 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group The Oval Office Ron Lyth |
Using Editorial privilege, I have changed the name of this column from "PRESSAID", which has always irritated me. Hope nobody objects. Ed.
Thanks to all who made it to our first open meeting for 1987. I wonder how many of us are as disciplined in our approach to software development as is Ken Steel from Bizkits, and who wouldn't like to have the pure horsepower of the Compaq 386 at their beck and call. I wonder what it does for the games enthusiasts? Lightning reflexes at the very least.
I am glad to report that there has been quite a bit of positive reaction to the future directions which I discussed last month. There is, and always will be, a conflict between the commercial and the purist approach to any subject, and with the dollars involved in computing, this is nowhere more apparent.
What is not often realised is that the conflict between commercial and entrepreneurial interests is every bit as great. We have only to look to the recent demise of the most productive of all computer clubs, San Francisco's Homebrew Computer Club, to see the truth of this. Homebrew in the mid to late 70's encapsulated all the madness and enthusiasm of Southern California, providing the forum for the development of much of modern computing through the interchange of its member's views.
Every significant microcomputer company of the early 1980's could trace its origins in part to that club. And yet it has shut its doors. In large part it is because of the commercial success of so many of its founding members and their increasing reluctance to part with 'commercial' secrets that this club has foundered. Homebrew, which was based on the revolutionary ethos of all for one and one for all against the might of the mainframe suppliers, and the extension of computing power to the man in the street, has tried, and failed, to handle the philosophical crisis resulting from the defection of most of its founders.
What lesson can we learn from this? I believe that the fate of Homebrew is attributable to its original strength, and failure to adapt to a changing world. In short, it didn't grow up and expand its horizons to embrace the reality of the late 80's.
There is a lesson for all of us associated with User Groups, and that is that we are essentially at war with the commercial interests of the computer world, and that we must not allow ourselves to become stuck in a narrow rut which, however significant it once was, is no longer relevant.
When this club was founded, there was one PC and IBM was its name. There was little software, and most of it was over-priced and under-powered. This group, and the many others like it around the world, have contributed in a significant fashion to the improvement in software and the drop in prices of both hardware and software. The new challenge is to find ways in which we can provide a focus into the future. Otherwise, like Homebrew, we too are doomed.
Some members have asked whether the Committee has passed their names and addresses to commercial mailing organisations. Let me make it very clear that this Committee will not under any circumstances make our membership list available for other than . group activities (eg. mailing PC Update or setting up the bulletin board). We have been approached by at least one organisation, but our standard reply is to offer to include a flyer (for a price) with our PC Update mailing. If your name has been included on a mailing list you are assured that it has not come from this Committee.
Another interesting thought from one of our members concerns the idea of a 'world operating system' to be developed for a large number of different systems by user groups and to be released to the public domain. The closest to this was ZCPR which was developed as a (better) alternative to DR's CP/M in the late 70's, and, as ZCPR3, is now an excellent operating system for 8-bit users.
I can certainly see the virtue in this suggestion, and while recognising that there is a large effort involved in developing an operating system, the price placed on most is excessive. In fact PC Dos would have to be one of the cheapest as anyone contemplating the change to Unix, Xenix, Pick or any of the 4GL environments will know. The fact is that if you want to get a good quality multitasking operating system you have to spend a lot of dollars. Perhaps we can ask our TechSIG to have a look at this one.
I recently had a call from a prospective member who wanted advice on software etc. which would run on a Brand X clone with a Hercules clone graphics adaptor. After a bit of questioning, I managed to find out that the caller really didn't know what he wanted the PC for, but the special offer price expired on midnight, 31st January. I hope he took my advice and is hanging onto his money until he gets a better idea of what he wants. If you are in the same beat, or have a friend in a similar situation, do yourself or you friend a big favour. Remember, there is a glut of suppliers in the PC market and you, the proud possessor of a pocket full of dollars, can afford to take your time and shop around for the best deal.
Following on from our call for additional SIG's, I thought it would be a good idea to outline what is involved in setting up and running a SIG. First you must let us know, either by writing to the Secretary, or better still, by attending a Committee meeting where you can put your case. (Ring one of the Committee to find out where and when).
The Committee will support any reasonable SIG, and will provide a venue for
you to seek members through PC Update and other media. All we ask in return is for a monthly report of
activities and planned expenditure to be submitted to the Committee. (One page is all that is required).
Provided that these minimal requirements are met with, you are free to conduct the business of the SIG with a
high degree of autonomy.
While on the subject of SIG's, I believe that the Expert System SIG has been in recess for a while and Tony Davidzik has agreed to get it going again in one way or another. If you are interested contact Tony or Jeff Paton. It has been suggested that this SIG might benefit from working through the Turbo Prolog tutorial as a self instruction exercise, because there is as yet very little expertise to be shared with members.
If you are in the Geelong area and would like to join a Geelong Regional SIG please let the Secretary know as we have a member willing to be the SIG convenor. What about other areas, Ballarat, Bendigo, LaTrobe Valley etc.?? If you are willing let us know.
Reprinted from the February 1987 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
