ee150018@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu (05/02/91)
>Scott Alfter writes: >Yeah, but where's all the software? Hell, even the Apple II is a more >prominent name in the modern computing scene than the ST... The majority of software already runs on the new 16Mhz w/ cache 68k Mega STe and the 32Mhz '030 w/ '882 fpu TT. The Atari is extremely popular in Western Europe and also making inroads into the Eastern block (selling 100K+ computers in Poland and becoming well-known in the Soviet Union). Atari management is just starting to concentrate on the U.S. market. >The ST's graphics aren't all that impressive--only 512 colors? Even >the IIGS does better! (You probably wouldn't have a 3200-color mode >even if you did have the 4K colors, either.) The palette of the STe is 4096 colors at 640x200 resolution and output on RGB analog and NTSC ports. Also a rock-solid monochrome mode at 640x400 resolution with 70Hz refresh is standard too. The TT supports additional resolutions (up to 1280x960 mono) and has a VGA-compatible port. If you are not satisfied with those resolutions, third-party cards will supply you with 24-bit high-res color and supported by the OS with their drivers. >Processors? Atari is still toying with the 68000 when Apple and Commodore >have moved to the 68030. The Atari TT is based on the 68030 running at 32Mhz and expands up to 26MB of ram. Atari has exotic machines based on the Inmos transputer too and is plan- ning an ATW workstation based on the 50Mhz, 200 native Mips peak Inmos H1 pro- cessor. >Expandability? Where are the slots? Slots have kept the >Apple II alive for 14 years! The new Atari Mega STe and TT have a VME (Eurocard 3U) slot. People are finding slots aren't really necessary when you have a 10Mbps ASCI-SCSI port. Also, the standard MIDI, LAN, and multiple serial ports on the Mega STe/TT satisfy most people too. I hope Atari and all other computer manufacturers adopt the SCSI-2 and 3 stan- dards, so we all benefit from slot independence. >I don't think the Atari ST is an option for serious computer users. I bought my new Atari STe for under $400 and planning to get the Atari TT in the near term. And I'm pretty serious about laying my good money and time on a system that will still be supported and manufactured in the years ahead. I used to like Apple too, but they became unresponsive to the IIe owners. >Scott Alfter-----------------------------_/_---------------------------- >Call the Skunk Works BBS (702) 896-2676 / v \ 6 PM-6 AM 300/1200/2400
alfter@nevada.edu (SCOTT ALFTER) (05/02/91)
In article <12776@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu> ee150018@wiliki.UUCP (Chen) writes: >I hope Atari and all other computer manufacturers adopt the SCSI-2 and 3 stan- >dards, so we all benefit from slot independence. I'm all for sticking SCSI in every computer, but the day you remove the slots from every computer is the day you'll want to plug something in that won't work from the built-in ports. Nobody's selling me a non-expandable machine. Scott Alfter-----------------------------_/_---------------------------- Call the Skunk Works BBS (702) 896-2676 / v \ 6 PM-6 AM 300/1200/2400 Internet: alfter@uns-helios.nevada.edu ( ( Apple II: GEnie: S.ALFTER \_^_/ the power to be your best!