I was wondering why things are so slow here after I have been back online for so long. I figured by now most of the former members of Savage///Circuits would have seen that I am back by now. But in lurking the Parallax forums now for several years, I haven't seen anyone from the old site posting on the Parallax forums except doggiedoc and maybe 2 others once every few months.
I remembered that there were DMs in my inbox from when I was verifying people on the old site, so I went to reach out to those people from the old website that I spoke with on the Parallax forums. After sending several messages over a year ago and not getting replies, I decided to look at the profiles to see when these people were last online.
I don't know what happened, but so far at least 53 people I had conversations with have not signed into the Parallax forums since like 2014 - 2018. Another 5 people no longer even have accounts. I don't know who they are because they are no longer there (the conversation is one-sided / messages missing).
So I wonder, what happened?!? Where did everybody go?!? So many people who were active on both the Parallax Forums when I worked there and active on Savage///Circuits are just gone. I suppose as Parallax downsized their product line and discontinued so many products, some may have done as I did and gone to other platforms. But I am curious if anyone knows.
Sadly three members of these sites have passed. But I really doubt the other 53+ all passed away, so I can't help but wonder if they've completely walked away from electronics and microcontrollers or just switched platforms. Your thoughts (anyone who reads this post)?!?
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I've given some thought recently after my reply in the Dream Job (https://savagechats.com/index.php?topic=450.0) post. Most of the people who followed me online and joined the original Savage///Circuits website were people who knew me from the Parallax forums and / or Parallax Tech Support and / or my magazine articles in Nuts & Volts / Servo Magazines.
I think since so many hobbyists walked away from Parallax, they probably think I'm primarily a Parallax supporter and therefore are no longer interested in such projects. Perhaps after I've posted more projects from other platforms things will pick up. After all, I wasn't online at all after I lost everything in the wake of being laid-off by Parallax. I had zero interest in the product line after that. So, perhaps, to a degree, it's a guilt by association thing.
Perhaps I just need to re-establish myself without the relationship to Parallax. It's ironic that these days I'm more focused on retro projects than newer technology. I guess the same goes with computer stuff. Parallax isn't the only company that shot themselves in the foot. Microsoft is losing a small following too.
A lot of people I know are either moving to Apple or Linux. I myself am working toward being free of Microsoft Windows within a few years. Of the two computers that could not be upgraded to Windows 11, I gave one away and the other is getting Linux installed on it as soon as we return from the meet in PA. I am upgrading my main PC, however, once it gets replaced or upgraded for hardware, it's going to Linux too. I can't see myself ever getting an Apple computer.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Aug 28, 2025, 08:26 AMI've given some thought recently after my reply in the Dream Job (https://savagechats.com/index.php?topic=450.0) post. Most of the people who followed me online and joined the original Savage///Circuits website were people who knew me from the Parallax forums and / or Parallax Tech Support and / or my magazine articles in Nuts & Volts / Servo Magazines.
I think since so many hobbyists walked away from Parallax, they probably think I'm primarily a Parallax supporter and therefore are no longer interested in such projects. Perhaps after I've posted more projects from other platforms things will pick up. After all, I wasn't online at all after I lost everything in the wake of being laid-off by Parallax. I had zero interest in the product line after that. So, perhaps, to a degree, it's a guilt by association thing.
Perhaps I just need to re-establish myself without the relationship to Parallax. It's ironic that these days I'm more focused on retro projects than newer technology. I guess the same goes with computer stuff. Parallax isn't the only company that shot themselves in the foot. Microsoft is losing a small following too.
A lot of people I know are either moving to Apple or Linux. I myself am working toward being free of Microsoft Windows within a few years. Of the two computers that could not be upgraded to Windows 11, I gave one away and the other is getting Linux installed on it as soon as we return from the meet in PA. I am upgrading my main PC, however, once it gets replaced or upgraded for hardware, it's going to Linux too. I can't see myself ever getting an Apple computer.
Yeah, I've noticed that my focus has been moving off of plain computers, and onto microcontrollers, and electronics.
As far as Apple goes, they lost my interest back in 1978 (IIRC) when they claimed that only Authorized/Apple-trained techs were capable of repairing their Apple II series computers. I was like "what are you talking about? I can repair your stupid computers - they're nothing but 6502 computers."
Quote from: granz on Aug 28, 2025, 12:43 PMAs far as Apple goes, they lost my interest back in 1978 (IIRC) when they claimed that only Authorized/Apple-trained techs were capable of repairing their Apple II series computers. I was like "what are you talking about? I can repair your stupid computers - they're nothing but 6502 computers."
IRONY: Apple's "1984" commercial, airing during the 1984 Super Bowl, used George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four as a metaphor to position the Macintosh computer as a tool for freedom and creativity against IBM's perceived technological dominance and conformity. The ad, directed by Ridley Scott, showed a lone, athletic woman in a colorful outfit throwing a sledgehammer to shatter a large screen broadcasting a Big Brother-like figure, symbolizing an individual breaking free from a totalitarian, unthinking society to embrace the liberating power of the new personal computer.
LOL, yeah, I had not thought about that, but that commercial is totally ironic. Now, Apple is about as totalitarian as you can get, while IBM's legacy has created an almost unlimited number of different computers.
Quote from: granz on Aug 28, 2025, 01:00 PMLOL, yeah, I had not thought about that, but that commercial is totally ironic. Now, Apple is about as totalitarian as you can get, while IBM's legacy has created an almost unlimited number of different computers.
That's the irony! I think when people like yourself lost interest in Apple products, they tried to rebrand themselves as the "open" platform. IBM was already open! There were numerous clones and the BIOS and DOS programming guides were numerous! I just didn't find it to be an overly useful platform.
Apple has got to be the most closed system I know about these days. Not only have they filed lawsuits against multiple repair shops for repairing their products, but I believe they lost a class-action lawsuit on right to repair.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Aug 28, 2025, 01:17 PMThat's the irony! I think when people like yourself lost interest in Apple products, they tried to rebrand themselves as the "open" platform. IBM was already open! There were numerous clones and the BIOS and DOS programming guides were numerous! I just didn't find it to be an overly useful platform.
As I have mentioned several times before, I still think that MS-DOS is the ultimate operating system
for personal computers, not for the IT appliances that we use for our normal work. Those "open" standards, along with all the documentation that came out is responsible for that.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Aug 28, 2025, 01:17 PMApple has got to be the most closed system I know about these days.
Apple is so "closed" that they will not (did not?) allow anything that could be programed into their "store," not even an old Commodore 64 emulator (because it had the built-in BASIC!)
Quote from: Chris Savage on Aug 28, 2025, 01:17 PMNot only have they filed lawsuits against multiple repair shops for repairing their products, but I believe they lost a class-action lawsuit on right to repair.
This is another ironic thing: Apple sued Microsoft over "stealing" their look-and-feel of the MacOS, for the Windows 9x Operating System - the very look-and-feel that they
stole from Xerox. ::) Talk about arrogant!
I enjoy talking on here. Sometimes don't know what to post.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Dec 17, 2024, 03:54 PMI was wondering why things are so slow here after I have been back online for so long. I figured by now most of the former members of Savage///Circuits would have seen that I am back by now. But in lurking the Parallax forums now for several years, I haven't seen anyone from the old site posting on the Parallax forums except doggiedoc and maybe 2 others once every few months.
I remembered that there were DMs in my inbox from when I was verifying people on the old site, so I went to reach out to those people from the old website that I spoke with on the Parallax forums. After sending several messages over a year ago and not getting replies, I decided to look at the profiles to see when these people were last online.
I don't know what happened, but so far at least 53 people I had conversations with have not signed into the Parallax forums since like 2014 - 2018. Another 5 people no longer even have accounts. I don't know who they are because they are no longer there (the conversation is one-sided / messages missing).
So I wonder, what happened?!? Where did everybody go?!? So many people who were active on both the Parallax Forums when I worked there and active on Savage///Circuits are just gone. I suppose as Parallax downsized their product line and discontinued so many products, some may have done as I did and gone to other platforms. But I am curious if anyone knows.
Sadly three members of these sites have passed. But I really doubt the other 53+ all passed away, so I can't help but wonder if they've completely walked away from electronics and microcontrollers or just switched platforms. Your thoughts (anyone who reads this post)?!?
Where did people go you ask?
Old Days: People visited
Parallax on-line (and
Radio Shack) and used "
Propeller (1) boards" and "
Basic Stamps", and people visited
forums and used
Desktop Computers and
Magazines.
Present Day: People use "
Arduino Boards" and "
Raspberry Pi Boards" in all types of formats (including stamp like format) mostly purchased on the web. Most people don't visit forums they just watch
YouTube videos and use "
Cell Phones" and "
Tablets", "
Discord" and read
Hackaday posts.
Quote from: zappman on Sep 03, 2025, 10:07 AMQuote from: Chris Savage on Dec 17, 2024, 03:54 PMI was wondering why things are so slow here after I have been back online for so long. I figured by now most of the former members of Savage///Circuits would have seen that I am back by now. But in lurking the Parallax forums now for several years, I haven't seen anyone from the old site posting on the Parallax forums except doggiedoc and maybe 2 others once every few months.
I remembered that there were DMs in my inbox from when I was verifying people on the old site, so I went to reach out to those people from the old website that I spoke with on the Parallax forums. After sending several messages over a year ago and not getting replies, I decided to look at the profiles to see when these people were last online.
I don't know what happened, but so far at least 53 people I had conversations with have not signed into the Parallax forums since like 2014 - 2018. Another 5 people no longer even have accounts. I don't know who they are because they are no longer there (the conversation is one-sided / messages missing).
So I wonder, what happened?!? Where did everybody go?!? So many people who were active on both the Parallax Forums when I worked there and active on Savage///Circuits are just gone. I suppose as Parallax downsized their product line and discontinued so many products, some may have done as I did and gone to other platforms. But I am curious if anyone knows.
Sadly three members of these sites have passed. But I really doubt the other 53+ all passed away, so I can't help but wonder if they've completely walked away from electronics and microcontrollers or just switched platforms. Your thoughts (anyone who reads this post)?!?
Where did people you ask?
Old Days: People visited Parallax on-line (and Radio Shack) and used "Propeller (1) boards" and "Basic Stamps", and people visited forums and used Desktop Computers and Magazines.
Present Day: People use "Arduino Boards" and "Raspberry Pi Boards" in all types of formats (including stamp like format) mostly purchased on the web. Most people don't visit forums they just watch YouTube videos and use "Cell Phones" and "Tablets", "Discord" and read Hackaday posts.
Makes sence.
Quote from: zappman on Sep 03, 2025, 10:07 AMOld Days: People visited Parallax on-line (and Radio Shack) and used "Propeller (1) boards" and "Basic Stamps", and people visited forums and used Desktop Computers and Magazines.
Present Day: People use "Arduino Boards" and "Raspberry Pi Boards" in all types of formats (including stamp like format) mostly purchased on the web. Most people don't visit forums they just watch YouTube videos and use "Cell Phones" and "Tablets", "Discord" and read Hackaday posts.
Sad, really...no wonder so many are disconnected. If it weren't for the multitude of YouTube channels, you wouldn't even think this was a thing anymore. Unfortunately, YouTube just isn't as interactive as forums.
I can't answer for any of the other missing people, but for me, I got into electronics for a very specific purpose, and when I could no longer meet that purpose, I changed focus into doing something else. I have found it's not a lack of interest that's the issue, it's the lack of ideas of what to build, or worse, how much learning needs to go into building an idea. I have found time is so limited that I have to ask the question is all that investment of time into solving a problem worth the time... For me and my time I found some things are just too difficult to solve and focusing on other parts of life to be a stronger contributor to the quality of life. But I still love creating and building things.
Quote from: Jason D. on Sep 03, 2025, 01:29 PMI can't answer for any of the other missing people, but for me, I got into electronics for a very specific purpose, and when I could no longer meet that purpose, I changed focus into doing something else. I have found it's not a lack of interest that's the issue, it's the lack of ideas of what to build, or worse, how much learning needs to go into building an idea. I have found time is so limited that I have to ask the question is all that investment of time into solving a problem worth the time... For me and my time I found some things are just too difficult to solve and focusing on other parts of life to be a stronger contributor to the quality of life. But I still love creating and building things.
Jason,
Having known you for some time, I understand your situation. I was eager to assist you when you first got started as that is similar to how I got started in my computer business. Back in the early days (Commodore VIC-20), TI-99/4A, Apple, etc. I worked with a lot of people who had
limitations, as I do myself these days, though, to a lesser degree. I installed a lot of voice synthesizers and specialty monitors back in the day.
As I got into electronics, necessity is often the motivator. And there have been so many electronics projects born out of the special needs of an individual. Frankly, I admired your drive to help your wife in any way that you could. You learned at a pace that far exceeded many people I met while working at Parallax.
I have heard from about a dozen or more former members of Savage///Circuits over the last year. Common reasons for people not returning are life events that have shifted their priorities. I can understand that as that's exactly what happened to me. At the lowest point, I said I was giving it all up forever. So, I can understand life events.
Another reason I have heard is just being too busy. This seemed to be the leading reason. Though, ironically, some of those still do sign into the Parallax forums, despite it's lack of real participation. And finally, lack of interest. A former colleague and current friend of mine says that I shoulder some of the blame. I spoke to him recently on the phone to catch up, since I haven't seen him on here in a looooong time, nor have I heard from him.
I brought up this thread, and he said that before I left everything behind, I was motivating people, helping people, and publishing articles / projects that gave people inspiration. When I stopped doing all that, some people lost interest. The momentum was lost, and hard to get back for some. He told me that he also lost motivation and so he switched interests as well, focusing on PC programming for several years and only recently integrating electronics back into his life.
Most of my friends who have known me since the Commodore days, know that I respect speaking ones mind. So I didn't take it personally. When he takes breaks from large projects, he checks in to see if I got my momentum back, and said that quite frankly, he's disappointed. He's younger than me, hasn't lost a wife to cancer and isn't suffering from health issues as I am, so I reminded him that can't possibly understand how things are these days.
Like Jason, I haven't lost interest...but I do have a lot going on with so many changes in my life. I never thought I would get married again, but I did. And to a woman who also lost her spouse to cancer. Despite being polar opposites in many ways, we do understand each other in terms of relationships and how short life can be. How hard loss can be. So, I feel like I do put a little more focus on family than I used to during the Parallax years.
Having bought a house together with so much work needing to be done, it has certainly been a slow start / progress to bringing Savage///Circuits back. But as I have previously indicated; this time I am back for good. If I suddenly seem to disappear, it's because I am no longer a member of the living.