skip@gatech.UUCP (11/06/83)
I recently heard from some AT&T marketing types that the micros will be
introduced early next year. One of them will feature a re-microprogrammed
68000 (the 3B2) processor and "a couple meg of storage."
Soon after they hit the shelves as standalone
devices, I expect to see plug-in boards which will communicate directly
with the AT&T System 85 and the up-coming Wide-band Premise Network (their
version of a local area network).
No one asked us to sign non-disclosure agreements, so if anyone wants to
know more, please let me know by mail.
-- skip addison {allegra,rlgvax,akgua,emory}!gatech!skiprbc@houxw.UUCP (11/07/83)
The micro offered by ATT WILL NOT BE A "REPROGRAMMED 68000". It is a full 32-bit (internal and external) singal chip micro. I know because I have already designed with the part. Further infomation will come after I clear it with the boss. Robert Connaghan ATT-Bell Labs Holmdel, N.J.
mason@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Mason) (11/09/83)
"...last year Atari spent $1.5 million on their help line. That shows
something about their customer service.."
To me it says something about their documentation & programming that that
many calls had to be made: by my (admittedly rough) calculation that means
that the average Atari customer spent ~5-10 minutes on the phone to Atari!
-- Dave Mason, U. Toronto CSRG,
{utzoo,linus,cornell,watmath,ihnp4,allegra,floyd,mhsta,decwrl,
decvax,uw-beaver,ubc-vision}!utcsrgv!masonleff@smu.UUCP (11/14/83)
#R:gatech:-192000:smu:17300001:000:446 smu!leff Nov 12 19:44:00 1983 It is not necessarily clear that a high rate of calls to a help line is a sign that something is wrong with the company, its products or the documentation is at fault. A company that services the vertical market field estimates that most of the calls come under the category of 'how do I run my business?' rather than software questions. THe second most prominent problem is flaky hardware. (The Atari calls are a different category, I know.)