Wayne@OZ.AI.MIT.EDU.UUCP (08/31/87)
[Following is a small thread from the ST Roundtable on Genie. Am I the only one who feels that Atari is not keeping up with developments in the world of micros? What triggered my message are glowing reports about the new PC's Limited and Tandy 386 machines, and the goodies (particularly Multifinder, Hypercard, and 4th Dimension) announced and displayed at the Mac Expo earlier this month in Boston. -- WHM] Category 14, Topic 16 Message 41 Thu Aug 13, 1987 GORDON [ MichTron ] at 21:29 EDT With Tandy releasing a 286 clone for under $1000 why would Atari bring out an old fashioned 8086 clone for $700.. would not make much sense.. At least not to me.. If they can not bring out a 286 they should not do it.. ---------- Category 14, Topic 16 Message 42 Sat Aug 15, 1987 W.MCGUIRE [Wayne M.] at 05:56 EDT To Gordon at Michtron: An excellent observation. 8086 machines are essentially obsolete now, and it would be a waste of time and money for Atari to release the Atari PC. 80286 machines are the bare minimum for PC compatibles these days, and they are affordable by anyone with a serious interest in computing. But I think Atari also has a problem with the Megas. This is August _1987_, not 1985. Apple has already released the 68020 Macintosh II, and 80386 machines from Compaq and PC's Limited are selling like hot cakes. 16 MHz machines will be solidly established as a base standard by the end of this year. 20 MHz machines are soon to enter the marketplace, and will crowd out 16 MHz products before long. Why are people waiting for the Megas with such expectation? The Megas are essentially 520/1040 ST's with a few cosmetic improvements; they are an old technology. We need Atari 16 MHz machines _now_, not six months from now, with a multitasking operating system, 1.4 MB 3.5 inch disk drives, and lots of slots. The Megas that are now being released should include at least these features. My impression is that Atari is falling farther and farther behind the leading edge of technology. I for one can't wait any longer for Atari to attack the upper end of the market. I plan to give my ST to my son, and pay the extra bucks for a Macintosh II or a PC's Limited 386 (check out the rave review of the latter in a recent _Infoworld_). The ST has whet my appetite for a truly powerful and state-of-the-art machine that is well-supported and overflowing with advanced software. This is not a criticism of Atari. The Tramiels have done a wonderful job in rescuing a company in dire distress and nursing it back to financial health. I think Atari should do quite well at the lower end of the market (the ST these days is equivalent to the Commodore 64/128 in previous years). But many of us want to move on up to greater power, and now fully appreciate why a Mac II or 386 is worth a premium of a few thousand dollars. Perhaps, just perhaps, Atari has a state-of-the-art machine up its sleeve, and will spring it on the world soon without advance notice. That would be nice. But I can't wait around for miracles when other companies are already in the ballgame.