Classic Computers vs. Classic Computing

From: Iggy Drougge <optimus_at_canit.se>
Date: Fri Sep 14 19:56:14 2001

Eric J. Korpela skrev:

>> I don't like emulators one bit. I run them every so often, but I really
>> prefer the original whenever I can. I don't really trust emulations, but
>> that's not the main point.
>>
>There is a point to emulators for those of us that are space constrained.
>I don't have the space to have more than two desktop-sized machines
>set up simulaneously. So for me, an emulator is a substitute for
>spending an hour packing away one machine and setting up another. Of
>course, the machines with good emulator support are the ones that I find
>least interesting so they'd rarely get set up anyway.

I'm having a hard time believing that anyone could have bigger space
constraints than I (since you've got an .edu address, we might be in similar
situations =). Whenever I run a micro, I take it out of storage and put it in
my lap for the duration of the session.
Mind you, emulators may be nice if you can't be bothered. Digging out my
Dragon would be such a chore ATM that I'd have to change clothes in order not
to soil my everydays. The PCDragon emulator is nice to have in that case. Or
if I just would like to check out a function in MSX-BASIC, then AmiMSX vill di
just fine. But if I'm going to spend an evening with said language, pulling
out the computer in question is certainly worth it.
And I would never consider using a C64 emulator for anything but trying out
something quickly, perhaps in order to validate a statement in a message to
the list or something.
Even though this prevents me from running a lot of nice software, due to a
lack of proper transfer methods, I don't think it's worth it experiencing it
through an emulator. I'd rather just wait for the day when I find a way to run
it on a real Commie.
Emulators are just substitutes, and I don't settle for those if I have any
choice.

But, if you're into running TOPS-10, and not a PDP, you have my blessing. =)
And space constraints take on a whole new dimension if you're into running
minis. But if there's any chance that I might encounter and run the original,
I'll settle for that, even if it may take years.

>In the case of CP/M machines, running an emulator on a modern machine with
>a decent OS greatly improves the development environment. I find myself
>developing software on my PIII in a native editor, compiling/assembling with
>MyZ80, and transfering it to the CP/M machines for use there. (Not that I do
>a lot of CP/M development.)

Much like the PCDragon, I suppose. While it's an emulator by name, it's also a
development environment, which is why I'm fond of it.

--
En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
Georgie beundrade stor?gt sin pappa som med v?ldsamma slag gick l?s p? det
stora tr?det. Han badade i svett, och den muskul?sa kroppen bl?nkte i
solskenet. Hon ?lskade honom.
    Lady Georgie, TMS 1983
Received on Fri Sep 14 2001 - 19:56:14 BST

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