Crumbs!
Well, I
didn't
know that
A new section where members can air
opinions, suggestions and ideas.
From : 27N (John Ilsley)
Subject: One liner competition
Can I suggest two things.
(1). You divide it into two catagories,
the advanced programers, and the new to
programing programers
(2). You have for a prize, 6mths free
subscription to 8BPD (saves them an
amazing £3.00 in cost, But they still
pay postage), or a years free sub. Save
£6.00. Just an idea.
From : 27N (John Ilsley)
Subject: Which computer?
Arch, BBC B, Master or compact?....
Well, the BBC B is fine for most stuff,
testing robots and external devices,
great for ROM/RAM boards, up to 16
sockets on ATPL boards that is the only
disadvantage on the Master. The Master
128 has everything except 128k of
memory!. I can get 50k out of mine if
I'm in shadow and have the turbo
switched on. I can't use the Turbo
board if I'm running the BB, so it only
gets used to time things. It's amazing
how fast some things are, I did a line
program, it did 77 lines in 5 seconds
without the turbo, and 266 with it on.
A big increase, but it didn't make any
difference if the cursor was on or off!
From : 27N (John Ilsley)
Subject: Content of 8BS issues
Why don't you, if you want to save
space on the DFS disc, Arc the software
with a menu so the user just has to
copy a 50k compacted software file onto
another disc then *BDARK it, then he
has a disc with a menu, and games
on it.
Why not use stuff from the first 8BS
issues if you have space. Users like
myself who joined on the 23rd issue
have missed out on the first stuff.
From : 0E7
Subject: DFS or ADFS.
I receive the magazine in 3.5 ADFS
format and find there are times when
a programme will not run and an error
message is received such as 'bad
command at line N0xxxx' I am left
wondering is the programme meant for
DFS working only and being energetic
like us all I am then forced to make
the decision do I xsfer the programme
from ADFS to DFS onto another disc and
try to run it or do I not bother as I
do not think it will be worth the
effort. What would you do or what do
you do? I think it is a pity because
some gem could be missed. The obvious
answer seems to be that
a) The magazine be split up into ADFS
& DFS running programmes or
b) What seems probably the easiest way
would be for the authors to clearly
indicate when their programmes are
not universal.
This may seem a trivial point to
programmers who can instantly look at a
listing to know the answer but to
lesser mortals it is at least to me
rather annoying. How do the rest of the
members feel about this or am I a voice
in the wilderness?.
From : 0E7
Subject: SOLINET
This is a good magazine. I obtained a
copy of one of their discs and I was
very impressed by it and as usual it
was way over my head covering not only
the BEEB but the PC as well. I shall
unfortunately not be taking up their
offer of joining the club as I find
like 8BITPD there is a lot of TEXT on
the disc and I just do not have the
time to spend going through it all due
to little things like household chores,
gardening and washing the car etc.
From : 0E7
Subject: ADFS DIRECTORY DELETION
Someone was asking for a programme to
be written in M/C to do in depth
directory deletions in ADFS. I have
such a programme in BASIC obtained from
ACORN USER OCT 89 Page79/102 and would
be willing to supply a copy if
formatted disc / package / postage is
forwarded. If I had a programme that
would print out listings then a print
out could be sent.Does anyone have such
a programme please?
From : 0E7
Subject: MOS VERSION.
I bought my computer just over two
years ago. I have versions MOS 3.2 DFS
2.24 ADFS 1.5 SRAM 1.04. I expect the
situation was such that these computers
were made some time ago and the friars
put in the only chips they had and put
the computers into cold storage until
their sell by date when we purchased
them. When thay ran out of chips they
sent round to the chipmuks for some
more and got the later issue. Obviously
we should have waited until the next
fry up.
From : 0E7
Subject: ARCHIMEDES DEBATE.
I hope you dont mind me putting in my
comments but it would appear to me that
both contestants have put forward
excellent cases and I declare the bout
a draw.
I have however a strong affinity for
Philp Millers comments having arrived
at similar thoughts myself. As he says
when you ask yourself the question 'As
a business man which computer would you
buy?', the answer has got to be a PC.
Sentiment has no place in business
From : 0E7
Subject: HUMOUR.
ELECTRICITY. What travels faster than
electricity. Money on a visit to the
shops.
LUNCH. Was this a MacDonald or Burger
King special.
CALENDAR. I have seen similar before
except it proved (I can't remember how
but I know it was a lie) that you only
worked about one day a year.
RECYCLE. A histerical reflection on the
matter.
This is not some new Technological
discovery. It probably started when
Cain kicked his ball over into Abels
garden and asked for it back. This I
suppose is really conservation which is
a more subtler sort of recycling as you
have not wasted it entirely in the
first instance. I suppose in this
instance it is really reclamation?.
During the last war everything had to
be salvaged, recycled,reclaimed to help
in the war effort. A process a lot of
us are still suffering from. Every one
had to give all of their aluminium pots
and pans to the salvage man so that
they (The pots and pans not the salvage
men) could be melted down to make
aeroplanes.They also pinched all of the
iron railings round the front gardens
(Thus creating the modern idea of OPEN
PLAN) to smelt down and make tanks or
so they claimed. Corporation dustcarts
had three sacks hung on the back so
that the dustmen could collect salvage
in the form of paper/cardboard,glass,
metal and each was put into it's
allocated sack for the war effort.
The outcome of these activities were a
military secret and was kept as such
until well after the war was over when
the following facts came to light:
The Aluminium pots and pans were of
little use as they were of such
impurity that on smelting down the
dross was so great that the object of
the exercise was defeated.
A similar situation was found with the
iron railings. In fact after the war a
great heap of these artifacts were
found on a government dump and had been
completely overlooked during the
hoistilities.
No doubt a similar situation existed
with the paper/cardboard salvage.
However no heaps of these were ever
found and it can only be presumed that
if they had existed they were easily
said to be rubbish and shoved into the
hole and covered over to form compost.
It is rumoured that a certain John
Innes invented this method of disposal
and became a millionaire overnight. In
fact this form of salvage/reycling
carried on for a number of years after
the war until:
a). The council could not handle any
more.
b). It was becoming too costly to
collect.
c). It was becoming too costly to
process and the financial returns were
nil.
d). The recyclers had run out of steam
and could not recycle all that was
being collected/delivered.
e). The effect of this was that the
majority of citizens were up in arms
and it was a nine day wonder with the
result that nothing was ever done about
it.
However a new PARTY started to make
political capital out of it.....money
always creeps into these things. Once
again where there's muck there's brass
.....on the bandwagon or should it be
dustcart and great containers sprang up
overnight at TESCOs etc to collect the
waste eagerly brought by the people as
a gift to placate the MPs and so the
great saga continues to this day.
May I thank all of you who have stayed
the course up to this point and may I
say how very sorry I am to have to
finish this diatribe but before you go
may I leave you with the following
comments:
If the powers that be got it all wrong
before, when we were fighting for our
very existence, what makes you think
they can get it right when all people
want to do is save this hunk of
material that we are all on whizzing
round in space on.
I leave you with this profound thought
to ponder on. Assuming my THESIS is
correct WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR
RUBBISH apart from being scattered
around our city streets.?
From : 0E7
Subject: TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS
Has Technology stopped?.
I do not think so but there is no doubt
that it will have slowed down due to
the recession/slump and general lack of
money and demand.
I will leave you with this thought.
It is generally stated that Technology
makes its greatest impact after a war.
If this is so which war is waiting in
the wings ready to come onto stage?
My apologies for all this text (of
which it is thought we get too much)
which has really nothing to do with
computing but at least it will help
fill the disc up. To say nothing of the
enjoyment the Editor will have changing
the programmes.Apologies Daniel.
From : 3WU (Fred Price)
Subject: An old chestnut!
My Way Of Cassette Re-inking By Fred Price In past issues I have noticed some
methods of Re-inking ribbons so let me
explain how I re-ink my ribbons for my
Panasonic KX-P1081.
First thing, use compatable ribbons as
they are more economic. To re-ink them
I ignore the instructions which usually
say "Remove Tab and put so many drops
in". If you do follow insructions do so
at your peril as you will have a nice
mess on your table.
Put some paper on the table if you want
to. Then remove the top of the cassette
with a knife or screwdriver it's held
on by some little tags inside, some
break but it's still ok to use.
Inside you will find a round sponge,
pour about six drops on it and put the
cover back on. If you have a power
screwdriver put a small bit in it, put
it in the hole underneath and spin it
the correct way. This will re-ink your
ribbon.
If there is a little spring that you
pop with a sharp point remember to push
it back before you use it as you will
overink your ribbon and when it starts
to smudge the paper sling it out as it
now has a hole in it.
You can use any sort of endorsing ink
or some stamp pad ink but this is how
I do it, it works and I have never
cleaned the head yet lucky old me!
From : 3WU (Fred Price)
Subject: Poetry.
The Weapon ^^^^^^^^^^ What is the most powerful weapon
of all?
Is it the Bomb, Knife or Gun?
No it is something quite small
posessed by us all,
It is a little thing known as
the Tongue.
It can cut like a Knife,
It can make endless Strife,
It can cause the whole world
to go Wrong,
It can ruin a Life,
It can part man and Wife,
It is a powerful weapon the Tongue.
But if used the right Way,
It can brighten each Day,
It can comfort the old,
And the Young,
It can smooth a rough Path,
It can bring forth a Laugh,
It is a powerful weapon
the Tongue.
So please bear in mind,
When this weapon you Use,
A kind word is just like
a Song,
It's sweetness will linger,
Blessing hearer and Singer,
IT IS A POWERFUL WEAPON,
THE TONGUE.
From : 3SQ (Tim Parsons)
Subject: BEEBUG
I have just recieved the latest copy of
BEEBUG, the Boss man therein is saying
that the BEEBUG mag is closing down in
twelve months ! I dont know about you,
but I think this is terrible news. Can
WE somehow increase the membership of
BEEBUG to about turn the decline in
membership which is supposedly
responsible for this news !!
From : 3SQ (Tim Parsons)
Subject: Various
Following my comments in the previous
issue, I have discovered that the
FICOPY command in the Morley Board
Control Rom is just a BASIC program,
easily adaptable for use without the
Rom Board fitted.
Furthermore I have found the ACP 1770
DFS Rom is NOT compatible with WE
Double Density Disc's, it is OK with WE
62 file disc's.
STL ADFS there is type command
incorparated in this chip, this with
the relevant STL DFS make a powerful
pair with a lot of extra commands.
I thought about getting a Replacement
Battery for my Master recently, so
living quite close to Luton and WE I
got one. I was rather amazed that no
one really knew how much it was, you
see it wasnt in their catalogue, so
they guessed at about `3.60 + VAT. So I
reckon I got a Bargain ?.
WE Havent yet managed to find me a 3.50
Master OS Rom yet ?.
Does anybody out there have a Vine
Micros Rom Board (3 or 4) they would
like to sell! If not possible I would
very much like to know if they are
still available anywhere ? Also, of
course, are they any good ?
I can honestly say that BBC PD is still
thriving. Any delay has been due to
catching up with compiling the new
to PD Beebug Disc's, by the way Beebug
Volume 5 needs two disc's (a slip up in
the catalogue).