Steve_Godun@rubbs1.UUCP (Steve Godun) (05/19/88)
In the beginning (pre-Tramiel), Atari practically alienated third-party developers, leaving them out of CES/Comdex booths, software catalogs (published by Atari), and not even mentioning them in their documentation. Now, in the Tramiel Atari, they are relying too much on third-party developers. Yes, they are included in the CES/Comdex booths, software catalogs, etc, but Atari itself is not producing as much as it could/should. Look at the hard disk -- ICD and Supra had ST hard drives prototypes out befo
r
e Atari did, and Supra had a ready-to-go, marketable version available to the public about 6 months before Atari did. CD-ROM has been available for Apples and IBM's for a few months now (granted, at a higher price, but what can you expect from a bare-bones Apple/IBM computer? Bargains?) and is now just showing up on the ST scene. The same thing applies to the SLM804 laser printer, the Megas, and everything else. Basically, it seems to me that Atari is saying, "OK, we made this ass-kicking computer, now
l
et's sit back, maybe slap a few improvements onto it, and see what the rest of the world puts into our wonder machine."
I have heard rumors that programs such as CAD-3D and VIP Professional were going to be marketed through Atari Corp itself, which would have greatly improved revenue and reputations for Atari (being known as the producer of top-selling software is VERY profitable). Again, this is just a rumor, but the Tramiels have made mistakes in the past. (Ie, Jack says "Hey, let's use TV to promote our C=64," which was a great success. Then he gets Atari and says, "TV? Nah, that won't work for our computers." Now lo
o
k at the sales increase for the Atari games systems after TV ads came out. I have seen an Atari 130XE commercial ONCE on channel 2. Wow. Thrilling. I'm sure that gave everyone the urge to go buy one.)
-STeve
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"Ford," said Arthur, "you're turning into a penguin. Stop it."
Ford waddled around his pond in a furious circle.
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