Computing Editorial (please read)

[pap3@dana.ucc.nau.edu (Paul Allen Panks)]

Dear Friends:

     As a long time owner and user of the Commodore 128, I have
witnessed the 8-bit computer market from the early days (1982-1985)
right on through Commodore's demise and Atari's bankruptcy. Of the
once great 8-bit stallions, only Apple remains. But Apple hasn't
supported the Apple II line for over ten years now. They have since
moved on to better things. Commodore itself, in the waning years,
promoted the Amiga over the Commodore 64 as inexpensive upgrade
packages. If only Commodore allowed the Commodore 64 users to bring
their software and hardware investments with them (minus the horrible
C64 Emulators for the Amiga). If only anyone did.

     With the rise of modern operating systems such as Windows, Mac
and Linux, long time users have witnessed a revival in interest among
the general population in their once great computers. Users of the
Atari 400/800, Apple II and IIe, Commodore 64/128, Tandy Color
Computer, IBM PC/PC Junior, TRS-80 and even the Coleco Adam have
witnessed a rebirth of interest in their computers. Thanks in no small
part to the Internet, owners and users across the globe can share
files, download information, access websites and even go online to
eBay to bid for their beloved machines.

     What drove the market in its early days remains today the very
reason many got into computing in the first place: to share the
knowledge of computing to neighbors, friends and family alike. To
experience the joy of computing at the apex of technological
breakthrough. And to squeeze every once of use out of a platform
before deciding to move on.

     As I have seen with the Commodore 128 and 128D, even success can
be a nightmare. As a hard core C128 user, most of my time is spent in
C128 mode, tip-tapping away at my latest programming project. But in
truth, only a handful of people really explored that side of the
machine. Simply put, the Commodore 128 became a Commodore 64 in a
strange box. Every game, every application, every utility that was
written to that point, was also not written for Commodore 128 mode.
Why? Because the Commodore 128 "suffered" from the grand experience of
being a Commodore 64 with "extra" computing power thrown in. But 64KB
RAM was enough. It was always enough.

     Computing has always been an experience of joy and discovery. Who
can blame Bill Gates for being a billionaire today? His love and
adequate knowledge of computing turned his one man quest into a
crusade. Love him or not, Bill Gates carried the flag for computing
well into the 21st century. But other pioneers, such as Apple, Atari,
Commodore and Tandy, proved that innovating and cutting costs paved
the way for more users to come to computing.

     And even on our shores, we missed a lot as well. Sir Clive
brought the Spectrum to millions of users in the United Kingdom. He
remains to this day one of the few computing pioneers given an
honorary Knighting by his country. We should all be so lucky to have a
Sir Clive in our neighborhood.

     But today, on the cusp of a new generation, we are the carriers
of technology from shore to shore, and from life to life. It is the
undying dedication to computing that has driven so many people, for so
long a time. From Creative Computing and the Transactor, to Byte,
Compute!'s Gazette, Family Computing and today's magazines, we are
carrying a clear but simple message: "Computing for the masses, not
the classes." As Jack Tramiel embodied and the 8-bit community showed,
computers are an experience for all to enjoy, at minimum cost to
financial budget.

      May the future be as bright as the sun above, and may the stars
continue to shine for a new generation, for all time.

Regards,

Paul Allen Panks
dunric@yahoo.com
"Computer Friend since 1982"