CL016509@ULKYVX.BITNET (12/16/86)
All 8-bitters
I think its time for atari to listen to us. Ok the
ST is a great machine and i intend on getting one in the
near future, but the 8-bit still has a lot of untapped pontential.
I glad to see ATARI acknowledge this by working on a 3.5" disk
drive and the xep80 80 col. device. Hopefully this will be
enough to keep the 8-bits alive.
More could be done to rejuevenate interest in the 8-bits.
The Atari OS and the FLOATING POINT routines should be
redone wether or not they enhance the hardware.
A direction i would like to see atari go in would be to
enhance the custom chip set. I see no reason why ATARI
can't add blitting ability to the ANTIC. The antic and
the gtia could be redesigned to add the graphics mode
the xep80 is going to add. Maybe add a 320x400 or 320x200
4,8 or 16 color mode. Also they could speed up the Antic's
data transfer rate. What else could the 8-bit use to make
stand up to its new competion(CoCo III and the Apple ][Gs)
And probably tighten the noose around the 128 and c-64?
Well back in 1984? atari showed off a sound chip the Amy or
Amii (which is similiar to the Amiga's?Neil) that would help.
If atari is not willing to do something 8-bits may cease
to be productive machines.
Most of the enhancement could be done without raising the price
more than $100 above the current price of the xe.
Now this new machine seems like it would be in direct competition
with the ST, not really. The ST is still 4 times faster than
the 8-bits. And the ST seems to be heading toward the High business
end of the market(esp if the TT is released)and into the Music
area ,thanks to the insight to include a midi port. Actually this
new machine could help to consolidate the atari line of machines,if
a window type of environment is added to the OS or its DOS.
If any one else has ideas on improving the 8-bit post them
E-mail or mail them to Atari or develope them yourself.
Neil Harris could relay any of the useful information on
to where it has to go.
Below is posting from a local Atari BBS(The Atari SCENE in
Lousiville Ky)
Msg #48 new machine?
Author GARY BROCKIE
To All
Posted Sat 13-Dec-86 10:07:08 am
Hello,
Alright, the 8 bit ATARI world
is getting a little stale isn't it?
What are we going to do about it?
There aren't enough new software
releases to keep everyone excited.
Most ATARI users are probably using
there machines mostly as terminals.
What does the 8 bit ATARI world need?
Two things. First, more ATARI users
must become programmers instead of
videogame couch potatoes. Second, we
must let our voices be heard all the
way back to ATARI. We want a updated
8 bit design! Lets redesign the 8 bit
machine the way APPLE did the ][ GS
except lets do it for less money. We
would want the 65816 processsor from
Western Digital. New, yet compatible
versions of ANTIC, GTIA, POKEY, and
FREDDIE the custom chips in the
ATARI. If ATARI is too busy with 16
and 32 bit designs to do it
themselves then hire Jay Miner again
as a sub-contractor to do the
design. A renewed interest in writing
software, combined with a more
powerful machine would bring back the
excitment.
[4/50] 8-Bit Forum:
I have no Affiliation with ATARI besides being a consumer!!
Mike Buford
CL016509@ULKYVX.BITNET