🚀 go-pugleaf

I agree totally!  Bashing a machine, or just simply stating "my machine is 
better than yours" is totally childish, yet most clone users feel that way.

I own a TI 99/4A as well as my ST, and I am happy with both machines.  Whenever
I mention TI, people say stupid things like "my PC is better than that trash",
and I can't stand it, especially when that same clone user has never seen what
the machine can really do.  I have been seeing the same attitude being applied
to other machines, such as the ST as well.  I saw beyond Atari's reputation as
being the producer of game machines, and saw some useful utilities for it.  
Yes, software support for the 99/4A or the ST is not as large as that of the
IBM world, but we, the users, know it is there and are happy with what we have.

If you want to bash some PC's then you can always state the fact that the 
clones are simply upgraded outdated technology.  First came the 8086, 8088, all
the way up to the 486.  Looking at the machines, how much change is there?
Yes, there is a change in speed, and architectural changes to update the out-
dated technology, but other than that, there is no new original thought being
implemented.  The computer business has become a fast food service where every
once in a while, they put an extra ingredient to your hamburger.  The clones 
with their big expensive graphics cards, can't even do what a simple TI takes
for granted:  sprites.  Which brings me to another point about these machines:
Use it for your own purposes.  If you are going to deal with business, fine,
get yourself a clone as most businesses use them.  If it is for recreational
uses, or educational, is a clone really the machine for you?  If you were to
put someone infront of a clone for the first time and told them to use it, they
would look at you strangely and ask for the manual.  Machines like the TI and
ST are user friendly, which makes it easier to use.  With the TI, you have 
menus where you pick the corresponding number.  With the ST, it's as simple as
move the mouse and click.  Software support for the machine is not always the 
main reason to buy a machine.  So as limited as our software libraries are, we
are happy with our machines and that is what is important.
 
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   / o n y.