From mboxrd@z Thu Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
Message-ID: <74ded0f5bd544f58fffc3c7e0f23884a@vitanuova.com>
To: 9fans@cse.psu.edu
Subject: Re: [9fans] memory stick
From: rog@vitanuova.com
In-Reply-To: <3ED61D7E.1060108@proweb.co.uk>
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Date: Fri, 30 May 2003 14:55:19 +0100
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> >Wow! That's almost exactly my history too! Thanks for the link, it
> >brought back many happy memories. The 380Z had the best
> >"Software front panel" (in ROM), that I've ever seen, before or since.
> >
> just basic for me, I was 10/11 y.o.
> We only got access to it outside of school hours but luckily I was the
> only one of the 1000+ pupils interested in doing so.

i also remember the 380Z with fondness (and the "J103" code...
amazing how these things stay with you!).

i used to use it to produce documents, printed on our new flash
daisywheel, using a program called TexEd AFAIR, which was my first
introduction to troff-like escape sequences.  when i came across troff
on unix later, i felt completely at home!

i never did anything but the most redimentary programming on the 380Z
though: BBC B's were the thing.  it still amazes me how fast BBC basic
was, especially when i recall it used 32-bits (floating point by
default!)  for all its arithmetic.

it was partly the abiding memory of that gloriously simple platform
that made me veer towards plan 9, i think.