🚀 go-pugleaf

DAVID SCHREIBER stated:
>....the ST is doing far, far better in Canada than south
>of the border. Americans, on the other hand, are outraged at the
>suggestion that they are not the centre (Cdn. spelling) of Atari's
>strategy. I'd add that, in general, Americans are outraged at the idea
>that they are not the centre of the world, but that would be a cheap
>shot. Besides, they are awfully nice people, if a little self-involved.

    I take exception to the above statement.  I'm not outraged at
Atari U.S.A..  No, I'm hurt instead and feel betrayed.  I rejoice
that at least some nation in the North Americas is getting decent
treatment for its users.  Relish your ST market, Canada, and don't
take it for granted!
    I could care less if the U.S. is the center (U.S. spelling - grin)
of the ST market.  What I do care for is that I can get reliable info
about my computer which I've invested money in and be assured that the
computer which I've put my money and time into will still be around
and supported.  I feel betrayed for I have no idea whether or not
my ST will be an orphan or not by the end of this year.
    Here are areas which I feel betrayed in:

1.  The Mega2 ST.  I bought it because I was *assured* by the man
    himself during a convention that it would be the front-end for
    the ATW.  That idea was abandoned.  Fine, but the assurance came
    across as fact and was literally promised as fact.

2.  Education.  As an educator, I was assured that Atari would pursue
    an aggressive marketting strategy for schools in a manner similar to
    that done for the Pets of ten years ago.  Our school has yet to
    receive a reply from Atari regarding the stocking of a music
    lab utilizing MIDI.  Apple Mac will more than likely win the bid
    since they at least responded.

3.  Documentation.  As a user, I cannot find 'official' Atari documentation
    designed for users that is of technical nature.  Docs that come to
    mind is that similar to the technical manuals SUPPLIED with the
    Amiga 500 and optional manuals similar to the Commodore 64 or 128
    Reference manual.  Are we Atari STers rated any less?  No, but as
    far as docs are concerned, the ST seems to be built for developers, not
    for users.

4.  Stagnant software.  Software such as TimeWorks Desktop Publisher
    is buggy and will not be upgraded due to the lack of ST exposure.
    I bought the product several years ago.  A more aggressive market
    might have caused that program to be expanded.

5.  3rd market support.  Well, a bright spot.  It is fantastic.  Due
    to Dave Small, Gordon Moore, George Woodside, the CodeHeads, DoubleClick,
    and others, the ST continues to keep its head above water.  WordPerfect
    also sees a market potential.

---
    These are just rambling items in my head that come to mind as I
compose this on-line.  However, and again, I don't care if the U.S.
market is the center or not.  I just want promises made to not be
broken, follow-up on correspondence, and customer support.  As an
ST user who has sunk some money into the Atari ST since summer of 1985,
I feel betrayed by Atari.
    Ok, enough of this.  I normally don't flame and will probably get
scorched.  SIGH

Larry Rymal:  |East Texas Atari 68NNNers| <Z4648252@SFAUSTIN.BITNET>