[Coco] Nick's Survey results

[Mark Marlette]

At 06:56 AM 11/27/2003 +1000, you wrote:

Nick,

I have been extremely busy, nothing new there. I would say that the CoCo 
community is far from dead from the sales here at Cloud-9. Last month was 
unbelievable, one of the largest ever. I could give you $$$$ figures but 
that might be consider bragging which I'm not about. I did give a clue in 
the previous sentence though.

What I do with the CoCo? Hmmmmmm....time magnet, hardware development. I 
like to add technology to a computer that did have the opportunity when it 
was conceived. Almost all of my products have come from something I did and 
thoughts others would like as well. Others are projects that have been 
updated and brought back to the community because the original people have 
moved on to other interests and I would not let their work die!

As Robert has stated, I do use the PC to do my development, the tools today 
are outstanding! Do I enjoy it? Only because the output is going to the 
CoCo. Other than that no.

What I would like to see is a browser and like other have said is a new 
desktop GUI for both RSDOS and OS-9 which is REALLY called NitrOS-9 by 
Boisy's great work and MANY others, recent contributors are Robert Gault 
and  Rodney Hamilton, they are the ones that come to mind. In the past many 
more.... We need more people to step up to the plate. I also heard this 
week that Robert has added to that. You have been busy Robert! Good job.

The Ethernet add on of the SuperBoard adds the most of what is not 
available to the CoCo right now. Even though that work is not completed the 
development kits are available from ConnectOne. It is serial code much like 
the AT command set of yesteryear modems. AWESOME! What is nice about this 
that it will work on any computer with a serial port! Wrap it with a custom 
GUI for the targeted system and presto, SUPER app! All that information is 
available at ConnectOne's web site. WiFi CoCo?

Well it is late/early here.... Should get some sleep. Feverish pace here 
last week and Cloud-9, lots accomplished. CoCo dead? I don't think so, I'm 
closer to that than it is! That comment made after testing this past evening!

Regards,

Mark
Cloud-9






>The survey so far isn't a raging success with only 6 responses so far. I
>guess it's still early to call but I am getting some data about the current
>CoCo market and community.
>
>The results so far are of no surprise. Here is my summary, adding in some of
>my own personal observations from the list.
>
>My purpose for the survey is to ascertain the viability of me spending the
>next 6-12 months of my precious little spare time to develop another CoCo3
>game. I like developing games for the CoCo but the enjoyment falls a bit
>flat if there are few people to appreciate the effort.
>
>I see the CoCo community as a mature group of adults who are past the games
>stage and primarily interested in communicating with one another and are
>fond of OS9.
>
>While there are over 100 users on this list, the number of "active users"
>appears far less, probably 20-25 with the majority taking a "back seat
>observers post". Correct me if I'm wrong on this.
>
>As for active developers of saleable/commercial level products, this number
>falls even further with people such as Mark Marlett and Curtis Boyle as the
>main ones that I can see at this point. Again, correct me if I'm wrong.
>
>
>
>I have a few questions to ask.
>
>
>
>1) Has anyone developed a new (and better!) gui for OS-9?
>
>It's probably a bit late to suggest this but I feel OS-9 really needs an
>injection of user friendliness that may attract other less OS-9 centric
>people to OS-9. I know I've tried 3 times in my lifetime and each time I
>threw it across the room in discust with it's unfriendliness, slowness and
>bugginess. This was in the early days of CoCo OS-9 when there were bug lists
>for OS-9 spanning several pages. I understand the Nitros9 is far better but
>has anything been developed to utilize this added power of Nitros9?
>
>2) It seems to me that what the CoCo needs a central website that all CoCo
>users can look at to keep up with what's going on in the CoCo world. Back in
>the "good-old-days" we had the CoCo magazines as a way of keeping up to
>date. Later, there was ???? (forgot his name) website that was kept
>up-to-date with CoCo developments. Now it seems all that is lost. Apart from
>this CoCoList (thanks Dennis!) We need a site were we can look and see what
>products are in development by others, read up on the latest CoCo news and
>going on's (Fests etc).
>
>3) Anyone interested in a good pinball game for the CoCo? What about an
>arcade perfect version of Defender? A new CoCo3 update of Zaxxon, like Z'89
>only faster and extended gameplay?
>
>4) And lastly, has anyone been able to find out more info about this
>mystical 256 color mode of the GIME? Does it or does it not exist? I'm still
>looking for the author of the book, "Super Extended Color Basic Unravelled".
>Does anyone know where I can contact someone from Spectral Associates? These
>guys worked closely with Radio Shack during those CoCo3 development days and
>may have some answers.
>
>
>
>Ok, off my soap box now before the tomatoes start to fly!
>
>Nickolas Marentes
>
>
>
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