🚀 go-pugleaf

    Date:         Wed, 18 Dec 1985 18:52 O
    From:           Randy Magruder
      <RSMAGRUD%WEIZMANN.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU>

    Hi.

    Also, today I was in Tel Aviv searching computer stores for answers
    to an interesting question concerning MICROSOFT BASIC II.

    It supposedly comes with a book, a cartridge, and an extension diskette.
    the cartridge has 16K of memory, while the diskette carries 3.5K.  I have
    a diskette which, I was told, has ALL Of MICROSOFT BASIC II on it.

The original Microsoft BASIC was on diskette.  A later version was
released on cartridge, with a diskette containing a few less frequently
used functions which wouldn't fit into 16KB (the cartridge capacity).
Advantages of the cart, aside from being more difficult to copy, were
higher reliability and much faster startup.

    I don't understand what is going on here.  Why didn't ATARI  release
    the whole package on a diskette? Was this to prevent copying? Can
    MICROSOFT BASIC II work totally on diskette?  The only OTHER explanation
    I can think of is that the 3 1/2 K extension diskette is supposed to be
    copied as a set of file management programs (like DOS and AUTORUN etc.)
    But again. I DO NOT KNOW, and no one here can seem to tell me.  I hope
    this isn't too terribly amateur for you folks.

    Also, is MICROSOFTs flight simulator also called SUBLOGIC?? I've never
    seen one advertised by microsoft, just by sublogic.

The Microsoft Flight Simulator is for the IBM PC.  It was written by
Bruce Artwick of subLogic, who markets the other versions (Atari, Apple,
Commode) directly through subLogic.

    Now for a few comments.

    I've been reading with interest the advertisements and debates about
    three hot computers:  Amiga, 520ST and MACintosh.

    If Amiga is indeed twice the price of the 520ST, then I really don't
    think that the extra money spent is WELL spent, considering the 520ST's
    characteristics, which seem to rival, if not top, those of the Amiga.
    As for the Mac, we are dealing with a super-Atari for 1/4th the price
    of a Mac, to which the only disadvantage seems to be a lack of software,
    and I'm always weary of PROMISES by software companies to develop software.
    I'm still waiting for PASCAL for the Atari, promised years ago, but never
    delivered (to my knowledge).

To avoid excess flamage on this subject, let's just say that the extra
features may not mean much to YOU, but that other users may have very
different sets of criteria for judging the systems.  Others may question
the thousands I've put into my audio/video equipment.  Personally, I
think it was money well spent.

BTW, Pascal WAS shipped for the 8 bit Atari.  It was sold through the
Atari Program Exchange.  Atari didn't make a big deal about it because
it was so big and slow and required two disk drives to do much of
anything.