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The BallPoint

Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 9:10 am
by auraes
While reading the documentation of a version of The Quill for the TI–89 and TI–92+ calculators, came across the mention of The BallPoint software:
https://www.ticalc.org/archives/files/f ... 21940.html
The BallPoint (a slightly modified and improved variant of The Quill by Said Hassan)
The software is attributed to Said Hassan. I don't know if this is relevant, but it doesn't seem to be mentioned here:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/forums/ ... 291#p17291
https://intfiction.org/t/help-wanted-ba ... info/46898

Re: The BallPoint

Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 9:32 am
by Strident
Yes, this is a known fact. My interview with Harvey Lodder confirmed that "The Ballpoint" was the Smart Egg "system". Said was Smart Egg's programmer.
http://8bitag.com/info/golden-eggcup.html

Harvey was the one who donated the existing Ballpoint files to the Spectrum archives. These files are, however, just a slightly tweaked version of the Quill.

Any of the special stuff that Said Hassan did would've likely been done to the database once it had passed through this initial system and that element of the system is not archived online.

I must admit that I wasn't aware that someone had ported The Quill to the Texas Calculators, though! :)

Re: The BallPoint

Posted: Sun May 23, 2021 9:40 am
by Strident
The port of the software is fascinating... Definitely lots of references to add to various entries... Thanks for flagging it up.

(Edit: Tim Gilberts wasn't aware of the TI port, either!]