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From: Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Food for thought
Message-ID: <21685@cup.portal.com>
Date: 29 Aug 89 23:39:32 GMT
References: <21577@cup.portal.com> <11101@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Distribution: na
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 40

Talking about the US version of the ST being different from the European
versions of the ST, Harmut Semken says:
 
>Not true.

>The machine is the same. The ROMs are not, and neither are the
>keyboards.
>There is a british, french, german, US and probably a spanish(?) version of
>the machine.

In another posting, he says:
 
>Comparing a german and a british ST (520 STMs), I would say, the german
>one is shielded somewhat better (filter circurits on all lines to
>external connectors; missing in british model etc.)

 
Lars-Eric Osterund says:
>Infact there are swedish ROM versions too (it used too be norwegian too)
 
The point is, while the basic design of the machine is the same, the end
product is not.
 
Someone at Atari has to sit at a desk and say, "This month we'll manufacture
10,000 STs.  In 4,000 we'll install German ROMS and keyboards, install all
the "Stoerfestigkeit" and "Hochfrequenzabstrahlung" RF shielding
and put them in boxes printed in German, with German manuals and include disk
with software specifically selected for the German marketplace, including a
nifty version of BASIC.  In another 4000, we'll include the British versions
of all the above.  In maybe 1,000 or so, we'll install the Swedish ROMs and
keyboard firmware, manuals and software.   Then, let's see, that leaves 1,000
STs for the US marketplace, with FCC shielding and US manuals, power supplies
and software, and put into boxes printed for the US market."
 
It is NOT a matter of "diverting product" to the US marketplace. The German
STs would be virtually useless in the US if "diverted" here.  Atari Corp. has
to make specific decisions about which models to produce, which was the
point of this "food for thought."
 
BobR