CL016509@ulkyvx.BITNET (12/15/86)
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 86 09:33 EDT From: <CL016509@ULKYVX.BITNET> Organization: University of Louisville Subject: New Machines!!!??? To: Info-Atari8@SCORE.stanford.edu X-Original-To: Info-Atari8@SCORE.stanford.edu 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