In message <udugu6$2ifeb$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:40:38 on Thu, 14 Sep
2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>On Thu, 14 Sep 2023 01:46:28 +0100
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>In message <udsmae$26mr4$1@dont-email.me>, at 16:00:14 on Wed, 13 Sep
>>2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>On Tue, 12 Sep 2023 17:46:24 +0100
>>>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>>In message <udi3be$4j7q$1@dont-email.me>, at 15:35:10 on Sat, 9 Sep
>>>>2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>>>On Sat, 9 Sep 2023 16:28:37 +0100
>>>>>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>>The printer mechanisms, however many pins they had, like the FDDs,
>>>>>>were all manufactured specifically for Amstrad. The idea that there
>>>>>>was a warehouse with 8 million obsolete/unsaleable ones is beyond
>>>>>>preposterous.
>>>>>
>>>>>I bet there was a warehouse of 3 inch disks and drives that nobody except
>>>>>amstrad wanted towards the end of the 80s.
>>>>
>>>>You'd lose that bet. And of course you've completely lost the plot,
>>>>which was that allegedly in 1983 we chose the 3" format because there
>>>>was already such a warehouse. There wasn't.
>>>
>>>I've no doubt Sir Grumpy got some nice delboy type deal on them.
>>
>>You can't get any kind of deal on things which simply don't exist, but
>>are part of some co-ordinated disinformation campaign.
>
>What do you mean don't exist? Amstrad didn't invent the 3 inch disk.

What didn't exist was a warehouse full of unsaleable 3" drives. Hitachi
had a few hundred, maybe a few thousand, with classic cast aluminium
chassis, of which we acquired a handful to construct prototypes. All
subsequent production was with folded steel chassis, made to order.

Those prototype drives were used to load the software at the 464 launch
around Easter 1984, six months before the 464 was in the shops, let
alone the DDI-1 productionised FDD add-on being available to the public.
--
Roland Perry

On Fri, 15 Sep 2023 04:11:27 +0100
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>In message <udugrt$2if15$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:39:25 on Thu, 14 Sep
>>And you track them down to Warsaw and then what? Send in the lads? By the
>>time you'd got any pre EU legal necessities sorted they'll be long gone and
>>all you'll find is an empty flat/warehouse. Get real.
>
>To make pirate cartridges requires a silicon foundry to make the chips,
>and someone else to make the plastic case and the retail packaging. If
>the people who cracked the encryption have gone to ground, you can still
>fatally disrupt that manufacturing cycle.

Probably, but by that time they've made their money and will have moved on.
In fact they only need to actually sell a small amount, just enough to sucker
in loads of people to send in cash which they collect without sending any
goods back then bugger off.

"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
news:9ksoDkC1p8AlFA6g@perry.uk...
> In message <IdednUvKiL3aZ5_4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
> 13:19:17 on Thu, 14 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>
>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>news:U1hEeT9DllAlFAu8@perry.uk...
>>>>
>>>>A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing out
>>>>three times as fast and taking three times as long.
>>>
>>> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts. And with many printers
>>> lasting into this millenium you're a bit wonky with the longevity
>>> prediction.
>>
>>I forget rollers to advance the paper a minimal amount. (half a pin
>>height at a time, at a wild guess )
>>
>>But without rubber belts how was the print head moved back and forth
>>along the rail(s) ? The only alternative I can envisage is a geared
>>stepper motor attached to the print head acting directly on the rail.
>
> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt.

Go on I dare you. They're not real rubber, they're not even real
neoprene, they're made of "Amprene" developed by some mates of
yours, working in artificial rubber research.

> The head doesn't move up and down, it's the paper which is wrapped round a
> roller that does that dimension.

It looks like your membership of the East Anglian Branch of the
Straw Man Propagation Society is safe for another year.
As quite obviously vertical movement is supplied by the roller
rolling the paper, while horizontal movement is supplied by the
print head activated by the toothed Amprene belt.

>
> You can do the sums yourself, but the most popular font size is probably
> 12 point, and that would be three passes for every line. Very slightly
> advanced for each pass, then a big shift for the next line.
>
>>The only prediction was that printers making three passes would only
>>last a third as long, as printers making a single pass.
>
> Printers expiring because of wear on the head was unheard of. In the long
> term a bigger issue was the supply of new ribbons.

It really looks at though you're going all out for that Straw Man
Propagation Society Gold Medal. Nobody claimed that print heads
were especially vulnerable. Simply that like all complex machinery
printers are only as robust as their weakest link. Which could
be absolutely anything.

>>Quite possibly there are aspiring novelists still out there tapping away
>>at their PCWs who have only ever printed out say, 800 pages in total.
>
> There may be some, but I'd expect the printer to be capable of hundreds of
> pages a day, for years on end.
>
>>>>I'm not knocking it, was obviously a substantial and unheralded
>>>>achievement to get that close - if only you could actually remember how
>>>>many pins there were.
>>>
>>> Go on then - how many?
>>
>>I don't claim to know, I certainly can't remember and I have no source
>>of evidence such as an old printer knocking around or any documentary
>>evidence to consult.
>>
>>You first confidently claimed there were eight pins. Are you still
>>standing by that claim ?
>
> It's eight or nine, but the important number is the effective quality when
> printing not-in-draft.

Er "the effective quality when printing not-in-draft" is not a number.

Examples of numbers are words like "eight" or "nine". And please don't
pretend that you don't yourself know how many it was.

All you need do is just say, was it eight or was it nine ?

You know it makes sense.

bb

"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
news:20QqHfBEc8AlFAbh@perry.uk...

> They've been the walking-dead for about two years now. Needed some glue
> about a month ago, and the whole section was empty.

Indeed. First they stopped offering their own-brand two
part epoxy. That was maybe a year or two ago.

And then within the last few months the display of the various
types of Gorilla Glue was allowed to run down. With no original
on offer at all.

bb

In message <ue1ca5$36snm$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:40:06 on Fri, 15 Sep
2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>On Fri, 15 Sep 2023 04:11:27 +0100
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>In message <udugrt$2if15$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:39:25 on Thu, 14 Sep
>>>And you track them down to Warsaw and then what? Send in the lads? By the
>>>time you'd got any pre EU legal necessities sorted they'll be long gone and
>>>all you'll find is an empty flat/warehouse. Get real.
>>
>>To make pirate cartridges requires a silicon foundry to make the chips,
>>and someone else to make the plastic case and the retail packaging. If
>>the people who cracked the encryption have gone to ground, you can still
>>fatally disrupt that manufacturing cycle.
>
>Probably, but by that time they've made their money and will have moved on.

How do you make money and move on if no-one will manufacture the chips
for you?

>In fact they only need to actually sell a small amount, just enough to sucker
>in loads of people to send in cash which they collect without sending any
>goods back then bugger off.

That's a completely different fraud vector, and they'd make money easier
selling fake Rolex.
--
Roland Perry

On Sat, 16 Sep 2023 07:27:12 +0100
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>In message <ue1ca5$36snm$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:40:06 on Fri, 15 Sep
>2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>On Fri, 15 Sep 2023 04:11:27 +0100
>>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>In message <udugrt$2if15$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:39:25 on Thu, 14 Sep
>>>>And you track them down to Warsaw and then what? Send in the lads? By the
>>>>time you'd got any pre EU legal necessities sorted they'll be long gone and
>>>>all you'll find is an empty flat/warehouse. Get real.
>>>
>>>To make pirate cartridges requires a silicon foundry to make the chips,
>>>and someone else to make the plastic case and the retail packaging. If
>>>the people who cracked the encryption have gone to ground, you can still
>>>fatally disrupt that manufacturing cycle.
>>
>>Probably, but by that time they've made their money and will have moved on.
>
>How do you make money and move on if no-one will manufacture the chips
>for you?

Don't know. Ask all the fraudsters who did do this sort of thing in the past.

In message <ue3r1h$3oons$1@dont-email.me>, at 09:03:45 on Sat, 16 Sep
2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>On Sat, 16 Sep 2023 07:27:12 +0100
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>In message <ue1ca5$36snm$1@dont-email.me>, at 10:40:06 on Fri, 15 Sep
>>2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>On Fri, 15 Sep 2023 04:11:27 +0100
>>>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>>In message <udugrt$2if15$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:39:25 on Thu, 14 Sep
>>>>>And you track them down to Warsaw and then what? Send in the lads? By the
>>>>>time you'd got any pre EU legal necessities sorted they'll be long gone and
>>>>>all you'll find is an empty flat/warehouse. Get real.
>>>>
>>>>To make pirate cartridges requires a silicon foundry to make the chips,
>>>>and someone else to make the plastic case and the retail packaging. If
>>>>the people who cracked the encryption have gone to ground, you can still
>>>>fatally disrupt that manufacturing cycle.
>>>
>>>Probably, but by that time they've made their money and will have moved on.
>>
>>How do you make money and move on if no-one will manufacture the chips
>>for you?
>
>Don't know. Ask all the fraudsters who did do this sort of thing in the past.

That's a null set.
--
Roland Perry

In message <hlKdnc3pZ5aQ6pn4nZ2dnZfqnPSdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
16:23:56 on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>
>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>news:9ksoDkC1p8AlFA6g@perry.uk...
>> In message <IdednUvKiL3aZ5_4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>> 13:19:17 on Thu, 14 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>
>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>news:U1hEeT9DllAlFAu8@perry.uk...
>>>>>
>>>>>A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing out
>>>>>three times as fast and taking three times as long.
>>>>
>>>> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts. And with many printers
>>>> lasting into this millenium you're a bit wonky with the longevity
>>>> prediction.
>>>
>>>I forget rollers to advance the paper a minimal amount. (half a pin
>>>height at a time, at a wild guess )
>>>
>>>But without rubber belts how was the print head moved back and forth
>>>along the rail(s) ? The only alternative I can envisage is a geared
>>>stepper motor attached to the print head acting directly on the rail.
>>
>> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt.
>
>Go on I dare you. They're not real rubber, they're not even real
>neoprene, they're made of "Amprene" developed by some mates of
>yours, working in artificial rubber research.

I don't know what your point is.

[snip more unintelligible stuff]

>>>You first confidently claimed there were eight pins. Are you still
>>>standing by that claim ?
>>
>> It's eight or nine, but the important number is the effective quality when
>> printing not-in-draft.
>
>Er "the effective quality when printing not-in-draft" is not a number.

The quality is usually described by the number of pins used to deliver
it. Or do you have some objection to that colloquialism?

--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
news:FPjW5PYA7BClFA$b@perry.uk...
> In message <hlKdnc3pZ5aQ6pn4nZ2dnZfqnPSdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
> 16:23:56 on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>
>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>news:9ksoDkC1p8AlFA6g@perry.uk...
>>> In message <IdednUvKiL3aZ5_4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>> 13:19:17 on Thu, 14 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>>
>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>news:U1hEeT9DllAlFAu8@perry.uk...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing out
>>>>>>three times as fast and taking three times as long.
>>>>>
>>>>> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts. And with many printers
>>>>> lasting into this millenium you're a bit wonky with the longevity
>>>>> prediction.
>>>>
>>>>I forget rollers to advance the paper a minimal amount. (half a pin
>>>>height at a time, at a wild guess )
>>>>
>>>>But without rubber belts how was the print head moved back and forth
>>>>along the rail(s) ? The only alternative I can envisage is a geared
>>>>stepper motor attached to the print head acting directly on the rail.
>>>
>>> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt.
>>
>>Go on I dare you. They're not real rubber, they're not even real
>>neoprene, they're made of "Amprene" developed by some mates of
>>yours, working in artificial rubber research.
>
> I don't know what your point is.

I was simply making light of the fact that you were apparently unaware of
the fact that PCW printer had a rubber belt

> 16:23:56 on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:

> A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing out
> three times as fast and taking three times as long.

"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote

> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts.

Which, when the implausibility of such a set-up was pointed out to
you, you then corrected with

"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote

> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt

I'm still finding the greatest difficulty in understanding how you could
possibly have overlooked the necessity of having a rubber belt on the
PCW printer - or on any dot matrix printer, for that matter.

So I chose instead, to make light of the fact.

>
> [snip more unintelligible stuff]

To you, evidently.

>
>>>>You first confidently claimed there were eight pins. Are you still
>>>>standing by that claim ?
>>>
>>> It's eight or nine, but the important number is the effective quality
>>> when
>>> printing not-in-draft.
>>
>>Er "the effective quality when printing not-in-draft" is not a number.
>
> The quality is usually described by the number of pins used to deliver it.
> Or do you have some objection to that colloquialism?

None whatsoever. So what "was" the number of pins ?

That's "all" I've been asking, all along.

bb

In message <qcqcnXQoM9VlDpX4nZ2dnZfqn_WdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
19:16:23 on Mon, 18 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>
>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>news:FPjW5PYA7BClFA$b@perry.uk...
>> In message <hlKdnc3pZ5aQ6pn4nZ2dnZfqnPSdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>> 16:23:56 on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>
>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>news:9ksoDkC1p8AlFA6g@perry.uk...
>>>> In message <IdednUvKiL3aZ5_4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>> 13:19:17 on Thu, 14 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>>>
>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>news:U1hEeT9DllAlFAu8@perry.uk...
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing out
>>>>>>>three times as fast and taking three times as long.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts. And with many printers
>>>>>> lasting into this millenium you're a bit wonky with the longevity
>>>>>> prediction.
>>>>>
>>>>>I forget rollers to advance the paper a minimal amount. (half a pin
>>>>>height at a time, at a wild guess )
>>>>>
>>>>>But without rubber belts how was the print head moved back and forth
>>>>>along the rail(s) ? The only alternative I can envisage is a geared
>>>>>stepper motor attached to the print head acting directly on the rail.
>>>>
>>>> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt.
>>>
>>>Go on I dare you. They're not real rubber, they're not even real
>>>neoprene, they're made of "Amprene" developed by some mates of
>>>yours, working in artificial rubber research.
>>
>> I don't know what your point is.
>
>I was simply making light of the fact that you were apparently unaware of
>the fact that PCW printer had a rubber belt

As I have one on the table in front of me, that would be difficult.

>>>Er "the effective quality when printing not-in-draft" is not a number.
>>
>> The quality is usually described by the number of pins used to deliver it.
>> Or do you have some objection to that colloquialism?
>
>None whatsoever. So what "was" the number of pins ?
>
>That's "all" I've been asking, all along.

I'll do a recount later.
--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
news:cd$w9MByy1ClFAde@perry.uk...
> In message <qcqcnXQoM9VlDpX4nZ2dnZfqn_WdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
> 19:16:23 on Mon, 18 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>
>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>news:FPjW5PYA7BClFA$b@perry.uk...
>>> In message <hlKdnc3pZ5aQ6pn4nZ2dnZfqnPSdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>> 16:23:56 on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>>
>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>news:9ksoDkC1p8AlFA6g@perry.uk...
>>>>> In message <IdednUvKiL3aZ5_4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>>> 13:19:17 on Thu, 14 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com>
>>>>> remarked:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:U1hEeT9DllAlFAu8@perry.uk...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing out
>>>>>>>>three times as fast and taking three times as long.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts. And with many
>>>>>>> printers
>>>>>>> lasting into this millenium you're a bit wonky with the longevity
>>>>>>> prediction.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I forget rollers to advance the paper a minimal amount. (half a pin
>>>>>>height at a time, at a wild guess )
>>>>>>
>>>>>>But without rubber belts how was the print head moved back and forth
>>>>>>along the rail(s) ? The only alternative I can envisage is a geared
>>>>>>stepper motor attached to the print head acting directly on the rail.
>>>>>
>>>>> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt.
>>>>
>>>>Go on I dare you. They're not real rubber, they're not even real
>>>>neoprene, they're made of "Amprene" developed by some mates of
>>>>yours, working in artificial rubber research.
>>>
>>> I don't know what your point is.
>>
>>I was simply making light of the fact that you were apparently unaware of
>>the fact that PCW printer had a rubber belt
>
> As I have one on the table in front of me, that would be difficult.

And still available on eBay for around �25. A neat looking piece of kit
even allowing for the ribbon cable and power lead

>
>>>>Er "the effective quality when printing not-in-draft" is not a number.
>>>
>>> The quality is usually described by the number of pins used to deliver
>>> it.
>>> Or do you have some objection to that colloquialism?
>>
>>None whatsoever. So what "was" the number of pins ?
>>
>>That's "all" I've been asking, all along.
>
> I'll do a recount later.

I was watching a VHS tape from 1993, recorded in SP and still surprisngly
good quality, 2 eps of Tim Hunkin's "Secret Life of Machines" when up
popped an ad for the Amstrad NC100. Which looked quite impressive.
Even if, with the benefit of hindight along with its successor
it was somewhat limited in being pawered by 4 AA batteries with no
mains option. Apparently he used one, to write the manual himself

Although it was not without its fans

https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/home-computer-how-computers-should-be-sue-schofield-shoulders-her-amstrad-notebook-and-takes-a-swiss-army-knife-to-the-opposition-1483758.html

Presumably related to Jack.

And Wilko in their death throes have indeed turned to shite. Needing
a can of air freshener for the bins I made a last ever visit on tuesday.
They only had Lenor which the checkout gun (which had been reinstated)
revealed was �3.50. No thanks. Over the road to Lidl 4 different
varieties 60p a can.

bb

In message <cd$w9MByy1ClFAde@perry.uk>, at 21:57:22 on Wed, 20 Sep 2023,
Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> remarked:
>In message <qcqcnXQoM9VlDpX4nZ2dnZfqn_WdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>19:16:23 on Mon, 18 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>
>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>news:FPjW5PYA7BClFA$b@perry.uk...
>>> In message <hlKdnc3pZ5aQ6pn4nZ2dnZfqnPSdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>> 16:23:56 on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>>
>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>news:9ksoDkC1p8AlFA6g@perry.uk...
>>>>> In message <IdednUvKiL3aZ5_4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>>> 13:19:17 on Thu, 14 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:U1hEeT9DllAlFAu8@perry.uk...
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing out
>>>>>>>>three times as fast and taking three times as long.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts. And with many printers
>>>>>>> lasting into this millenium you're a bit wonky with the longevity
>>>>>>> prediction.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I forget rollers to advance the paper a minimal amount. (half a pin
>>>>>>height at a time, at a wild guess )
>>>>>>
>>>>>>But without rubber belts how was the print head moved back and forth
>>>>>>along the rail(s) ? The only alternative I can envisage is a geared
>>>>>>stepper motor attached to the print head acting directly on the rail.
>>>>>
>>>>> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt.
>>>>
>>>>Go on I dare you. They're not real rubber, they're not even real
>>>>neoprene, they're made of "Amprene" developed by some mates of
>>>>yours, working in artificial rubber research.
>>>
>>> I don't know what your point is.
>>
>>I was simply making light of the fact that you were apparently unaware of
>>the fact that PCW printer had a rubber belt
>
>As I have one on the table in front of me, that would be difficult.
>
>>>>Er "the effective quality when printing not-in-draft" is not a number.
>>>
>>> The quality is usually described by the number of pins used to deliver it.
>>> Or do you have some objection to that colloquialism?
>>
>>None whatsoever. So what "was" the number of pins ?
>>
>>That's "all" I've been asking, all along.
>
>I'll do a recount later.

I haven't forgotten, but a never-ending stream of domestic emergencies
has got in the way.
--
Roland Perry

In message <XiednU9xPMQk65H4nZ2dnZfqn_udnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
18:00:38 on Thu, 21 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>
>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>news:cd$w9MByy1ClFAde@perry.uk...
>> In message <qcqcnXQoM9VlDpX4nZ2dnZfqn_WdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>> 19:16:23 on Mon, 18 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>
>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>news:FPjW5PYA7BClFA$b@perry.uk...
>>>> In message <hlKdnc3pZ5aQ6pn4nZ2dnZfqnPSdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>> 16:23:56 on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>>>
>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>news:9ksoDkC1p8AlFA6g@perry.uk...
>>>>>> In message <IdednUvKiL3aZ5_4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>>>> 13:19:17 on Thu, 14 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com>
>>>>>> remarked:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>>>news:U1hEeT9DllAlFAu8@perry.uk...
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing out
>>>>>>>>>three times as fast and taking three times as long.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts. And with many
>>>>>>>> printers
>>>>>>>> lasting into this millenium you're a bit wonky with the longevity
>>>>>>>> prediction.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I forget rollers to advance the paper a minimal amount. (half a pin
>>>>>>>height at a time, at a wild guess )
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>But without rubber belts how was the print head moved back and forth
>>>>>>>along the rail(s) ? The only alternative I can envisage is a geared
>>>>>>>stepper motor attached to the print head acting directly on the rail.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt.
>>>>>
>>>>>Go on I dare you. They're not real rubber, they're not even real
>>>>>neoprene, they're made of "Amprene" developed by some mates of
>>>>>yours, working in artificial rubber research.
>>>>
>>>> I don't know what your point is.
>>>
>>>I was simply making light of the fact that you were apparently unaware of
>>>the fact that PCW printer had a rubber belt
>>
>> As I have one on the table in front of me, that would be difficult.
>
>And still available on eBay for around £25. A neat looking piece of kit
>even allowing for the ribbon cable and power lead
>
>>
>>>>>Er "the effective quality when printing not-in-draft" is not a number.
>>>>
>>>> The quality is usually described by the number of pins used to deliver
>>>> it.
>>>> Or do you have some objection to that colloquialism?
>>>
>>>None whatsoever. So what "was" the number of pins ?
>>>
>>>That's "all" I've been asking, all along.
>>
>> I'll do a recount later.
>
>
>I was watching a VHS tape from 1993, recorded in SP and still surprisngly
>good quality, 2 eps of Tim Hunkin's "Secret Life of Machines" when up
>popped an ad for the Amstrad NC100. Which looked quite impressive.
>Even if, with the benefit of hindight along with its successor
>it was somewhat limited in being pawered by 4 AA batteries with no
>mains option. Apparently he used one, to write the manual himself
>
>Although it was not without its fans
>
>
>https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/home-computer
>-how-computers-should-be-sue-schofield-shoulders-her-amstrad-notebook-an
>d-takes-a-swiss-army-knife-to-the-opposition-1483758.html
>
>Presumably related to Jack.
>
>And Wilko in their death throes have indeed turned to shite. Needing
>a can of air freshener for the bins I made a last ever visit on tuesday.
>They only had Lenor which the checkout gun (which had been reinstated)
>revealed was £3.50. No thanks. Over the road to Lidl 4 different
>varieties 60p a can.

A fortnight ago, I suppose it was, I bought the second-to-last job lot
of stuff from the Wilko here. £1 for a trolley-full. Better value,
maybe, than the day before, when everything was 80% off. But at least
you got to choose what to put in the trolley ;)

There's rumours it's going to "re-open" presumably as a-The-Range
because they've bought the trading name and apparently will continue to
market some Wilko products primarily on-line.
--
Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
news:LV+CdCMvelPlFA3y@perry.uk...
> In message <cd$w9MByy1ClFAde@perry.uk>, at 21:57:22 on Wed, 20 Sep 2023,
> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> remarked:
>>In message <qcqcnXQoM9VlDpX4nZ2dnZfqn_WdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>19:16:23 on Mon, 18 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>
>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>news:FPjW5PYA7BClFA$b@perry.uk...
>>>> In message <hlKdnc3pZ5aQ6pn4nZ2dnZfqnPSdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>> 16:23:56 on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>>>
>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>news:9ksoDkC1p8AlFA6g@perry.uk...
>>>>>> In message <IdednUvKiL3aZ5_4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>>>> 13:19:17 on Thu, 14 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com>
>>>>>> remarked:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>>>news:U1hEeT9DllAlFAu8@perry.uk...
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing out
>>>>>>>>>three times as fast and taking three times as long.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts. And with many
>>>>>>>> printers
>>>>>>>> lasting into this millenium you're a bit wonky with the longevity
>>>>>>>> prediction.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I forget rollers to advance the paper a minimal amount. (half a pin
>>>>>>>height at a time, at a wild guess )
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>But without rubber belts how was the print head moved back and forth
>>>>>>>along the rail(s) ? The only alternative I can envisage is a geared
>>>>>>>stepper motor attached to the print head acting directly on the rail.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt.
>>>>>
>>>>>Go on I dare you. They're not real rubber, they're not even real
>>>>>neoprene, they're made of "Amprene" developed by some mates of
>>>>>yours, working in artificial rubber research.
>>>>
>>>> I don't know what your point is.
>>>
>>>I was simply making light of the fact that you were apparently unaware of
>>>the fact that PCW printer had a rubber belt
>>
>>As I have one on the table in front of me, that would be difficult.
>>
>>>>>Er "the effective quality when printing not-in-draft" is not a number.
>>>>
>>>> The quality is usually described by the number of pins used to deliver
>>>> it.
>>>> Or do you have some objection to that colloquialism?
>>>
>>>None whatsoever. So what "was" the number of pins ?
>>>
>>>That's "all" I've been asking, all along.
>>
>>I'll do a recount later.
>
> I haven't forgotten, but a never-ending stream of domestic emergencies has
> got in the way.

All now resolved satisfactorily, it is to be hoped.

bb

> --
> Roland Perry

"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
news:iVtItGNjmlPlFAyw@perry.uk...
> In message <XiednU9xPMQk65H4nZ2dnZfqn_udnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
> 18:00:38 on Thu, 21 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>
>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>news:cd$w9MByy1ClFAde@perry.uk...
>>> In message <qcqcnXQoM9VlDpX4nZ2dnZfqn_WdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>> 19:16:23 on Mon, 18 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>>
>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>news:FPjW5PYA7BClFA$b@perry.uk...
>>>>> In message <hlKdnc3pZ5aQ6pn4nZ2dnZfqnPSdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>>> 16:23:56 on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com>
>>>>> remarked:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:9ksoDkC1p8AlFA6g@perry.uk...
>>>>>>> In message <IdednUvKiL3aZ5_4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>>>>> 13:19:17 on Thu, 14 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com>
>>>>>>> remarked:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>news:U1hEeT9DllAlFAu8@perry.uk...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing
>>>>>>>>>>out
>>>>>>>>>>three times as fast and taking three times as long.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts. And with many
>>>>>>>>> printers
>>>>>>>>> lasting into this millenium you're a bit wonky with the longevity
>>>>>>>>> prediction.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I forget rollers to advance the paper a minimal amount. (half a pin
>>>>>>>>height at a time, at a wild guess )
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>But without rubber belts how was the print head moved back and forth
>>>>>>>>along the rail(s) ? The only alternative I can envisage is a geared
>>>>>>>>stepper motor attached to the print head acting directly on the
>>>>>>>>rail.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Go on I dare you. They're not real rubber, they're not even real
>>>>>>neoprene, they're made of "Amprene" developed by some mates of
>>>>>>yours, working in artificial rubber research.
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't know what your point is.
>>>>
>>>>I was simply making light of the fact that you were apparently unaware
>>>>of
>>>>the fact that PCW printer had a rubber belt
>>>
>>> As I have one on the table in front of me, that would be difficult.
>>
>>And still available on eBay for around �25. A neat looking piece of kit
>>even allowing for the ribbon cable and power lead
>>
>>>
>>>>>>Er "the effective quality when printing not-in-draft" is not a number.
>>>>>
>>>>> The quality is usually described by the number of pins used to deliver
>>>>> it.
>>>>> Or do you have some objection to that colloquialism?
>>>>
>>>>None whatsoever. So what "was" the number of pins ?
>>>>
>>>>That's "all" I've been asking, all along.
>>>
>>> I'll do a recount later.
>>
>>
>>I was watching a VHS tape from 1993, recorded in SP and still surprisngly
>>good quality, 2 eps of Tim Hunkin's "Secret Life of Machines" when up
>>popped an ad for the Amstrad NC100. Which looked quite impressive.
>>Even if, with the benefit of hindight along with its successor
>>it was somewhat limited in being pawered by 4 AA batteries with no
>>mains option. Apparently he used one, to write the manual himself
>>
>>Although it was not without its fans
>>
>>
>>https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/home-computer
>>-how-computers-should-be-sue-schofield-shoulders-her-amstrad-notebook-an
>>d-takes-a-swiss-army-knife-to-the-opposition-1483758.html
>>
>>Presumably related to Jack.
>>
>>And Wilko in their death throes have indeed turned to shite. Needing
>>a can of air freshener for the bins I made a last ever visit on tuesday.
>>They only had Lenor which the checkout gun (which had been reinstated)
>>revealed was �3.50. No thanks. Over the road to Lidl 4 different
>>varieties 60p a can.
>
> A fortnight ago, I suppose it was, I bought the second-to-last job lot of
> stuff from the Wilko here. �1 for a trolley-full. Better value, maybe,
> than the day before, when everything was 80% off. But at least you got to
> choose what to put in the trolley ;)
>
> There's rumours it's going to "re-open" presumably as a-The-Range because
> they've bought the trading name and apparently will continue to market
> some Wilko products primarily on-line.

I suspect that one of the (many) reasons Wilko went bust was simply because
they offered too much value for money, over too big a range of items.
Everything from brake blocks for the bike to white plastic covered coat
hangers which when stripped back were a cheaply available source
of thick wire (for anyone who needed it at least), pick and mix
bags of nuts screws washers and bolts �1.99 and �2.99 ISTR
Yet despite the cheap prices Wilko always exuded quality somehow
rather than just cheap and possibly nasty as with poundstores

(I eventually found out the hard way - as in the last thing
you'd think of - that poundland USB extension leads won't
necessarily perform quite as well as will the more expensive
stuff)

I doubt we will ever see their like again on the High St
at least.

The local large Wilko, formerly a Woolworth, has now been taken
over by Poundland. With the back partitioned off and the rest of it
selling stuff now going up to �5.

There used to be a Poundland on this High St before, almost directly
across the road (but limited to �1). But that closed became a Lidl.
While wll before that it was a Victor Value ISTR.

bb

"billy bookcase" <billy@anon.com> wrote in message
news:bJScnY-C6PKm4KP4nZ2dnZfqnPGdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk...
>
> (I eventually found out the hard way - as in the last thing
> you'd think of - that poundland USB extension leads won't
> necessarily perform quite as well as will the more expensive
> stuff)
>

Ahaaa !

After typing that...Ive got two machines in room upstairs
under a long desk connected to all sorts of peripherals.
Its just a load of spaghetti under there basically. One of
the keyboards started playing up - press "c" and you'd get
"cccccccccccccccccccccccccc". Having just had a look, for some
inexplicable reason going back years it was connected via
a Poundland USB extension, which is no longer necessary
in any case. But they all seem to fail after about
a couple of years of trouble free use.

bb

In message <1dOcnYB6vqp85aP4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
15:23:10 on Sun, 29 Oct 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>
>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>news:LV+CdCMvelPlFA3y@perry.uk...
>> In message <cd$w9MByy1ClFAde@perry.uk>, at 21:57:22 on Wed, 20 Sep 2023,
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> remarked:
>>>In message <qcqcnXQoM9VlDpX4nZ2dnZfqn_WdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>19:16:23 on Mon, 18 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>>
>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>news:FPjW5PYA7BClFA$b@perry.uk...
>>>>> In message <hlKdnc3pZ5aQ6pn4nZ2dnZfqnPSdnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>>> 16:23:56 on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com> remarked:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>>news:9ksoDkC1p8AlFA6g@perry.uk...
>>>>>>> In message <IdednUvKiL3aZ5_4nZ2dnZfqn_idnZ2d@brightview.co.uk>, at
>>>>>>> 13:19:17 on Thu, 14 Sep 2023, billy bookcase <billy@anon.com>
>>>>>>> remarked:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>"Roland Perry" <roland@perry.uk> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>news:U1hEeT9DllAlFAu8@perry.uk...
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>A technology of stepper motors, rails, and rubber belts wearing out
>>>>>>>>>>three times as fast and taking three times as long.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Stepper motors and rails, but no rubber belts. And with many
>>>>>>>>> lasting into this millenium you're a bit wonky with the
>>>>>>>>>longevity prediction.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I forget rollers to advance the paper a minimal amount. (half a pin
>>>>>>>>height at a time, at a wild guess )
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>But without rubber belts how was the print head moved back and forth
>>>>>>>>along the rail(s) ? The only alternative I can envisage is a geared
>>>>>>>>stepper motor attached to the print head acting directly on the rail.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> OK, the left/right motion on the printer head is by a toothed belt.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Go on I dare you. They're not real rubber, they're not even real
>>>>>>neoprene, they're made of "Amprene" developed by some mates of
>>>>>>yours, working in artificial rubber research.
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't know what your point is.
>>>>
>>>>I was simply making light of the fact that you were apparently unaware of
>>>>the fact that PCW printer had a rubber belt
>>>
>>>As I have one on the table in front of me, that would be difficult.
>>>
>>>>>>Er "the effective quality when printing not-in-draft" is not a number.
>>>>>
>>>>> The quality is usually described by the number of pins used to deliver
>>>>> it.
>>>>> Or do you have some objection to that colloquialism?
>>>>
>>>>None whatsoever. So what "was" the number of pins ?
>>>>
>>>>That's "all" I've been asking, all along.
>>>
>>>I'll do a recount later.
>>
>> I haven't forgotten, but a never-ending stream of domestic emergencies has
>> got in the way.
>
>All now resolved satisfactorily, it is to be hoped.

Some have been, but other new ones have arisen. Today I'm able to have a
bit of "me time" but it all kicks off again tomorrow.

I'm currently trying to gatecrash (as a speaker) the 2pm slot here, for
example: https://www.linx.net/events/linx-120/
--
Roland Perry