🚀 go-pugleaf

In response to Flash@Umass.BITNET, I have to say that I agree with the balance
of what he said.  In particular, I have to go with his sentiments regarding
the rather noticeable disparity between Neil Harris's immediate reaction to
the BREAKOUT.ACC posting and his total lack of interest in the user questions
that have appeared lately (of course, I am responsible for a disproportionate
quantity of these questions, so I guess you could say I am biased).  In
fairness, of course, we have no idea how often Mr. Harris logs onto a
newsnet host, and we can't expect him to read every single back article if
he has been offline for a long time.  Also, I suspect that the period just
before Christmas is probably rather busy for most people at Atari.  Still, it
would have been nice to have seen some sort of acknowledgement.

However, I have to say that a few of the complaints in the article I am
responding to were a little extreme.  Although I agree that it is a little
much to say that GDOS will be free one minute and then give it a price, etc.,
I don't think it is much of a crime to be a little late in releasing something.
After all, it can happen to anybody, and it certainly isn't intentional.  I,
for one, am very glad that Atari is taking its time to release the IBM
emulation box.  Considering that many people claim to have seen it running
the Microsoft Flight Simulator sometime over the summer, to have it released
six months later can only mean that they are increasing its compatability
level to something close to 100% (at least, that is what I am hoping).

Just to be a spreader of unsubstantiated rumours, a local BBS (Boston Area)
has it that a rather large (national) retailer was recently at Atari and has
heard that the IBM emulation box will not be released until about March, but
that it will (1) include a 5.25" drive, (2) be fully compatible, and (3) cost
about $600.  This seems somewhat consistent, since the earlier estimates were
without a drive and were set at about $300.  It's steap, but frankly it seems
reasonable to me.

									JJMG