[duncanlowe]

I've been following the thread with interest. But Colin's post about the origin of his interest in PETs means I have something to share.

I too first came to computing and PETs while at school. We also only had a dumb terminal linked via acoustic coupler to Milton Keynes and no pupils were allowed near it, in fact most staff weren't.

But my Dad worked at Lanchester Polytechnic who bought some of the first models, and as they finished for summer before schools, he was allowed to loan one to the school for the last two weeks of term, for 2 or 3 years.

After they had been in the poly a couple of years, the 'A' key started to wear out on most of them. Again reminded of this by the OPs reference to space invaders, where 'A' was the fire button. There was another game, Star Wars, where one had to do the bomb run and destroy the death star.

Good luck with getting it running, Colin. It's as much part of my history as it is yours.