Micro Men. Thursday 8 October, 9PM, BBC4 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

llama · 7th Oct 2009, 8:11 pm

Trailer looks good. I'll be "taping" it.
Graham

Station X · 7th Oct 2009, 10:56 pm

Time? Channel?

Steve_P · 7th Oct 2009, 11:25 pm

BBC4, 9PM. I think...

Cheers,

Steve P.

HamishBoxer · 8th Oct 2009, 2:45 pm

And repeated later tonight as well

Aub · 8th Oct 2009, 8:55 pm

What's that all about then?

mickjjo · 8th Oct 2009, 10:10 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n5b92

Alexander Armstrong does quite a good impression of Sir Clive Sinclair...

Regards, Mick.

Herald1360 · 8th Oct 2009, 10:50 pm

Thanks for the pointer

- enjoyed it thoroughly.

Next week it's Bob Noyce.........

Chris

mark pirate · 8th Oct 2009, 11:32 pm

A very good programme... led me to find another,
Electric dreams, if you like vintage technology, check it out on bbc i-player

Mark

chipp1968 · 9th Oct 2009, 1:42 pm

The fake footage was convincing , but i dont see why thay made it look so fuzzy .I dont rememeber tv looking fuzzy in those days

newlite4 · 9th Oct 2009, 2:33 pm

The production did remind me of one of those late '70s dramas what with the dodgy lighting and vague camerawork. I thought that Noel Edmonds

did a grand job playing the central role although the latex skullcap was looking a bit wrinkly and was starting to peel at the edges. Altogether a very accurate piece, all of the props appeared accurate.
Neil

ppppenguin · 9th Oct 2009, 3:45 pm

Had a quick look on the website. One thing that stands out is all the smoking in those days. Loved the early mobile phones too.

The acknowledged in the closing credits that the ARM processor family is now the most used ever. Intel may have the public profile in the PC but ARM occupy countless millions of embedded applications. ARM don't make processors, they license intellectual property to companies who want to use their technology. You can buy ARM based chips from several companies. If you're big enough you can license the IP to put in your own chips. I haven't looked recently but you may even be able to license the IP for Xilinx and similar programmable logic arrays.

Everyone (in the UK at least) remembers Sinclair, if only for heroic failures like the C5. Who remembers Acorn? All the engineers who have used ARM in their designs.

Brased · 9th Oct 2009, 5:25 pm

Thanks to those who drew my attention to this programme. It was thoroughly entertaining and I learned something too!

The general standard of props, etc. was impressive and I wonder if that dubious 'hair job' was perhaps intended to say something about Sinclair's products.

Edward

Station X · 9th Oct 2009, 5:32 pm

It was fine apart from Clive Sinclair's dodgy hair do which as Brased has said was probably deliberate.

I think the scene where the woman is buying a computer says it all. Apart from hobbyists like us, who wrote their own programmes, most people just played games on these early machines.

I liked the way Clive described Alan Sugar as a "Barrow Boy". Perhaps with AMS in charge and Chris Currie or Clive doing the technical stuff we could have lead the world in the PC market.

Not sure about the scene where the three women approach Clive after the MENSA Meeting. "Can you manage three things at once?" A bit Frankie Howerd that.

McMurdo · 9th Oct 2009, 5:40 pm

Early in the programme there was a bit about Sinclair's audio amplifiers. I've just opened a NOS germanium amp module (as shown on Micro Men) and made a 12W powered monitor speaker for the workshop! Works well...though the numbers on the components have been polished off.

ppppenguin · 9th Oct 2009, 5:49 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by McMurdo

Early in the programme there was a bit about Sinclair's audio amplifiers....

The IC10 and IC12 amps were very dodgy. AFAIK they were from Plessey's reject bin. He tested them and sold the ones that worked at all with an unconditional replacement guarantee. He also exaggerated the power output.

When you look back on Sinclair's products, the only ones that were really "fit for purpose" were the ZX80, ZX81 and Spectrum. They also sold well. Everything else from the Micro6 radio to the C5 was pretty dubious.

llama · 9th Oct 2009, 6:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppppenguin

When you look back on Sinclair's products, the only ones that were really "fit for purpose" were the ZX80, ZX81 and Spectrum. They also sold well. Everything else from the Micro6 radio to the C5 was pretty dubious.

Where I worked, Sir Clive made a personal presentation one evening, probably late '80s or early '90s. Charming fellow. I remember one section of his talk when he was mentioning the Black Watch (LED wrist-watch). There was a bit of a rustling and whispering in the crowd. "Well, mine worked!", he responded. Nice acknowledgement of some of the issues, I thought.

Graham

Station X · 10th Oct 2009, 1:00 pm

Available to watch online here:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n5b92

MichaelR · 10th Oct 2009, 1:14 pm

For my penneth worth it is a pity we do not have quite a few more Clive Sinclairs in the country at least he had a go. With the right sort of risk investment one or more of them could make the country rich again !!

HamishBoxer · 10th Oct 2009, 5:56 pm

On again tonight if anyone missed it or Sunday.

David

dominicbeesley · 10th Oct 2009, 6:47 pm

I have to say this was a very enjoyable programme!

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipp1968

The fake footage was convincing , but i dont see why thay made it look so fuzzy .I dont rememeber tv looking fuzzy in those days

The only bit that looked fuzzy to me was the fake news footage - which looked to be filmed on low quality 16mm stock (or an effect added that actually worked!). I remember up until mid eighties nearly all local and some national news was filmed like this.

Dom

7th Oct 2009, 8:11 pm	#1
llama Octode Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St Osyth, Nr Clacton, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,482	Micro Men. Thursday 8 October, 9PM, BBC4 Trailer looks good. I'll be "taping" it. Graham

7th Oct 2009, 10:56 pm	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow Time? Channel? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

7th Oct 2009, 11:25 pm	#3
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow BBC4, 9PM. I think... Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

8th Oct 2009, 2:45 pm	#4
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow And repeated later tonight as well

8th Oct 2009, 8:55 pm	#5
Aub Nonode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 2,039	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow What's that all about then?

8th Oct 2009, 10:10 pm	#6
mickjjo Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dartford, Kent, UK. Posts: 1,661	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n5b92 Alexander Armstrong does quite a good impression of Sir Clive Sinclair... Regards, Mick.

8th Oct 2009, 10:50 pm	#7
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,535	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow Thanks for the pointer - enjoyed it thoroughly. Next week it's Bob Noyce......... Chris

8th Oct 2009, 11:32 pm	#8
mark pirate Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK Posts: 5,185	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow A very good programme... led me to find another, Electric dreams, if you like vintage technology, check it out on bbc i-player Mark

9th Oct 2009, 1:42 pm	#9
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow The fake footage was convincing , but i dont see why thay made it look so fuzzy .I dont rememeber tv looking fuzzy in those days

9th Oct 2009, 2:33 pm	#10
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow The production did remind me of one of those late '70s dramas what with the dodgy lighting and vague camerawork. I thought that Noel Edmonds did a grand job playing the central role although the latex skullcap was looking a bit wrinkly and was starting to peel at the edges. Altogether a very accurate piece, all of the props appeared accurate. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

9th Oct 2009, 3:45 pm	#11
ppppenguin Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North London, UK. Posts: 6,168	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow Had a quick look on the website. One thing that stands out is all the smoking in those days. Loved the early mobile phones too. The acknowledged in the closing credits that the ARM processor family is now the most used ever. Intel may have the public profile in the PC but ARM occupy countless millions of embedded applications. ARM don't make processors, they license intellectual property to companies who want to use their technology. You can buy ARM based chips from several companies. If you're big enough you can license the IP to put in your own chips. I haven't looked recently but you may even be able to license the IP for Xilinx and similar programmable logic arrays. Everyone (in the UK at least) remembers Sinclair, if only for heroic failures like the C5. Who remembers Acorn? All the engineers who have used ARM in their designs.

9th Oct 2009, 5:25 pm	#12
Brased Hexode Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London, UK. Posts: 318	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow Thanks to those who drew my attention to this programme. It was thoroughly entertaining and I learned something too! The general standard of props, etc. was impressive and I wonder if that dubious 'hair job' was perhaps intended to say something about Sinclair's products. Edward

9th Oct 2009, 5:32 pm	#13
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow It was fine apart from Clive Sinclair's dodgy hair do which as Brased has said was probably deliberate. I think the scene where the woman is buying a computer says it all. Apart from hobbyists like us, who wrote their own programmes, most people just played games on these early machines. I liked the way Clive described Alan Sugar as a "Barrow Boy". Perhaps with AMS in charge and Chris Currie or Clive doing the technical stuff we could have lead the world in the PC market. Not sure about the scene where the three women approach Clive after the MENSA Meeting. "Can you manage three things at once?" A bit Frankie Howerd that. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

9th Oct 2009, 5:40 pm	#14
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,271	Re: Micro Men on BBC TV tomorrow Early in the programme there was a bit about Sinclair's audio amplifiers. I've just opened a NOS germanium amp module (as shown on Micro Men) and made a 12W powered monitor speaker for the workshop! Works well...though the numbers on the components have been polished off. __________________ Kevin

10th Oct 2009, 1:00 pm	#17
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Micro Men. Thursday 8 October, 9PM, BBC4 Available to watch online here:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n5b92 __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

10th Oct 2009, 1:14 pm	#18
MichaelR Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,587	Re: Micro Men. Thursday 8 October, 9PM, BBC4 For my penneth worth it is a pity we do not have quite a few more Clive Sinclairs in the country at least he had a go. With the right sort of risk investment one or more of them could make the country rich again !!

10th Oct 2009, 5:56 pm	#19
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,932	Re: Micro Men. Thursday 8 October, 9PM, BBC4 On again tonight if anyone missed it or Sunday. David