🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <3970.2542f26a@uwovax.uwo.ca>, 4224_5132@uwovax.uwo.ca (Andrew Semple) writes:
> 
>   This letter was a response to a fellow with whom I discussed Atari's
> (mis)fortunes.  I think I'll post it.  
> 
>   I, as anyone, will admit that Atari has had some lame ducks that stayed
> on the development shelf gathering dust.  But based on the prior three years
> track record, I am willing to believe that Atari R&D has their act together.

So, just *WHAT* has ATARI released in the last 3 years?? 
First, they came out with the Mega ST line. The Megas could have been a great
chance for Atari to increase color graphics and/or sound (ala the VaporWare
1040STE). the Mega could have been a chance for Atari to provide a wide open
computer with plenty of open card slots. The Mega could have been a chance for Atari
to fix some hardware problems (like why didn't Atari add a DMA port buffer so that
you can drive 2 external harddrives AND the SLM804 laser printer?). The Mega
could have been expandable from 2 megabytes to 4 megabytes. The BLitter chip could
have had ALL of the features that were originally promised 3 years ago. Needless
to say, none of these things were done, and the Mega was promised to be a
"Business" computer, so they should have been done. Cost would be a minor
consideration when buying a Top Of The Line computer.


> I remember when the 520 was announced.  I had my reservations, that computer
> meant that Atari had to drop an entire train of thought.  No more 8 bit.
> Just 16 bit.  I was amazed when it came out.  Then the 1040. Then the Mega
> line, a real jump.  

The Mega was a great improvement over the other STs. I even bought one.
But, the Mega is NOT a great computer. It lacks any real new features except
a detached keyboard, a Blitter chip and a TOS to control the Blitter chip.

> Then the (cheap, good quality) laser printer.

Yes, the SLM804 is a CHEAP laser printer. And that is it only marketable
feature. NOTHING has been done by Atari to support the SLM804 in over 18
months. No new Diablo 630 Emulator, no Epson Emulator, no new GDOS driver,
no new anything. And don't bring up UltraScript because that wasn't written
by Atari. US was written by Imagen, bless them!!

Just try using that SLM804 on the Gadget's By Small SPECTRE 128/GCR. The best
you can get is 144 dpi printing w/o resorting to UltraScript. so much for the
Quality and Versatility of the SLM804.

And now that HP has released the LaserJet IIP for $995.00, I just wonder
how many SLM804s will be sold. I know that I would buy the HP printer before
buying the SLM804 if I was to buy a laser printer today.

> Then
> the transputer (an AFFORDABLE parrallel prcessing unit for END-USER's).

Well, I don't know what continent you live BUT the ATW is NOT being sold
here in the US. I do understand that Canadians and English folks can buy
it. So, maybe the ATW is not VaporWare, though the US hasn't seen it yet.


> Porfolio and STacy following soon.  Now there is a Transputer workstation.

right, there is Portfolio. But, Portfolio was designed and built by DIP,
a British company. Atari is JUST amrketing it. Just like Atari markets that
expensive line of calculators! Boy, I will bet you are proud of those 
calculator also, hih?

And just *WHERE* is the STacy?? Is it selling in Europe?? Is it selling
in Canada?? I *KNOW* that you can't buy the STacy in the United States.
So, as far as I am concerned the STacy is just more Tramiel VaporWare.

> It goes on and on, all the while, spurring companies like Wordperfect Corp. 
> and others to support it. 

Ah, Word Perfect. Did you know that WP dropped development of the ST version
of WP because of non-existant support from Atari?? Did you know that the
Atari FANASTIC CHEAP SLM804 laser printer in NOT a supported printer by
WP?? that's because of all of the bugs in the SLM804's Diablo Emulator,
which of course hasn't been updated in over 18 months!! So, WP dropped
the SLM804. And it looks like Atari has also!!

As far as other companies supporting the Atari: where are Microsoft, Lotus,
WORDSTAR, Dbase?? where are all of the IBM software companies?? If the
ST was a viable market those companies, and more, would be fighting to
grab a piece of the ST market. Nope, none of them are marketing ANY ST
software. That speaks volumes for the US ST market!!

> Atari has had no easy task over the last three
> to five years, I think they have done pretty well.  It is time we get over
> the stigma of Atari being a 'neophyte' company.  They seem to be holding their
> own, progressing.  Doesn't every company have it's own white elephants?
> Don't you know anyone who owns an Apple Lisa?........

No, but I know of the Mac SE, the Mac SE/30, the Mac II, the Mac IIx, the
Mac IIcx, the Mac IIci, etc. and then all of the Compaqs, and IBM pcs. Etc.
all of which are first class computers.

> 
> Regards,
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> Andrew Semple                               ads@uwovax.uwo.ca
> 2nd Year Applied Math/Computer Science      Andrew.Semple@uwovax.uwo.ca
  ^^^^^^^^
> The University of Western Ontario           Semple@uwovax.BITNET
> London, Ontario
> Canada

Oh, that explains it!! An experienced computer engineer with YEARS of
real world experience!! And andrew lives in Canada, so he gets new Atari
stuff before us lower Americans!!

Well, I am sorry to continue flaming Atari BUT messages like the above
from folks just get my goat!! I like my STs better than any other, but
I refuse to follow the Atari party line any longer. I will keep my ST
for years, but will NEVER buy another Atari product!!

**************** GOOD NEWS SECTION ***************************
As part of my continuing efforts, I would like to talk about the
the game OIDS. I don't always just respond to USENET messages, I
sometimes play games. And OIDS is an old game that I still find
addicting!! You fly a small spaceship blasting enemies on the
ground and in space. Some enemies fly at you and fire at you.
Some enemies are stationary. You must resuce little men from 
jails by blasting the jails but not them!! You get an extra spaceship
for each 8 men that you rescue. Your spaceship is very mobile, and
the play is fast and furious!! And you can design your own OIDS galaxies
with the builtin editor. All in all a great little game. I like it!
*****************************************************************

richard covert