{{Template:stub}}Informally known as 'csa8', this Usenet newsgroup is devoted to all Amstrad 8-bit machines, including the PCW range, GX4000 and NC100/200.
Commonly known as 'csa8', this newsgroup is devoted to all Amstrad 8 bit machines, including the PCW range and GX4000The group came into being in 4th August 1994. Most traffic is CPC-relatedThe RFC and CFV were written by [[Emmanuel Roussin]] after an idea by [[LDC|David Long]] and [[Marco Vieth]].
Traffic on this newsgroup seems Since then, most traffic has consistently been CPC-related. Contributors have included [[Cliff Lawson]] from [[Amstrad]] and [[Richard Clayton]] from [[Locomotive Software]], numerous demo coders and fanzine editors, and several magazine writers. Established at a time when there were few CPC websites and no discussion boards, the group enabled CPC news to be broadcast instantly (such as [http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.amstrad.8bit/msg/a8df8e41e94fa545 the closure of Amstrad Action]) and even, in a modest way, played its own part in CPC affairs in later years (such as [http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.amstrad.8bit/browse_thread/thread/4f963b9173039b49/de01c21181ab4f04?tvc=2&q=lets+get+it+together+group%3Acomp.sys.amstrad.8bit the resignation of Paul Dwerryhouse from WACCI]). Though traffic is reduced from its heyday, the newsgroup is still active. Traffic can go up and down in an unpredictable manner; sometimes days will pass by without a single message, sometimes there'll be several messages within the same day. So don't ever assume it's dead - it's merely resting. A spin-off IRC channel, #csa8, was briefly in existence. == Posters == Like any other newsgroup, csa8 has had its fair share of trolls, kooks and just plain nutters. Perhaps the best known was RCKCLMR13, a militantly American poster who would frequently post long tirades of "Brit"-baiting. His comments relating to the CPC were usually restricted to unfavourable comparisons with the Commodore 64. [http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.amstrad.8bit/about According to Google], the most prolific posters since the group was founded were [[Brian Watson]], [[ChaRleyTroniC|Richard Fairhurst]], [[Cliff Lawson]], [[David Cantrell]], [[Ratz|Simon Matthews]], and Phil Stewart. == Links == * [http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.amstrad.8bit csa8 via Google Groups interface]