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Re: Computing Editorial (please read)
Charles Richmond wrote:
Paul Allen Panks wrote:
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.
To be there from the early days, you need to have been there from
around 1975 or 1976. By 1982, the days of 8-bit computing as a mainstream
activity were numbered. And IIRC, Atari did *not* declare bankruptcy,
but sold their assets to some other company...
In the words of Pat Paulsen, "Picky, picky, picky."
1982 is *still* pre-historic as far as the overwhelming majority of
today's users are concerned. We in comp.sys.a2 are esp. exposed to those
wanting help and not realizing that here is not the place to ask about
OS X and moving files from thence to PCs.
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.
IMHO much of the interest in the older 8-bit computers is by collectors
who are trying to get a feel for the past. The other sizeable group
are those crusty old users who hang doggedly on to their beloved 8-bit
systems. I admit to being a little of both of these...
Well, so much for your humble opinion. You left out the huge numbers of
those using emulators, trying to relive their misspent youth.
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.
Yes, we *were* anxious to experience the joy of the apex of technology.
But today, 8-bit systems can hardly be called "the apex of technology."
No one reading this opinion piece would ever have gotten that idea.
We are more like at the apex of being a curiousity at this time. Kids
would look and say "Gee, computers sure were primative way back when..."
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.
It's true that the C-128 was a hopped-up C-64. But another aspect of
the C-128 that *never* took of in the public eye...was that the C-128
could run CP/M.
Strange. I wasn't a C-64/128 user, but I read a number of magazines that
covered a range of computers, and for the C-128, most of the articles I
read were about CP/M. I suppose that's because you wouldn't write an
article about the C-128 and talk about C-64 soft/hardware would you? And
there was so little that I ever saw that was C-128 specific. Again, I
didn't read Commodore specific periodicals, so I might be a bit off on
the latter.
By the time that the C-128 was introduced, Mess-DOS
was already making enroads into the CP/M marketplace. If people wanted
to run CP/M, they would run it on an IBM PC by that time.
Few people would run and and spend $3,000 for an IBM PC/XT just so they
could run CP/M - esp. since they had to buy extra hardware in order to
be able to do that.
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.
Bill Gates did *not* make his money by "his love and adequate knowledge
of computing". Bill Gates made his money by stealing other people's
ideas and marketing them. If Gates is anything, he is a marketing
person. *I* can blame Mr. Gates for being a billionaire, because he
made that money over the bodies of the others that he drove out of
the computer software business with his unfair business practices.
IMHO the computer world would be much better off *without* the
contributions of one Bill Gates.
Couldn't say it much better myself.
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.
It *would* be wonderful *if* computing were carried on in the tradition
of the 1970's and early 1980's. I got to tell you...I do *not* see it
happening. As for Jack Tramiel...he was a bitter man, who as a survivor
of the Nazi death camps during World War II, and still carried a great
load of hate and distrust for his fellow man. This is my opinion. I do
*not* blame Mr. Tramiel for this. But also, I do *not* think that the
way he marketed his products...especially the Atari products...was
beneficial to the computer industry as a whole.
May the future be as bright as the sun above, and may the stars
continue to shine for a new generation, for all time.
"You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."
Mr. Panks, you seem a sincere person and I know you contribute your
computer gaming efforts to the 'net, but IMHO you are living in a
dream world.
Any one who writes IMHO as much as you do, well, methinks thou doest
protest too much.
You, sir, are full of crap.
Your post is a bit ... aromatic too.
You should be posting to <alt.painting.beautiful.computer.pictures>.
If you want to write poetry, okay. But if you want to talk about
the way things are in the computer world...or how things got that
way...try to stick a little more to the facts and less to the flowery
language.
IMHO.
Stick it in your ear. IMHO
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