🚀 go-pugleaf

I have a friend who is looking for a computer to do MIDI work with. He is
looking at either the ST or Amiga.  Myself I have the Amiga, so I am not
well versed on the ST but I do know of its strong history in the MIDI and
Music area so I am recommending he at least look at it seriously.
 
I have some concerns about the things I have read here over the net about
apparent problems of company support, lagging sales and efforts in the US.
I have read also those notes (and have heard elsewhere) of what looks like
a large exodus of ST developers away from the machine.  What I would like
to know for the sake of my friend is more definate information about what
the facts are concerning the lack of dealers (and support), whether the
desertions by developers are as bad as some say, and so on.  I am concerned
if the notes and rumors I hear are at all true, then I should forwarn my
friend of the "orphaning of the ST".  Support in terms of developers and
dealers is getting strong for the Amiga, but these notes I read here make
me wonder about the ST. I know that the dealership support here in
Champaign Urbana has been pretty absent (I believe the "dealer" is an ST
enthusiast who sells "mailorder" stuff out of his home but I don't hear
much about him). At the same time I remember early during the ST-Amiga
Wars the rumors and iduendos about Commodores problems, potential demise,
and the persistent myth about software lack that was hard to shake even
once the software became abundant. So I want to make informed recommendations
to my friend about his choice of a first computer, one hopefully that is
in the market firmly in terms of dealer/company/developer support. So if
the negative stuff I have read/heard is exaggerated I would like to hear
so from you who know your ST and where it currently stands. I would
appreciate email on what you know about the real facts on Atari Support,
dealership problems (such as lack of), developer support (new software or
if developers have largely abandoned the ST?). I don't want to make the 
mistake of taking what could be merely rumors/bad press to my friend as
he decides on a computer.  I like people to make informed decisions on
computer choices- not colored by rumors, company propaganda, etc.
 
Also if anyone of you out there have a list of ST music software, with 
descriptions of what it does I would like to get a email copy (if you
have such in a file on your systems).  I have given my friend several
long lists of the daily growing Amiga music stuff, but I know that with
the built in MIDI port, and the ST's initial lower price,  many musicians
went for it strongly and the software appears to be a little more
mature for the ST.  Any information on MIDI software for the ST would be
much appreciated (lists, reviews, and the such).
 
Thanks for your time in reading this, and for any information you can 
email me that I could give to my friend. I think both the ST and Amiga are
the best computer choices out there, but I would like for more information
on the negative things I have mentioned above in order to have a hopefully
better informed perspective on what is really true.  Rumors of the negative
type tend to grow and get enlarged out of perspective, and I am wondering
if this is the case for the ST.
 
Russ Jacobson
615 E. Peabody Drive
Illinois Geological Survey
Champaign, IL 61820
 
217-244-2425
(office)

217-384-6983
(home)