By the way, we never saw any 8 bit ISA LAN card. Therefore we think of creation LAN card for Sprinter.
But if somebody has a lot of 8 bit ISA LAN card we ready to change our plan.

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PETERS PLUS LTD

"Our convertor ISA-ZX bus was used with old mainboard Sp97. We need test this device with Sp2000.
And I think we should know how many users has real GS or other devices which can use ZX bus."
***********
One: Sorry, but EVERY zx model must have ZX-BUS to connect every Speccy hardware... It doesn't matter if I use it or not. I must have this possibility. I can buy in every time many devices using zx-bus.
Two: everybody can make GS by himself I think. (Am I wrong?)
Second: imagine such a situation: I have no GS on Sprinter, but I load a game with GS-music, I start it, and now I can hear GS music - exact like on real GS - IN THIS CASE You don't have to make GS connection.
But emulation of GS had to be PERFECT. And not slow-down work of whole computer.
Is THAT possible??? I am very interested.

"4) Sound of Sprinter DACs is awfull - only 8 bit samples played on a 16 bit DAC! As I heard in SpDOOM, only TWO channels are used! Samples on demand aren't available. "
***********
Only 2 channels of sound in 2002 year is unacceptable for me. So AY will be better?!?!? (It has 3 channels of digital sound). Every musican is interested in 4-channel digital sound, it's sure, people. If You don't believe me, just check it out. Ask ZX musicians...
So Sprinter has only 2 channels of digital sound????????

Yerz

"4) Sound of Sprinter DACs is awfull - only 8 bit samples played on a 16 bit DAC! As I heard in SpDOOM, only TWO channels are used! Samples on demand aren't available. "
***********
Only 2 channels of sound in 2002 year is unacceptable for me. So AY will be better?!?!? (It has 3 channels of digital sound). Every musican is interested in 4-channel digital sound, it's sure, people. If You don't believe me, just check it out. Ask ZX musicians...
So Sprinter has only 2 channels of digital sound????????

Yerz

At first, Sprinter computer is not ZX clone. It is original computer with Z80 CPU, which has Spectrum configuration for support Spectrum software. We never have a plan about support ALL ZX periphery. Yes, GS is not bad sound card for 8 bit computer, but it is not so popular in the Spectrum World. Less than one hundred GS cards was manufactured from 1996 to 1999 years. Today, GS made in single copies for single orders, only.
Support of Spectrum software with GS sound is a problem. But we have not any ideas about it, today.


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PETERS PLUS LTD

Yes. Today only two channels. But in modern model of computer only. But the next model of Sprinter (in the next year) will be has more than 4 channels. And you will need not change mainboard of Sprinter. It will be done in the Altera PLD.

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PETERS PLUS LTD

>At first, Sprinter computer is not ZX clone. It is original >computer with Z80 CPU, which has Spectrum configuration >for support Spectrum software.

Ha-ha, say it louder. We will see how many fans of Sinclair will abandon though of buying your machine. Ha-ha.



>We never have a plan
>about support ALL ZX periphery.

Ha-ha-ha, you're getting better and better. Say it louder too. It's a very good market-trick. Now you'd just say that next sprinter will not be compatible with Spectrum, ha-ha. We will see, who buy this computer then.
Try to understand: now people has POWERFUL PC COMPUTERS. (Or MACs). They don't need any 21Mhz comp.
They are interested in sprinter as long as it's a new model of Sinclair Zx Spectrum with new great possibilities. (Great possibilities in comparison to Speccy of course...)
THEY are your the most important clients.



>Yes, GS is not bad sound
>card for 8 bit computer, but it is not so popular in the >Spectrum World.
Well, maybe. But it is THE ONLY card which was ever so near to make STANDARD!!!!! There are MANY programs to support GS for Speccy. Games... Trackers... Players... So don't say me, that GS is 'not so popular'.
Oh, and one more thing. GS WILL BE still more and more popular, as it is emulated by one of the best Speccy emulators, "Z80 STEALTH". Thirst - people must know about it. Second - they will buy it then. Or make it by themselves.
Nowadays Sprinter's sound sucks. You have two optional ways.
1) Iprove the sound and make one more 'standard', which will make more mess.
2) Use PRESENT standard - GS (and maybe improve it in the future).
Think about it. Every firm depends on its clients.



>Less than one hundred GS cards was
>manufactured from 1996 to 1999 years. Today, GS made in >single copies for single orders, only.
Yes, I don't doubt it. It might be true.
But read my above text.



>Support of Spectrum software with GS sound is a problem. >But we have not any ideas about it, today.
It's a problem? In technical way?
What kind of problem, may I ask? I am interested in some details in this subject.

We never deceived anybody. We is always open spoke about features of Sprinter computer. Why we opened this forum, in your opinion?
And today's features of our computer is more then a possibility of support Spectrum software. Our plan is progress of graphic features ,sound, hardware support. We propose a lot of interesting features of 8 bit computer with flexible architecture. Solderer need not for the mainboard upgrade.

About GS. I am never said about unpossibility of usage real GS with Sprinter. It was in past. And we testing it for Sp2000 now.
But emulation of GS in PLD is another problem. Do you have real suggestions?

And just one. The competition with Spectrum emulators is wrong way.



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PETERS PLUS LTD

Why we do not make a poll:
You would on purpose buy a GS ISA for the Sprinter?

>And today's features of our computer is more then a >possibility of support Spectrum software.

I realize. And I am very glad because of it. I admire sprinter-constructors and designers.



>Our plan is progress of graphic features ,sound, hardware >support.

That's a great news too.



>We propose a lot of interesting features of 8 bit computer >with flexible architecture.

Fantastic.
So now - if you opened this forum - suggest you, that maybe it would be a good idea to implement GS into speinter, as it would extent its sound possibilities very much. (Esspecially in comparison to present possibilities).
If you are going to make next year better sound than GS, then I only suggest: resonable would be to make it compatible with previous the best sound-standard: GS.
Don't you think it makes sense?????????????????



>But emulation of GS in PLD is another problem. Do you have >real suggestions?

Sadly I am not a computer-constructor. I regret.
Is this forum only for computer-constructor or for normal users too??




>And just one. The competition with Spectrum emulators is >wrong way.
Yes, I realize you could be right... Maybe.
But abandoning Spectrum family (compatibility, peripherials and stuff) - it's THE WORST way. I am completelly sure about it.
Read carefuly my previous post.
Everybody has powerful PCs and MACs. Spectrum freaks are the most interested in this machine.
Do you want to share SAM COUPE's producers faith?
Nobody wants, I am sure.

I wish you YEARS of good work and great business results. But I am a user and potential client (and I know more of them), so I wrote here some of my suggestions.