[net.micro.amiga] Infoworld's Dvorak and the Amiga, and Big, Slimy Atari Ads

foust@gumby.UUCP (09/11/85)

Has everyone seen the latest ad from Atari on the back of the latest 
(Sept. 9) Infoworld?

Atari compares the Atari ST, the Macintosh, and the Amiga.  Guess who 
comes out ahead!

The ad has pictures of a Mac, an AT, and an Amiga (not a picture, a 
sketch in blueprint blue) across the top.  The ad says "There's only 
one word for these prices: Rip-off."

This ad should get the apples==oranges award of 1985.  It's worse 
than the Intel vs. Motorola ads.

A chart sits on the side of the ad:

		Atari ST	IBM AT		Mac	Amiga
Price		799		4675		2795	1795
CPU		68000		80286		68000	68000
Speed Mhz	8.0		6.0		7.83	7.16
Standard RAM	512K		256K		512K	256K
# of keys	95		95		59	89
Mouse		Yes		No		Yes	Yes
Screen Res
color		640x200		640x200		None	640x200***
mono		640x400		720x350**	512x342	640x200***
Color output	Yes		Optional	None	Yes
# of colors	512		16		None	4096
Disk drive	3.5"		5.25"		3.5"	3.5"
Built in Hard
disk (DMA) port Yes		Yes		No	No
MIDI interface	Yes		No		No	No
# of sound voices 3		1		4	4

(fine print:)
** with optional monochrome board (non bit-mapped)
*** interlace mode - 640x400


Anybody want to have fun?  Let's have a contest to see how many 
inaccuracies we can find in this ad...


Also, Dvorak says this in his column:

"_If You Haven't Noticed Department._  All the high-profile technology 
writers are _withholding judgement_ concerning the Amiga.  I'm not 
sure exactly why this is.  The wait-and-see attitude isn't good for 
a new computer.  Witness the Mindset fiasco.  The only way to get 
into the market with a _hot new machine_ is the way Apple brought out 
the Macintosh: lots of hoopla and hacker support.  Commodore 
introduced the Amiga in New York to a lot of _jaded national media_ 
folk and _insulted technology writers_ by keeping them out of 
question and answer sessions.  Instead of catering to computer heroes 
like Bill Budge, they catered to uninspiring Andy Warhol."


John

jimomura@lsuc.UUCP (Jim Omura) (09/28/85)

In article <438@gumby.UUCP> foust@gumby.UUCP writes:
>Has everyone seen the latest ad from Atari on the back of the latest 
>(Sept. 9) Infoworld?
>
>Atari compares the Atari ST, the Macintosh, and the Amiga.  Guess who 
>comes out ahead!
>
>The ad has pictures of a Mac, an AT, and an Amiga (not a picture, a 
>sketch in blueprint blue) across the top.  The ad says "There's only 
>one word for these prices: Rip-off."
>
>This ad should get the apples==oranges award of 1985.  It's worse 
>than the Intel vs. Motorola ads.

     I looked at the ad.  As far as I could see, with the info at hand
when it was probably drafted it was "accurate".  People stupid enough
to think that this comparison told you everything you needed to know
about a computer have existed for some time now.  Many of them bought
Commodore 64's (should I ask you what you own and why you own it?).

     I dislike uncalled for name calling.

>		Atari ST	IBM AT		Mac	Amiga
>Price		799		4675		2795	1795
>CPU		68000		80286		68000	68000
>Speed Mhz	8.0		6.0		7.83	7.16
>Standard RAM	512K		256K		512K	256K
># of keys	95		95		59	89
>Mouse		Yes		No		Yes	Yes
>Screen Res
>color		640x200		640x200		None	640x200***
>mono		640x400		720x350**	512x342	640x200***
>Color output	Yes		Optional	None	Yes
># of colors	512		16		None	4096
>Disk drive	3.5"		5.25"		3.5"	3.5"
>Built in Hard
>disk (DMA) port Yes		Yes		No	No
>MIDI interface	Yes		No		No	No
># of sound voices 3		1		4	4
>
>(fine print:)
>** with optional monochrome board (non bit-mapped)
>*** interlace mode - 640x400
>
>
>Anybody want to have fun?  Let's have a contest to see how many 
>inaccuracies we can find in this ad...
>
>
>Also, Dvorak says this in his column:
(Dvorak?  You read Dvorak?  Why?  Sigh... Oh well, if you must.)

>
>"_If You Haven't Noticed Department._  All the high-profile technology 
>writers are _withholding judgement_ concerning the Amiga.  I'm not 
>sure exactly why this is.  The wait-and-see attitude isn't good for 

     As you probably know, and Mr. D. doesn't, the h-p tech press is
responsible and doesn't jump to conclusions these days.

      Oh heck, this is a waste of time.  Don't bother me with Dvorak.

,
>a new computer.  Witness the Mindset fiasco.  The only way to get 
>into the market with a _hot new machine_ is the way Apple brought out 
>the Macintosh: lots of hoopla and hacker support.  Commodore 
>introduced the Amiga in New York to a lot of _jaded national media_ 
>folk and _insulted technology writers_ by keeping them out of 
>question and answer sessions.  Instead of catering to computer heroes 
>like Bill Budge, they catered to uninspiring Andy Warhol."
>
>
>John

     I expect our opinions of Mr. Dvorak's article are one and the
same.  It's amazing how many trees are wasted every year ...

-- 
James Omura, Barrister & Solicitor, Toronto
ihnp4!utzoo!lsuc!jimomura