csa8 FAQ?

[Gryzor]

I think this had been discussed in the Zone a while ago; but yesterday I recalled the official FAQ, and I thought, even though we're not csa8, maybe it'd be worth it to update it and publish it? It would make an excellent starting point...

[AMSDOS]

I think this had been discussed in the Zone a while ago; but yesterday I recalled the official FAQ, and I thought, even though we're not csa8, maybe it'd be worth it to update it and publish it? It would make an excellent starting point...

The FAQ itself was written by Emmanuel Roussin, Mark Ray & Frank van Empel with Emmanuel Roussin covering the CPC section (Section A). Might have to get permission from Genesis8 before using it perhaps!    It's got some very good questions which may work very well as some kind of main page (titled FAQ perhaps?).

[Gryzor]

I was thinking that it could be the starting point, with links to the different articles...

Anyone has their email addresses? Or are they in the FAQ? I think it hasn't been evolved in years...

[AMSDOS]

16th October 2005 appears to be the date the last one was issued (v1.32 of the English FAQ).

Just noticed this bit which I was wondering about:

Amstrad made the following CPC systems :

  - 1) CPC 464 (Arnold 1),
  - 2) CPC 664 (Arnold 2),
  - 3) CPC 6128 (Arnold 3), there was also a CPC6128 cost down (Arnold 4
    which was identical in operation to the original 6128 but had a new
    PCB and ASIC that reduced the board size and chip count to a mere
    fraction of the original size. If you open up a 6128 and the board
    fills the entire space you've got one of the originals. If you open
    one up and the board only occupies about 1/4 to 1/3 of the available
    space with a LOT of surrounding fresh air then you've got an Arnold 4.

Was under the impression that the CPC464 was simply called Arnold and that the CPC664 was called IDIOT (Insert Disc Instead of Tape) and the CPC6128 was the Big IDIOT (Big cause it's got 128k). I know it's somewhat stupid, I read this in AA at some point, probably when the CPC464 turned 10 in 1994.

[Gryzor]

Yeah, we've all heard that, but I don't know the source. But it wouldn't be impossible for them to have several code names during development...

The more I read it the more I feel we should update and incorporate it...

[Gryzor]

So, no interest in updating the FAQ? I can't do it alone, since I don't have all necessary knowledge...

[AMSDOS]

I think what we've got now on the Wiki is appropriate in the way information is being updated and processed, so people can literally see what sorts of hardware & software is being recently been developed. The role of the FAQ is simply there for people with Questions on how to do this or that, in that sense it would be easier to update with things like Emulators & Emulator Tools which are of recent addition to it, though in a way they become news items which gets stored on here and in places like Genesis8.

At the moment though I'm working on compiling a long list of Serious Software AA reviewed.   

[Gryzor]

Well, the thing is precisely that: the FAQ could be updated in a custom form with links to relevant pages, and thus form a fantastic intro... or no?

[SyX]

Great Idea Gryzor!!!

[AMSDOS]

Well, the thing is precisely that: the FAQ could be updated in a custom form with links to relevant pages, and thus form a fantastic intro... or no?

The idea is great, finding a dedicated soul that is more than happy to contribute maybe another matter!    It's like being able to get the horse to drink the water once your guided the Horse to that water source!

[Gryzor]

Um... yeah, well, that's what the wiki is for, crowdsourcing... it wouldn't be *one* person that would do it, that's the point!

[AMSDOS]

Um... yeah, well, that's what the wiki is for, crowdsourcing... it wouldn't be *one* person that would do it, that's the point!

So it's really a matter of sourcing what can be extracted from the FAQ and used on the Wiki. Perhaps people want the FAQ split into managable groups so there can be some way of incorporating it into the Wiki in a way everyone can easily feed it in.

[Gryzor]

Maybe not split, but made into a landing page ("Start HERE!")...

But, strangely, I see very little interest; maybe I'll begin work myself and hopefully others will be tempted into it?

[AMSDOS]

Maybe not split, but made into a landing page ("Start HERE!")...

But, strangely, I see very little interest; maybe I'll begin work myself and hopefully others will be tempted into it?

Some clues I reckon as to why people have moved on since the FAQ used to be issued, would have a lot to do with the age of it and the answers to those questions. Agreed that FAQ was a lifeline for people like myself which would have moved onto PC technologies, though still had an interest in the CPC. Sadly as time as moved on, the Internet has become a bit more indepth, even back in 2000, the World Wide Web was comparable to when it first began, though now it seems an exchange of information on the Net has made it more interactive and open - people want your news, text, photos, videos, music, etc! What's this got to do with the CSA8 FAQ?? FAQs are wonderful things, though my best answer to this one is this FAQ is done in the old School of thought, it was updated once a month I think and then posted up on the Internet in ASCII and HTML format. Because a lot of water has travelled between now and when it was last done, the information on it while it's relevent, some of it is also old school in the PC department - e.g. Emulators on it are primary DOS based and while I would agree that DOS has got some very good emulators, people generally don't play around with DOS these days, nor do people want old PCs just to do this!    (Having said all that I was telling someone the other day how it's a joke we're still relying on Hard Disk Design technologies today which were created nearly 30 years ago!!).

Don't get me wrong, having the FAQ on the Wiki is a good idea, were you thinking of incorporating the other machines like the PCWs & NCs as they have done in the FAQ?