akw@osupyr.UUCP (FarOff MicroDesigns) (03/18/87)
Since I haven't heard a whole lot from Alex and the gang from Mt. Fuji,
I'd like to put some questions/statements up for grabs.
New products:
The XEP-80:
What is the expected date of shipment on this? We heard about
this device nearly a year ago but no word from Atari. It's too bad that
the "old" Atari didn't put some sort of 80-column mode in the XLs (or the
"new" Atari in the XEs) when they first came out.
Such a bruhaha was made about compatibility with old programs.
Folks, lets look at the Apple //e, //c and ][gs. The ][ and the ][+
didn't have any sort of 'stock' 80-column boards, only the ones by
Videx and the like. But when Apple got smart and decided to put a
serious textual display on their micro, software simply was written
for the new hardware. Granted upgrades were somewhat offered to the
old owners (through buying third party boards or buying a //e,c) but
the machine still lives on, with much software.
Now: why can't we have a new XEE (for lack of any other name)
that would be an enhanced XE with built-in 80 column hardware on the
motherboard, with either output on the 5pin DIN or a separate RGB port
out the back? Sure, in the eyes of some this might be too little too
late, but I know for a fact that here in Columbus, Ataris are still
selling like they were in '82-'83 when I bought my 400.
SX-212:
Shame, Atari. A modem. It didn't even take, oh, 6 months after the
XM301 was introduced that it hit market. It wasn't much, but it was small,
cheap and quite fun to use. Why is it taking so long to get a modem to
market? This, however, is not such a point since there are so many
other modems to choose from.
XE Game System:
No, 8bitters, this is NOT a crack on the integrity of our
machine. Even though I currently use an ST as my main machine, I recogize
the 400/800/XL/XE as the de facto 8 bit micro -- years ahead of the Apples
and much nicer than the Vic/64/128. No, this "XE Game System" is what
I saw off of a 8 1/2 x 11 glossy advertisment/blurb a friend obtained.
It includes a "game unit" with four control buttons (read that: reset, option,
select, start), joyports (including a joystick and a light-pistol a'la
Nintendo or Sega home system) cart port (compatible with current 8-bit port)
and an (optional?) separated keyboard.
According to my friend Atari will still sell the XEs but this is
directed at a 'different market.' Hmm... I think that I would have been
much happier seeing Atari introduce something like this:
Atari 520 XP - the Professional 8 bit micro
512K RAM ... standard serial/parallel/scsi ports ... 2 game ports ...
Integrated CPU box/disk drive (5.25 or 3.5in or both) with separated
keyboard ... slots a'la Atari 800 ... 80 column 16- or 32-color RGB mode
... fully compatible (upward) with all existing XL/XE software hardware
(include the silly Atari SIO for compatibility) ... XP Software including
AtariWorkstation, an integrated WP/database/spreadsheet/comm package like
MS Works for the Mac ... a desktop oriented DOS (5.0?) with MOUSE input
...just to name a few features (except for the price:) under $300
(goodbye C128 and A500)
Ah, but to dream. But, Alex/Neil/Landon and gang, this is what
the 8 bits deserve. I mean, the graphics chipset is superior than that
in the ST (not a flame, just a fact). The exterior of the 8bits should
somewhat resemble the interior: slick, sporty, sweet.
A last plea: please don't turn it into the 2600 II.
(It's finals week at OSU and I am blowing off studying.... *yawn*.)
Andy Weaver / akw@osupyr.UUCP / 614.293.1195 or .292.1741
The Ohio State University / Columbus, OH / "Go Bucks."
"Like cold water to the bones, so is good news from a distant land." Prov25.25
Disclaimer: If Ohio State knew I
had UseNet access, they would
probably have to ask what
exactly UseNet is.
And how much
they should
charge.leavens@atari.UUCP (03/20/87)
in article <112@osupyr.UUCP>, akw@osupyr.UUCP (FarOff MicroDesigns) says: > > New products: > > The XEP-80: > > What is the expected date of shipment on this? We heard about > this device nearly a year ago but no word from Atari. It's too bad that > the "old" Atari didn't put some sort of 80-column mode in the XLs (or the > "new" Atari in the XEs) when they first came out. Well, the XEP80 is much closer now, we are hopefully going into production on it sometime next month. > SX-212: > > Shame, Atari. A modem. It didn't even take, oh, 6 months after the > XM301 was introduced that it hit market. It wasn't much, but it was small, > cheap and quite fun to use. Why is it taking so long to get a modem to > market? This, however, is not such a point since there are so many > other modems to choose from. It took a bit longer than that for the XM301 to hit the market. The SX212 is a much more sophisticated modem, and hence is taking longer to do. BUt it should be coming reasonably soon now. -- --alex @ Atari {sun,lll-lcc,imagen}!atari!dyer BIX: alexl. GEnie:ALEXLEAVENS AtariCorp:(408)-745-2006 "Don't crush that dwarf, hand me the pliers."