Third party software for the QL looks set to surface soon. Bristol-based Metacomco (0272 428781) has joined in with an assembler due for launch in October for the Sinclair system.

The software houses at least seem to be taking the QL seriously as a business machine - Metacomco's assembler will cost £59.95, and the little QL software about currently seems to be coming in at around £30-£50. In some cases this will be the "new machine on the market, take the money and run" syndrome in operation, but from the sound of the Metacomco package it's more a case of quality costs.

The company claims it is a full specification assembler/development kit, incorporating a full-screen editor. It's finished, and is now going through beta testing. Watch this space for a review.