+GATE2

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+GATE2

This website contains an archive of files for the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Acorn Archimedes, Commodore 16 and Commodore 64 computers, which Dominic Ford has rescued from his private collection of floppy disks and cassettes.

Some of these files were originally commercial releases in the 1980s and 1990s, but they are now widely available online. I assume that copyright over them is no longer being asserted. If you own the copyright and would like files to be removed, please contact me.

Tape/disk:	Home » Personal collection » Acorn ADFS disks » Electron_User_Group » EUG_41.ADF
Filename:	+GATE2
Read OK:	✔
File size:	18B2 bytes
Load address:	2B204556
Exec address:	45544147

Duplicates

There is 1 duplicate copy of this file in the archive:

Personal collection » Acorn ADFS disks » Electron_User_Group » EUG_41.ADF » +GATE2
Personal collection » Acorn hard disk » zipped_disks » elk06 » eug41/+GATE2

File contents

After all, I'm more likely to be than most: I was studying for a Computing
A-Level, which I got to Grade A standard.  I was going to University to
study Computer Science.  I was creating a Business Information System for
an Aluminium Stockholders in Essex.  I was reviewing Internet Web sites to
earn some money.  

What happened to the object orientated programming environments?  The
Internet?  

All the fun I was going to have creating databases for my hobbies?  

The programming was too inconsistent with the target machines.  The
Internet was too clumsy and the browsers affected the running of the
computer not to mention leaving it at the mercy of viruses. The virus
problem got solved but the virus detector doubled the startup time and
noticeably slowed the machine down.  The databases were painfully slow. 
And the games ... nice and free, mostly, but when I spend `50 on Tie
Fighter I don't expect to spend three hours installing it.  That assumes
the games were 'simple' enough to be compatible with my machine.

So gradually all these things slipped away and my machine became an
expensive wordprocessor cum doorstop.  So much for buying the machine for
work and ending up playing games on it.  I wish.

Fair enough, I am making a big sideswipe at the industry, and perhaps I am
being unreasonable in my demands but I believe the industry is the way it
is to line the pockets of the few at the top.  It is not in people's
interests to upgrade but who can resist the pressure of obsolesence? 

Especially if you're computer breaks.  

When 80% of people use no more than 10% of the functions (several studies
have found this), maybe its time to think there is a problem.  

When users loath the PC as strongly as they loved classics, maybe its time
to think there is a problem.  When Bill Gates, now he has made more money
than anyone in history, starts amazing industry leaders by poking fun at
the industry and points out that "maybe things aren't as good as they
could be", maybe its time to think there is a problem.

I never thought I would see the day that Bill Gates would criticise  the
PC but Microsoft insiders leaked he is concerned the industry will
collapse due to the SIMPLICITY, RELIABILITY AND CHEAPNESS of the digital
tv set-top boxes (note: these will handle the internet and are alredy
Network Computers).  Maybe computers will eventually be a dream to use. 
We can hope.

I only came to considering this because I was asked to write an indepth
investigation of the computer industry and potential uses for obsolete
technology.  It was by pure chance this happened, and it was only when I
was considering the advantages of this second-rate technology that I began
thinking quite how attractive it was.  

You can, of course, forget it as it stands.  Machines like our dear old
Elk are, in practice, virtually useless tools (even if adorable ones). 
Even tasks such as wordprocessing are generally tedious on these machines
but there are relatively few modifications required to make them handle
well.  They have potential when used in certain ways, though I always
assumed they would be second rate, certainly to state-of-the-art Pentium
IIs.  But I have no doubt now, having considered the modifications
required to make them work well,  that if my dream machine existed, it
would not be Intel Inside and, amazingly, about half the system would have
been obsolete for a decade.  It took me a year to take that last thought
in and, boy, was I amazed. 

The downside of coming to that conclusion is that I am now thoroughly
cynical of the PC industry, indeed anything in which technology is used
because it has just been invented instead of becuase it is practical (I
have since heard of E. F. Schumacher who studied the phenomona of
technological determinism in the 1970s).  I am planning to sell my PC and
definately NOT buy a new one.  Unless I have no choice, I intend never to
have another PC based around the current way of thinking (which could have
collapsed by tomorrow: the iMac is an interesting trend to investigate).

If I can get some money from my system I will buy a system that actually
does the job it says it will (incidentally, would you buy a car you
believed would have an average 4.5 hours downtime every week?  I think
Watchdog would have something to say!).  

For my wordprocessing, I will scrap the flexibility (and therefore the
inefficiency) of the PC.  When I need to use a non-standard program I will
borrow someone else's.  At least then they will be the one with the
headache of the PC.  Just think, buying a dedicated, full-screen
word-processor: instant startup time, an organised harddrive filled with
tiny text files instead of graphics dumps and wave files, an operating
system that is simple so I can work faster, no stress about viruses,
infinitessimally slower obsolesence and a printer designed to work with
the machine.  AND THEY ONLY COST `100!  WAS I BLIND?

Then, when I want the Internet, I get an Internet Computer like the new
Commodore 64 or the Acorn NC.  No worry about viruses - again, faster
access time, simpler technology and I know that if it crashes, I just
press the reset button and it starts up again (unlike a dodgy PC - you're
files become mincemeat if you're unlucky).  Not to mention getting it
through my TV so I can sit on my sofa if I choose.

And the games?  They are the beauty.  A Sony Playstation for me!  They
complain about the loading time.  Hmm - I'm sure I could get in the habit
of moaning about fifteen seconds.  Actually, I'd love to get in that
habit.  Forget your device drivers or jumping videos, this is the real
schabang.  Higher quality gameplay, lower price, more speed.  What was
wrong with me?

Of course, the three of these aren't my dream machine.  There'll be
something to complain about.  But the difference is this: they will be
simpler, faster, cheaper, more efficient, won't go obsolete the next day
and - should one break - you've got one thing to replace not an entire
computer!  All of this for under `500, if you want it.  That might be the
entry price of a new computer system, but I would prefer them to a top
range Pentium II.  Not to mention that little thing that a computer for
`500 is probably already obsolete.

Good old Elk.  I'll keep her just for fun, of course.


Ross Little

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00000420  67 73 20 73 6c 69 70 70  65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20  |gs slipped away |
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00000a80  61 74 20 49 20 62 65 67  61 6e 0d 74 68 69 6e 6b  |at I began.think|
00000a90  69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 74  65 20 68 6f 77 20 61 74  |ing quite how at|
00000aa0  74 72 61 63 74 69 76 65  20 69 74 20 77 61 73 2e  |tractive it was.|
00000ab0  20 20 0d 0d 59 6f 75 20  63 61 6e 2c 20 6f 66 20  |  ..You can, of |
00000ac0  63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20  66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 69  |course, forget i|
00000ad0  74 20 61 73 20 69 74 20  73 74 61 6e 64 73 2e 20  |t as it stands. |
00000ae0  20 4d 61 63 68 69 6e 65  73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f  | Machines like o|
00000af0  75 72 20 64 65 61 72 20  6f 6c 64 0d 45 6c 6b 20  |ur dear old.Elk |
00000b00  61 72 65 2c 20 69 6e 20  70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65  |are, in practice|
00000b10  2c 20 76 69 72 74 75 61  6c 6c 79 20 75 73 65 6c  |, virtually usel|
00000b20  65 73 73 20 74 6f 6f 6c  73 20 28 65 76 65 6e 20  |ess tools (even |
00000b30  69 66 20 61 64 6f 72 61  62 6c 65 20 6f 6e 65 73  |if adorable ones|
00000b40  29 2e 20 0d 45 76 65 6e  20 74 61 73 6b 73 20 73  |). .Even tasks s|
00000b50  75 63 68 20 61 73 20 77  6f 72 64 70 72 6f 63 65  |uch as wordproce|
00000b60  73 73 69 6e 67 20 61 72  65 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61  |ssing are genera|
00000b70  6c 6c 79 20 74 65 64 69  6f 75 73 20 6f 6e 20 74  |lly tedious on t|
00000b80  68 65 73 65 20 6d 61 63  68 69 6e 65 73 0d 62 75  |hese machines.bu|
00000b90  74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20  61 72 65 20 72 65 6c 61  |t there are rela|
00000ba0  74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 66  65 77 20 6d 6f 64 69 66  |tively few modif|
00000bb0  69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73  20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65  |ications require|
00000bc0  64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b  65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 68  |d to make them h|
00000bd0  61 6e 64 6c 65 0d 77 65  6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65  |andle.well.  The|
00000be0  79 20 68 61 76 65 20 70  6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c  |y have potential|
00000bf0  20 77 68 65 6e 20 75 73  65 64 20 69 6e 20 63 65  | when used in ce|
00000c00  72 74 61 69 6e 20 77 61  79 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75  |rtain ways, thou|
00000c10  67 68 20 49 20 61 6c 77  61 79 73 0d 61 73 73 75  |gh I always.assu|
00000c20  6d 65 64 20 74 68 65 79  20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62  |med they would b|
00000c30  65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64  20 72 61 74 65 2c 20 63  |e second rate, c|
00000c40  65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79  20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 74  |ertainly to stat|
00000c50  65 2d 6f 66 2d 74 68 65  2d 61 72 74 20 50 65 6e  |e-of-the-art Pen|
00000c60  74 69 75 6d 0d 49 49 73  2e 20 20 42 75 74 20 49  |tium.IIs.  But I|
00000c70  20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f  20 64 6f 75 62 74 20 6e  | have no doubt n|
00000c80  6f 77 2c 20 68 61 76 69  6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 73 69  |ow, having consi|
00000c90  64 65 72 65 64 20 74 68  65 20 6d 6f 64 69 66 69  |dered the modifi|
00000ca0  63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 0d  72 65 71 75 69 72 65 64  |cations.required|
00000cb0  20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65  20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 6f  | to make them wo|
00000cc0  72 6b 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c  20 20 74 68 61 74 20 69  |rk well,  that i|
00000cd0  66 20 6d 79 20 64 72 65  61 6d 20 6d 61 63 68 69  |f my dream machi|
00000ce0  6e 65 20 65 78 69 73 74  65 64 2c 20 69 74 0d 77  |ne existed, it.w|
00000cf0  6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74  20 62 65 20 49 6e 74 65  |ould not be Inte|
00000d00  6c 20 49 6e 73 69 64 65  20 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 6d  |l Inside and, am|
00000d10  61 7a 69 6e 67 6c 79 2c  20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68  |azingly, about h|
00000d20  61 6c 66 20 74 68 65 20  73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77  |alf the system w|
00000d30  6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76  65 0d 62 65 65 6e 20 6f  |ould have.been o|
00000d40  62 73 6f 6c 65 74 65 20  66 6f 72 20 61 20 64 65  |bsolete for a de|
00000d50  63 61 64 65 2e 20 20 49  74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6d  |cade.  It took m|
00000d60  65 20 61 20 79 65 61 72  20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65  |e a year to take|
00000d70  20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61  73 74 20 74 68 6f 75 67  | that last thoug|
00000d80  68 74 0d 69 6e 20 61 6e  64 2c 20 62 6f 79 2c 20  |ht.in and, boy, |
00000d90  77 61 73 20 49 20 61 6d  61 7a 65 64 2e 20 0d 0d  |was I amazed. ..|
00000da0  54 68 65 20 64 6f 77 6e  73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20  |The downside of |
00000db0  63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74  6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 63  |coming to that c|
00000dc0  6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f  6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 61  |onclusion is tha|
00000dd0  74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 6e  6f 77 20 74 68 6f 72 6f  |t I am now thoro|
00000de0  75 67 68 6c 79 0d 63 79  6e 69 63 61 6c 20 6f 66  |ughly.cynical of|
00000df0  20 74 68 65 20 50 43 20  69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 79  | the PC industry|
00000e00  2c 20 69 6e 64 65 65 64  20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e  |, indeed anythin|
00000e10  67 20 69 6e 20 77 68 69  63 68 20 74 65 63 68 6e  |g in which techn|
00000e20  6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 69 73  20 75 73 65 64 0d 62 65  |ology is used.be|
00000e30  63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74  20 68 61 73 20 6a 75 73  |cause it has jus|
00000e40  74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69  6e 76 65 6e 74 65 64 20  |t been invented |
00000e50  69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20  6f 66 20 62 65 63 75 61  |instead of becua|
00000e60  73 65 20 69 74 20 69 73  20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63  |se it is practic|
00000e70  61 6c 20 28 49 0d 68 61  76 65 20 73 69 6e 63 65  |al (I.have since|
00000e80  20 68 65 61 72 64 20 6f  66 20 45 2e 20 46 2e 20  | heard of E. F. |
00000e90  53 63 68 75 6d 61 63 68  65 72 20 77 68 6f 20 73  |Schumacher who s|
00000ea0  74 75 64 69 65 64 20 74  68 65 20 70 68 65 6e 6f  |tudied the pheno|
00000eb0  6d 6f 6e 61 20 6f 66 0d  74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f  |mona of.technolo|
00000ec0  67 69 63 61 6c 20 64 65  74 65 72 6d 69 6e 69 73  |gical determinis|
00000ed0  6d 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65  20 31 39 37 30 73 29 2e  |m in the 1970s).|
00000ee0  20 20 49 20 61 6d 20 70  6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20  |  I am planning |
00000ef0  74 6f 20 73 65 6c 6c 20  6d 79 20 50 43 20 61 6e  |to sell my PC an|
00000f00  64 0d 64 65 66 69 6e 61  74 65 6c 79 20 4e 4f 54  |d.definately NOT|
00000f10  20 62 75 79 20 61 20 6e  65 77 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20  | buy a new one. |
00000f20  20 55 6e 6c 65 73 73 20  49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e  | Unless I have n|
00000f30  6f 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65  2c 20 49 20 69 6e 74 65  |o choice, I inte|
00000f40  6e 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72  20 74 6f 0d 68 61 76 65  |nd never to.have|
00000f50  20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72  20 50 43 20 62 61 73 65  | another PC base|
00000f60  64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64  20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72  |d around the cur|
00000f70  72 65 6e 74 20 77 61 79  20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e  |rent way of thin|
00000f80  6b 69 6e 67 20 28 77 68  69 63 68 20 63 6f 75 6c  |king (which coul|
00000f90  64 20 68 61 76 65 0d 63  6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 64  |d have.collapsed|
00000fa0  20 62 79 20 74 6f 6d 6f  72 72 6f 77 3a 20 74 68  | by tomorrow: th|
00000fb0  65 20 69 4d 61 63 20 69  73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74  |e iMac is an int|
00000fc0  65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67  20 74 72 65 6e 64 20 74  |eresting trend t|
00000fd0  6f 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74  69 67 61 74 65 29 2e 0d  |o investigate)..|
00000fe0  0d 49 66 20 49 20 63 61  6e 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f  |.If I can get so|
00000ff0  6d 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79  20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 79  |me money from my|
00001000  20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20  49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62  | system I will b|
00001010  75 79 20 61 20 73 79 73  74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74  |uy a system that|
00001020  20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c  79 0d 64 6f 65 73 20 74  | actually.does t|
00001030  68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 69  74 20 73 61 79 73 20 69  |he job it says i|
00001040  74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 28  69 6e 63 69 64 65 6e 74  |t will (incident|
00001050  61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 77 6f  75 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20  |ally, would you |
00001060  62 75 79 20 61 20 63 61  72 20 79 6f 75 0d 62 65  |buy a car you.be|
00001070  6c 69 65 76 65 64 20 77  6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76  |lieved would hav|
00001080  65 20 61 6e 20 61 76 65  72 61 67 65 20 34 2e 35  |e an average 4.5|
00001090  20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 64  6f 77 6e 74 69 6d 65 20  | hours downtime |
000010a0  65 76 65 72 79 20 77 65  65 6b 3f 20 20 49 20 74  |every week?  I t|
000010b0  68 69 6e 6b 0d 57 61 74  63 68 64 6f 67 20 77 6f  |hink.Watchdog wo|
000010c0  75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65  20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69  |uld have somethi|
000010d0  6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 61  79 21 29 2e 20 20 0d 0d  |ng to say!).  ..|
000010e0  46 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 77  6f 72 64 70 72 6f 63 65  |For my wordproce|
000010f0  73 73 69 6e 67 2c 20 49  20 77 69 6c 6c 20 73 63  |ssing, I will sc|
00001100  72 61 70 20 74 68 65 20  66 6c 65 78 69 62 69 6c  |rap the flexibil|
00001110  69 74 79 20 28 61 6e 64  20 74 68 65 72 65 66 6f  |ity (and therefo|
00001120  72 65 20 74 68 65 0d 69  6e 65 66 66 69 63 69 65  |re the.inefficie|
00001130  6e 63 79 29 20 6f 66 20  74 68 65 20 50 43 2e 20  |ncy) of the PC. |
00001140  20 57 68 65 6e 20 49 20  6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20  | When I need to |
00001150  75 73 65 20 61 20 6e 6f  6e 2d 73 74 61 6e 64 61  |use a non-standa|
00001160  72 64 20 70 72 6f 67 72  61 6d 20 49 20 77 69 6c  |rd program I wil|
00001170  6c 0d 62 6f 72 72 6f 77  20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65  |l.borrow someone|
00001180  20 65 6c 73 65 27 73 2e  20 20 41 74 20 6c 65 61  | else's.  At lea|
00001190  73 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20  74 68 65 79 20 77 69 6c  |st then they wil|
000011a0  6c 20 62 65 20 74 68 65  20 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 74  |l be the one wit|
000011b0  68 20 74 68 65 0d 68 65  61 64 61 63 68 65 20 6f  |h the.headache o|
000011c0  66 20 74 68 65 20 50 43  2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20  |f the PC.  Just |
000011d0  74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 62  75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20  |think, buying a |
000011e0  64 65 64 69 63 61 74 65  64 2c 20 66 75 6c 6c 2d  |dedicated, full-|
000011f0  73 63 72 65 65 6e 0d 77  6f 72 64 2d 70 72 6f 63  |screen.word-proc|
00001200  65 73 73 6f 72 3a 20 69  6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 73  |essor: instant s|
00001210  74 61 72 74 75 70 20 74  69 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 20  |tartup time, an |
00001220  6f 72 67 61 6e 69 73 65  64 20 68 61 72 64 64 72  |organised harddr|
00001230  69 76 65 20 66 69 6c 6c  65 64 20 77 69 74 68 0d  |ive filled with.|
00001240  74 69 6e 79 20 74 65 78  74 20 66 69 6c 65 73 20  |tiny text files |
00001250  69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20  6f 66 20 67 72 61 70 68  |instead of graph|
00001260  69 63 73 20 64 75 6d 70  73 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61  |ics dumps and wa|
00001270  76 65 20 66 69 6c 65 73  2c 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 65  |ve files, an ope|
00001280  72 61 74 69 6e 67 0d 73  79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68  |rating.system th|
00001290  61 74 20 69 73 20 73 69  6d 70 6c 65 20 73 6f 20  |at is simple so |
000012a0  49 20 63 61 6e 20 77 6f  72 6b 20 66 61 73 74 65  |I can work faste|
000012b0  72 2c 20 6e 6f 20 73 74  72 65 73 73 20 61 62 6f  |r, no stress abo|
000012c0  75 74 20 76 69 72 75 73  65 73 2c 0d 69 6e 66 69  |ut viruses,.infi|
000012d0  6e 69 74 65 73 73 69 6d  61 6c 6c 79 20 73 6c 6f  |nitessimally slo|
000012e0  77 65 72 20 6f 62 73 6f  6c 65 73 65 6e 63 65 20  |wer obsolesence |
000012f0  61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 72  69 6e 74 65 72 20 64 65  |and a printer de|
00001300  73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74  6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77  |signed to work w|
00001310  69 74 68 0d 74 68 65 20  6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 2e  |ith.the machine.|
00001320  20 20 41 4e 44 20 54 48  45 59 20 4f 4e 4c 59 20  |  AND THEY ONLY |
00001330  43 4f 53 54 20 60 31 30  30 21 20 20 57 41 53 20  |COST `100!  WAS |
00001340  49 20 42 4c 49 4e 44 3f  0d 0d 54 68 65 6e 2c 20  |I BLIND?..Then, |
00001350  77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 77  61 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20  |when I want the |
00001360  49 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74  2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 20  |Internet, I get |
00001370  61 6e 20 49 6e 74 65 72  6e 65 74 20 43 6f 6d 70  |an Internet Comp|
00001380  75 74 65 72 20 6c 69 6b  65 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65  |uter like the ne|
00001390  77 0d 43 6f 6d 6d 6f 64  6f 72 65 20 36 34 20 6f  |w.Commodore 64 o|
000013a0  72 20 74 68 65 20 41 63  6f 72 6e 20 4e 43 2e 20  |r the Acorn NC. |
000013b0  20 4e 6f 20 77 6f 72 72  79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  | No worry about |
000013c0  76 69 72 75 73 65 73 20  2d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c  |viruses - again,|
000013d0  20 66 61 73 74 65 72 0d  61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74  | faster.access t|
000013e0  69 6d 65 2c 20 73 69 6d  70 6c 65 72 20 74 65 63  |ime, simpler tec|
000013f0  68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20  61 6e 64 20 49 20 6b 6e  |hnology and I kn|
00001400  6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20  69 66 20 69 74 20 63 72  |ow that if it cr|
00001410  61 73 68 65 73 2c 20 49  20 6a 75 73 74 0d 70 72  |ashes, I just.pr|
00001420  65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20  72 65 73 65 74 20 62 75  |ess the reset bu|
00001430  74 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64  20 69 74 20 73 74 61 72  |tton and it star|
00001440  74 73 20 75 70 20 61 67  61 69 6e 20 28 75 6e 6c  |ts up again (unl|
00001450  69 6b 65 20 61 20 64 6f  64 67 79 20 50 43 20 2d  |ike a dodgy PC -|
00001460  20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 0d  66 69 6c 65 73 20 62 65  | you're.files be|
00001470  63 6f 6d 65 20 6d 69 6e  63 65 6d 65 61 74 20 69  |come mincemeat i|
00001480  66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65  20 75 6e 6c 75 63 6b 79  |f you're unlucky|
00001490  29 2e 20 20 4e 6f 74 20  74 6f 20 6d 65 6e 74 69  |).  Not to menti|
000014a0  6f 6e 20 67 65 74 74 69  6e 67 20 69 74 0d 74 68  |on getting it.th|
000014b0  72 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 79  20 54 56 20 73 6f 20 49  |rough my TV so I|
000014c0  20 63 61 6e 20 73 69 74  20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 73  | can sit on my s|
000014d0  6f 66 61 20 69 66 20 49  20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 2e  |ofa if I choose.|
000014e0  0d 0d 41 6e 64 20 74 68  65 20 67 61 6d 65 73 3f  |..And the games?|
000014f0  20 20 54 68 65 79 20 61  72 65 20 74 68 65 20 62  |  They are the b|
00001500  65 61 75 74 79 2e 20 20  41 20 53 6f 6e 79 20 50  |eauty.  A Sony P|
00001510  6c 61 79 73 74 61 74 69  6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d  |laystation for m|
00001520  65 21 20 20 54 68 65 79  0d 63 6f 6d 70 6c 61 69  |e!  They.complai|
00001530  6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  74 68 65 20 6c 6f 61 64  |n about the load|
00001540  69 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65  2e 20 20 48 6d 6d 20 2d  |ing time.  Hmm -|
00001550  20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72  65 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c  | I'm sure I coul|
00001560  64 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e  20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62  |d get in the hab|
00001570  69 74 0d 6f 66 20 6d 6f  61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 62  |it.of moaning ab|
00001580  6f 75 74 20 66 69 66 74  65 65 6e 20 73 65 63 6f  |out fifteen seco|
00001590  6e 64 73 2e 20 20 41 63  74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20  |nds.  Actually, |
000015a0  49 27 64 20 6c 6f 76 65  20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20  |I'd love to get |
000015b0  69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 0d  68 61 62 69 74 2e 20 20  |in that.habit.  |
000015c0  46 6f 72 67 65 74 20 79  6f 75 72 20 64 65 76 69  |Forget your devi|
000015d0  63 65 20 64 72 69 76 65  72 73 20 6f 72 20 6a 75  |ce drivers or ju|
000015e0  6d 70 69 6e 67 20 76 69  64 65 6f 73 2c 20 74 68  |mping videos, th|
000015f0  69 73 20 69 73 20 74 68  65 20 72 65 61 6c 0d 73  |is is the real.s|
00001600  63 68 61 62 61 6e 67 2e  20 20 48 69 67 68 65 72  |chabang.  Higher|
00001610  20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79  20 67 61 6d 65 70 6c 61  | quality gamepla|
00001620  79 2c 20 6c 6f 77 65 72  20 70 72 69 63 65 2c 20  |y, lower price, |
00001630  6d 6f 72 65 20 73 70 65  65 64 2e 20 20 57 68 61  |more speed.  Wha|
00001640  74 20 77 61 73 0d 77 72  6f 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68  |t was.wrong with|
00001650  20 6d 65 3f 0d 0d 4f 66  20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c  | me?..Of course,|
00001660  20 74 68 65 20 74 68 72  65 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68  | the three of th|
00001670  65 73 65 20 61 72 65 6e  27 74 20 6d 79 20 64 72  |ese aren't my dr|
00001680  65 61 6d 20 6d 61 63 68  69 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68  |eam machine.  Th|
00001690  65 72 65 27 6c 6c 20 62  65 0d 73 6f 6d 65 74 68  |ere'll be.someth|
000016a0  69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63  6f 6d 70 6c 61 69 6e 20  |ing to complain |
000016b0  61 62 6f 75 74 2e 20 20  42 75 74 20 74 68 65 20  |about.  But the |
000016c0  64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e  63 65 20 69 73 20 74 68  |difference is th|
000016d0  69 73 3a 20 74 68 65 79  20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65  |is: they will be|
000016e0  0d 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 72  2c 20 66 61 73 74 65 72  |.simpler, faster|
000016f0  2c 20 63 68 65 61 70 65  72 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20  |, cheaper, more |
00001700  65 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e  74 2c 20 77 6f 6e 27 74  |efficient, won't|
00001710  20 67 6f 20 6f 62 73 6f  6c 65 74 65 20 74 68 65  | go obsolete the|
00001720  20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61  79 0d 61 6e 64 20 2d 20  | next day.and - |
00001730  73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f  6e 65 20 62 72 65 61 6b  |should one break|
00001740  20 2d 20 79 6f 75 27 76  65 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 6e  | - you've got on|
00001750  65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20  74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 61  |e thing to repla|
00001760  63 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 61  6e 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65  |ce not an entire|
00001770  0d 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65  72 21 20 20 41 6c 6c 20  |.computer!  All |
00001780  6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20  66 6f 72 20 75 6e 64 65  |of this for unde|
00001790  72 20 60 35 30 30 2c 20  69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77  |r `500, if you w|
000017a0  61 6e 74 20 69 74 2e 20  20 54 68 61 74 20 6d 69  |ant it.  That mi|
000017b0  67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74  68 65 0d 65 6e 74 72 79  |ght be the.entry|
000017c0  20 70 72 69 63 65 20 6f  66 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20  | price of a new |
000017d0  63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72  20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c  |computer system,|
000017e0  20 62 75 74 20 49 20 77  6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 65  | but I would pre|
000017f0  66 65 72 20 74 68 65 6d  20 74 6f 20 61 20 74 6f  |fer them to a to|
00001800  70 0d 72 61 6e 67 65 20  50 65 6e 74 69 75 6d 20  |p.range Pentium |
00001810  49 49 2e 20 20 4e 6f 74  20 74 6f 20 6d 65 6e 74  |II.  Not to ment|
00001820  69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74  20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20  |ion that little |
00001830  74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68  61 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6d  |thing that a com|
00001840  70 75 74 65 72 20 66 6f  72 0d 60 35 30 30 20 69  |puter for.`500 i|
00001850  73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62  6c 79 20 61 6c 72 65 61  |s probably alrea|
00001860  64 79 20 6f 62 73 6f 6c  65 74 65 2e 0d 0d 47 6f  |dy obsolete...Go|
00001870  6f 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 45  6c 6b 2e 20 20 49 27 6c  |od old Elk.  I'l|
00001880  6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 68  65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20  |l keep her just |
00001890  66 6f 72 20 66 75 6e 2c  20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72  |for fun, of cour|
000018a0  73 65 2e 0d 0d 0d 52 6f  73 73 20 4c 69 74 74 6c  |se....Ross Littl|
000018b0  65 0d                                             |e.|
000018b2

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