Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!shadooby!ginosko!uunet!microsoft!w-darekm From: w-darekm@microsoft.UUCP (Darek Mihocka) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit Subject: Re: 8) Research Help (8 Message-ID: <8135@microsoft.UUCP> Date: 21 Oct 89 05:57:27 GMT References: <115200037@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu> Reply-To: w-darekm@microsoft.UUCP (Darek Mihocka) Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA Lines: 54 This message will probably offend a few people, so press 'N' at the More (20%) prompt. By continuing to read this message, you are saying, "yes, go ahead. offend me. I won't take it personally" In article <115200037@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu> tle33710@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu writes: > > I'm doing a research paper on the apparent demise of the Atari >8-bit computers. Don't get me wrong, I love my Atari, and I'd die for >my 13OXE, but I'd like to know all your opinions on the subject. Ok, let me slit your throat, and I promise your 130XE will go unharmed. >Did you use to own an 8-bit? What made you upgrade? What do you think >is in store for the future of 8-bits and STs? I know there are a wealth >of articles written on the subject (ANTIC, ANALOG, etc.), but >hearing from you would really help. Yet another message from a die hard 8-bitter who claims he would die for his machine. heh. He's doing a scientific paper on why the 8-bit has demised. Well, how's this for an answer. It's old and uses out of date technology. Let's poll a few of these die hard 8-bit users out there. Have you ever bought a scientific calculator, even though you know that a simple 4 function calculator can do anything a scientific can, given enough time. Have you ever sold your old 2 head VCR and bought a 4 head stereo VCR. Or sold an old car that ran just fine so that you could get a new 1989 model? Why is the 8-bit Atari any different? Yes, it may bring back warm and mushy memories of the days of trying to figure out whether Maxell or BASF tape works better with the cassette player, or trying to tune in your TV to get the best picture in Atari BASIC, or using modems that interface to the joystick port. But it is not exactly leading edge. Sure, I've heard 8-bitters tell me that their computers work just fine and do everything they want them to, but usually these people were too ignorant to be aware of the capabilities of other brands. If you prefer to listen to a vacuum tube radio, that's your right. Don't go out and buy yourself a brand new component stereo system, but on the other hand, don't go around advocating that others should buy vacuum tube radios. And don't go weeping about the demise of the vacuum tube. That is the nature of technology. 5 or 10 years from now, we'll be looking back and laughing at the 80486 chip as being old and out of date. So let nature take its course. The 8-bit is dead. Forget about it. Bury it. Deep six it. Get out of the 70's and 80's and live for the 90's. I paid $900 for an Atari 400 in 1981. That's about $1500-$2000 of today's money, for which you can now buy a machine 100 times faster. If anything, I should be worrying about the demise of that $900, not the silly beige box with the membrane keyboard. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Darek Mihocka ST Xformer II CIS: 73657,2714 Box 2624, Station B Quick Utilities GEnie: DAREKM Kitchener, Ontario MegaBlit SSG SPX DELPHI: DAREKM N2H 6N2 Shareware, not Vaporware BIX: darekm Canada The 8-bit is dead! CheapNet: ...!uw-beaver!microsoft!w-darekm (519)-747-0386 A mind is a terrible thing to waste, so JUST SAY NO TO TOS. Opinions expressed are my own and not those of anyone not named Darek Mihocka. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------