Voice from the Grave
Today in nashey traditional category, we are reprinting the next
translated material from the log SINCLAIR USER. At this time, as
was promised earlier, you get to know other computer brainchild
Clive Sinclair - a machine called QL. Of course, the good,
we would have to lead to early or any technical
specifications for the computer that you uvazhaeye readers
It was clear, as here it is. But unfortunately, this material
is not was prepared on time and on this we start dating with QL
immediately by the critical article Expert magazine Sinclair
User - John Gilbert. Incidentally, it is an example of this
Text can perfectly trace the psychology of the people of the
time (Mid 80th) in the question of personal computers. See
it is primarily about Basic'e and even speed of the machine
measured by basic test'ov. Some ramblings about the application
in business ... All said that if 15 years ago, people
completely different attitude to computers.
Translated from the original article SINCLAIR USER performed
ZS, although then walked on it pretty UnBEL! EVER and ALK. If
you find inaccuracies - you have someone to blame:)
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QL: Branch of the facts from fiction
Sinclair QL finally settled in the office Siclair User'a,
so we can provide one of the first reviews of this car.
In spite of the EPROM, containing part of the operating system,
that connects the back and constantly jumps at
using the keyboard, as well as non-existent leadership
user, the computer is close to the standard form in which it
will be up to the buyer.
He arrived in a box, three times larger than Spectrum, in which
contained the statement, the external EPROM and free RS-232
connector. In addition, the machine is not very attractive,
although the keyboard works better than the look, even though
the keys especially the gap persistently click when pressed.
When you first turn on your computer will prompt the user to
press the function key: F1 - if you use the monitor, or F2 - if
using a conventional TV has UHF band.
In total there are 5 function keys that can be
used SuperBasic'e or native to complex
problems solved by the user. For example, you can call a few
various procedures, which together lead to the purification
entire screen directly by pressing one of the functional
keys.
Unfortunately, users of the new computer will have
some difficulties with the introduction of programs, because
the screen is in TV mode is different and less clear than in
the case using the monitor. While using the monitor QL divides
screen into 2 windows or pages, white and red. White
used for the program listing, and red for O
program results, graphs or data entry. Monitor
separately shows the windows, and television imposes one
on top of another, and white, with the listing, is principal.
Since the windows appear as two separate screen is used
two different instructions for their purification. CLS 2 - for
cleaning windows with the text, and CLS clears the results of
the program. Each time after the end of the program must
perform CLS 2 to display its text on the screen. It would be
much better automatically switch to the window, when the last
ended, and display text SuperBasic'a.
Size of the characters depicted on screen is different on the
TV and monitor. Monitor Resolution - 80 characters per line,
that somewhat larger than the TV. Of course, you can do
80 characters on a TV using the command MODE, which
sets the resolution, which displays the screen. Sinclair, it
seems overcome the difficulties with the colors on the TV, and
80 characters line is quite readable.
Editor will change and add lines to the program
SuperBasic'a almost exactly the same as in Spectrum'e, but
with one important difference. If you typed the line that
contains error, the computer will tell you about it and
immediately "forget" this line. And you have to dial the line
again with corrections.
If you want to edit a line that has already been entered, you
must type EDIT and number of the desired line. The only reason
This may be your desire to fix the line that contains
nesintaksicheskuyu error. Ability to check for errors in
editor, seemingly insignificant thing, but Sinclair,
seems to be learning from the mistakes of Spectrum, and
therefore the inspection and correction of errors during the
execution of programs available.
(From the translation: The last sentence of our inquiring minds
translating long and hard, but to eliminate the discrepancies
present it in the original. Error-checking, using the program
editor, may be almost non-existent, but Sinclair seems to have
learned by its mistakes with the Spectrum so far as
error-checking and correcting while a program is running is
concerned.)
Regardless of the teams SuperBasic'a, which tracks the errors
machine will use any variables or numeric
character, without their initial definition. If you request
content unspecified variable, QL zaneset in her "star"
(Asterisk). Revealing mistakes yaslyaetsya essential for cars
Class QL, and Sinclair, after all, was supposed to fix it.
Principle and realization SuperBasic QDOS to 16-bit M68008
incredibly simple, which makes the car cheaper to
producer, than if she had the power 68,000 th
processor. The microprocessor has a 32-bitnyyu internal
architecture, but low speed, which works QL,
shows that the CPU had to do something zamorochennoe. C
first look at the specification of the computer, all it seems
normal, until you realize that the machine uses an 8-
bit data bus. As a result of such a mutation, and after
several tests the performance of BBC Micro, Commodore 64 and
Spectrum, found that QL was slower than all of these machines,
including the Spectrum, but only if the program test
contained a few lines. If you type a long
program, you will notice that your computer is not joined
slowly, as its rivals, such as BBC. He performs with
same rate long and short programs.
Multi-tasking, especially when used SuperBasic,
impossible. What can you really do SuperBasic'e,
so this is to implement the program and at the same time work
with peripheral devices, such as Microdrive, recording or
reading data, for example. Unable to perform two or more
SuperBasic'e programs at the same time, thus the
QL is not multitasking Basic'e. Although it is possible to run
multiple programs into machine code. Despite
disappointment with the multitasking, graphics, create
SuperBasic'om, very efficient and as fast if not faster,
than that on the BBC micro.
There are two commands for creating circles, one ELLIPSE, and
Another CIRCLE. The latter, apparently, was left on
error as part of the operating system and does exactly the same
that ELLIPSE. ELLIPSE command similar to the Spectum'ovskoy
CIRCLE. It allows you to draw arcs, circles, and even lines. As
have a team LINE, which uses absolute coordinates to
screen, unlike the Spectrum, which uses
relative.
QL schedule easier to use than those on Spectrum'e because
that each point is given for the absolute. You do not have
perezadavat point each time for a new line, as was done in
Spectrum'e.
"Turtle" Graphics seems to have been implemented in the memory
of Sinclair'ovskoy. Unfortunately, it seems, is introduced into
hurry, and specifically in our car we were not always sure
that it will work as we expect. Moreover, the creators of QL
properly implemented Yourself turtle pencil ", which
is in an inactive state during initialization. To
draw a line, you have to print the PEN DOWN, and even then
QL will not give a sign that the "bug" works.
Unfortunately, mikrodrayvy again have no function MERGE.
Mikrodrayva only team that promised and did -
it DIRectory, former CATalogue, a team that shows
names of the files on the 100-kilobyte cartridge. Mikrodrayvu be
about three seconds to show the contents of the cartridge. Time
Access mikrodrayvu on QL is extremely high for business
travelers. Quill, for example, is loaded for 2 minutes. Booting
slightly faster than the 48K program on the Spectrum with a
tape recorder. The rate of exchange with mikrodrayvom in QL
DOS, possibly low, but it becomes even smaller when you use an
operating system from the package Psion software. Some files
are so long cargo that is think about it, do not hang, if the
machine in frustration. Mikrodrayvy completely unsuitable for
business due to its unstable, putting at risk information on
cartridge. Everything is fine, if we assume that you are doing
copies of all your files. And at the same time fatal error
may occur during the backup on your
single copy in the media.
The serial interface on QL as a lost cause for
business market, for which he was intended. Due to the fact
that the RS232 is slow enough, the business community does not
considered standard, he prefer to Centronics. So
, the choice of business polzovateley is to buy
QL, hoping to use the Centronics or not to buy QL
altogether.
Can not advise a businessman to buy QL, although
Sinclair has set himself the task of creating a machine for
serious use, work and study. Business person
machine seems weak and slow compared with the 16-bit
computer standard. However, it costs 399 pounds and
represented a significant achievement for Sinclair Research.
The company overstated the capabilities of his car and again
made a mistake in marketing, but nonetheless got the winner. QL
could break through to the top of the market of computer
equipment. Once the car will receive software support, the new
brainchild Sinclair'a be impressed, as was done in due time
Spectrum.
