boylan@sun.uucp (Lee Boylan) (01/04/86)
Excerpts from article by Ken Siegmann, Times Tribune Staff: Atari Corp. Chairman Jack Tramiel is trying a strategy that infuriated computer retailers once before. Atari will on Jan. 15 roll out a cheaper version of its 520ST computer...The new 520ST will be distributed through mass merchandisers, such as K Mart and through regional discounters, said Atari Executive Vice President Michael Katz. While chair of Commodore International Ltd. in the early 1980's, Tramiel won infamy among specialty computer dealers when he sold the C64 through mass merchandisers at a price less than it had cost dealers. The new 520ST is one of two new machines Atari plans to ship this month. The other more sophisticated machine -- called 1040ST -- will go exclusively through computer specialty stores, Katz said. He thinks it should keep them happy because it will keep them "on the cutting edge of Aatari's technology." The new 520ST will be similar to the original machine, but will sell without a monitor for less than $300, Katz said. The original model sells for $799. Unlike the first machine, users will be able to connect the new 520ST to their televisions. The 1040ST will have twice the internal memory of the 520ST. It will store up to 1 million characters of information, or 500 typewritten pages. With a b/w monitor, Atari has priced the machine at $999. With a color monitor the 1040ST will sell for about $1200. The article quoted several analysts as saying the dealers are gonna be upset. I guess the 1040ST will be out in time for people to do their taxes on it (sorry :-) )!
Bicer.ES@XEROX.ARPA (01/09/86)
---------------------- The new 520ST will be similar to the original machine, but will sell without a monitor for less than $300, Katz said. The original model sells for $799. Unlike the first machine, users will be able to connect the new 520ST to their televisions. ...The new 520ST will be distributed through mass merchandisers, such as K Mart and through regional discounters, said Atari Executive Vice President Michael Katz. ---------------------- Does anyone know when and where this machine is going to be available? Jack Bicer Bicer.ES@Xerox.ARPA