🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <CMM.0.88.625285647.cmm1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu>, cmm1@CUNIXA.CC.COLUMBIA.EDU (Christopher M Mauritz) writes:
> I do have an honest-to-goodness question about the elusive TT.  Since
> users are paying all that money to get a 68030 box, can it multitask? 
> Seems to me that if it doesn't it is just a speedy ST in a new box. 
> Enquiring minds want to know....

Nope, it does NOT multitask. This has been mentioned by John Townsend et al
on GEnie in the past. The TT will simply be a faster ST with slightly
better graphics. And John Townsend said that the first TT will be called
TT/P for the Plastic TT (it is in a plastic box). Later, if any, models
are supposed to be in a Tower cabinet. Also, someone posted a message on
GEnie about the upcoming Comdex show in Las Vegas in Novemebr. This person
got a brochure from Comdex and Atari was listed as shwoing the "TT/Megastation".
So, maybe the new TT will be called the TT/Megastation. Who knows? Anything
is better then TT/P. It will use TOS 1.6 which is the same TOS being used
in that other VaporWare the 1040STE. So no mutlitasking, unless you call
DAs multitasking of course.

> 
> Oh yeah, I think Richard Covert mentioned that he still was an avid ST
> fan, but would never buy another Atari product.  I would put myself in
> the same class (except never should be all caps -->NEVER).  Some of us
> are willing to pay a wee bit extra at the outset for a PC rather than
> having to fight tooth and nail for even the most meager
> (OK...nonexistent) support.  Just an observation.  I still like my ST
> (er, well I guess I still like my 15 year-old cub scout uniform too
> <grin>).
> 

I don't think that ANYONE could have supported Atari more then myself
over the past five years. I own a 520ST (3 years old and still running),
a Mega ST2 (20 months old), an 85 meg drive for the 520ST, a 130 meg
drive for the Mega, an Atari SLM804 laser printer, 3 Atari monitors (2
color, one monochrome). And lots of commerical software. I have bought
most of the available word processors, I own LDW Power and VIP Professional.
I wqon Mark Williams C and FLASH and Interlink. The list could continue
for pages.

And when I first bought the 520ST, the ST was a steal. And when I first bought
the Mega I was told about all of the future boards being designed for it.
Over the last 3 years the ST, both 520/1040 and Mega ST, have been left in
the dust by IBM PC clones. And now that Commodore is producing an Amiga (A3000)
which uses non-interlaced graphics, the A3000 is a serious contender in my
book.

But, what has Atari done to improve the ST. The Diablo Emulator for the
SLM804 lp is so bad that Word Perfect has dropped the Atari LP as a
supported WP printer. So, much for Atari support. Atari has never
released an Epson Emulator for the SLM804. So much for Atari support.
I know, folks say that I should NOT have bought the SLM804. But, what it
does it does very well. I love the quality of my C listings and the
speed at which the SLM804 prints. But its shortcomings are frustrating,
and Atari's lack of support is maddeining!

I would dearly like to get a good CASE tool but if you think I will
ever see one for the ST or the TT you are pretty optimistic. The
software market has just plain and simply left the ST. Except for
games. There are plenty of new games for the ST. Just lots and lots
of games. And mostly from Europe.

So, that leaves the ST as a Game Machine. and maybe that where ATari
should concentrate. Sell the ST and TT as Super Game Machines and blow
away Ninetendo.

So, why do I like my ST? first, GEM is fairly easy to program in.
Second, Mark Williams C is a great compiler. Third, I dislike Mac's
hardware even more then Atari's lack of support. The ST's DMA port
blows away the MAC IIci when it comes to data xfer from hard drive.
So, I don't like Mac hw, but do like Mac sw, and Apple support.
I like Atari ST hw, and sw but hate Atari's LACK of support.
So, unless I design and build my own computer I am stuck in
an imperfect world. And as I have over 6 grand tied up in Atari
computer gear, I will stay with Atari for awhile.

But, I will NEVER buy another computer from Atari. Especially
a closed system like the TT/P. One lousy short VME card slot
does not make an OPEN system. you need 5 or more. One slot
just guarantees that no one will design for it. Lack of resources.

> Chris
> 

****************  GOOD NEWS SECTION ****************************
 THE FAST TECHNOLOGY TURBO16 is one of the best things to
come to the ST market. It works in all models of the ST and
gives you an increase of upto 50%. I have 2 friend who have it
and they both love it. T16 is a small pc board with a 16 MHz
68000 and a 32 Kbyte Fast static RAM cache. It is the cache
ram that gives the most increase in performance for your ST.
So, please, if you have a local Atari dealer, check out the
Turbo16 from Fast Technology. It is wonderful.
****************************************************************

Rich Covert