OT: Quickware Q87 (formerly Q387) 80387 Shareware emulator

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rcm

I found an old copy of Quickware Q87 (formerly Q87) in my archives. It is a
shareware package from the early 1990's. It is an 80387 emulator for old
systems (286 386 486sx) without a math coprocessor.

I have searched the net for info on it and later versions. I only found
v3.5 on Simtel sites. I have v3.71 which is a later release. Some pages
reference a dead website. Other than that it seems to have disappeared from
the computer world. Rightly so since it is not required for today's
machines.

Anyone know what happened to this shareware? Is it abandonware now?
Apparently it was the fastest 387 emulator in it time. Anyone ever use it
or other similar x87 emulators?

Here is some info from its readme file ---

Q87, Version 3.71
Copyright, 1991-1994, QuickWare
P.O. Box 684652
Austin, Texas 78768
512-280-1452
December 12, 1994

Q87 Version 3.71 is a math accelerator and math coprocessor emulator
for machines which do not have a coprocessor. It will both increase the
performance of your computer with most math intensive applications and
allow you to run applications which require a math coprocessor. This is
all done without any additional hardware. The benefits of Q87 are -
 
rcm said:
I found an old copy of Quickware Q87 (formerly Q87) in my archives. It is a
shareware package from the early 1990's. It is an 80387 emulator for old
systems (286 386 486sx) without a math coprocessor.

I have searched the net for info on it and later versions. I only found
v3.5 on Simtel sites. I have v3.71 which is a later release. Some pages
reference a dead website. Other than that it seems to have disappeared from
the computer world. Rightly so since it is not required for today's
machines.

Anyone know what happened to this shareware? Is it abandonware now?
(clipped)
Click to expand...

You should try alt.comp.shareware. Either that or contact the company,
which still exists:

mailto:[email protected]

Please note that this group is supposed to be for the discussion of
freeware, not shareware.

--
Regards from John Corliss
alt.comp.freeware F.A.Q.:
http://www.ccountry.net/~jcorliss/F.A.Q./FrameSet1.html
Note that I can't see any of Andy Mabbett's troll posts
because I have him killfiled.
 
I have received a reply from the Quickware email address that you supplied.
This is not the same company. This Quickware is an engineering company not
at all affiliated with Q87 or Q387. Alan from Quickware was polite and
informative in his reply but does not know of the fate of Quickware Q87 or
Q387.

Here is his reply. I post this here so that the info is archived by Google
for future researchers into this product.

--------------------------------

Thanks for your email.

I'm sorry to say that remains one of the great mysteries of the last ten
years.

I receive several emails a year asking me about Q87, or for some unlock
codes for it. However, we're not in any way related to Q87 (or Q387).
We've never used it, and don't know who the author is, or how to contact
them.

The only connection that we have is that they also used the "Quickware"
brand for their product.

I'm sorry that this is a dead-end for you, please write to let me know if
you
do find any information on how to contact the authors of Q87, and then I'll
have some better information for the next inquirer.

Good luck on your quest.

Regards-
-Alan S.
Quickware Engineering & Design, Inc.
 
Further Google research indicates the company is dead as others have
searched for the same thing. From what I saw, the last version was 4.13,
version 4.02 and up supported Windows 95. v3.5 for DOS. Simtel has v3.5,
v3.71. AMD of all places has the 4.1 version on their ftp site.The package
was also popular on NextGen systems as a 387 emulator.

My apologies for continuing this thread. I just wanted to complete it for
anyone searching in Google archive in the future.
 
Further Google research indicates the company is dead as others have
searched for the same thing. From what I saw, the last version was 4.13,
version 4.02 and up supported Windows 95. v3.5 for DOS. Simtel has v3.5,
v3.71. AMD of all places has the 4.1 version on their ftp site.The package
was also popular on NextGen systems as a 387 emulator.

My apologies for continuing this thread. I just wanted to complete it for
anyone searching in Google archive in the future.
Click to expand...

I ended up spotting a cracked 4.02 on one site - and before we throw
our collective hands up in horror...

This software, of any, seems to fit what any sane and reasonable
person would call abandonware.
1. The company behind it, and the author, seem to have gone away
completely, uncontactable in many attempts.
2. The software has been unmaintained, unsupported and unavailable for
a considerable time
3. It is also, by all practical definitions, obsolete

Also notable, is that any who have purchased, and make system changes
that would require re-registration, are unable to do so - this, more
than anything, is what's wrong with tight authentication.

Eg. Microsoft can pull ALL support for Win98, but you could still
reinstall what you have.
If they were to end XP Authentication at such time as they declare it
to be obsolete ... there would be outcry, but ....?
Welcome to the reality of "Trusted Computing" -
it means THEY don't trust YOU
it means THEY control your PC.
 
Matt said:
I ended up spotting a cracked 4.02 on one site - and before we throw
our collective hands up in horror...

This software, of any, seems to fit what any sane and reasonable
person would call abandonware.
1. The company behind it, and the author, seem to have gone away
completely, uncontactable in many attempts.
2. The software has been unmaintained, unsupported and unavailable for
a considerable time
3. It is also, by all practical definitions, obsolete
Click to expand...

This is about cracked abandonware? Definitely off-topic, as you know.
Also notable, is that any who have purchased, and make system changes
that would require re-registration, are unable to do so - this, more
than anything, is what's wrong with tight authentication.
Click to expand...

Too bad for who has purchased. Has nothing to do with freeware, though.
Eg. Microsoft can pull ALL support for Win98, but you could still
reinstall what you have.
If they were to end XP Authentication at such time as they declare it
to be obsolete ... there would be outcry, but ....?
Click to expand...

I recommend reading : http://winsupportcenter.com/elist.php#news5
Much more useful than your scaremongering.
Welcome to the reality of "Trusted Computing" -
it means THEY don't trust YOU
Click to expand...

WPA is an anti-piracy technology.
They don't trust you, for good reasons, but you should not take it
personally. (Discussing cracked abandonware doesn't help, though.)
it means THEY control your PC.
Click to expand...

HUH???

Anyway, this entire post of yours was about cracked abandonware and
mindless MS-bashing.

Any freeware to post about, by chance?
 
Sietse said:
Matt wrote:




This is about cracked abandonware? Definitely off-topic, as you know.




Too bad for who has purchased. Has nothing to do with freeware, though.




I recommend reading : http://winsupportcenter.com/elist.php#news5
Much more useful than your scaremongering.
Click to expand...

"Microsoft will also support the activation of Windows XP throughout its
life and will likely provide an update that turns activation off at the
end of the product's lifecycle so users would no longer be required to
activate the product."

And we should trust Microsoft? Is that it?
You kidding me.

dM
 
digitalMOSQUITO said:
Sietse Fliege wrote:
Click to expand...
"Microsoft will also support the activation of Windows XP throughout its
life and will likely provide an update that turns activation off at the
end of the product's lifecycle so users would no longer be required to
activate the product."
Click to expand...
And we should trust Microsoft? Is that it?
You kidding me.
Click to expand...

You're dealing with an "known MS-worshipper".
 
Again, my apologies to the group for starting this off-topic thread. I
asked here because this group has many knowledgeable people about software
and the people here have been active a long time. I tried
alt.comp.shareware but that is a relatively quiet newsgroup with few
postings. Basically no help there.
 
It was a dark and stormy night when Blinky the Shark
digitalMOSQUITO said:
Sietse Fliege wrote:
Matt wrote:
Click to expand...
[Snip]
Eg. Microsoft can pull ALL support for Win98, but you could
still reinstall what you have.
If they were to end XP Authentication at such time as they
declare it to be obsolete ... there would be outcry, but ....?
I recommend reading :
http://winsupportcenter.com/elist.php#news5 Much more useful
than your scaremongering.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
"Microsoft will also support the activation of Windows XP
throughout its life and will likely provide an update that turns
activation off at the end of the product's lifecycle so users
would no longer be required to activate the product."
Click to expand...
And we should trust Microsoft? Is that it?
You kidding me.
Click to expand...

You're dealing with an "known MS-worshipper".
Click to expand...

You had the chance to try to counter Sietse's arguments with your own
arguments, but you didn't.

Or at the very very least you should ignore/filter messages that are
from posters you can't convince with objective arguments, but you
didn't that either.

Instead you just throw a tag ('known MS-worshipper') and that doesn't
achieve anything nor speak highly of you, honest.

Regards
 
rir3760 said:
It was a dark and stormy night when Blinky the Shark
digitalMOSQUITO wrote:
Click to expand...
[Snip]
Eg. Microsoft can pull ALL support for Win98, but you could
still reinstall what you have.
If they were to end XP Authentication at such time as they
declare it to be obsolete ... there would be outcry, but ....?
I recommend reading :
http://winsupportcenter.com/elist.php#news5 Much more useful
than your scaremongering.
"Microsoft will also support the activation of Windows XP
throughout its life and will likely provide an update that turns
activation off at the end of the product's lifecycle so users
would no longer be required to activate the product."
And we should trust Microsoft? Is that it?
You kidding me.
Click to expand...
You're dealing with an "known MS-worshipper".
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
You had the chance to try to counter Sietse's arguments with your own
arguments, but you didn't.
Click to expand...
Or at the very very least you should ignore/filter messages that are
from posters you can't convince with objective arguments, but you
didn't that either.
Click to expand...
Instead you just throw a tag ('known MS-worshipper') and that doesn't
achieve anything nor speak highly of you, honest.
Click to expand...

That's the kind of stuff he throws around (MS-basher) if someone
expresses an opinion that's not favorable to MS. Fair's fair.

I had one opinion re the thread. I expressed it. Get over it.
 
rir3760 wrote:
Click to expand...
That's the kind of stuff he throws around (MS-basher) if someone
expresses an opinion that's not favorable to MS.
Click to expand...

< snip >

Added to that it is helpful to point out that Alan is on a "holy
crusade" to convince everyone that MS has no shortcomings whatsoever
and that he will not tolerate anyone daring to express an anti-MS
comment.

Alan is free to be a zealot, forever waving the MS flag. Blinky on the
other hand is free to point that out to people.

Regards, John.
 
"Microsoft will also support the activation of Windows XP throughout
its life and will likely provide an update that turns activation off
at the end of the product's lifecycle so users would no longer be
required to activate the product."

And we should trust Microsoft? Is that it?
You kidding me.
Click to expand...

What will happen in the unlikely event that they do not provide that
update mentioned above, that turns activation off at the end of the
product's lifecycle? Will you then still be able to activate?
The answer is in the the paragraph that you did not quote :

<quote>
Will Microsoft use activation to force me to upgrade? In other words,
will Microsoft ever stop giving out activation codes for any of the
products that require activation?
No, Microsoft will not use activation as a tool to force people to
upgrade. Activation is merely an anti-piracy tool, nothing else.
</quote>

This has been Microsoft's policy from the beginning and evidence thereof
can still be found on the internet.
See e.g. what Allen Nieman, Product Manager of Activation at Microsoft,
said in an interview with Beta
<quote>
BetaWhat happens to Windows XP users when the product is no
longer supported, will the registration servers still exist?
Allen Nieman: I've seen this question come up before with respect to our
OS lifecycle policies. Yes, the activation servers will exist after
the product is no longer technically supported."
</quote>

http://www.betanews.com/article.php3?sid=991474825

This interview was published as early as May 18th, 2001.
How sad to see that two and a half years later the scaremongering still
goes on, even here in acf where it is off-topic.
Some people do not know when to stop and where they post.
The only argument they can come up with: you can't trust Microsoft.
Of course the cannot be proven to be wrong in this case, as this
fictitious betrayal of trust should take place in the future.
How convenient for them.

Why are you still posting this nonsense, in a freeware group?
Is it "Because I can, and you cannot stop me?"
Which of course is Blinky the Troll's modus operandi.
I am curious, as neither digitalMOSQUITO nor Matt are habitual
MS-bashers like silly Blinky.
 
Sietse said:
Why are you still posting this nonsense, in a freeware group?
Is it "Because I can, and you cannot stop me?"
Which of course is Blinky the Troll's modus operandi.
I am curious, as neither digitalMOSQUITO nor Matt are habitual
MS-bashers like silly Blinky.
Click to expand...

I just don't think that they will stand by their word. Just because
someone from Microsoft, even Bill Gates, it doesn't mean that is written
in stone.
I'm against this activation thing that makes me depend on exiting a
activation server, if i want to use what i bought. It's more like
renting. And that's their goal. They are not investing millions in
Longhorn (next Windows version) for nobody upgrade. They are making
themselves a services company. Something each month or they stop the OS
from working. This is not scaremongering, as you put it, but the
forseable future. It's my opinion and agreeing or not with me doesn't
give you the right to call me a MS-basher. Are you a MS-lover?

If it's not forcing upgrades, it can be some other thing. They could
cease to develop OS or could go out of business (I know it's a long
shot). It's my opinion based on past evidences that Microsoft are not
trustful. Some other companys already did that. Sell a product, go out
of business, and the clients can't register the software, making it
useless. Even companys that give freeware software force registration
every time a person reinstalls the product. Some forcing us to be online
to register the software for us to use it. If it's a pain for
individuals it's a greater pain for companies facing unsupported
software and the cost to buy new one. Is because of this that more
companies are looking for alternatives as private users too. They are
not loonies screaming "kill Microsoft, kill Microsoft".

This new methods of copy protection that some companies are using are a
blow to the rights of consumers. They are treating us as thieves or
junkies. "You made the mistake of buying something from us and now you
are caught". Now is software, next will be hardware. They will be
expensive useless things. But we have to buy them because we will not
have another alternative.

dM
 
digitalMOSQUITO said:
I just don't think that they will stand by their word. Just because
someone from Microsoft, even Bill Gates, it doesn't mean that is
written in stone.
Click to expand...

I believe it helps to be more precise in this.
You are referring to Allen Nieman, who was two and a half years ago and
still is Product Manager of Activation at Microsoft.

It makes no sense to me to doubt that they will stand by their word.
There will be very many systems around the world (and not only in third
world countries) running long after support has ended. Individuals and
companies bought the OS knowing that they could rely on MS word that
there is no activation trigggered timebomb in their machine.
Microsoft knows of course that they do not have the right to change that
and any (highly imaginary) attempt to stop activation would immediately
bring them to court and in no time they would be summoned to undo that
attempt.
Besides (and not unimportant at all) : it also would be *very* damaging
for the general trust in MS products.
I'm against this activation thing that makes me depend on exiting a
activation server, if i want to use what i bought. It's more like
renting. And that's their goal.
Click to expand...

This also makes no sense to me. Renting is based on time limitation.
Again, there is no time limitation for activation.
They are not investing millions in Longhorn (next Windows version) for
nobody upgrade.
Click to expand...

Nobody has ever been forced to upgrade because of activation.
Still, AFAIK, bringing out a new OS never failed to earn MS big money.
They are making themselves a services company. Something each month or
they stop the OS from working. This is not scaremongering, as you put
it, but the forseable future.
Click to expand...

WindowsXP is not a service. Use of it is not time limited.
AFAIK, the same goes for Longhorn, the forseeable future.
If you can prove otherwise, please, do so.
It's my opinion and agreeing or not with me doesn't
give you the right to call me a MS-basher. Are you a MS-lover?
Click to expand...

I said that you, unlike Blinky, are not an habitual MS-basher, and asked
you to explain.
From this explanation I would say that you are genuinely worried and are
not an MS-basher.
If it's not forcing upgrades, it can be some other thing.
Click to expand...

It is not forcing upgrades and that is the only thing we should be
talking about here and now, because that was what the OP was about.
Discussing that alone is already off-topic.
They could cease to develop OS or could go out of business (I know
it's a long shot).
Click to expand...

Yes, a very long shot, indeed. Not to worry! ;)
It's my opinion based on past evidences that Microsoft are not
trustful. Some other companys already did that. Sell a product, go out
of business, and the clients can't register the software, making it
useless.
Click to expand...

Fat chance that Microsoft goes out of business. ;)
Even companys that give freeware software force registration
every time a person reinstalls the product.
Click to expand...

I believe that if you have to only reinstall WindowsXP (no prior
reformatting) that then reactivation is not required.
And should you have to then that generally is a quick and smooth
process.
Some forcing us to be
online to register the software for us to use it. If it's a pain for
individuals it's a greater pain for companies facing unsupported
software and the cost to buy new one.
Click to expand...

Again, there never is need to buy a new copy of WindowsXP, because it
will always be possible to reactivate.
And companies can buy volume licenses and then will not have to
activate.
Is because of this that more
companies are looking for alternatives as private users too. They are
not loonies screaming "kill Microsoft, kill Microsoft".
Click to expand...

Companies can buy volume licenses and then will not have to activate.
This new methods of copy protection that some companies are using are
a blow to the rights of consumers. They are treating us as thieves or
junkies. "You made the mistake of buying something from us and now you
are caught".
Click to expand...

I believe that most people agree that Microsoft has the right to *in
some form* protect their products against piracy.
Whether or not product activation (in this form) is the right form is
debatable, indeed.
I do not defend that Microsofts product activation in this form is the
right form of piracy prevention.
I do defend that it is meant to do just that: prevent piracy and that it
is not meant to force people to upgrade, which is what the OP was about.
Now is software, next will be hardware. They will be
expensive useless things. But we have to buy them because we will not
have another alternative.
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but that is not what the OP was about.
 
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