🚀 go-pugleaf

First I should introduce myself. I have recently joined Atari's 
engineering group with responsibility for the coordination of
product development, both hardware and software. So now you've
all got someone new to singe! One of the things I will be trying 
to implement is a more structured and timely approach to the
release of information regarding the status of new products, their
specifications, capabilities etc, as well as trying to bring more
focus into the channels through which such information is disseminated.

For the Atari 68030 UNIX (tm AT&T etc etc) system, the story is that
the ubit will be previewed at Hannover to a very select group of
invitees. I have perhaps a more cautious view towards product 
announcements and release, and prefer to wait until a product is in
a known and marketable state before making definitive statements.
Others in this industry do not necessarily share my viewpoint!

The 68030 will be a full V.3.1 SVID-compatible unit, and it is my
hope that we will be able to fight off the inevitable clamoring
for early units until such time as the entire product has gone
through all the test cycles that such a product needs to be exposed
to before it is ready for mass release. By 'entire product' I mean
the real system, including options and supporting software and 
applications, and not just a very good box which comes up with a
prompt. Right now our prototype design looks good and is happily
running a lot of UNIX code, but there is still work to be done
to make it a complete product, including various neat and special
interfaces.



By the same token, I do not like to see software put out for general
arrow-shooting until our own quivers, and those of our closest trusted
associates, have been emptied. And then it will be released for a
reasonable Beta test period before being made generally available. 
Many of us here do read the input for enhancements, fixes etc, on
this net, Bix, Genie and Compuserve. Much of that input has been 
acted upon for the upcoming TOS release for ST & Mega. Some of you
will doubtless be disappointed that your own pet wishes have not all
be incorporated; many of you will be glad to see that we have taken
notice.

It is very easy to be forced into premature releases due to public
pressure. And very dangerous. I hope we at Atari, and you the valued
customers, can work together to provide a better product for all.

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Roy J. Good
Product Development, Atari Corporation

Views expressed are my own. Atari may agree or disagree; they have the right.
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