Well, Q-Link went live in September 1985, although versions of the PlayNet software that preceded Q were around for a bit before that, but I don't think as far back as '83.
Actually, JMS has noted that they were going to find the cure to the Drakh plague early in the second season. At that point, we would have discovered that Crusade wasn't about the plague at all, but about the questions asked in the show's opening. Who do you serve and who do you trust?
He posted the scripts from two episodes of season 1 that were unproduced (the season's first primary arc episode, and the season 1 finale) on a web site about a year and a half ago, but the site is now out of business.
If you look around the web, you can find them. They give very intriguing hints towards where the story was going.
$700? Not quite. The Pioneer DVR-A03, which is the same drive the Apple uses, can be found for as little as $389. (First place I looked: http://www.esbuy.com/piondvcomdri.html)
There's a version that has a firewire connector built around the drive for $495.
The Pioneer DVRA03 is available, for those interested in a DVD-R drive, for around $430. You can get it for $400 if you look around enough. (Try eBay.)
The firewire version of the drive runs around $575, though it's tougher to find.
(And many tv DVD players won't recognize DVD+RW discs, as the HP creates. Make sure you find out before you buy one.)
For me, it's not a question of backing up my HD or making MP3 discs. I want one so I can burn DVD videos of the stuff I record and edit on my D8 camcorder. For that purpose, a DVD-R drive is magnificently suited.
QLink existed for a long time after Quantum Computer Services started their other services. There was PC-Link, AppleLink Personal Edition, and Promenade (for PS1).
When the three non-C64 services were combined, only then did they become AOL. There was talk for a while about folding QLink into AOL, but the code wasn't very compatible, and as the C64 market declined, it became an irrelevent goal.
A lot of what's still AOL is based on QLink, from not only the organization of the system, but the 23 person limit in chat rooms. You know why AOL limits you to 23 people in a chat room? Because any more than 23 would overwhelm the Commodore 64 stack.
(For a long time until the early 90s, AOL wouldn't let you create usernames that started with "Q." Why? Because those were reserved names on QLink and there was still thought about combining the two.)
QLink itself, though falling apart, stayed open until at least the fall of 1992. I believe the last day was 10-31-92, but I'm not postitive.
BTW, for those who are interested in a TiVo but don't want to spend $300 on one, know that Circuit City is selling the Phillips DSR600R DirecTiVo units for $99. Most stores are also including a dual LNB dish and installation for free.
You can go to the CC site, find the DTiVo, and then check to see if your local store has any in stock. I've had a DTiVo for about 6 months and love it -- I picked up one for my parents Wednesday.
FWIW, I was at Best Buy last night and at least one of the XM-radio stereos was going for $189.
It's a good idea, but they're missing one of the things that would really sell it: rebroadcasting of specifical local stations to a nationwide audience. I saw they're using an L.A. top 40 station for one of the pop stations, which is fine, but if I were them, I'd get on the phone to the major sports talk stations in New York, Boston, Chicago, Denver, etc. and sign them up.
I'm sure there are thousands of displaced New Yorkers who'd kill to listen to WFAN around the country so they could hear Vinnie from Bensonhurst complaining about the Yankees' bullpen.
Last I checked, Sprint was running a promo that had 2000 minutes for $75, long distance included, with no roaming charges as long as you stay on the digital network. (Which isn't hard, if you're in major cities.)
Yes, waiting on line a month for a movie is crazy, that's the point. While everyone sits here and looks down their nose at Lincoln and the other guys on line, they're having a blast. A few celebrities (Jay Leno, Jake Lloyd) have made a visit to the line, they've got all kinds of free toys to play with from local electronics stores...and most importantly, IT'S FOR CHARITY.
(https://www.starlightcan.org/form.cfm)
I'm sure they know it's silly, but you know what, in 20 years it'll be a fun story to tell. Embrace the silly stuff, there's not enough of it out there anymore. Those guys are having a blast, and more power to them.
Slashdot Mirror
Well, Q-Link went live in September 1985, although versions of the PlayNet software that preceded Q were around for a bit before that, but I don't think as far back as '83.
Actually, JMS has noted that they were going to find the cure to the Drakh plague early in the second season. At that point, we would have discovered that Crusade wasn't about the plague at all, but about the questions asked in the show's opening. Who do you serve and who do you trust?
He posted the scripts from two episodes of season 1 that were unproduced (the season's first primary arc episode, and the season 1 finale) on a web site about a year and a half ago, but the site is now out of business.
If you look around the web, you can find them. They give very intriguing hints towards where the story was going.
$700? Not quite. The Pioneer DVR-A03, which is the same drive the Apple uses, can be found for as little as $389. (First place I looked: http://www.esbuy.com/piondvcomdri.html)
There's a version that has a firewire connector built around the drive for $495.
The Pioneer DVRA03 is available, for those interested in a DVD-R drive, for around $430. You can get it for $400 if you look around enough. (Try eBay.)
The firewire version of the drive runs around $575, though it's tougher to find.
(And many tv DVD players won't recognize DVD+RW discs, as the HP creates. Make sure you find out before you buy one.)
For me, it's not a question of backing up my HD or making MP3 discs. I want one so I can burn DVD videos of the stuff I record and edit on my D8 camcorder. For that purpose, a DVD-R drive is magnificently suited.
Actually, it wasn't so linear.
QLink existed for a long time after Quantum Computer Services started their other services. There was PC-Link, AppleLink Personal Edition, and Promenade (for PS1).
When the three non-C64 services were combined, only then did they become AOL. There was talk for a while about folding QLink into AOL, but the code wasn't very compatible, and as the C64 market declined, it became an irrelevent goal.
A lot of what's still AOL is based on QLink, from not only the organization of the system, but the 23 person limit in chat rooms. You know why AOL limits you to 23 people in a chat room? Because any more than 23 would overwhelm the Commodore 64 stack.
(For a long time until the early 90s, AOL wouldn't let you create usernames that started with "Q." Why? Because those were reserved names on QLink and there was still thought about combining the two.)
QLink itself, though falling apart, stayed open until at least the fall of 1992. I believe the last day was 10-31-92, but I'm not postitive.
BTW, for those who are interested in a TiVo but don't want to spend $300 on one, know that Circuit City is selling the Phillips DSR600R DirecTiVo units for $99. Most stores are also including a dual LNB dish and installation for free.
You can go to the CC site, find the DTiVo, and then check to see if your local store has any in stock. I've had a DTiVo for about 6 months and love it -- I picked up one for my parents Wednesday.
FWIW, I was at Best Buy last night and at least one of the XM-radio stereos was going for $189.
It's a good idea, but they're missing one of the things that would really sell it: rebroadcasting of specifical local stations to a nationwide audience. I saw they're using an L.A. top 40 station for one of the pop stations, which is fine, but if I were them, I'd get on the phone to the major sports talk stations in New York, Boston, Chicago, Denver, etc. and sign them up.
I'm sure there are thousands of displaced New Yorkers who'd kill to listen to WFAN around the country so they could hear Vinnie from Bensonhurst complaining about the Yankees' bullpen.
Last I checked, Sprint was running a promo that had 2000 minutes for $75, long distance included, with no roaming charges as long as you stay on the digital network. (Which isn't hard, if you're in major cities.)
> Col. Sanders' secret blend of 11 herbs and spices
Flour, salt, pepper and MSG.
Really. That's it. The key is the way it's cooked, not the spices.
Geez, folks, have you no sense of fun?
Yes, waiting on line a month for a movie is crazy, that's the point. While everyone sits here and looks down their nose at Lincoln and the other guys on line, they're having a blast.
A few celebrities (Jay Leno, Jake Lloyd) have made a visit to the line, they've got all kinds of free toys to play with from local electronics stores...and most importantly, IT'S FOR CHARITY.
(https://www.starlightcan.org/form.cfm)
I'm sure they know it's silly, but you know what, in 20 years it'll be a fun story to tell. Embrace the silly stuff, there's not enough of it out there anymore. Those guys are having a blast, and more power to them.