mitsolid@acf5.NYU.EDU (Thanasis Mitsolides) (11/10/89)
> From: covertr@force.UUCP (Richard E. Covert) > >What has happened to Atari Corp?? why can't they design and produce a new >machine as nice as the ST was back in 1985?? The ST beat other computers >hands down in 1985. I wish the TT could do the same in 1990!! Atari cannot (I reapeat CANNOT) compete with conventional computers since these days you can find PCs with: - Very very low prices. - Many and cheap expanantion options. - Much and cheap software. - Very very powerful (memory, disk space, MIPS, screen). - Multiprocessing of just about any kind you can think of. So what can they do? Except of producing cheap game systems? I believe the only future Atari has, considering non game machines belongs in the development of multiprocessor systems. The ATW, if it becomes comercial product before 1995. AND it is supported. AND has good OS. It would be something I would consider. Shared memory multiprocessor systems is another area that lacks standards, is proprietary and expencive, and thus, Available for exploitation from companies such as Atari. Instead, what does Atari do? They prepare for next year the release of a computer which last year would be considered a weak entry at best (sofware, OS, expantion options, expantion price, speed, graphics, lacking). Who cares about it? I can play games on my ST just fine. I hope I would be surprised by Atari. Thanasis ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "If you know what you are doing, you are not learning anything." Internet: mitsolid@csd2.nyu.edu (mitsolid%csd2.nyu.edu@relay.cs.net) UUCP : ...!uunet!cmcl2!csd2!mitsolid -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ncastellano@eagle.wesleyan.edu (11/11/89)
In article <12430003@acf5.NYU.EDU>, mitsolid@acf5.NYU.EDU (Thanasis Mitsolides) writes: >> From: covertr@force.UUCP (Richard E. Covert) >> >>What has happened to Atari Corp?? why can't they design and produce a new >>machine as nice as the ST was back in 1985?? The ST beat other computers >>hands down in 1985. I wish the TT could do the same in 1990!! > > Atari cannot (I reapeat CANNOT) compete with conventional computers > since these days you can find PCs with: > - Very very low prices. > - Many and cheap expanantion options. > - Much and cheap software. > - Very very powerful (memory, disk space, MIPS, screen). > - Multiprocessing of just about any kind you can think of. > > So what can they do? Except of producing cheap game systems? > First of all, you get a 68000 microprocessor for half (or less) the price of a Mac. Ever try programming in assembly on a 80x86? Gaak. You also get a computer which can be expanded to run Macintosh software, PC software, Atari 800 software (nice for those of us who have been with Atari for a while), Apple IIe software. You also get a computer with lots of PD software (unix shells, editors, compilers, games) You get a computer which runs neither MS-DOS nor Finder (Both of which I despise) unless you really want it to, and which can run unix-like shells (Gulam, MT-C shell). You get a computer with built-in midi capabilities and lots of midi software available. You get a computer for which you don't have to buy a bus card every time you get a new piece of hardware. You also get a computer on which you can play games if you want to. I am a programmer, so I don't play games much (I sometimes write them...) but it's nice to be able to play an occasional game of Tetris (which happens to be PD on the ST...) > [...rest of article deleted...] > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > "If you know what you are doing, you are not learning anything." > > Internet: mitsolid@csd2.nyu.edu (mitsolid%csd2.nyu.edu@relay.cs.net) > UUCP : ...!uunet!cmcl2!csd2!mitsolid > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- _=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_- i believe in coyotes in time as an abstract explain the change the difference between what you want and what you need there's the key your adventure for today _-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_R.-E._M.=_-_= Nicholas Steven Castellano (dd) | entropy@nuacc.acns.nwu.edu | Disclaimer: I am ncastellano@eagle.wesleyan.edu | ncastellano@wesleyan.bitnet | irresponsible. _=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-_=_-
mitsolid@acf5.NYU.EDU (Thanasis Mitsolides) (11/11/89)
/* acf5:comp.sys.atari.st / ncastellano@eagle.wesleyan.edu / 12:31 pm Nov 10, 1989 */ >First of all, you get a 68000 microprocessor for half (or less) the price of >a Mac. Ever try programming in assembly on a 80x86? Gaak. I have never thought of the posibility of buing a Mac. Proprietary system yach! I would use assembler only if my life depended on it. What is wrong with Turbo Pascal? Link with 100 bytes of assembler if it is really necessary. Once I used 8086 asembler. I will never forget it... But with the advanced compiler and the comming of the 80386 should not be any problems. (Unless you have to write a lot of assembly and keep it MSDOS compatible too, maybe) And 386 systems are dirt cheap too. >You get a computer for which you don't have to buy a bus card every time you >get a new piece of hardware. I cannot help but think that the alternative would unfortunately be buying a whole new computer instead. (What is worse is that often there is not even a new computer to upgrade) ----- I will go back to my first point. I don't think there is much future for the Atari in the establised marked of PCs or systems with excellent (often specialised) support. It would be great if they attempted to establish a multiprosessing standard. If it is cheap and fast and has good graphics, it is certain to succeed. Thanasis ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Has it ever occured to you that God may be a committee?" R. A. Heinlein Internet: mitsolid@csd2.nyu.edu (mitsolid%csd2.nyu.edu@relay.cs.net) UUCP : ...!uunet!cmcl2!csd2!mitsolid -------------------------------------------------------------------------------