Floppyshop 2/Floppyshop - 2.zip/Floppyshop - 2.iso/diskmags/0022-3.564/dmg-0139/news.txt/compshow.asc

Text File | 1997-04-16 | 4KB | 76 lines

               ALL FORMATS COMPUTER FAIR - GLASGOW 22/09/91
               ============================================

Up  until  now,  I've only ever attended one computer  show  -  ever.  The
reasons were simple, I worked shifts and losing a precious weekend for the
dubious  joy  of crowding into an overpacked hall just to  spend  my  hard
earned cash was something I easily passed on.

But,  since starting my new job,  I've rediscovered week-ends and went  to
my first show.  It was that farce that Atari produced earlier this  year.

'The Atari Whistlestop Tour'.  After queuing for half an hour I spent  the
next  fifteen  minutes trying to get through the carriages as  quickly  as
possible  and  off  again.  To  say it  was  claustrophobic  would  be  an
understatement.  That  and the old geezer who was being a  pain  (official
steward!)  and stopping the kids getting back to the Lynxs and  STs  after
leaving  the  carriage and discovering all that remained  was  more,  only
filled  with  boring  'serious' software that  they  couldn't  afford  and
weren't interested in.

The few companies that were represented had their time taken up  answering
questions  put by very English sounding gents.  All,  who seemed  to  have
beards  and  large  shoulder bags.  Surely they hadn't  been  waiting  for
answers from earlier stops?

All in all,  a nice idea but a total disaster.  So, last Sunday it was off
to  the All Formats Fair at Candleriggs.  What joys would await me  at  my
first 'real' show?

The first thing that surprised me was just how easy it was to get  in.  No
queuing at all and we arrived an hour after the thing opened.  The  second
surprise  was how small the hall was,  there couldn't have been more  than
thirty exhibitors.

The stall on entering was selling unbranded!?  KAO discs @ £26 for a  100.
Taking all the advice I had read over the years I ignored this bargain and
wandered around the exhibitors. It was obvious right away that there was a
large  difference  in  prices and you could pick up some  bargains  or  be
ripped off, depending which way the world looks to you.

Discs varied from 26p each to 38p or more, labels from £7.50 for a 1000 to
£12.  The same applied to mouse mats and boxes. So, it was back to the KAO
stall  to overhear a man (other stall holder?) telling the girl to put  up
her disc prices.  Thankfully she ignored him and went on to do really well
while the others did bugger all.

The  stalls that were selling games/software didn't seem to be doing  very
well, nor did those selling computers etc. I suppose this was because they
were asking normal, discount shop, prices.

After  buying my discs,  mouse mat and labels there was not really  enough
left to hold my interest. So, it was round up the people who had come with
me and off to the pub for a quick couple of pints.  Mick got rat arsed  as
usual and wouldn't shut up all the way home.

After that cynical round up,  I will admit to having an enjoyable day as I
got about £60 worth of accessories/consumibles that I needed for £40 which
includes the entrance fee.

There  were Amstrad 2000 printers on offer for £45 and second  hand  stuff
going  fairly cheap,  but more expensive that the equivalent seen  in  the
classifieds. The guarantee would probably be the same.

It's  possible that things got cheaper as the show drew to  a  close,  and
equally  possible that the things you wanted would be sold and  you  would
end  up buying 'bargains' that weren't wanted just not to come away  empty
handed.

I will go to the next show that comes along,  maybe to pick up a  bargain,
but  more  importantly  to  meet my mates and have a  good  time  at  some
hostelry afterwards.

                                                            Dave Mooney