[Coco] PopStar Pilot blog offline

[Brian Blake]

On 2/24/2015 10:41 AM, Al Hartman wrote:
> I'm sorry, but it isn't rude to ask for what I want. Which is a simple 
> 4-slot MPI clone.

Neither was Nick when he mentioned what he'd like - it was a feature 
request.

>
> It will be faster to develop, easier to debug, requires no drivers, 
> and will be the least expensive option.
>
> When you start adding RS-232, sound chips, floppy and hard disk 
> controllers, and the kitchen sink -- it increases the complexity, 
> development time, and most importantly... price.

Really... I didn't know that. I'm sure nobody on this list knew that. 
And as my second message stated, it's really up to the person developing 
the device to decide what they want in it - such as Camillus and his 
design. Or Jim and his design. When you can make one of your own, then 
do so. Otherwise, let the guys doing it decide how far they want to take it.

>
> If the CocoSDC cost $200.00, how many less would it have sold?
>
> Go look at Peter Bertlett's MISE project. A wonderful project for the 
> TRS-80 Model I that has lots of stuff in it. It's like a CocoSDC with 
> a real time clock, Ethernet, VGA, Joystick port, and more...
>
> http://home.comcast.net/~bartlett.p/MISE/

I have looked at it. My reasons for not buying one are far simpler - I 
don't own a Model I or III/IV

>
> If you think it's rude to ask for a simple, inexpensive MPI clone, I 
> don't know what to say.

Your condescending tone is what was rude. Lecturing Nick about how much 
you were a part of with Zebra and your assumption that he didn't have a 
clue about product development cycles or design was rude and 
condescending. Sorry, my opinion.


>
> Nick is just upset that his desire to have a mezzanine connector on 
> the CocoSDC was vetoed. And, is taking it personally that his desire 
> to make the tail wag the dog with an MPI isn't being jumped on as the 
> next best thing to sliced bread.

The same argument could be made of you and your desires. How many times 
in the past have you finished off an email with 'is that too much to 
ask?' When you're not the one developing it, it just might be too much 
to ask. That's all Nick was asking for, and it didn't happen. Frankly, I 
don't blame Darren or Ed - the SDC works fine as it is. End of story. 
Quite likely no MPI would ever be made with the features Nick wanted. 
But if you can make requests so can Nick and everyone else, preferably 
without having to be lectured about the stupidity of their request.

>
> I've suggested tons of times over the past 10 years features for a 
> cloned Coco. Every time, nothing comes of it. Do I take it personally? 
> No.

I'll go out on a limb here and say nobody will ever clone a CoCo in 
hardware. Closest we came was Gary Becker, and we all know how that 
turned out.

>
> I live on a fixed income. I can only afford things that are in the $50 
> area every so often. 

Venture to say you're not alone.

> In the last two years, I've sunk hundreds of dollars buying disk 
> drives, an EPROM eraser, diskettes, DW cable, a USB serial port, and 
> other things for my Coco. I've contributed software and documentation 
> that I have that would otherwise be lost. And if I had help to go 
> through my boxes of stuff, I have tons more software and manuals that 
> people would like to have. I know somewhere I have a box of MC-10 
> Terminal software tapes. I know I have 30 tapes of Coco software like 
> Omni-Klone and others. I have masters to most every Spectrum Projects 
> program along with manuals, and especially those programs Zebra 
> Systems licensed and sold in the late 80's as I re-wrote and put 
> together newer laser printed manuals to replaces the 10th generation 
> Xeroxed manuals Spectrum provided originally printed on a Juki or a 
> Dot Matrix Printer.
>
> Developing hardware and software is no place for ego and easily hurt 
> feelings. If others can feel free to make suggestions, so can I. 
> That's not rude.

Again, read my above comment.

>
> Imagine how it feels to want an MPI, have every eBay auction for one 
> go over $100.00, and then have hopes for a kit in your price range, 
> and then have people talking about turning it into some thing you will 
> never be able to afford.

Imagine how it feels to have to sell some of your CoCo hardware to make 
some ends meet. White CoCo 1 - gone. TDP-100 - gone. Two J&M controllers 
- gone. Grey CoCo with HJL-57 keyboard - gone. Complete in box MPI - 
gone. You're in no position to lecture me or anyone on this list who 
have had to make sacrifices for the expense of living. Get over 
yourself, you're not alone.

>
> Think about that before you attack me for being rude.
>
> -[ Al ]-

I didn't attack you, Al. I could, but, I will not. But I will point out 
when someone's rude behavior causes a contributing member of the CoCo 
community to leave.

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