🚀 go-pugleaf

I agree entirely with your suggestions. One only has to look at the fever
generated by the forthcoming upgrades to TOS, Spectre, etc. to realise that
just having the current version of software is a necessary but not sufficient
condition for satisfaction. 

To be a valid recipient of upgrades and information adds considerable usability
to a piece of equipment (I consider software to be equipment). All too often
the support for equipment is minimal.  

Yes, costs do play a part, but the attractiveness of a complete marketing
package (as described in the basenote) is difficult to deny. The suggestions
contained in the responses are also very sensible - as a consumer, I prefer
hard-bound, properly-prepared documentation (who doesn't).

Further suggestion --- Atari Corp., you read this group, so how about passing
the basenote and the relevant responses on to the developers? 

And while you are at it, read them carefully yourselves. You have a large
customer base and considerable goodwill, a lot of other companies would give
their eye teeth for these advantages. You seem to be in real danger of taking
your customers and their opinions/feelings for granted.

You have a very visible position in the marketplace, a position largely derived
from the success of the ST. However, the machine is just a piece of junk
without an active user base --- they don't program themselves, dammit. Success
factors in the "home computer" market are complex, (you must know that) but one
of the most significant has got to be the range and quality of software
available for any particular machine. 

There are *many* people who have invested hard-earned money in Atari kit.  You
have both a role to play in (and responsibility towards) helping those people
make the most of their investment. This means supporting existing users, not
just targeting potential purchasers.

Really, it's up to you to set the standard for software, documentation and
support. Take a good, hard look at what you are offering current users ---
would you be satisfied with those standards from *your* key supplier?

From many of the contributions to this notesgroup, I see a tremendous amount of
goodwill, tolerance and respect towards Atari and the ST. It would be *really*
nice to see some of it coming back in terms of support, responsiveness and
respect.

Cheers,

Graham Higgins
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