(C) Steel Rat/C.P.U.
TIGHTENINGS (for supporting pants)
And they went, scorched by the sun...
The opinion expressed in the article is purely subjective, and I ask not to throw rotten tomatoes at me (this primarily concerns the manufacturers of Spectrum "hardware", particularly the companies SCORPION and NEMO). The discussion will be about the support from "hardware" manufacturers for their "creations" after they (the creations) get into the hands of users. Until recently, while the "add-ons" to our beloved SPECCY were not so sophisticated and could be repaired or modified with a soldering iron, a bunch of simple microchips, resistors, and several kilometers of "noodles", it was still manageable. But with the advent of ALTERA matrices and high-tech printed circuit boards, repairs sometimes become impossible. And how many wonderful discoveries await us... connecting these creations to the computer! And now, when SPECCY is barely climbing the mountain of progress, hardware manufacturers should already think about supporting their products after sale; otherwise, the situation in the SPECCY market may worsen even more. Since I mentioned two main manufacturing companies at the beginning, let's start in order.
SCORPION Company
Undoubtedly - the leader in the production of computers and peripherals for them. But despite all the striving for a civilized market (price lists, advertising, discounts, copyright protection, etc.), there is practically no user support at all, and I don't even want to talk about this company's marketing policy - the prices are clearly inflated, there are too high surcharges for postal services, and again, there is no support. If you have "issues" when connecting or working with this company's products, don't expect any help from them - you won't get it. Well, at most, you'll get a response that essentially says, "you're the idiot." It's good if you "know your stuff" in "hardware", but if you're just a user who doesn't know all the intricacies of computer operation but wants their machine to keep up with the times, you can only hope for acquaintances and friends who can handle a soldering iron. But even having such craftsmen around doesn't help anymore (see above). A living example can be my recent computer upgrade. Briefly about my system:
- SCORPION ZS-256 motherboard from 1994 (yellow, ROM 2.95);
- ProfROM version 3.9f (1997);
- bus extender for three peripheral devices;
- PC keyboard and mouse controller;
- SMUC controller;
- FDD 5.25" and 3.5";
- HDD 170MB;
So, while I had only the keyboard and mouse controller installed, everything was fine, but with the purchase of SMUC, the question of the bus extender arose. I bought it. And it started... Separately, the keyboard and SMUC controllers work without problems with ProfROM, but as soon as I install the extender (even without peripheral boards) - the computer freezes. Change the ROM to the "old" one (v. 2.95) - it works without problems, even with three cards. What the problem is - is unclear. Either the ProfROM is buggy, or the bus extender is. But everything works separately! In short, tired of fiddling with my computer, I wrote a letter to Zонов. I received a response about a month and a half later, stating "you did not make the modification indicated on page 2 in the description of the SMUC controller." Well, well, I wrote in the letter all the system specifications and that I did(!) this modification. I write another letter, and I am still waiting for a response, it's been three months, and I feel that there won't be one. Of course, it's difficult to "diagnose" from a distance, but at least out of politeness, they could have replied to the letter. There you have it, all user support. And I still "jump" with these cards. When I need a "drive" - I plug in the SMUC card, and when I need a keyboard and mouse - I use the card for those devices, since SMUC only works with ProfROM. What a perversion! And now I wonder what will happen to my computer if I buy GMX from Zонов and plug it in instead of the processor!!! Brrr, horror!
NEMO Company
Unlike SCORPION, I can't say anything bad about this company (unless you consider that General Sound has been "on its way" to me for a month and a half, but I hope it will arrive). I encountered this company when I ordered the KEMPTON-Mouse controller from them. What I liked - the prices are significantly lower than "scorpion's" (sometimes by 30%), there are no postal "surcharges", and the speed of order fulfillment (almost always within a month). Now about support. I had such a case: while using the KEMPSTON-Mouse, the cursor "jumped" through pixels vertically. I wrote a letter, and the response came literally in a couple of weeks (and believe me, that's very fast). The letter contained a detailed schematic of the controller, indicating the places where modifications were necessary and a detailed description of all possible causes of the defect. Naturally, I was able to "bring the controller back to life" in just a few minutes...
So, now just think about who will have more trust after all this. Although SCORPION is indeed the leader in "hardware" development, personally, I try to buy from NEMO whenever possible. After buying one of the latest issues of КОМПЬЮТЕРРы, I came across a message about a decrease in prices for memory chips, and generally for PC "hardware" as a whole. And a bad thought came to my mind: "why are prices for computers falling all over the world, while our SPECCY keeps getting more and more expensive?" This is especially noticeable in the price lists of SCORPION. I wouldn't say that our beloved computer is progressing... So what's the deal? Currently, SCORPION is priced at around 1000 rubles from Zонов. For that money, you could buy a used "four" with a monitor included or a "six hundred" Amiga. And what can SCORPION do that Amiga or PC386 can't? Why such a markup in price? For example, take KAY-256: it cost 250 rubles two years ago (the cost of the board; the SCORPION board costs about 400), and it still costs the same, meaning the price is falling, so why is SCORPION getting more expensive? All this while the SPECCY market is in such a terrible state! If we take production costs, I don't think that producing the same KAY is cheaper than producing SCORPION. This means that SCORPION's price includes a higher profit margin. And everyone suffers from this, as a potential user will think and say, "why the hell do I need this SCORPION for such money, better save up and buy some used Pentium." There you have it, market development. A similar story happened with AMIGA, excessively "inflated" prices scared users away from this wonderful machine, in my opinion, and with such an abundance of PCs, try to guess where someone wanting to buy a computer will head? Right to the nearest store selling PCs and the like. I have nothing against PCs; this platform is developing, and over time all its bugs will be eliminated. With such a marketing policy, the SPECCY market will slowly decline, which has been happening for the last two years, and everything could be changed if there was a will. The price of motherboards and peripherals should be much lower. Otherwise, we find ourselves in a situation where the cost of Pentium boards is already approaching the cost of SCORPION boards (to be more precise - they are converging, as the first "falls", and the second "rises"), which leads to gloomy thoughts. And one more problem. All currently produced boards (SCORPION and KAY) do not conform to the standard (geometric) for cases of corresponding PCs. "Well!" - you might say, - "We are not PCs!" The thing is, it's become much harder to find a case for SPECCY (at least from Корвет) than from a PC, which means we need to think about the standard layout of sockets, slots, and power connectors on the motherboard (even better to make it under the ATX standard right away, instead of constantly trailing behind progress with who knows what connectors, each with its own). The only achievement in this field, in my opinion, is the recent "legalization" of the bus standard, and even that is not complete, as the bus clearly lacks some signals and voltages. After receiving the latest price list from Zонов, I saw a price increase for GMX (which hasn't even started production yet), so what can I say, I don't think there will be many willing to buy this miracle for such money (especially knowing the bugs in some of the latest products, proven by personal experience : -). Hello to everyone who knows me. Those wishing to discuss this topic or just chat, write to the ADVENTURER magazine address for STEEL RAT. I warn you once again - this is my personal opinion, and please don't judge too harshly.
P. S. Already after writing this article, I did receive a letter from Zонов with the following content: "... unfortunately, we cannot determine the malfunction from your letter and request that you send the board, ProfROM, and bus extender..." There you have it! Maybe it's not all that bad. Although, time will tell.
Contents of the publication: Adventurer #08
- От автора - Shaitan
Technical details of a new program interface for ZX Spectrum. Discusses improvements and features like scrolling and color change. Provides keyboard and button navigation instructions.
- От автора
Introduction by the author and editorial team details.
- Presentation
The article presents a software installer for creating autorun disks and introduces a new adventure game created with QUILL by Dr. Laser.
- Presentation of TRICK Software
The article presents TRICK, a new software for program protection developed by Eternity Industry, and discusses its beta and commercial versions. The author, Alexander Kalinin (aka Paracels/EI), addresses previous shortcomings in the software and emphasizes its improved interface. It includes purchase details for the software and invites readers to request it.
- Presentation
The article provides a detailed user manual for HELP_Z80, a free utility for ZX Spectrum that serves as an electronic guide for Z80 microprocessor commands. It outlines how to load and use the software, including command explanations, search functions, and integration with assemblers. Additionally, it includes memory distribution, operational features, and references for further reading.
- Interface
The article discusses reader feedback on the magazine's interface, addressing concerns about pricing and software trends in the ZX Spectrum community. It features a letter from a reader expressing thoughts on game pricing and the declining number of users on the platform. Additionally, there are discussions on software developments and user engagement.
- Interface
The article shares the author's experiences after purchasing an Amiga, comparing it with a PC, and discussing its usability for games, graphics, and music, while noting some software limitations.
- Interface
The article discusses user support issues faced by hardware manufacturers SCORPION and NEMO for ZX Spectrum devices. It critiques SCORPION for poor customer service despite being a market leader, while praising NEMO for responsive support. The author expresses concerns about the overall market direction for ZX Spectrum hardware.
- Interface
Article discusses the future of the Spectrum platform, addressing user demographics, software production challenges, and hardware evolution possibilities.
- Interface
Article discusses the frustrations of a Speccy user regarding hardware issues, the challenges of modern computing, and the dedication to maintaining the Speccy platform.
- Interface
Статья рассматривает жизнь и судьбы пользователей ZX Spectrum, включая личные воспоминания автора о друзьях и их взаимодействии с компьютерами.
- System
The article reviews various software for ZX Spectrum, including text editors, audio players, and graphic utilities. It provides independent opinions on their features and usability, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. The piece emphasizes the evolution and improvement of software tools available for this classic platform.
- Overview of Games
Overview of notable games for ZX Spectrum, highlighting their graphics, sound, and gameplay mechanics. Each entry includes a brief summary and rating. Recommended for fans of retro gaming.
- Review of Demos
The article reviews demo versions of various games, highlighting their potential and unique features. It emphasizes the scarcity of such releases in the market and evaluates the quality and gameplay mechanics of selected titles. The author shares insights into the progress and expectations for future full versions of these games.
- Guests
The article discusses the formation and activities of the Eternity Industry group, its members, projects, and future plans for releases and competitions.
- Гости - Dr. John
An interview with Felix from Virtual Brothers discusses his transition from ZX Spectrum to PC, development of the game 'Winnie the Pooh', and future plans.
- Guests
Interview with the musicians Mарат and Демон from the band 'Disgust', discussing their musical evolution, influences, and perspectives on life and creativity.
- Promotion
The article provides a detailed manual for the game 'ENCYCLOPEDIA of WAR', explaining army selection, unit types, and battle mechanics.
- Promotion
The article provides a walkthrough for the game, detailing necessary items and strategies for progressing through various challenges, including dealing with dinosaurs and navigating villages.
- Promotion
Статья представляет собой обзор arcade adventure игры 'ELOPEMENT' от Omega HG, выделяя ее особенности и советы по прохождению.
- Promotion
Статья описывает текстовую адвентюру 'Остров тьмы' на QUILL, предлагая советы для игроков. Упоминаются механики и персонажи, включая загадки и взаимодействия. В конце представлена карта острова.
- Promotion of 'Knightmare'
The article describes the game 'Knightmare', detailing its commands, gameplay mechanics, and initial quests. Players control a knight who must interact with characters and solve puzzles to progress. It serves as a manual for navigating the game's environment and objectives.
- Experience Exchange
The article critiques the adventure game 'Island of Darkness' by Paul Moskow, highlighting its illogical design, lack of detailed item descriptions, and absence of helpful hints for players.
- Experience Exchange
The article provides a detailed manual for enhancing the ZX ASM 3.0 assembler, introducing debugging features and functionalities for better program execution control on ZX Spectrum.
- Experience Exchange
The article describes a phenomenon observed with the ZX Spectrum video controller, where switching between two screens can create unexpected visual artifacts. It outlines a specific program that demonstrates this effect through rapid screen toggling. The author discusses the implications and potential applications of this behavior.
- Обмен опытом - Иван Рощин
The article is a programming guide on porting the 'iris.ss' screen saver effect from Dos Navigator to ZX Spectrum, including source code and modification tips.
- Обмен опытом - Иван Рощин
Description of the OPEN_W procedure to create window borders. Includes details on customization of symbols and dimensions. Utilizes PRSYM for symbol printing.
- Обмен опытом - Maximum
Introduction to long integer operations for game development on ZX Spectrum, including addition, subtraction, and conversion to ASCII.
- Experience Exchange
The article discusses the customization of the ART STUDIO graphic editor by creating additional modules that enhance its functionality, including features like music playback and cursor coordinates display.
- Experience Exchange
The article describes a program developed to improve the visual quality of a pixel-by-pixel moving attribute message on ZX Spectrum. It provides details on the implementation, including the use of data arrays for motion trajectory and image rendering. The program includes comments for easier understanding and can be modified for different effects.
- Оттяг
The article features humorous sketches and commentary on various aspects of life and technology, including anecdotes about a fictional character's experience with a Pentium processor.
- Pharmacist Test
The article presents humorous tests designed to identify whether someone is a real pharmacist or a fraud, featuring situational questions and scoring to gauge knowledge of pharmacy.
- Oddities and Self-Reflection in 'Оттяг'
The article 'Оттяг' presents a humorous and critical self-reflection of the author, exploring various life experiences and quirks that highlight his unusual personality traits.
- Humorous Quiz: Assess Your Sense of Humor
The article presents a humorous quiz to assess one's sense of humor and sexual attitudes through various situational questions, revealing absurd and comedic perspectives.
- Student Types Quiz
The article presents a humorous quiz to determine what kind of student you are, ranging from a party animal to a diligent scholar. It features a series of questions regarding typical student activities and responses. The results categorize students based on their score, from carefree to nerdy.
- How to Properly Torture Windows 95 - Maximum
Статья описывает иронический подход к установке и эксплуатации операционной системы Windows 95, включая способы ее 'мучения' и троллинга. В тексте используются гиперболизированные примеры взаимодействия с ОС для создания комичного эффекта. Это развлекательный материал с элементами юмора.
- Ottyag
The article is a humorous narrative featuring Winnie the Pooh and his friends returning to the Hundred Acre Wood, where their carefree life turns chaotic. It describes their antics, including drinking and misadventures, as they reunite and encounter various challenges. The story showcases the characters' personalities and interactions in a comedic light.
- Novella
The article describes a humorous novella featuring Corporal Johnlan recounting his first military mission and his interactions with a young grandchild over beers.
- Novella
Novella recounts an adventurous escape from a Glot base using a vintage spacecraft, highlighting the protagonist's encounters and clever maneuvers.
- Novella
The article describes a whimsical story about two hedgehogs, Pukhly and Zaraza, who, after a strange event, develop wings and must navigate their new reality. The story blends fantasy and humor as the characters face unexpected changes and challenges. This is a novella showcasing imaginative storytelling.
- News
The article discusses recent updates from Rybninsk related to the FunTop party, detailing contributions from various individuals and teams for the 'Adventurer' magazine and demo competitions.
- News
Статья сообщает о событиях в сообществе Спектрумистов Ярославля, включая информацию о разработчиках программного обеспечения и их текущих проектах.
- Advertisement
The article is a collection of advertisements and announcements related to ZX Spectrum, inviting collaboration from programmers, artists, and musicians, and detailing how to acquire the journal and software.
