🚀 go-pugleaf

> I read an article in this newsgroup suggesting that it was cheaper by
> ~$200 to upgrade a 520 to 1Meg than to buy a 1040.  My question is,
> is there any reason to buy a 1040?  Aren't there some advantages to
> the layout, or ports, or something that make the price difference
> worthwhile?  Or should I just laugh all the way to the bank (heh)
> and get a 520?
> Your expert comments appreciated...
> Steve Chapin                    |      Chapin's Law of Motion:  
> UUCP:  ...!purdue!sjc           |      if you drive fast enough.

I've wondered about that too.  Some advantages of
the 1040 may be:

(1) Peace of mind knowing that the extra RAM is factory
installed, and if it breaks Atari will (?) fix it.
I upgraded my RS CoCo years ago (from 16K to 64K, wow)
but must accept the fact that Radio Shack will never repair
it.  If you're not a hardware jock like me, get the 1040.

(2) Doesn't the 1040 come with a built-in (less desk space)
**double-sided** drive?  That's worth about $75 I believe.

(3) Can you still daisy-chain two external disk drives?
If so, the 1040 could have total of 3 drives, not 2.
 (I doubt you can, tho).

(4) Built-n power supply.  Actually, one may prefer the
separate black-box to the bigger, heavier, and HOTTER
mainframe that results from putting the PS inside.
Especially since the keyboard is still not separate.
So, maybe this is a *disadvantage*.

(5) If you piggyback a 1040, you can put in 32 chips
and go clear to 2 Meg.  Don't ask whether the MMU chip
can handle that much.  In case you missed the Byte 1040ST
article, the "extra" RAM chips are end-to-end with the "original"
ones on the board.  You could add just 512K the first time.

(6) How long will you live with 512K?  If you plan to upgrade
a 520 as soon as you get home (and blow the warranty),
maybe you should get the 1040 right off (see (1)).

	mike k