1980's computers

Did anyone see the programme last night following Clive Sinclair and the guys at Acorn / BBC Micro producing the first home computers.

Fascinating programme showing the development of the first real home computers and the story of the people behind them. Manic Miner / Jet Set Willy

The good old days of computing ! Cambridge Uni Braniacs the lot of them.

How many times did Clive Sinclair go bankrupt ! Amazing !
How did Microsoft suceed when these guys failed ? Longer term outlook / full understanding of what computers could do in the future ?

The along came Alan Sugar and bought up all the failed businesses

I had an Atari 520 it was the fooking nuts, James Pond, Alcatraz and Pit Fighter FTW

Interesting article about Gates and risk..
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/09/13/bill-gates-risk-taker/#more-2164

james pond great name

zx Spectrum owner here

managed to programme
10 print " dicki "
20 goto 10

how technical it was in the good old days

if only i read computer weekly rather than watching thundercats i might have gone bankrupt at least a couple of times by now !

How did Microsoft suceed when these guys failed ? Longer term outlook / full understanding of what computers could do in the future ?

Sinclair failed because of the reasons you saw in the film, Clive didn't think the computer thing had a real future until it was too late.

Microsoft succeeded because they didn't get into the proprietary hardware and software game.

They got paid by IBM to create a DOS, but IBM weren't smart enough to make sure they had exclusivity so MS were also able to market what was effectively the same software to the IBM PC clone manufacturers.

The presence of clones drove the price of the PC down to attainable levels

Once they had DOS in almost all PC desktops, it was a relatively small step to create the killer app that was Windows.

Better business acumen. Gates was / is a business man, more than he is a computer geek.

There was a major element of being in the right place at the right time though, IBM wanted an operating system and Gates licensed 86-Dos from Seattle Computer Products specifically to re-license to IBM. Microsoft later bought the IP for $75k and then turned it into MS-DOS.

Who wants MS-DOS when you can play space invaders, I'm quite addicted to this.....
http://www.freespaceinvaders.org/

how does one go about inventing a programming language
boggles the mind it really does

i remember using a zx-80 at primary school.
really wanted a spectrum with a ram pac to play jet set willy.
i was the only pupil doing computer studies o-level who didn't own a computer :-( (we were poor)

There was a lot of snobbery about what computer you had, zx spectrum was cool and the bbc was for squares (I base this on the fact that Andrew Clifford had one and he played piano). I had a Raleigh Burner instead.

When beginning in IT we used these to start servers. That's 8-inches by the way.

And these to run programs.

Microsoft did zeros and ones, let everybody else get their hands stuck in the mire of computer construction and profited as they steadily became commoditised.

My first computer:

how does one go about inventing a programming language
boggles the mind it really does

I've done it, it's really good fun.

Having said that, my colleague has made one that people actually use!

I agree, wasn't disputing his business acumen but he did get a lucky break.

my first computer .... glad my family avoided the zx-80 thats was shitter than the sprectrum by a long way just looking at it and the desktop pc in front of me now sure makes one appreciate technology !

get your hammer out to depress the rubber buttons
also you needs triple jointed fingers to press three buttons at the same time

nice looking bit of design though like the bbc micro it looked pretty cool when it first appeared

First computer was a C64, with printer and disk drive. Still got it somewhere, Tapper, Dropzone, Dizzy...

i still have my (parents') zx spectrum!! although haven't got it out of the box for quite a while... fav program was manic miner - i found a linux emulator again a few years ago that let me run it, although i've lost it again now. brilliant! we had a zx81 before that, with the plugin 4k extra ram module at the back.

does anyone remember prestel? kind of like the precursor to the internet: you got it via the phone line onto your computer and were able to browse through it on the tele?

I've done it, it's really good fun.

Having said that, my colleague has made one that people actually use!

how d you right it? In assembly?

@doca Yep. I stayed with a girlfriend in Paris in the early ninties and they had this thing in the hall, where the phone was, called 'minitel' that I think was a similar sytem, I was led to believe lots of people had them in Paris. But I never saw it being used.

Sinclair failed because of the reasons you saw in the film, Clive didn't think the computer thing had a real future until it was too late.

Microsoft succeeded because they didn't get into the proprietary hardware and software game.

They got paid by IBM to create a DOS, but IBM weren't smart enough to make sure they had exclusivity so MS were also able to market what was effectively the same software to the IBM PC clone manufacturers.

The presence of clones drove the price of the PC down to attainable levels

Once they had DOS in almost all PC desktops, it was a relatively small step to create the killer app that was Windows.

You iz like well brainy innit.

I have to say I don't really care about all this who did what and who made a million out of it and who didn't, the why's and wherefores. They can't take it with them, and I doubt very much that Bill Gates has any more friends than when he started. In fact its likely to be a lot less. Like, none. Don't envy the rich, kids, they're wankers now.

What matters is loving each other and cooking and being able to do things like mend your roof when it leaks, or shear sheep.

Fuck computers. In fact, I'm going to flounce. Right now.

bye.

First computer was a C64, with printer and disk drive. Still got it somewhere, Tapper, Dropzone, Dizzy...

I downloaded a Spectrum emulator the other day to have a look at some of the games (it vaguely related to some work research). It's mind-boggling that we used to spend so long on them - they were incredibly basic. F'rinstance I remember Skool Daze as being brilliantly witty and fiendishly complicated when in fact it's about as rewarding as a two-star iPhone free app.

Fuck computers.

hmmmm? I don't get that.

DOH! I'm meant to have flounced dammit.

How the fuck did I miss that program? Dicki what channel was it on?

I had a Vic 20, then a Commodore 128
MOC still has 2 64's and an Amiga 500 at home.

Commodore rules.

@clefty - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n5b92/Micro_Men/