QL Quill Adventure Creation System

A copy of this on microdrive cartridge just went for £38.00 on ebay. That is more I think than new. Who would buy this. I remember the version for the Sinclair Spectrum from many years ago. While it was OK it was limited to text only. What do collectors do. Do they have black box QLs as these are the only systems that can read the microdrive cartridges. The tape in the cartridges must be 20+ years old, so it won't last forever. Buying microdrive software cannot be thought of as a longterm investment.

If anyone knows what collectors do with this sort of stuff let me know. Are there standalone microdrives that plug into USB ports on PCs for transfer of the data. Should I expect a swathe of new text adventures released into QL Heaven

Quanta Magazine August/September

This hit the carpet the other day. So whats new in Quanta world. Well its colour now. There were colour screen shots - the first ever in the Quanta magazine! Here are some clips of some of the pages.

 

 

The content was quite good as well. Two new freeware programs from Dilwyn Jones site some updates to other software, a bit of intellectual stuff about chaos theory and some practical stuff on how to transfer files to emulators. All in all a good edition. If anyone reading this is a lapsed Quanta memeber, now is the time to resubscribe. Just go to their site and follow the instructions : Quanta Web site

Thats all for now

What is This

So what is the difference between these 2 plug in boxes. The one on the right is a TK2 ROM from CARE Electronics, while the one on the left is unmarked except if it is opened there is a ROM with a sticker on it stating that it is a Toolkit 2 ROM. This box has an amateur finish, and the soldering is amateur. I have done better myself. Is it a prototype or did they sell TK2 roms like this in the 1980s. I acquired the one on the right in the 1990s. 

Short Postings

ebay : An original QL went there for £201 - thats probably more than it cost new. Admittedly it was in working order and with the complete original packing.

Quanta magazine : I have just seen a copy of a 1986 issue with an article wondering about the future of the QL as a result of the Amstrad takeover of Sinclair. Somethings change and some dont.

Thats all for now