Path: utzoo!attcan!telly!lethe!torsqnt!tmsoft!masnet!canremote!doug.purdy
From: doug.purdy@canremote.uucp (DOUG PURDY)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: Homecum 640k acts like 64
Message-ID: <89092920434743@masnet.uucp>
Date: 29 Sep 89 02:32:00 GMT
Organization: Canada Remote Systems Limited, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Lines: 49

Bought a program called Willow from Mindscape this spring for my
daughter Megan, who's 8. She doesn't like the shoot-'em-ups so she
usually asks for educational software.
 
But she often starts the program, then turns the machine off before it's 
loaded or part way through the game. She finds the thing just spends too 
much time loading things from the disk.
 
I can't fault Mindscape, they have a warning on the package that a fast
loader cartridge is recommended.
 
But I feel let down with this happening on our C128 with 1750 REU, 1571
and 1581 disk drives. How did it come to pass that this fast, powerful
machine can't run software any better than a 64k, 1541 combo?
 
I can't help but feel that a whole lot of people have "conspired" to
drop the ball here. Why is it so hard to include routines to take
advantage of the hardware available? Why aren't such routines widely
available and at low prices? Was everyone so busy writing advanced copy
programs they couldn't see the need for proper libraries of powerful
routines? Did they write them but hoard them instead of offering them
for sale?
 
Where are the real professional Commodore programmers? Why do many
programs feel like they were created by some first time amateur with
professional graphics tacked on as an afterthought?
 
With the 1581 available at such low prices, why is anything written
exclusively for the notoriously slow and expensive 1541? Why is Willow
too slow and awkward for a 640k machine with an 800k 1581 when the whole 
thing is less than 500k? I can't see why it shouldn't be a dream on a
256k REU equipped C64!
 
A C64 programmer friend who's hot on the anti piracy  issue feels fast
loader cartridges should be banned. But isn't it this ridiculous
situation that  creates the need for them, making it impossible to buy a 
REU, continuing the situation?
 
Is this what folks can expect for the Amiga? I get the impression Amiga
piracy is widespread and shareware limited. Aren't they going to end up
in the same place?
 
Doug Purdy - sysop Learning Experience - C128 support - (416) 665-3263
                   3/12/2400, 24hr, 7 days, GT netnode 053/012
 
     Also  - DOUGPURDY@CANREMOTE.UUCP    //    Punternet:  2/Doug Purdy
           - CanConfMail/Smartnet:   Geos/C64 or CP/M areas, Doug Purdy
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