[access-uk] Re: [access-uk]Eureka memories

  • From: "Carol Pearson" <carol.pearson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:04:35 -0000

We're all laughing now, Jackie!  Good one!

--
Carol
carol.pearson@xxxxxxxxxxxx
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jackie Cairns" <cairnsplace@xxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 6:43 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: [access-uk]Eureka memories
Chris and David, I always laugh at a really wonderful practical joke Ian and I played on our local Society many moons ago with Eureka. Mine had to go back to Techno-Vision for the Advanced User Options upgrade. While she was gone, Ian and I borrowed the standard Eureka from our local Society. They never used it, nor knew how to. In fact, the then Corporate Services Manager, David, hated the very sight of it. So for a laugh, when we handed it back to them when our own machine came home, we booby-trapped it because we got fed up with David lambasting her. Those who used Eureka may remember the horrendously noisy alarm she had that woke you up if you were that way inclined in the morning. We set the alarm to go off not long after we delivered Eureka back to the Society. We also rigged up its diary and stopwatch and other features to keep going off. We got her to say: "Please press any key to retrieve", and "Timer expired". Ian and I just couldn't stop laughing as we left the Society at the thought of what David was going to do, since he would have no idea how to stop Eureka from shouting "wake up" when the alarm reached an almighty crescendo.
Within minutes of being back home, David was on the phone yelling at us: "You two get back here and shut this thing up". We laughed that much we cried, literally, it was so funny. 

Happy days eh?

Jackie
----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Hallsworth" <christopherhallsworth71@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 6:13 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: [access-uk]Eureka memories
Yes, actually the Eureka got me off in terms of proper computers. I unfortunately did not get the opportunity to own one, but my primary school back then did allow me to use one on loan for my work, and, like you and many others I'm sure, I loved it. ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Russell" <david.russell8@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 4:02 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: [access-uk]Eureka memories



The Eureka was my first tentative step towards computers, in the early
nineties I think. I absolutely loved it. Some of the games were excellent, 
and there was not much you could not do with it.  The voice was a little
difficult to put up with on occasions, but the good points far outweighed the bad ones. the keys were a little dodgy on occasions as Jackie pointed out, but repairs were always prompt and did not cost much. I think I still have her somewhere, but not sure if she still works. I must get her out and 
dust her down.
Some of those adventure games would be good to play around Christmas time 
when the tv gets boring.


David

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf
Of Jackie Cairns
Sent: 12 December 2007 08:20
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: [access-uk]Eureka memories
Yusuf, Eureka's only big drawback, and it was always the one problem with her, was the membrane. I wish the keyboard had not been rubberised and more like the keys of say BrailleNote or the Braille 'N' Speak. Had they been 
like that, she would have been even more robust to work with.
To me, there was nothing quite like her for fun. I loved the usergroup that 
Geoff Clark used to run.  We always looked forward to receiving the disk
with games and other stuff people contributed. Like you, I played games at college when I was meant to be doing something else. But there were also lots of other uses Eureka had, for example, the colour detector, timer and 
direct dialling facility.
As you say, happy happy days, and the support for her was second to none as well. Send her down to Kevin on a Monday and get her back on a Thursday the 
same week.  Unbeatable!!

Jackie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Yusuf" <yusufaosman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:06 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: [access-uk]Eureka memories



I too fondly remember using the Eureka particularly playing the cricket
game during sociology lessons when I was supposed to be taking notes.
It was pritty rugged too as I found when I dropped it in a load of water 
because I'd forgotten to do up my bag.

Ahh happy days. And that alien game was fantastic.
Yusuf
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jackie Cairns" <cairnsplace@xxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 8:03 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Apple Vs Microsoft
Eureka was a pleasure. She brought Ian and I a lot of fun. We used her 
for so many functions, and she hardly ever gave up the ghost.  The
upgrades were worth waiting for when they came too. Lots of people hated 
her voice, but it kind of added to her character, especially when she
sadly said: "no dial tone" or "command cancelled".  Good old girl!!

Jackie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Hallsworth" <christopherhallsworth71@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 4:45 AM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Apple Vs Microsoft
Oh, the Eureka! Those were the days! I loved using those. Shame they're 
not produced anymore, mind you technology's moved on so much now such
that Eureka's probably couldn't cope with it. Just my two pence worth. 
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jackie Cairns" <cairnsplace@xxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 2:17 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Apple Vs Microsoft



Hi Dave

People say that computers are only as reliable as the operators, but
I'm afraid I can't subscribe to that theory. For me, the most reliable 
and friendly beast had to be good old Eureka.  My access technology
journey began with the BBC in the 80s.  Even it had its problems.  I
used to go to work and crash it when I put too much information into
Wordwise Plus, and it filled up. I couldn't get out of it by deleting 
characters.  It just crashed and I lost all the stuff I put in after
spending a morning's work typing it all. After that I used Eureka for 
a long time, and thought she was just brilliant.  There was great
support in Techno-Vision, a well run usergroup, and lots of hilarity
with games and little programs people invented for her.  After that,
for me, it was DOS and Wordperfect, before the Windows arena ... need I 
say more?  (lol).

But whether we love them or hate the sight of them, I bet none of us
would go back now.  I call Sky everything when it's down and I can't
get onto the Internet or receive Email, and often say I'd be better off 
without. But fact is I wouldn't, and that's the catch isn't it?

Hope you get sorted.

Jackie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ankers, Dave (UK)" <Dave.Ankers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 1:52 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Apple Vs Microsoft




Hi all,

Following on from a previous thread,  comparing products from Apple
and
Microsoft.  Apple products while being more expensive and not as
popular, seem to win favour with its customers because they are easy 
to
use and work.
Microsoft's products are cheaper initially, not particularly easy to use, and break down constantly. When shutting down a windows system, you can never rely on it to restart properly, I find it very unstable, especially when JAWS, J-SAY and Dragon naturally speaking are running. 
As for ease of use, Windows word is infuriating to use, even by
sighted
users.
As I said Microsoft products are cheaper initially, only initially
because if you add on all the time spent and when its company time its 
damn expensive, fixing bugs, viruses and software incompatibility,
which
is no wonder considering how much Microsoft charge software
manufacturers for testing, which is why most don't bother.
Personally I've had it with Microsoft, and I'm waiting for Apple to
produce a system equipped with screen reading and voice recognition. The software used could come from Freedom scientific, T&T, Nuance or 
anyone, I don't care as long as it is fully incorporated and works.
Why
fully incorporated? simple, because then when an update is released, 
it
will hopefully have been fully tested.
Currently when say JAWS releases an update, we have to wait for J-SAY and Dragon to catch up. and then there are problems. Problems I don't need, and from Apples reputation for quality, reliability and ease of use, that's what I'm looking for. When it finally arrives, Bill Gates 
can take his products and shove them, well you know where!

Dave

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