oh, and it's crap, btw. Discuss.

    Simply unbelievable.

    Here someone gave you a point-by-point comparision / contrast between the 64 >and Spectrum yet all you have to offer in exchange is THAT?

    Y'know, not only did you Spackdrum lusers LAUNCH this pissing contest, you >Sinclair-heads have YET to tell us WHY the Spectrum is oh so much better
    than the 64 - all you guys have done is sling insults. To me, the Spectrum
    is and always will be JUST a ZX81 with color - I have owned one in the past, >so I know of what I speak.

    Did you not *READ* the original post??? Our reasons is because our computer is not what yours is. I shall repost:

    Slow. A poxy slow processor, hence the reliance on hardware based sprites to make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.
    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown, and really *REALLY* blocky graphics. How
    I laugh whenever I see digitised pictures on a commode 64!
    Crap games - Paradroid Vs. Quazatron. No contest. Carrier Command. Lovely fast 3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the Commode? Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip grating away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior??? What are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?
    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.
    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer. Even typing nothing on it get's that stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode. At least we could type a program in basic 15 times faster on the Speccy, with a decent system for finding mistakes. Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold around the world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only manage about 22 million.
    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.
    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being superbly designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.
    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with huge keys (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype). Spectrum, small, light, powerful!

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
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    * * TO REPLY.
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    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 07:49:47
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 00:51:02 +0100, Peter Thomas <see-my-sig@hotmail.com> wrote:

    On 16 Jul 2003 12:03:36 -0700, hannibal@videocam.net.au (hannibal)
    wrote:

    Then look at masterpieces like Mayhem in
    monsterland, look at the colors (it had new colors on the c64, using
    all kinds of tricks), look at the Creatures series, Turrican (have you
    guys actually played Turrican on the speccy, it's hillarious)

    Turbo Espirt on the 64.
    Feud on the 64.
    Target Renegade on the 64.

    My, how we laughed...

    Don't forget:

    Starglider 64
    Carrier Command 64

    Truly disasters of epic proportions.
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 07:50:31
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 18:14:53 -0500, "Dave Dahle" <dd-ah-le@dtg.net> wrote:



    And there you have it. It all comes down to what each user is used to. >Whether it's poking away on a rubber chiclet keyboard or merrily tapping
    away on a typewriter-style keyboard... if you're comfortable with it, hey, >why gripe about what the other side uses? If you can't think of anything
    nice to say, then just don't say anything!

    Now - a historical question - since this is apparently an "annual" >"tradition", I wonder which side has inaugurated more flamewars?

    We have (or rather I have), and damned proud of it too!

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
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    * * TO REPLY.
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    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 07:53:15
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 22:58:57 -0400, "Decimal Cat" <wells@acadia.net> wrote:

    And you haven't yet come up with a single decent argument to prove to us
    that the Commodore 64 was actually a bad system at all, other than that it's >your half-baked opinion. Saying "it's crap" over and over doesn't
    constitute factual proof - only opinion. :)

    But anyway. If we're going to go by Starglider logic, the moon is made of >green cheese and I drove my car to Mars this morning. Since nobody has put
    up an argument against this, it must be truth.

    The proof was in the original post. Here it is again for those who missed it.

    Slow. A poxy slow processor, hence the reliance on hardware based sprites to make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.
    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown, and really *REALLY* blocky graphics. How
    I laugh whenever I see digitised pictures on a commode 64!
    Crap games - Paradroid Vs. Quazatron. No contest. Carrier Command. Lovely fast 3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the Commode? Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip grating away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior??? What are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?
    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.
    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer. Even typing nothing on it get's that stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode. At least we could type a program in basic 15 times faster on the Speccy, with a decent system for finding mistakes. Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold around the world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only manage about 22 million.
    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.
    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being superbly designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.
    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with huge keys (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype). Spectrum, small, light, powerful!
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
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    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From spacerogue5@spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 00:03:57
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    "Shaddy" <shad0w1@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<2bVQa.24874$Nf.65486@sea-read.news.verio.net>...
    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message...

    So does that mean that he has no valid proof that the C64 wasn't crap???

    Hi.

    What is a speccy? Sorry for my ignorance, but I never even heard of it. I do remember a time in the 80s where the C64 was intensely popular. When I was at one point consumed in everything C64, I never bothered to notice any other systems because I guess they really weren't contenders in terms of popularity. I do remember the TI-99, the Tandy CRS-80, but they were all garbage. I think you and your speccy are an analogy comparable to OS/2 vs Windows.

    Hey, i like OS/2 better than Windows.

    Let's say that thing you call speccy or spectrum or whatever the
    heck it is, let's say it is better technically, who really cares?

    Better technically? :))
    It's a useless rubber shit, with no i/o ports.
    Have anyone seen RS232 or Centronix on ZX Spectrum?
    You can connect C64 on a PLC if you want and make it usefull.

    As for Amiga, it had ChangeTaskPri 10 years before anyone thinking
    ever changeing task priorities on PC. Even in 1995, only posible with
    a hammer. :)

    The
    leader was always C64, like Windows was over OS/2.

    Now go play with your speccy, you little child.

    over + out.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 08:04:19
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 01:35:46 +0100, "John Kavanagh" <johnkavanagh@cpcoxygen.net>
    wrote:



    Ok, think of it like this, the Amstrad has one up on the Spectrum due to >graphics, but what is it that the Spectrum has up on the Amstrad? i know
    what you saying, like I prefer my CPC more than my Amiga also cause I'm not >too happy about swapping floppies every few seconds for the OS etc. But the >Amiga is surely the better computer overall. Let me know what the Spectrum >has over the Amstrad, then I can die happy or something, lol

    Sales, userbase, games, software, expansion. There, I think that's pretty damned
    important.

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 08:08:29
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 00:27:30 -0400, "Decimal Cat" <wells@acadia.net> wrote:



    Who cares what's better? Use what you like. By the logic some of the people >in this thread are using, your 8-bits are all crap because my P3/1GHZ@1030 >with a GeForce II MX and 256MB of Mushkin RAM at 2-2-2 and a 60GB Maxtor HD >is better than your computers.

    Unless you compare it to my 3.2Ghz P4, with 1Gb RAM, 200Gb Hard drive, Soundblaster Audigy 5.1 Digital soundcard, GeForce FX 256Mg Gfx card and DVD writer drive.

    Which then makes your computer worse than mine.
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
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    * * TO REPLY.
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    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 09:22:52
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Richard Wilson <rich@bitwise-systems.com> wrote:

    I'll go off on that tangent! I thought it was the US dictator that
    spouted the total opposite of the truth. You know, the confused Robin
    Hood wannabee who robs from the poor to give to the rich.

    Mmmmmm, trolls rolled into trolls!
    Arguing about one's president is the "yo' momma so fat" of the 3rd
    millennium. Endless fun!

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 09:22:53
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Dave Dahle <dd-ah-le@dtg.net> wrote:

    Here someone gave you a point-by-point comparision / contrast between the 64 and Spectrum yet all you have to offer in exchange is THAT?

    Just what I needed, a point-by-point endless, boring, unconvincing rant.
    You can't compare an empty breadbox with a classy computer. A big, slow, smelly, heavy, gas-hungry American car vs. a lightning-fast European
    scooter. The Speccy simply runs circles around the c64. It's so easy,
    it's not even fun.

    you Sinclair-heads have YET to tell us WHY the Spectrum is oh so much better than the 64

    Why should we? Buy a Spectrum and discover its superiority for
    yourselves.

    Simply unbelievable.

    Here's where I agree with you. After all these years on the 'net, I had
    lost any hopes for a good ol' pissing contest.

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter van Merkerk@merkerk@deadspam.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:34:54
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Slow. A poxy slow processor, hence the reliance on hardware based
    sprites to
    make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.

    ...and the lack of decent video hardware means that the Spectrum spends
    most of its CPU cycles to generate a video signal making it slower in
    spite of a (slightly) faster processor.

    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown,

    If you would take your head out of your ass you would see other colors
    as well.

    and really *REALLY* blocky graphics.

    Resolution Commodore 64: 320x200 (can be increased by opening up the
    borders)
    Resolution Spectrum: 256x192

    My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip grating
    away at some tune.

    I'm sure you think the beeper of the spectrum is better. Apparently you
    judge the rest by the same standards which explains why you believe the Spectrum is better than the C64.

    It's not clean, and you people think that's superior??? What
    are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?

    No, but you obviously are.

    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.

    As others explained to you, you have access to 66046 bytes of RAM as
    opposed to 16K or 48K on the Spectrum.

    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be
    the worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer.

    Real programmers don't need BASIC.

    Even typing nothing on it get's that
    stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode.

    Maybe you should learn to spell. Sir Sinclair anticipated that people
    like you would buy a Spectrum, so he invented a system that didn't
    require its users spell BASIC keywords.

    At least we could type a program in
    basic 15 times faster on the Speccy

    That is if you bothered to figure out all those shift key combinations
    before you smacked it against the wall.

    Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold
    around the
    world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only
    manage
    about 22 million.

    ....Lies, lies and statistics...even the Guinness Book of Records
    disagrees with you on this one...

    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes
    longer to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.

    Considering the ignorance you have demonstrated so far you will probably
    never have heard of fast loader software which would speed up loading up
    to 25 times and were used by the vast majority of the C64 users.

    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being
    superbly
    designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.

    You get what you pay for, in the case of the ZX Spectrum crappy
    hardware.

    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with
    huge keys
    (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype).
    Spectrum,
    small, light, powerful!

    ...and not to forget colorfull like a toy for a three year old kid
    (which happend to be its intended audience, though some people seem to
    have missed that point).



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From paul s@nospam@nospam.forme to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 09:54:11
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider wrote:

    On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 00:27:30 -0400, "Decimal Cat" <wells@acadia.net>
    wrote:



    Who cares what's better? Use what you like. By the logic some of the
    people in this thread are using, your 8-bits are all crap because my >>P3/1GHZ@1030 with a GeForce II MX and 256MB of Mushkin RAM at 2-2-2 and a >>60GB Maxtor HD is better than your computers.

    Unless you compare it to my 3.2Ghz P4, with 1Gb RAM, 200Gb Hard drive, Soundblaster Audigy 5.1 Digital soundcard, GeForce FX 256Mg Gfx card and
    DVD writer drive.

    And it still don't run Spectaculator, Spin, Fuse, VICE, or MAME/MESS any
    better than my modest PIII 550MHz, 512meg, 40+20gig HDs, Gforce 3 TI, SB
    Live! Value.

    Which then makes your computer worse than mine.

    I probably got the slowest computer of all these, less money on the computer means more beer money. :-)
    --
    Paul S
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From spacerogue5@spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 04:27:45
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:<k1ichvcvkqrtoberi94mb3n8lhkpo6bijq@4ax.com>...
    On 16 Jul 2003 23:30:20 -0700, spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) wrote:

    ...

    Are U refering to ZX Spectrum48 vs C64? HA HA HA HA!

    That rubber thing cannot be considered as a computer. What a Troll.

    Actually, either the 48k or the 128k, both were well within the lifespan of the
    commode 64.

    It's silly to se a man working on ZX Spectrum 48. It looks like a
    calculator. It's imposible to type on a rubber keyboard. Havent seen
    Spectrum 128k, but i am sure it has many advanteges over C64. Simply
    it's a machine produced in 1985+, however it has no chance against
    A1000.


    Let's look at the evidence:

    Slow. A poxy slow processor,

    Wow!

    "6502 uses a single clock cycle (the base cycle, plus a cycle rotated
    90 degrees out of phase) to generate the timing for four internal
    execution stages, so th
    [snipped!]

    Don't bother with the techno-babble. It's already been well proved that even though the 6502 uses less clock cycles, the z80 had better programming methods,
    making it easily possible to still outperform the 6502.

    Easy? It's imposible to outperform the 6502 in simple codeing especaly
    in lowlevel hardware programing. Maybe in some math calculations, but
    you probably refer to Basic programing. True, Spectrum has a better
    Basic interpreter than Commodore, but bouth are inpractical as for
    that matter any 8bit Basic interpreter.

    6502 is a 8bit RISC procesor of that time. You don't seem to uderstand
    the power grasp to have basic fetch, increment, shifting, addition
    etc. instructions that execute in 3x or 6x less machine cycles, since
    that are 80% of the instructions in every program.
    Example of good design: Intel made the i80486 to execute MOV
    instruction in 1 cycle for the cost of makeing some obsolete
    instructions execute in more cycles than on the i80286. That's a good
    design.


    I happen to have learned machine code from the book "Z80 & 6502
    Machine Code". Have you noticed that 6502 machine instructions execute
    in minimum 2, maximum 6 machine cycles, while Z80 machine instructions >execute in minimum 6 (or was it 8?), maximum 20+ machine cycles.

    Must've been a crap book then.

    It's not the book that's important. It's imporatant that a know how
    Z80 works better than you. I sugest you check on the internet for
    Z80's instruction execution times. + add what i have already said
    about the 6502's 4x execution in 1 external clock.

    I'll be honest to say this. Z80 is far more comfortable for
    programing. Maybe this reflex in the Spectrum's better Basic than
    Commodore's. But microsoft has a great reputation for dull programing.
    The same thing was with microsoft Amiga Basic. Even enthusiast made
    far more usefull Basic's than microsoft.
    When it comes to practice raw speed, there is hardly a comercial 8bit
    procesor to outpreform 6510.

    In addition C64 has many lots of hi-level lang. and OS's. Have you
    tried Simons Basic? I have, and even if is as good as Spectrum's Basic
    or less or better, no matter, you can only fool around with 8bit
    interpreter Basic's. With all Basic's for that matter.


    hence the reliance on hardware based sprites to
    make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.

    I bet you'll say the same thing about procesors in the last 20 years.
    "They are all crap. They use FPUs."

    Hardware sprites are a great idea, since sprites are common thing.

    Not that common anymore. Most gaming designs are slowly adapting to 3D now. And
    3D was something the Commode 64 was shite at.

    How do you mean "slowly adapting to 3D"? On a ZX Spectrum?
    Quantity? 5000 arcade games on 1 3D game.

    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown, and really *REALLY* blocky graphics. How
    I laugh whenever I see digitised pictures on a commode 64!
    Crap games - Paradroid Vs. Quazatron. No contest. Carrier Command. Lovely fast
    3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the Commode? >> Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip grating
    away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior???

    beep, beep! hi hi.

    Beep beep, or with Tim Follin, 6 channel sound with various sound waveforms. Or
    with the AY, 3 channel "clean" goodness, not that grating awful sound the SID produces.

    I only have heard of 1 chanel beeper noicy sound. Usualy slowing the
    rest of the work when playing.


    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.

    You never had access to the full 64K of RAM, because you don't know
    how, i have. It's quite simple, you'll just have to figure out.

    No, we dealt with 128k instead, with a 128k machine that was supported, unlike
    the total lack of software for the commode 128.

    C128 is not for games, and came in a bad time when it was mutch smater
    to drop it in favour of the Amiga.

    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the > worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer.

    Me too. :) Anyway, all old style interpreted Basic on 8-bit computers
    are infunctional. You can only play around with it.

    Yes, I don't think I should've included that point in the argument, as it is seriously true. Well, you do have the advantage of being able to blame Microsoft
    for that one.

    Even typing nothing on it get's that
    stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode. At least we could type a program in
    basic 15 times faster on the Speccy, with a decent system for finding > mistakes.

    Basic? How old are U? 4th grade?
    What if you have to type Pascal? You redefine the whole rubberboard?

    Er... no, we typed in Pascal. Simple!

    At a rate of 1/2 chars per second. :))

    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.

    1st you have to find it's position on the tape with your walkman.
    I've seen C64 load 64K in 10-20 sec, from disk. Seriosly, you could >understand the advantiges of disk's only if you had one. Even if the
    disk is 50 times slower than tape.

    that's good to hear. Likewise, I love being able to load 128k into my machine in
    about 3-5 seconds from disk.

    I don't understand this... You obvious talk of a 128k Spectrum.
    How can a machine designed in 1981 compete to one designed in 1985?
    By the time, componets were available at a mutch lower price + there
    are 5 years of expirience to fix the mistakes and take better moves.
    By that time Apple, Atari and Commodore made 32bit machines, with GUI.
    Amiga has the 1st colorfull GUI.
    Things were gone that far when the Spectrum 128k came to the world.

    As for C64 and ZX48, they are prety mutch at the same time. Year +/-
    does not make mutch of a diference in the early 80's. Development was
    slow at that time. Time was running mutch slower.

    At the Churchill Hotel on Friday the 23rd of April 1982 was the
    presentation of ZX Spectrum.
    The time Spectrum128k was presented Motorola was in with MC68020 and
    Intel with i80386. All 8bit was obsolete. They are inferor for
    calculations and hi-level programing. They can be used as controlers
    on machines successfuly as in the Commodore and Robotics posting, but
    i don't think the Spectrum (48k) can be used mutch, since i don't
    think it has implementation for standard i/o ports.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Anders Carlsson@anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 13:43:30
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) writes:

    [1985]
    By that time Apple, Atari and Commodore made 32bit machines, with GUI.

    Sinclair did too, namely the QL (as long as the production was not
    delayed). Some people believe that if the QL had not been released
    in 1984, all the other 16-bitters would not have been released until
    several years later if at all.

    --
    Anders Carlsson
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Steppe@steppe_not_for@spam_demodungeon.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 14:07:14
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Vasko,

    I appreciate that you slapped the butt of this uneducated, poor fellow with your well-founded arguments. But still, this guy is a troll, probably a 30
    year old frustrated programmer that pretends to be 12 just to revive a
    stupid flamewar tradition (or the more I think about it, he's probably not doing it for traditions sake). All I can say is: Don't feed the troll. ;-)

    Regards,
    Steppe


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From paul s@nospam@nospam.forme to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 13:16:51
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Anders Carlsson wrote:

    paul s <nospam@nospam.forme> writes:

    less money on the computer means more beer money. :-)

    The latest computer I spent money to acquire was my Amiga 1200/HDD/1084
    for ~$100. The latest computer I bought new was my Amiga 500+ in 1992.

    Some days I'm contemplating replacing my 200 MHz PC with something new,
    but then I realize I don't have any needs for more processing power, so
    I let it be.

    Yup thats why I'm sticking to this PIII system, running both Linux and XP.

    The last computer I bought a couple of weeks ago was a Amstrad NC200
    notebook cost £3. Yippee I finally bought a laptop.
    --
    Paul S
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 15:18:18
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Vasko Altiparmakov <spacerogue5@yahoo.com> wrote:

    It's imposible to type on a rubber keyboard.

    Why should one need to "type"? It's so obvious that the Spectrum isn't a typewriter.

    <big snip>

    I only have heard of 1 chanel beeper noicy sound. Usualy slowing the
    rest of the work when playing.

    See? You shouldn't argue about things you haven't even heard of. :-D

    i don't think the Spectrum (48k) can be used mutch, since i don't
    think it has implementation for standard i/o ports.

    Ths is a funny thing to say after all the technobabble in your post.

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From paul s@nospam@nospam.forme to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 13:28:04
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Vasko Altiparmakov wrote:

    The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:<k1ichvcvkqrtoberi94mb3n8lhkpo6bijq@4ax.com>...
    On 16 Jul 2003 23:30:20 -0700, spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov)
    wrote:

    ...

    Are U refering to ZX Spectrum48 vs C64? HA HA HA HA!

    That rubber thing cannot be considered as a computer. What a Troll.

    Actually, either the 48k or the 128k, both were well within the lifespan
    of the commode 64.

    It's silly to se a man working on ZX Spectrum 48. It looks like a
    calculator. It's imposible to type on a rubber keyboard. Havent seen
    Spectrum 128k, but i am sure it has many advanteges over C64. Simply
    it's a machine produced in 1985+, however it has no chance against
    A1000.

    Of course the Spectrum 128k was a damn sight cheaper than a A1000 in 1985,
    like a Ford Sierra was cheaper than a Porsch 911. Both will take you from A
    to B but one will get there quicker.

    --
    Paul S
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Anders Carlsson@anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 15:56:15
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) writes:

    It's so obvious that the Spectrum isn't a typewriter.

    But you have word processor(s), at least the Tasword series. A magazine reviewing word processors on various computers ignored looking for one
    on the Spectrum, but a few issues later had to recapitulate after
    finding Tasword. Approximate apology quote:

    "The reason we didn't look for a word processor was that we thought
    the Spectrum has as much use for one as a fish has use for a bicycle."

    --
    Anders Carlsson
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Jeff Ledger@jeff@NOSPAM.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:24:42
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm



    And Jeff wins the award for "Trying to stop a flamewar, but making it
    worse by
    posting binaries to non-binary groups, which is a worse offense".


    Not intentional, I do know the rules... I didn't do enough weeding on my "dictionary.com" cut & paste. Like a typical felon, I will blame someone else... DARN GOOGLE NEWGROUP interface! Yeah, It's their fault. <smirk>

    Jeff


    --
    HTML Lesson #47 [The Only Legitimate use for BLINK]
    Schrodinger's Cat is <BLINK>NOT</BLINK> dead.



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Jeff Ledger@jeff@NOSPAM.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:27:03
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    Is there a real English dictionary there? Or just a yankee one? Bet it doesn't have "Grammer" in it, unless they've started listing actor
    surnames.

    Busted... <grin>

    Jeff


    --
    HTML Lesson #47 [The Only Legitimate use for BLINK]
    Schrodinger's Cat is <BLINK>NOT</BLINK> dead.



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Decimal Cat@wells@acadia.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:45:57
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Your so-called "argument" is nothing but a bunch of ridiculous opinions
    strung together with little to no fact contained therein. It has been
    debunked several times in this thread, so no matter how many more times you post it, it doesn't matter - it makes it no less valid, and it makes you no less of a simpleton. It's quite clear that you don't crave acceptance of
    your machine or ideals, you just crave attention, and once again it's proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that negative attention is better than none at all. Not a single one of you has presented one legitimate argument yet to
    prove that the Speccy is inherently "better". All any of you have managed to offer by way of rebuttal is "it's crap".

    But hey - want your paper-thin argument trashed all to hell again? Let's
    have at it.


    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:9thchv08uri2j3aqkvc8tbrjgi6s8s7ad2@4ax.com...
    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 22:58:57 -0400, "Decimal Cat" <wells@acadia.net>
    wrote:
    Slow. A poxy slow processor, hence the reliance on hardware based sprites
    to
    make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.

    Oh, better throw away your PC then - a lot of those 3-D games rely on
    hardware acceleration.

    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown,

    16 colors. Wipe the layer of dust off your monitor.

    and really *REALLY* blocky graphics. How

    Opinion.

    I laugh whenever I see digitised pictures on a commode 64!
    Crap games - Paradroid Vs. Quazatron. No contest. Carrier Command. Lovely
    fast

    Still opinion.

    3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the Commode?

    Can't comment here - but you'll more than likely use my inexperience in this area as some way within your fractured mind to "prove" that it's wrong.

    Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip
    grating
    away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior???
    What
    are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?

    <Homer-AngryDad> THAT'S NOT FACT, THAT'S OPINION! </Homer-AngryDad>

    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.

    Nonsense.

    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the
    worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer. Even typing nothing on it get's
    that
    stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode.

    No, typing nothing on it and then pressing enter sends the cursor down to
    the next line.

    At least we could type a program in
    basic 15 times faster on the Speccy, with a decent system for finding
    mistakes.

    Proofreader, if you speak of program listings.

    Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold
    around the
    world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only
    manage
    about 22 million.

    Also can't comment here, because I've never seen or heard of a Speccy here
    in the USA. ( Sure. Go ahead and rip on my nationality because I didn't go searching for other computers from other countries to use, make yourself
    look like even more of an idiot than you already do. )

    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer
    to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.

    Can't argue there - the drives are sluggish, but JiffyDOS fixes that in no time.

    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being
    superbly
    designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.

    I for one got a C64 I could easily repair off eBay along with two dead
    boards for $1.75 + shipping.

    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with huge
    keys
    (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype).

    Do you have any facts to support your argument, or just opinion?

    Spectrum,
    small, light, powerful!
    --

    Not very good as a doorstop, then. Maybe as a flotation device if you
    caulked the ports.

    Next time you feel the need to start a huge trolling war to make you feel better about your own size? Go buy a big pair of shoes. You know what they
    say about men with big feet, don't you?

    --Decimal Cat


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Decimal Cat@wells@acadia.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 11:44:58
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Your so-called "argument" is nothing but a bunch of ridiculous opinions
    strung together with little to no fact contained therein. It has been
    debunked several times in this thread, so no matter how many more times you post it, it doesn't matter - it makes it no more valid, and it makes you no less of a simpleton. It's quite clear that you don't crave acceptance of
    your machine or ideals, you just crave attention, and once again it's proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that negative attention is better than none at all. Not a single one of you has presented one legitimate argument yet to
    prove that the Speccy is inherently "better". All any of you have managed to offer by way of rebuttal is "it's crap".

    But hey - want your paper-thin argument trashed all to hell again? Let's
    have at it.


    "The Starglider" <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:9thchv08uri2j3aqkvc8tbrjgi6s8s7ad2@4ax.com...
    On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 22:58:57 -0400, "Decimal Cat" <wells@acadia.net>
    wrote:
    Slow. A poxy slow processor, hence the reliance on hardware based sprites
    to
    make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.

    Oh, better throw away your PC then - a lot of those 3-D games rely on
    hardware acceleration.

    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown,

    16 colors. Wipe the layer of dust off your monitor.

    and really *REALLY* blocky graphics. How

    Opinion.

    I laugh whenever I see digitised pictures on a commode 64!
    Crap games - Paradroid Vs. Quazatron. No contest. Carrier Command. Lovely
    fast

    Still opinion.

    3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the Commode?

    Can't comment here - but you'll more than likely use my inexperience in this area as some way within your fractured mind to "prove" that it's wrong.

    Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip
    grating
    away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's superior???
    What
    are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?

    <Homer-AngryDad> THAT'S NOT FACT, THAT'S OPINION! </Homer-AngryDad>

    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.

    Nonsense.

    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the
    worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer. Even typing nothing on it get's
    that
    stupid Syntax Error message on the Commode.

    No, typing nothing on it and then pressing enter sends the cursor down to
    the next line.

    At least we could type a program in
    basic 15 times faster on the Speccy, with a decent system for finding
    mistakes.

    Proofreader, if you speak of program listings.

    Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold
    around the
    world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only
    manage
    about 22 million.

    Also can't comment here, because I've never seen or heard of a Speccy here
    in the USA. ( Sure. Go ahead and rip on my nationality because I didn't go searching for other computers from other countries to use, make yourself
    look like even more of an idiot than you already do. )

    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer
    to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.

    Can't argue there - the drives are sluggish, but JiffyDOS fixes that in no time.

    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being
    superbly
    designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.

    I for one got a C64 I could easily repair off eBay along with two dead
    boards for $1.75 + shipping.

    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with huge
    keys
    (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype).

    Do you have any facts to support your argument, or just opinion?

    Spectrum,
    small, light, powerful!
    --

    Not very good as a doorstop, then. Maybe as a flotation device if you
    caulked the ports.

    Next time you feel the need to start a huge trolling war to make you feel better about your own size? Go buy a big pair of shoes. You know what they
    say about men with big feet, don't you?

    --Decimal Cat



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From paul s@nospam@nospam.forme to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 16:06:00
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider wrote:

    Let's look at the evidence:

    Slow. A poxy slow processor, hence the reliance on hardware based sprites
    to make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.
    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown, and really *REALLY* blocky
    graphics.

    Still it was better than IBM's CGA 'Crap Graphics Adaptor', Black, White, Turquoise, and Pink, with *really* blocky graphics

    --
    Paul S
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From A936@A936@hotmail.com (Alvin) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 09:15:01
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) wrote in message news:<b052b774.0307162230.4b2ad893@posting.google.com>...

    Slow. A poxy slow processor,

    Wow!

    "6502 uses a single clock cycle (the base cycle, plus a cycle rotated
    90 degrees out of phase) to generate the timing for four internal
    execution stages, so that there were instructions which executed in
    one external 'cycle' (this is different from clock-doubling, which
    uses a phase-locked-loop to generate a faster internal clock which is synchronised with an external clock). Z80, uses the external clock
    directly, so an equivalent instruction would take four cycles, meaning
    a 2MHz 6502 would be roughly equivalent to a 8MHz Z80."

    Vasko, since you are so learned, you must realize the fallacies in
    this statement: ".. Z80, uses the external clock directly, so an
    equivalent instruction would take four cycles, meaning a 2MHz 6502
    would be roughly equivalent to a 8MHz Z80". This would be true if the
    Z80 was a 6502. The Z80 is not a 6502 and has a very different
    instruction set architecture and a very different hardware
    architecture. It does not do things the same way a
    6502 does them. I would have serious doubts about any book that made
    claims like that.

    A past flamewar found that a 1 MHz 6502 is roughly equivalent to a 2
    MHz Z80. In my opinion this is being very kind to the 6502. Included
    among the examples used to derive this figure was a BCD accumulator.
    BCD arithmetic is nearly useless in the grand scheme of things and
    since the 6502 has a BCD 'mode', it managed to perform well in that
    particular instance; no comparison was made for BCD
    multiplications/divisions for which the Z80 has special instructions.
    Not enough emphasis was placed on real algorithms that access main
    memory, which the Z80 is much quicker at than a 6502 and which would
    have a large impact on cpu performance. For a 6502 to operate at this
    2:1 ratio, it must also use absolute zero page addressing, which I
    suppose is fine and good for apps that take control of the system and
    are written by one person.

    Using this 2:1 ratio, the original Spectrum is 75% faster than a C64.

    I happen to have learned machine code from the book "Z80 & 6502
    Machine Code". Have you noticed that 6502 machine instructions execute
    in minimum 2, maximum 6 machine cycles, while Z80 machine instructions execute in minimum 6 (or was it 8?), maximum 20+ machine cycles.

    Minimum 4 cycles. Programmers use 4-cycle instructions and 7-cycle
    memory access instructions predominantly and only use 20+ cycle
    instructions on rare occasions. In the old days, the maximum speed
    6502 available was 2MHz, versus an 8MHz Z80. The plain Z80 has since
    been upgraded to 20MHz; I don't know if they bothered to move the 6502
    to a more modern process.

    There are good reasons why the Z80 became the dominant 8-bit general
    purpose cpu back in the day (have I managed to exclude the 8051
    here?). It was more suitable for "real systems", be it embedded or
    high-end computing due to a number of factors including: availability
    of a comprehensive set of quality peripheral chips, ease of
    interfacing, speed and an ISA that supported code sharing, fast task
    switching and up to 128 peripherals without degrading performance.
    The 6502's main attraction was on price. When it first came out at
    $25, competitor processors were selling at $180.

    hence the reliance on hardware based sprites to
    make sure games don't turn out utterly crap.

    I bet you'll say the same thing about procesors in the last 20 years.
    "They are all crap. They use FPUs."

    Hardware sprites are a great idea, since sprites are common thing.

    Hardware sprites are great if you don't have the power to do it in
    software. But if there is the choice, it is ALWAYS better to do it in software.

    64K Ram - Lies! You never had access to the full 64K of RAM.

    You never had access to the full 64K of RAM, because you don't know
    how, i have.
    It's quite simple, you'll just have to figure out.

    Z80 programs are half the size of 6502 programs. Should be able to
    spot that one in your book :-)

    Crap Basic - Who's bright idea was it to incluse what I consider to be the > worst
    basic I have ever seen on any computer.

    Me too. :) Anyway, all old style interpreted Basic on 8-bit computers
    are infunctional. You can only play around with it.

    There is a fundamental difference in the original purpose of the C64
    and the Spectrum. The C64 is clearly a game computer; Basic or any
    kind of introduction to computing is secondary. The primary purpose
    of the Spectrum is an introduction to computing, hence some effort was
    put into incorporating a decent version of Basic, providing syntax
    checking on every line entered for novice programmers, and supplying
    one-touch key entry since no one at that time could type.

    Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only manage about 22 million.

    In truth it's very hard to estimate Spectrum sales. Some 2 dozen
    Spectrum variants, authorized clones and illegal clones have been made
    around the world, with very large followings in the UK, Portugal,
    Spain and all the eastern block countries. I wouldn't be surprised if
    Spectrum sales topped 20 million but I wouldn't wager that they passed
    C64 sales, simply because the Spectrum did not exist in the American
    market for more than 4 months (during which time 160,000 units sold).
    What makes it close is that the Spectrum was dominant in the Soviet
    Union.

    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.

    1st you have to find it's position on the tape with your walkman.
    I've seen C64 load 64K in 10-20 sec, from disk. Seriosly, you could understand the advantiges of disk's only if you had one. Even if the
    disk is 50 times slower than tape.

    You have to admit the 64 had some of the worst peripherals of all the
    8 bits. They also cost the most. I would rather have tape than a
    $200+ disk system that performed worse than tape. But you are right,
    most people forked over the extra $ for a fastload cartridge to fix
    the hardware bugs. Even then, the disk drive only performed as well
    as a stringy floppy.

    Personally, I had/have a disk system with DD 5.25" and 3.5" drives.
    Transfer rate is 250kbps, if I remember right (it's been a while)
    which allows the loading of memory snapshots in a couple of seconds,
    including access time.


    Cheers,
    Alvin
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Sinclair QL@ql@dokos-gr.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 16:21:58
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Την/On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 11:44:58 -0400,ο(η) Decimal Cat <wells@acadia.net> έγραψε/wrote:

    <snip>

    Terrible graphics - 15 shades of brown,

    16 colors. Wipe the layer of dust off your monitor.

    and really *REALLY* blocky graphics. How

    Opinion.

    Not opinion. Check games like Uridium (Hewson) on the Commodore and the Spectrum and you'll see the difference.

    <snip>
    3D shaded graphics on the Speccy. What the fuck went wrong on the
    Commode?

    Can't comment here - but you'll more than likely use my inexperience in
    this
    area as some way within your fractured mind to "prove" that it's wrong.


    The fact of the matter is that the Commode wasn't exploited at all, not to mention that it was so difficult to program, you needed to pass Torture Endurance school in order to do it ;-)

    Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip
    grating
    away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's
    superior???
    What
    are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?

    <Homer-AngryDad> THAT'S NOT FACT, THAT'S OPINION! </Homer-AngryDad>

    Here I have to agree I liked the SID pretty much, although it was only
    REALLY audible with an external amp. The fact of the matter is that it is
    so midrange it sounds like a Rockman guitar effect... Without a decent
    Aural Exciter/Equalizer you can't really hear anything out of it.

    <snip>

    Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold
    around the
    world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only
    manage
    about 22 million.

    Also can't comment here, because I've never seen or heard of a Speccy
    here
    in the USA. ( Sure. Go ahead and rip on my nationality because I didn't
    go
    searching for other computers from other countries to use, make yourself
    look like even more of an idiot than you already do. )

    That's because you weren't probably involved in computing around 82-83.
    The Spectrum did sell in the US under the Timex/Sinclair badge. The US
    model (TS 2068) had also 64K ram and better graphics (and colors) than the Commode.


    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes longer
    to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.

    Can't argue there - the drives are sluggish, but JiffyDOS fixes that in
    no
    time.

    You try a Disciple/PlusD disk i/f on the Speccy, you'll see even
    Turbocharged the C64 can't even come close.
    The fact is that the C64 speedloaders on tape were slower than the standard Spectrum load routines :-)
    Oh and by the way, in order to make a PERFECT backup of almost any C64 tape
    is to feed it thru a Spectrum Mic->Ear port. Perfect C64 backups all the
    time (Did it for many friends with C64s back in the day). The cost of
    buying a Spectrum to do so, was cheaper than any decent C64 copier ;-)


    Cost - the commodes were sold at rip off prices. The speccy, being
    superbly
    designed, meant that it was sold at a fraction of the price.

    I for one got a C64 I could easily repair off eBay along with two dead
    boards for $1.75 + shipping.

    He meant when they were current. Who cares how much they sell now for.
    We're saying then. With the cost of a C64 you could probably buy two used Spectrums plus have enough money to take your girl out for a week ;-) Not
    to mention that users of Spectrum tend to HAVE girlfriends as opposed to
    some C64 users we all know ;-)


    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with
    huge
    keys
    (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype).

    Do you have any facts to support your argument, or just opinion?

    Hehe you're quasi right here. The keyboard was okay however the damn thing looks like a donut that sits in the bottom of the pile at Walmart ;-)

    Spectrum,
    small, light, powerful!
    --

    Not very good as a doorstop, then. Maybe as a flotation device if you
    caulked the ports.

    Depends. You forget that in Europe doors are real and not flimsy cardboard
    ;-) (Been there I was amazed) (also most of the time, walls are walls and
    not stupid #$@%@#%@#%@# drywall... ). So to effectively stop that door you need something of massive proportions like the C64 ;-)

    <snip>





    --
    One Motorola a day, makes the doctor go away :-) For mail remove the
    obvious crap from the email below:
    mailto:ql@dokos-grCHOKEONTHIS=SPAMMER.net
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Richard Wilson@rich@bitwise-systems.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 17:23:55
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider wrote:

    Sales, userbase, games, software, expansion. There, I think that's pretty damned
    important.


    Sales - as mentioned elsewhere means very little. It's like comparing a
    Nissan Pulsar to a Ferrari 355, or Eminem to Eric Clapton.

    Userbase just means more people are using it. So what? Obvious really
    since there were more sales. It's not as if I'm going to make
    substantial profits from selling my software on either machine.

    Games - Well there may be more of them, but out of the 2000 plus
    Spectrum games, how many are still worth playing 15 years on? 10 or 20
    maybe?

    Software - Assuming you mean software that isn't games, you've gotta be
    joking if you think there is more serious stuff for the Spectrum. It
    doesn't even have a 40 column mode, never mind an 80 column mode, which
    IMO is required to do any serious WP/DTP/Spreadsheets etc.

    And expansion. There may be a few extra expansions for the Spectrum, but
    my CPC Plus had 576K, 3" floppy, 2x5.25" floppies (with ParaDOS, 800K
    DOS), TV Tuner, Light Pen, Speech Synth, Mouse, real keyboard, RGB
    display, Multiface II, RAM Drive, Fully populated 8 slot ROM box with
    Maxam, Protext etc, etc back in about 1993.

    Richard
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Darren Salt@news@youmustbejoking.demon.cu.invalid to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 18:46:58
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    I demand that Etienne von Wettingfeld may or may not have written...

    Darren Salt wrote:
    I may very well be. But I can't judge the Speccy because Holland is a
    wealthy country so everybody had C64s in my days.
    What? No BBCs? Strange people...

    Well, one guy did have an Elcorn Electron, claiming it to be superiour to
    the C64.

    Well, it *is*. It has a far superior BASIC. (And you mean "Acorn".)

    But he bought a C64 when he had the money so he could play games like everybody else.

    It must be, then, that all of these non-C64 games which I have here never actually existed... hmm, that means that I'm stuck with only Repton 3, Elite
    (I think), Wizball and a few others...

    No, that can't be right.

    --
    | Darren Salt | nr. Ashington, | d youmustbejoking,demon,co,uk
    | RISC OS, | Northumberland | s zap,tartarus,org
    | Linux | Toon Army | @
    | The second RISC OS version of JSW.

    If this is time-sharing, give me my share right now. It's not time yet.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 18:55:05
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 17:23:55 GMT, Richard Wilson <rich@bitwise-systems.com> wrote:



    Software - Assuming you mean software that isn't games, you've gotta be >joking if you think there is more serious stuff for the Spectrum. It
    doesn't even have a 40 column mode, never mind an 80 column mode, which
    IMO is required to do any serious WP/DTP/Spreadsheets etc.

    No, it had a 64 column mode.

    And expansion. There may be a few extra expansions for the Spectrum, but
    my CPC Plus had 576K, 3" floppy, 2x5.25" floppies (with ParaDOS, 800K
    DOS), TV Tuner, Light Pen, Speech Synth, Mouse, real keyboard, RGB
    display, Multiface II, RAM Drive, Fully populated 8 slot ROM box with
    Maxam, Protext etc, etc back in about 1993.

    So, still less than the Spectrum then.

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Etienne von Wettingfeld@etienne@xs4none.nl to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 19:56:36
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The Starglider wrote:

    Software - Assuming you mean software that isn't games, you've gotta be >>joking if you think there is more serious stuff for the Spectrum. It >>doesn't even have a 40 column mode, never mind an 80 column mode, which
    IMO is required to do any serious WP/DTP/Spreadsheets etc.

    No, it had a 64 column mode.

    A nice way to pay homage to the C64!

    --
    Etienne von Wettingfeld [SuSE Linux]
    Voice mail & Fax: +31 (84) 8835157 -//- www.doomdark.demon.nl

    { -*- Nam Et Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est -*- } MMIII
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 18:56:44
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On 17 Jul 2003 00:03:57 -0700, spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) wrote:


    Better technically? :))
    It's a useless rubber shit, with no i/o ports.
    Have anyone seen RS232 or Centronix on ZX Spectrum?
    You can connect C64 on a PLC if you want and make it usefull.

    Yes, and more. Or did you miss the obvious expansion slot on the back?


    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 19:09:09
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On 17 Jul 2003 09:15:01 -0700, A936@hotmail.com (Alvin) wrote:


    Vasko, since you are so learned, you must realize the fallacies in
    this statement: ".. Z80, uses the external clock directly, so an
    equivalent instruction would take four cycles, meaning a 2MHz 6502
    would be roughly equivalent to a 8MHz Z80". This would be true if the
    Z80 was a 6502. The Z80 is not a 6502 and has a very different
    instruction set architecture and a very different hardware
    architecture. It does not do things the same way a
    6502 does them. I would have serious doubts about any book that made
    claims like that.

    [Rest snipped]

    And Alvin wins the award this year for the first "most informed and technically correct counter argument".
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From John Kavanagh@johnkavanagh@cpcoxygen.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 19:46:59
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    Sales, userbase, games, software, expansion. There, I think that's pretty
    damned
    important.

    Sales... ya, Userbase... ya...... games... ya but only for game released
    1984 and before. Software? No way ,the CPC has more software, especially serious stuff, oh and CP/M. Expansion? Nah I don't think so but of course it not so clear cut these days.



    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Decimal Cat@wells@acadia.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 14:47:12
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Hi Sinclair,

    You seem fairly reasonable, unlike a lot of the others from both sides that posted in this thread. It's like I've always said, I don't think the Speccy
    is a bad computer - I CAN'T say that, because I've never even seen one. I
    guess I'll have to grab an emulator one of these days. . I just take offense
    to Starglider insulting it for no other reason than to start a pointless flamewar.

    *snip*

    and really *REALLY* blocky graphics. How

    Opinion.

    Not opinion. Check games like Uridium (Hewson) on the Commodore and the Spectrum and you'll see the difference.


    I will, if I ever get around to checking out a Speccy emulator. But the
    VIC-II chip was still fairly impressive for it's time, especially
    considering that according to Bil Herd, it was hand-designed by their engineers.

    The fact of the matter is that the Commode wasn't exploited at all, not to mention that it was so difficult to program, you needed to pass Torture Endurance school in order to do it ;-)


    You might want to try out one of the high-level languages written for it sometime. I'll admit the BASIC language is a bit. . well. . archaic. They didn't change much of it from the VIC-20, from what I saw. The biggest
    headache this ever gave me in programming was that there were no "read disk directory" or "read error channel" commands in native basic, but a few subroutines at the bottom of the program solved that.

    Sound - My god. My ears bleed every time I hear that damned SID chip
    grating
    away at some tune. It's not clean, and you people think that's
    superior???
    What
    are you all on? Or are you all tine deaf?

    <Homer-AngryDad> THAT'S NOT FACT, THAT'S OPINION! </Homer-AngryDad>

    Here I have to agree I liked the SID pretty much, although it was only
    REALLY audible with an external amp. The fact of the matter is that it is
    so midrange it sounds like a Rockman guitar effect... Without a decent
    Aural Exciter/Equalizer you can't really hear anything out of it.


    I don't know if you have a real C64 from which to judge this from, but the rudimentary audio amp circuit for the SID may be bad - in all my tests, the
    SID gave pretty good volume with or without an amp when inside a C64. 8580
    SID, or 6581 SID? (Usually a difference of whether you've got the older breadbin style, or the 64C, the more streamlined model. )


    Sales - The commode is dead. At least Spectrums are still being sold
    around the
    world. Speccy sales now up to about 25 million. The commode could only
    manage
    about 22 million.

    Also can't comment here, because I've never seen or heard of a Speccy
    here
    in the USA. ( Sure. Go ahead and rip on my nationality because I didn't
    go
    searching for other computers from other countries to use, make yourself look like even more of an idiot than you already do. )

    That's because you weren't probably involved in computing around 82-83.
    The Spectrum did sell in the US under the Timex/Sinclair badge. The US
    model (TS 2068) had also 64K ram and better graphics (and colors) than the Commode.


    Well, I would've been involved in computing then, but, see. . in 82 I wasn't born yet, and in 83 I was 1.


    Loading times - Oh how I laugh when your commode disk drive takes
    longer
    to load
    a program than it does to load a program by cassette on the speccy.

    Can't argue there - the drives are sluggish, but JiffyDOS fixes that in
    no
    time.

    You try a Disciple/PlusD disk i/f on the Speccy, you'll see even
    Turbocharged the C64 can't even come close.
    The fact is that the C64 speedloaders on tape were slower than the
    standard
    Spectrum load routines :-)
    Oh and by the way, in order to make a PERFECT backup of almost any C64
    tape
    is to feed it thru a Spectrum Mic->Ear port. Perfect C64 backups all the
    time (Did it for many friends with C64s back in the day). The cost of
    buying a Spectrum to do so, was cheaper than any decent C64 copier ;-)


    Hmm. . interesting.

    Out of curiousity, have their been any hard drive interfaces made for the Speccy? We have a couple (IDE64, CMD commercial), and they're both way
    faster than the regular floppy drives. Because of the obvious limitations of tape/floppy drives now, a lot of us use hard drives.

    Looks - let's face it, the commode was ugly. A huge beige thing with
    huge
    keys
    (required for your neanderthal fingers so you wouldn't mistype).

    Do you have any facts to support your argument, or just opinion?

    Hehe you're quasi right here. The keyboard was okay however the damn thing looks like a donut that sits in the bottom of the pile at Walmart ;-)

    The newer model, the 64C that I mentioned above looked better and had a more ergonomic design.


    Spectrum,
    small, light, powerful!
    --

    Not very good as a doorstop, then. Maybe as a flotation device if you caulked the ports.

    Depends. You forget that in Europe doors are real and not flimsy cardboard ;-) (Been there I was amazed) (also most of the time, walls are walls and
    not stupid #$@%@#%@#%@# drywall... ). So to effectively stop that door you need something of massive proportions like the C64 ;-)


    Let's just compromise, and use Starglider as a doorstop. :)

    --Decimal Cat


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Sinclair QL@ql@dokos-gr.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 19:12:54
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    ΀ην/On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 14:47:12 -0400,ο(η) Decimal Cat <wells@acadia.net>
    έγραψΡ/wrote:

    Hi Sinclair,

    You seem fairly reasonable, unlike a lot of the others from both sides
    that
    posted in this thread. It's like I've always said, I don't think the
    Speccy
    is a bad computer - I CAN'T say that, because I've never even seen one. I guess I'll have to grab an emulator one of these days. . I just take
    offense
    to Starglider insulting it for no other reason than to start a pointless flamewar.

    *snip*

    Try RealSpec which emulates even the ZX Spectrum +3e (a nice mod with Hard drive :-)

    <snip>

    I will, if I ever get around to checking out a Speccy emulator. But the VIC-II chip was still fairly impressive for it's time, especially
    considering that according to Bil Herd, it was hand-designed by their engineers.

    True but if you get into the custom chip argument, then you got to see
    MGT's Sam CoupΓ© (a direct derivative of the Spectrum) which at its time
    blew away the competition and with a Z80 inside you could put it on the
    same league with
    32/16 bit mainstream machines like the Amiga and the Atari ST (BTW despite what anyone may say and since you're younger you should know that Amiga is
    NOT a Commodore designed machine).

    <snip>

    You might want to try out one of the high-level languages written for it sometime. I'll admit the BASIC language is a bit. . well. . archaic. They didn't change much of it from the VIC-20, from what I saw. The biggest headache this ever gave me in programming was that there were no "read
    disk
    directory" or "read error channel" commands in native basic, but a few subroutines at the bottom of the program solved that.


    True, but then again you can say the same thing for the Spectrum and even more. YS MegaBasic IMHO was an exquisite flavor of basic let alone the Sinclair masterpiece: the QL SuperBasic (which still is by far the best
    basic around... and it's STILL around btw). And of course there is a host
    of compilers/interpreters around for almost every language that existed at
    the time (I believe there was also a home-brewn COBOL at some point)


    <sid stuff snipped>


    I don't know if you have a real C64 from which to judge this from, but
    the
    rudimentary audio amp circuit for the SID may be bad - in all my tests,
    the
    SID gave pretty good volume with or without an amp when inside a C64.
    8580
    SID, or 6581 SID? (Usually a difference of whether you've got the older breadbin style, or the 64C, the more streamlined model. )


    Yes I owned several C64s and C128s (and a Plus 4 btw which was pretty damn good machine for a C64 reincarnation) due to the fact that I was working at
    a computer store and was able to get broken machines and repair them ;-)
    (The only affordable way to buy a commodore back then)

    <snip regarding age stuff>

    Well, I would've been involved in computing then, but, see. . in 82 I
    wasn't
    born yet, and in 83 I was 1.


    Pretty understandable. And since you're American (as opposed to semi-
    American that I am) you don't know the huge battle of the micros that raged
    in the 80s. Flamewars like the current one are pretty toned down, I assure
    you compared to what was going on at the time ;-)


    <snip regarding Speccy use as a C64 copier>
    Hmm. . interesting.


    Discovered this after fiddling with an Oscilloscope while the Spectrum was loading. The signal was "cleaned up" by the circuitry and fed out the "EAR" position -Another difference between the C64 and the Spectrum: You didn't
    HAVE to buy a Data-recorder... although later that was fixed by
    introduction of compatible hardware on the C64-. There were program loaders around 95 that defeated that and actually distorted the output signal (I
    don't remember which one but I am sure that Spectrum gurus in the ng will
    be sure to remember) but the C64 tapes were unrecognizable anyways ;-)

    Out of curiousity, have their been any hard drive interfaces made for the Speccy? We have a couple (IDE64, CMD commercial), and they're both way
    faster than the regular floppy drives. Because of the obvious limitations
    of
    tape/floppy drives now, a lot of us use hard drives.

    Plenty and all free DIY designs.

    <snip about the ugliness of the C64>
    The newer model, the 64C that I mentioned above looked better and had a
    more
    ergonomic design.

    Yep but it was a copycat of the C128 (and the A500). It was about freakin' time too as the original C64 was an eyesore.
    The +4 was pretty neat looking IMHO, then again I believe that the "Black
    Is Beautiful" trend pioneered by Sinclair was THE way to go with computers (and thus my opinion of the +4). (ZX81, Spectrum, QL and Z88). The PC world finally caught up about 15 years later... losers ;-)

    The worse however disadvantage of the C64 was that it forced you to do
    several things a certain way, while the Speccy was extremely open. Moreover due to the "British school" of programming (ie if the program doesn't fit
    the machine... MAKE it fit as opposed to the now predominant "American
    school" of programming which says if the program doesn't fit the machine
    BUY a BIGGER machine) programmers squeezed out of the Spectrum even things
    the designers couldn't fathom that were possible! Ie Karnov (anyone
    remembers that coin-op conversion?). Or three-channel sound from a computer WITHOUT a dedicated sound chip!

    --
    One Motorola per day, makes the doctor go away :-)
    For mail remove the obvious crap from the email below: mailto:ql@dokos-grCHOKEONTHIS=SPAMMER.net
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter Thomas@see-my-sig@hotmail.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 20:17:46
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 01:37:22 +0100, "Bill Bertram" <ADSR6581_removethis_@aol.com> wrote:

    No this is where you go off on a tangent about dictators... I mentioned >the
    Iraqi info minister because he spouts the total opposite of truth, like >you
    flamers do... Has nothing to do with dictators...
    The Iraqi Information Minister has nothing to do with dictators? Eh?
    I'm pretty sure that he was seen a few months back with one of the
    world's most famous blood-thirsty civilian-killing fascists.
    If you're looking for a pic, see this... >>http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2002/US/09/30/sproject.irq.regime.change/rumsfeld.80s.jpg
    ...although I'm not sure which blood-thirsty civilian-killing fascist
    it is. I do get confused.
    Duh! of course he's got something to do with a dictator!

    You said he "Has nothing to do with dictators". Here you are saying
    the opposite.

    You also said "the C64 is good" too.

    You've taken what
    I've said out of context. Biggo was talking about dictators, when I was only >referring to the info minister. But you knew that anyway didn't you... >Pedant.

    Hardly. He does have SOMETHING to do with a dictator, and we both knew
    he wasn't a dictator.

    Is that e-mail address part of a permanent AOL account? I mean, I know
    loads of people who have used AOL, I first started out with it. You
    know, just about everyone messes around with the "X hours free!" demo
    they get, then they cancel the service and move to a real ISP.
    I was with freeserve dial-up for a few years, until recently.
    I see no real reason to use AOL unless you like big bright colours and
    pop-ups.
    Wanna reason? It's FREE broadband for a year! Sure it's shit, but it does
    the job...

    Okay, fairy nuff then. I'd still buy a domain name to semi-hide the
    AOL e-mail address.

    --
    pete [at] ¦ In development: Beer Chaos.
    horseshoe ¦ You buy a shot of vodka or water.
    [hyphen] ¦ Anyone choosing to disbelieve it has to
    inn [dot] ¦ down it.
    co [dot] uk¦
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Woody@mark.woodmass@ntlworld.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 20:24:12
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 19:12:54 GMT, Sinclair QL <ql@dokos-gr.net> wrote:

    Try RealSpec which emulates even the ZX Spectrum +3e (a nice mod with Hard >drive :-)

    I can think of at least one more Windows based emulator that supports
    the +3e. And I have a hunch that another will be turning up rather
    soon :)

    Luckily, adding +3e support actually turns out to be rather easy :-)

    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Sinclair QL@ql@dokos-gr.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 19:24:38
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    ΀ην/On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 19:12:54 GMT,ο(η) Sinclair QL <ql@dokos-gr.net> έγραψΡ/wrote:
    <SNIP>
    .... There were program loaders around 95 that defeated that....


    OF course here I meant 85 :-) (Damn figner paralysis!)



    --
    One Motorola per day, makes the doctor go away :-)
    For mail remove the obvious crap from the email below: mailto:ql@dokos-grCHOKEONTHIS=SPAMMER.net
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 20:26:23
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "John Kavanagh" <johnkavanagh@cpcoxygen.net> wrote in message news:bf6s47$6j1$1@kermit.esat.net...

    Sales, userbase, games, software, expansion. There, I think that's
    pretty
    damned
    important.

    Sales... ya, Userbase... ya...... games... ya but only for game released
    1984 and before.

    ?

    Software? No way ,the CPC has more software, especially
    serious stuff

    But who ever used it?

    oh and CP/M. Expansion? Nah I don't think so but of course it
    not so clear cut these days.





    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Sinclair QL@ql@dokos-gr.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 19:38:32
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Την/On Thu, 17 Jul 2003 20:26:23 +0100,ο(η) Phil-on-a-hill <malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk> έγραψε/wrote:

    <snip>
    Software? No way ,the CPC has more software, especially
    serious stuff

    But who ever used it?

    Actually a lot of people. We were selling CPCs by the truckload in mid 80s
    for small to mid sized companies that wanted a floppy and serious software
    but they couldn't afford either high-end CP/M machines or IBM PCs. One
    reason that Amstrad tried to kill off the QL (which it didn't thank God as
    it is still produced in the Qx0 form <URL:http://www.q40.de/> ) was that it couldn't update it with a floppy and directly compete with its CPC and PCW ranges (The PC1512 and 1640 were total crap compared to the QL for speed
    and versatility btw.... to illustrate a GoldCard equipped QL with PC
    Conqueror SE is FASTER than a PC 1512/1640! not to mention that it even supports HD drives that the PC1512 couldnt!, so they don't count anyway!)



    --
    One Motorola per day, makes the doctor go away :-)
    For mail remove the obvious crap from the email below: mailto:ql@dokos-grCHOKEONTHIS=SPAMMER.net
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Darren Salt@news@youmustbejoking.demon.cu.invalid to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 22:33:06
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    I demand that Vasko Altiparmakov may or may not have written...

    [snip]
    Have anyone seen RS232 or Centronix on ZX Spectrum? [...]

    Yes (Interface 1, and the 128K machines; though the ports aren't necessarily 9-pin D); and yes (+2A and +3, and possibly 3rd-party interfaces).

    --
    | Darren Salt | d youmustbejoking,demon,co,uk | nr. Ashington,
    | RISC OS, | s zap,tartarus,org | Northumberland
    | Linux | @ | Toon Army
    | We've got Shearer, you haven't

    It is Fortune, not Wisdom, that rules man's life.
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Sam Smith@hollyvonnie@tiscali.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm,alt.c64 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 22:38:42
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    "Alvin" <A936@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:1a3493d2.0307170933.1b2d5111@posting.google.com...
    hannibal@videocam.net.au (hannibal) wrote in message
    news:<4f35449c.0307161103.1dd921e@posting.google.com>...

    older games. Look at how Green Beret was on C64 and how dull and
    colorless was in the Speccy.

    Funny that eh? I think the Sperctrum version of Green Beret is miles
    better than the C64 version. I prefer the detailed graphics to
    low-res and colourful. Different strokes for different folks I
    suppose.

    I seem to remember that the 64 version had a cool flamethrower sound
    effect - and the Green Beret music is legendary. Not sure what it sounded
    like on the Speccy though so maybe it was cool there too. All in all a great game.

    Sam


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From paul s@nospam@nospam.forme to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Thursday, July 17, 2003 22:15:16
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Vasko Altiparmakov wrote:

    Better technically? :))
    It's a useless rubber shit, with no i/o ports.
    Have anyone seen RS232 or Centronix on ZX Spectrum?

    It has got a versatile expansion port, and into this I plugged a Disciple,
    and into that a parallel Epson printer, and a ham-radio TNC via RS232.
    --
    Paul S
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Richard Wilson@rich@bitwise-systems.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 01:45:19
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Jeff Ledger wrote:

    Is there a real English dictionary there? Or just a yankee one? Bet it doesn't have "Grammer" in it, unless they've started listing actor surnames.

    Busted... <grin>

    Busted? What?
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From John Kavanagh@johnkavanagh@cpcoxygen.net to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 03:04:03
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm


    Software? No way ,the CPC has more software, especially
    serious stuff

    But who ever used it?

    I do, in fact I can type up a large document in my CPC faster and with less fuss than using a modern PC based MS word processor. It got the all
    important 80 x 25 characters at 640 x 200 pixels, that's a nice size to work with and since the Amstrad CPC has hardware scrolling, it's fast.

    ........... and don't let me start on the other software :-)

    John


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From spacerogue5@spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 00:20:47
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    A936@hotmail.com (Alvin) wrote in message news:<1a3493d2.0307170815.3d697c24@posting.google.com>...
    spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) wrote in message news:<b052b774.0307162230.4b2ad893@posting.google.com>...

    In my posts i always compare C64 to ZX Spectrum 48, not to Spectrum
    128.

    Vasko, since you are so learned, you must realize the fallacies in
    this statement: ".. Z80, uses the external clock directly, so an
    equivalent instruction would take four cycles, meaning a 2MHz 6502
    would be roughly equivalent to a 8MHz Z80". This would be true if the
    Z80 was a 6502.

    It said "roughly equivalent". It's clear meaning is in generic clock
    cycles. If Z80 and 6502 had the same instruction set, then it would be equivalent.

    The Z80 is not a 6502 and has a very different
    instruction set architecture and a very different hardware
    architecture.

    *You already have mentioned the main reason i belive they are so
    different.

    Z-80 generates its own RAM refresh signals, easier design and lower
    system cost.

    In the C64, VIC chip refreshes the RAM.

    i8080 compatibility, and CP/M, the first standard microprocessor
    operating system, made it the first choice of many systems.


    It does not do things the same way a
    6502 does them. I would have serious doubts about any book that made
    claims like that.

    Why? I don't have, and i can tell you why. Because it is not writen to
    take it down on Z80. 6502 and Z80 are concidered separatly. The book
    starts with Z80 and i've got preaty scared when i realized that 6502
    has only 3 registers. The design requires carefull re-thinking when
    makeing programs, but it's not a crippled CPU.

    A past flamewar found that a 1 MHz 6502 is roughly equivalent to a 2
    MHz Z80.

    Flame wars aren't objective.

    In my opinion this is being very kind to the 6502. Included
    among the examples used to derive this figure was a BCD accumulator.
    BCD arithmetic is nearly useless in the grand scheme of things and
    since the 6502 has a BCD 'mode', it managed to perform well in that particular instance;

    I have never made use of it.

    no comparison was made for BCD
    multiplications/divisions for which the Z80 has special instructions.
    Not enough emphasis was placed on real algorithms that access main
    memory, which the Z80 is much quicker at than a 6502 and which would
    have a large impact on cpu performance. For a 6502 to operate at this
    2:1 ratio, it must also use absolute zero page addressing, which I
    suppose is fine and good for apps that take control of the system and
    are written by one person.

    Zero page addressing is not a workaround on 6502. It's a feature, and
    a good one. It has to be used to access the main memory if you want
    the same effect you are used to on Z80. It's in the disign of the CPU,
    and not a bad habbit. System variables are on the Zero Page but there
    are purposely free locations left, that act as an extra 'registers'.
    Infact you only need 2 bytes for source and 2 for destination, out of
    $ff bytes.

    We will get to the point that yourself explain a lot in two wrds that
    has to be explained why 6502 is the way it is.

    Using this 2:1 ratio, the original Spectrum is 75% faster than a C64.

    It may be, but it is usless.

    Minimum 4 cycles. Programmers use 4-cycle instructions and 7-cycle
    memory access instructions predominantly and only use 20+ cycle
    instructions on rare occasions.

    Minimum 4 like the LD register, register'
    But it is not a particulary usefull one.
    LD register, memory takes 7 cycles.

    6502's LDA memory and LDA memory,x take 4 cycles. LDA zeropage 3
    cycles and the most complex of all lda (zeropage,x) takes 6 cycles.

    In the old days, the maximum speed
    6502 available was 2MHz, versus an 8MHz Z80. The plain Z80 has since
    been upgraded to 20MHz;

    Are you sure about that, or do we have to add some extra zeroes to
    Z80. :)

    I don't know if they bothered to move the 6502
    to a more modern process.

    They did, you just don't know.

    There are good reasons why the Z80 became the dominant 8-bit general
    purpose cpu back in the day (have I managed to exclude the 8051
    here?). It was more suitable for "real systems", be it embedded or
    high-end computing due to a number of factors including: availability
    of a comprehensive set of quality peripheral chips, ease of
    interfacing, speed and an ISA that supported code sharing, fast task switching and up to 128 peripherals without degrading performance.
    The 6502's main attraction was on price.

    *Here you say it.

    When it first came out at
    $25, competitor processors were selling at $180.

    So now you have to think twice before makeing judgement. Was is a good
    design for that cost? I know it was. The Semaphore has a clever design
    avoiding drowback from the fact that has only 3 registers and no 16
    general purpose or indexing register, and that's it. Many things were conmpesated by that Zero Page you think it is some kind of programer
    discovered mechanisam to achive imposible things.

    Hardware sprites are great if you don't have the power to do it in
    software.

    Even if you do have the power. On a P4 with win98, the mouse pointer
    still flickers. On the other hand it's a mater of programing.

    But if there is the choice, it is ALWAYS better to do it in
    software.

    I don't see why? You could make sprites the size you want, but on 8MHz
    Z80 you don't have the choice. Seems that you opose hardware sprites
    just because C64 has it. Realy, they are a great thing. You always
    need a sprite or two, even in 'serious' aplications.

    Z80 programs are half the size of 6502 programs. Should be able to
    spot that one in your book :-)

    I'll try.

    There is a fundamental difference in the original purpose of the C64
    and the Spectrum.

    You bet.

    The C64 is clearly a game computer;

    C64 is clearly a computer. It has all the required i/o, it's solid.
    It has gameing caipabilities of that time, to make it more attractive.

    Basic or any
    kind of introduction to computing is secondary.

    I don't know why this is so clear to me but not to you. Think of
    another way. Don't think it over and over the way 'ZX vs C='. C64 is a computer. You can load Pascal if you like, or some new OS's made by
    anthusiast. You can load GEOS, a GUI. Most important of all you can
    interconect with other other pheriperials and machines to crosstalk.

    The primary purpose
    of the Spectrum is an introduction to computing, hence some effort was
    put into incorporating a decent version of Basic, providing syntax
    checking on every line entered for novice programmers, and supplying one-touch key entry since no one at that time could type.

    Everithing is good, exept that last one. That rubber keybord made it a
    must do for the one-touch key entry. All the words on the keyboard
    look silly, especialy if you put some other hi-level lang.

    In truth it's very hard to estimate Spectrum sales. Some 2 dozen
    Spectrum variants, authorized clones and illegal clones have been made
    around the world, with very large followings in the UK, Portugal,
    Spain and all the eastern block countries.

    I AM from the eastern block countries. The debate Spectrum vs
    Commodore totaly ended in the late 80's. There was nothing more to
    say. It probubly ended earlier in the west, since we were and are
    unable to buy a discent computer.

    I wouldn't be surprised if
    Spectrum sales topped 20 million but I wouldn't wager that they passed
    C64 sales, simply because the Spectrum did not exist in the American
    market for more than 4 months (during which time 160,000 units sold).
    What makes it close is that the Spectrum was dominant in the Soviet
    Union.

    You have to admit the 64 had some of the worst peripherals of all the
    8 bits.

    They're not bad. C64's serial bus protocols speed was bad.

    They also cost the most. I would rather have tape than a
    $200+ disk system that performed worse than tape.

    That's because you can't have a standard 5.25" or 3.5" disc drive on
    the ZX.

    But you are right,
    most people forked over the extra $ for a fastload cartridge to fix
    the hardware bugs.

    Bugs? What bugs?

    Even then, the disk drive only performed as well
    as a stringy floppy.

    Hmm... Althou this bothers me to write it down, i will do so simply
    coz you of all Spectrumers make most sence.

    The speed of 5.25" disk drive is <= of the tape with turbo program.
    If you load a turbo program for the disk drive, it is uncomparable.
    It's not only the speed, it's the access of removable memmory that
    counts. Even if the disk drive is 10 times slower than tape, it
    better.

    Personally, I had/have a disk system with DD 5.25" and 3.5" drives.
    Transfer rate is 250kbps, if I remember right (it's been a while)
    which allows the loading of memory snapshots in a couple of seconds, including access time.

    Was it on a ZX Spectrum 48k?

    Cheers,
    Alvin

    Z80 is a better CPU than 6502, for most of the people not haveing
    neither ZX or C=, simple enuff it's more expensive and has more
    features. But i like 6502 better than Z80, and that's my subjective
    thought.
    For C=64, was it good or bad, it does not matter, but seriously you
    can't expect ZX Spectrum 48 to be considered as a computer. Honestly.

    Cheers

    ps - I can't see why you have pleasure in cross-posting your holly war
    on comp.sys.cbm, but maybe it's just me.

    ++no carrier
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From spacerogue5@spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 00:28:46
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    "Steppe" <steppe_not_for@spam_demodungeon.com> wrote in message news:<3f16917b$1@news.nefonline.de>...
    Vasko,

    I appreciate that you slapped the butt of this uneducated, poor fellow with your well-founded arguments. But still, this guy is a troll, probably a 30 year old frustrated programmer that pretends to be 12 just to revive a
    stupid flamewar tradition (or the more I think about it, he's probably not doing it for traditions sake). All I can say is: Don't feed the troll. ;-)

    Regards,
    Steppe

    I feel shtupid about feeding the trolls and have noticed that nobody
    else does. That 1st post left me so amazed that i reacted instantly,
    but in a comic way more than serious. I havent seen this kind of
    arguing since primary school.

    I am over now.

    Vasko
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter van Merkerk@merkerk@deadspam.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 10:58:21
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    The worse however disadvantage of the C64 was that it forced you to do several things a certain way, while the Speccy was extremely open.
    Moreover
    due to the "British school" of programming (ie if the program doesn't
    fit
    the machine... MAKE it fit as opposed to the now predominant "American school" of programming which says if the program doesn't fit the
    machine
    BUY a BIGGER machine) programmers squeezed out of the Spectrum even
    things
    the designers couldn't fathom that were possible! Ie Karnov (anyone
    remembers that coin-op conversion?). Or three-channel sound from a
    computer
    WITHOUT a dedicated sound chip!

    Then you haven't been following the C64 demo scene. Some of the demos
    let the VIC and SID chips do things that are way beyond what its
    designers could have ever dreamed of. After watching those demos I'm
    often left wondering how they pulled that effect off (what the
    hell...the VIC chip can't do that....?)

    Surprisingly (or maybe not) most of the critisism Spectrum users have on
    the C64 is based on misconceptions or just plain ignorance.

    --
    Peter van Merkerk
    peter.van.merkerk(at)dse.nl


    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 13:00:35
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Anders Carlsson <anders.carlsson@mds.mdh.se> wrote:

    big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) writes:

    It's so obvious that the Spectrum isn't a typewriter.

    <snip>

    "The reason we didn't look for a word processor was that we thought
    the Spectrum has as much use for one as a fish has use for a bicycle."

    Exactly. Because the Spectrum isn't a typewriter.
    Should I wonder why there isn't a steering wheel for my TV?

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 13:00:36
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    OK, I'll stop trolling, here are some serious things to discuss.

    Vasko Altiparmakov <spacerogue5@yahoo.com> wrote:

    Flame wars aren't objective.

    ZX vs. CBM wars are. Honest. The main purpose of these childish fights
    is to discover, though in a funny (for some people) / stupid (for other
    people) way, flaws and advantages of other systems.
    If I posted to the cbm group asking "why did the c64 have hardware
    sprites? Wasn't it powerful enough to do it in software?" I'd start a
    flame nevertheless. A declared flame war is more fun, IMO.

    Using this 2:1 ratio, the original Spectrum is 75% faster than a C64.

    It may be, but it is usless.

    Wahay! This *is* a flamebait, right? :-)
    64'ers here have (some of them *proudly*) stated that they never saw nor
    used a Spectrum. This reminds me of the PC vs. Mac debates, where PC
    users bash the Mac without even knowing how a Mac looks like. Most Mac
    users *know* about PCs, most of them are forced to use one every day,
    and that's why they feel a Mac is better suited to them. Most Spectrum
    users have had the chance to use a C64, be it a real one or an emulator,
    and still they feel that the Spectrum works better for them.

    In a time when home computers were not only new, but also still
    considered a bad idea (come on, who will want a computer at home?
    Accountants working late hours? Part-time scientists?), the C64 was a
    "real computer" (so the ads stated). A real computer was useless indeed:
    who wants to go home and do accounting or word processing? I want to
    turn my machine on and learn something, and the C64 was clearly designed
    to make you run applications. They even put a key - the only one-touch
    key in the whole machine - to LOAD and RUN a program, just in case you
    had problems remembering the two commands. The base idea was to have a "computer", with a monitor, a real printer, a disk drive; something that mimicked an office machine. Bad idea, IMO: you ended up with an
    expensive game console; I'd rather pull out the old typewriter than
    write a letter on a 64 (on *any* 1982 home computer, actually), then
    print it out on a 9-pin tractor-feed printer. Most users wanted to have
    fun. Some of them got into "demos" and "intros" and sucking the most out
    of the beast. And here they surely had lots of hardware to suck from.

    The Spectrum, otoh, was designed as an educational machine: its goal was
    to hook people into computers. It was cheap, it was BASIC (in all
    senses) and it wasn't a replacement for a "real computer": more an
    extension, a way to do things that you *couldn't* do on a real computer.

    The success of both machines proved that both Sinclair and CBM were
    wrong: most people didn't want to work on a computer, neither to learn something new - they wanted GAMES. And in this respect, Sinclair was a half-winner: you had to work a lot to squeeze more than a few ugly
    sprites and lame beeps from a Spectrum. The relative ease you could put
    a C64 to work with should have made it 1000 times more successful than
    the Spectrum; it wasn't so. I've always felt 64ers were lazy because of
    the dedicated hardware instead of being excited about all the marvellous
    things they could force it to do.

    C64 is a
    computer. You can load Pascal if you like, or some new OS's made by anthusiast. You can load GEOS, a GUI. Most important of all you can interconect with other other pheriperials and machines to crosstalk.

    You can do all this on a Spectrum too. There were/are alternative
    languages, serial/parallel connections etc., even a network interface.
    Wait: not a third-party, late-coming network interface. *Sinclair* made
    it, and it made it in the early '80s. Network and disk commands are
    printed on the keys, not a half-hack concocted by some "enthusiast".

    All the words on the keyboard
    look silly, especialy if you put some other hi-level lang.

    Silly? It's the closest thing to a GUI's menu I can imagine. Everything
    you can write on a command line is there, with no possibility of a
    typing error (= zero debugging time). If you use any other language (why
    a hi-level one? Why not assembly?), you simply ignore the "menu", just
    as you do with any modern GUI. You don't need the command, you don't
    give the command.

    You have to admit the 64 had some of the worst peripherals of all the
    8 bits.

    They're not bad. C64's serial bus protocols speed was bad.

    The tape recorder was a joke, too. You couldn't even breathe while
    loading a tape without getting (20 minutes later) a "LOAD ERROR".
    The printers (CBM or Seikosha or any other cheap printer "designed for
    C64") were pathetic. The monitor was so ugly that I preferred to use a
    TV set.

    They also cost the most. I would rather have tape than a
    $200+ disk system that performed worse than tape.

    That's because you can't have a standard 5.25" or 3.5" disc drive on
    the ZX.

    Not true. The Disciple (while not a Sinclair product, it's considered
    the standard disk I/F for the Spectrum, AFAIK) will happily run an Atari
    disk drive or a PC one. I used them both, in this order :-)
    Tapes were largely used only because they were fast enough. You didn't
    *need* a disk drive. The "official" microdrives were as good an idea as
    a 300 baud floppy drive :-D

    The speed of 5.25" disk drive is <= of the tape with turbo program.
    If you load a turbo program for the disk drive, it is uncomparable.

    I remember I waited 4 minutes for a program to load from the 1541 disk
    drive. This is roughly the time you have to wait for a 48K program to
    load from a standard cassette player into the Spectrum. I guess turbo
    loaders were available for the Spectrum, too. I honestly can't remember
    if I've ever seen one, but I'm sure I have typed-in and extensively used
    turbo loaders on the 64 :-)
    The fastload cartridge I hooked to my breadbox sure speeds things up. A
    64K program loads in roughly 5 seconds. That's speed! But it's still
    *half* the speed I reach on the Speccy with a "standard" Disciple and
    disc drive. No fastloader needed.

    Personally, I had/have a disk system with DD 5.25" and 3.5" drives. Transfer rate is 250kbps, if I remember right (it's been a while)
    which allows the loading of memory snapshots in a couple of seconds, including access time.

    Was it on a ZX Spectrum 48k?

    I guess yes. On a 128K it would take roughly 4 seconds at 250kbps :-)

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From paul s@nospam@nospam.forme to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 11:09:06
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Anders Carlsson wrote:

    big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) writes:

    It's so obvious that the Spectrum isn't a typewriter.

    But you have word processor(s), at least the Tasword series. A magazine reviewing word processors on various computers ignored looking for one
    on the Spectrum, but a few issues later had to recapitulate after
    finding Tasword. Approximate apology quote:

    "The reason we didn't look for a word processor was that we thought
    the Spectrum has as much use for one as a fish has use for a bicycle."

    I done a couple of successful CVs on Tasword, with a 48k Spectrum+,
    Disciple, and Amstrad printer.

    --
    Paul S
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 12:37:12
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On 18 Jul 2003 00:28:46 -0700, spacerogue5@yahoo.com (Vasko Altiparmakov) wrote:

    "Steppe" <steppe_not_for@spam_demodungeon.com> wrote in message news:<3f16917b$1@news.nefonline.de>...
    Vasko,

    I appreciate that you slapped the butt of this uneducated, poor fellow with >> your well-founded arguments. But still, this guy is a troll, probably a 30 >> year old frustrated programmer that pretends to be 12 just to revive a
    stupid flamewar tradition (or the more I think about it, he's probably not >> doing it for traditions sake). All I can say is: Don't feed the troll. ;-) >>
    Regards,
    Steppe

    I feel shtupid about feeding the trolls and have noticed that nobody
    else does. That 1st post left me so amazed that i reacted instantly,
    but in a comic way more than serious. I havent seen this kind of
    arguing since primary school.

    You see, this is exactly the attitude you should have, it's fun! That's why we have this war every year! It's tradition!

    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
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  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 14:31:49
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Sinclair QL <ql@dokos-gr.net> wrote:

    due to the "British school" of programming (ie if the program doesn't fit
    the machine... MAKE it fit as opposed to the now predominant "American school" of programming which says if the program doesn't fit the machine
    BUY a BIGGER machine)

    Dead bang on. This, IMHO, is the reason why most Spectrum fans are
    Spectrum fans. If you can walk to your workplace in 10 minutes, why
    should you drive 5 minutes, then spend 5 minutes to find a parking?
    You've got a car, you've got the money for the parking; you just feel
    it's nicer to walk. Not having to get stuck in the traffic largely
    compensates for the odd shower :-)

    programmers squeezed out of the Spectrum even things
    the designers couldn't fathom that were possible!

    To be honest, the same thing happened with the 64. Here is where you
    really see the superiority of the 64's dedicated hardware. But you also
    see the superiority of the Spectrum's programmers (or the "British way",
    as you call it).

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From big-go@big-go@dplanet.ch (Biggo) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 14:31:49
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Peter van Merkerk <merkerk@deadspam.com> wrote:

    I've always felt 64ers were lazy because of
    the dedicated hardware instead of being excited about all the
    marvellous things they could force it to do.

    Again an opinion based on ignorance.You should take a look at the demos
    which take the C64 way beyond what it is designed to be able to do.

    I know. I never saw any of those techniques used in a game or commercial program, though. Enthusiasts are *never* lazy. Official programmers used
    the C64 at its worst. It's like if every program on the Spectrum was
    written in BASIC. On a Spectrum, you *had* to take the machine to its
    limits. (See another thread somewhere for the theory of the "British
    way" and "American way").

    In this respect the Spectrum and C64 scenes are quite similar,
    both have fun trying to squeeze most out of the hardware they have.

    Yep.

    --
    ||_ (o) __ __ __ | Biggo. <mailto:big-go@dplanet.ch>
    |'o\| |/o \/o \/o \ | On The aaria: http://OnTheaaria.webhop.org |._/|_|\__/\__/\__/ | * An out of control ego will sometimes get in the
    /_/ /_/ | way of your success. (Todd H.)
    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Phil-on-a-hill@malcnospam@gothcorp.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 13:42:48
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Then you haven't been following the C64 demo scene.


    What lately? Of course we haven't. It's a pity no one pushed the C64 to its limits when it was still for sale in the shops.


    Some of the demos
    let the VIC and SID chips do things that are way beyond what its
    designers could have ever dreamed of. After watching those demos I'm
    often left wondering how they pulled that effect off (what the
    hell...the VIC chip can't do that....?)

    Surprisingly (or maybe not) most of the critisism Spectrum users have on
    the C64 is based on misconceptions or just plain ignorance.

    --
    Peter van Merkerk
    peter.van.merkerk(at)dse.nl




    --- Synchronet 3.18b-Win32 NewsLink 1.113
  • From Peter van Merkerk@merkerk@deadspam.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 16:28:06
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    I know. I never saw any of those techniques used in a game or
    commercial
    program, though. Enthusiasts are *never* lazy. Official programmers
    used
    the C64 at its worst.

    I think that is a gross generalization. Of course there was plenty of commercial crap for the C64 that barely touched its potential. Then
    again there was also quite a few commercial software titles that did use
    at least some of those techniques. Popular techniques like opening up
    the borders (which commodore claimed to be impossible) and sprite
    multiplexing were commonly used in commercial games. Other techniques
    weren't too practical in games, some consume too many CPU cycles, others
    are too timing sensitive so it would not work on NTSC or PAL versions of
    the C64. Another reason is that the C64 programmers didn't _have_ to
    rely on undocumented or complicated techniques to obtain acceptable
    graphics and sound. On the other hand they did have to deal with the
    6502 which is (as Speccy fans are eager to point out) a bit of kludge
    compared to programming a Z80.

    It's like if every program on the Spectrum was
    written in BASIC. On a Spectrum, you *had* to take the machine to its
    limits. (See another thread somewhere for the theory of the "British
    way" and "American way").

    I read that. In fact the efficient engineering behind Sinclair products
    is what I like most of it. I did dig into the schematics of the ZX
    Spectrum and ZX81, and I think it is amazing what those machines do with
    so few (non dedicated) parts. Commodore had the advantage it could
    design and produce its own dedicated chips, so it didn't have rely as
    much on efficient engineering. From the engineering point of view I
    don't consider the C64 to be particularly elegant (I'm not to thrilled
    about looks of the first model either). Nevertheless it was the computer
    that I enjoyed most over the years, even though the PC I use nowadays is
    in every respect at least 1000x more powerful. I'm sure many Spectrum enthousiasts feel the same about their machine.

    In this respect the Spectrum and C64 scenes are quite similar,
    both have fun trying to squeeze most out of the hardware they have.

    Yep.

    I think part of the fun of vintage computing is in dealing with the limitations/weaknesses of the machine. In that sense a machine having weaknesses is not necessarilly a bad thing. The sense of achievement one
    gets when overcoming a limitation of the machine is hard to match.

    --
    Peter van Merkerk
    peter.van.merkerk(at)dse.nl


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  • From Peter van Merkerk@merkerk@deadspam.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 16:28:14
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Then you haven't been following the C64 demo scene.

    What lately? Of course we haven't. It's a pity no one pushed the C64
    to its
    limits when it was still for sale in the shops.

    Again ignorance, even in the eighties there were plenty of demos that
    push the C64 over its designed limits. In fact the vast majority of undocumented effects were discovered when the machine was still being
    sold.

    --
    Peter van Merkerk
    peter.van.merkerk(at)dse.nl


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  • From The Starglider@the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 19:06:10
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Fri, 18 Jul 2003 16:28:06 +0200, "Peter van Merkerk" <merkerk@deadspam.com> wrote:

    I know. I never saw any of those techniques used in a game or
    commercial
    program, though. Enthusiasts are *never* lazy. Official programmers
    used
    the C64 at its worst.

    I think that is a gross generalization. Of course there was plenty of >commercial crap for the C64 that barely touched its potential. Then
    again there was also quite a few commercial software titles that did use
    at least some of those techniques. Popular techniques like opening up
    the borders (which commodore claimed to be impossible) and sprite >multiplexing were commonly used in commercial games. Other techniques
    weren't too practical in games, some consume too many CPU cycles, others
    are too timing sensitive so it would not work on NTSC or PAL versions of
    the C64. Another reason is that the C64 programmers didn't _have_ to
    rely on undocumented or complicated techniques to obtain acceptable
    graphics and sound. On the other hand they did have to deal with the
    6502 which is (as Speccy fans are eager to point out) a bit of kludge >compared to programming a Z80.

    And Peter wins the award for "Managing to turn the annual flamewar into the respected comparisons between two machines", which always happens. This is the point where the real facts and figures now come into play!

    The Annual C64 Vs. Spectrum - regular as clockwork!
    --
    ****************The Starglider***************** Remove "wibble" in
    * Web site:http://www.starglider.dynu.com * E-Mail address
    * * TO REPLY.
    *E-Mail: the_starglider2002@yahoo-wibble.co.uk* _WW_
    * * /_ _\
    *********************************************** | O O | ___________________________________________________________oOO_\/_OOo___________
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  • From frink@frink@homer.cmp.liv.ac.uk (Doctor J. Frink) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 20:42:01
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    On Fri, 18 Jul 2003 19:06:10 +0100, The Starglider <the_starglider2002@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

    The Annual C64 Vs. Spectrum - regular as clockwork!

    Or a lemur eating mangoes.[1]

    Frink

    [1] Ripe mangoes are moderately laxative; something I didn't realise
    until the following morning. Move over Senakot!

    --
    Doctor J. Frink : 'Rampant Ribald Ringtail'
    See his mind here : http://www.cmp.liv.ac.uk/frink/
    Annoy his mind here : pjf at cmp dot liv dot ack dot ook
    "Joy!" - Stimpy
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  • From gasman@gasman@raww.org (Matthew Westcott) to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 23:31:36
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Peter van Merkerk wrote in <bf8ca5$c6m7n$1@ID-133164.news.uni-berlin.de>:

    There are unofficial graphics modes (FLI) which allow you to use 2
    colors in a 8x1 pixel block in hires mode, effectively increasing the
    color resolution by 8. However these modes require a lot of processor
    cycles, and I have never seen them used in actual games. I've heard that >there is something similar for the spectrum, but that that was a
    hardware solution.

    Presumably it's Multitech you're referring to. The same thing is possible on the Spectrum entirely in software, but only across half the screen width. I can't think of any really good examples where this has been used - but imagine this screen http://members.chello.at/ursula.chmielewski/bmp2scr/bmw-mlt-cod-bri.gif
    chopped in half vertically and you'll get the idea.

    Anyway, unlike screenshots from some C64 games/demos, I haven't seen
    really impressive screenshots from Spectrum games/demos. I'm still
    inclined to believe that a C64 pushed to its limits can do better than a >Spectrum pushed to its limits in the graphics department.

    I think this would be a good time to mention http://www.zxdemo.org/item.php?id=4801 ...

    Here I have to agree I liked the SID pretty much, although it was only
    REALLY audible with an external amp. The fact of the matter is that it
    is
    so midrange it sounds like a Rockman guitar effect... Without a decent
    Aural Exciter/Equalizer you can't really hear anything out of it.

    You should visit a doctor, your hearing has been impaired by that
    spectrum beeper

    Well, personal taste and all that, but my experience of the SID is that it's good for squeally guitar effects and not much else. I doubt I could stand listening to an entire album of SID noise (and I've been to enough cross- platform demo parties to know...) - whereas the AY/YM chips have projects like (blatant plug alert!) http://ayriders.zxdemo.org/ devoted to them. Is there anything similar for the SID? I'm not aware of it.
    (The fact that the C64 has a huge community devoted to remaking the classic tracks with proper instruments is the real giveaway, though :-) )

    --
    http://www.zxdemo.org/ - the home of the Spectrum demo scene
    "there's a breach in security, a disturbance in the chuntey"
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  • From White Flame \(aka David Holz\)@whiteflame52@y.a.h.o.o.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Friday, July 18, 2003 21:08:45
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    "Matthew Westcott" <gasman@raww.org> wrote in message news:93BD544Dgasmanrawworg@127.0.0.1...
    I think this would be a good time to mention http://www.zxdemo.org/item.php?id=4801 ...

    I urge people to view this on an emulator or the real thing. I've never
    seen that much flicker in a pic, ever. :-P C'mon, Deus Ex Machina ( http://noname.c64.org/csdb/release/?id=47 ) is already 3 years old. It's
    kinda short, but is a nice example of some great interlaced pics without
    harsh strobing, contained in a very well put-together demo. (for best
    emulator viewing, I recommend fullscreen 640x400 res, single-sized) I
    presume that a lot of speccy pics flicker that badly because they're run through converter programs, and not hand-drawn as laced pictures?

    In the C64 side of things, "wiring" pictures isn't that well accepted in compos, and most C64 artists draw directly in the screenmode that the pic is going to be displayed in. So there's far less of a "market" for converters
    and ditherers in the 64 side of things than the spectrum, though since this
    is merely software conversion, and both machines can do 2-color 8x1
    pixel-cell modes, I can't think of anything that the speccy can do with converted interlaced pics that the 64 can't.

    (The fact that the C64 has a huge community devoted to remaking the
    classic
    tracks with proper instruments is the real giveaway, though :-) )

    and the fact that there are multiple hardware sequencers still being
    produced today that use the SID, as well as live groups using C64s and other SID-based sounds should also tell you something. The reason people use "proper" instruments for old SID tunes is simply because they really enjoy
    the tune and, as musicians, want to be able to recreate those sounds using their own skills.

    --
    White Flame (aka David Holz)
    http://www.white-flame.com/
    (spamblock in effect)


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  • From Peter van Merkerk@merkerk@deadspam.com to comp.sys.sinclair,comp.sys.cbm on Saturday, July 19, 2003 17:04:37
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.cbm

    Anyway, unlike screenshots from some C64 games/demos, I haven't seen
    really impressive screenshots from Spectrum games/demos. I'm still
    inclined to believe that a C64 pushed to its limits can do better than a >Spectrum pushed to its limits in the graphics department.

    I think this would be a good time to mention http://www.zxdemo.org/item.php?id=4801 ...

    Cool! It is better than what I've seen so far, and it is certainly
    impressive considering it is comming out of a spectrum (which is for me the
    fun part: the demo vs. the capabilities of the machine). But even after
    seeing the screenshot and running that demo on an emulator, I'm still
    convinced that the C64 can do better than that. Even Interlaced FLI (a mode
    to create extra colors by alternating them every frame) demos don't flicker that badly on the C64.

    Here I have to agree I liked the SID pretty much, although it was only
    REALLY audible with an external amp. The fact of the matter is that it
    is
    so midrange it sounds like a Rockman guitar effect... Without a decent
    Aural Exciter/Equalizer you can't really hear anything out of it.

    You should visit a doctor, your hearing has been impaired by that
    spectrum beeper

    Well, personal taste and all that, but my experience of the SID is that
    it's
    good for squeally guitar effects and not much else. I doubt I could stand listening to an entire album of SID noise (and I've been to enough cross- platform demo parties to know...) - whereas the AY/YM chips have projects
    like
    (blatant plug alert!) http://ayriders.zxdemo.org/ devoted to them. Is
    there
    anything similar for the SID? I'm not aware of it.

    Yes there is. By the way; the Spectrum I own doesn't have that chip, just a beeper. And if you are talking about the Spectrum 128, you might as well compare it against Commodore 128 (which is as far as sound is concerned no better than a C64, but is faster, has higher resolution graphics and even
    has a Z80 for goodness sake!). At the time of its introduction the SID chip
    was pretty impressive though. And frankly I can think of no sound chip used
    in home computers of that era, including the popular AY-3-8912, I could
    stand listing to for more than an hour or so.

    --
    Peter van Merkerk
    peter.van.merkerk(at)dse.nl


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