Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!db.toronto.edu!jdd
From: jdd@db.toronto.edu (John DiMarco)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: 8) Research Help (8
Message-ID: <1989Oct27.120818.1578@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu>
Date: 27 Oct 89 16:08:18 GMT
References: <115200037@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu> <8135@microsoft.UUCP> <808@ariel.unm.edu> <8231@microsoft.UUCP>
Lines: 38

The question of whether or not the Atari 8-bit is an obsolete computer is one
that's near and dear to every Atari 8-bit owner's heart - because it IS an
obsolete computer. I doubt if '386 owners worry too much about whether their
machines are obsolete or not, because they're not.

I don't think it's a good idea to choose the Atari 8-bit for a new computer,
because there are much more powerful and capable computers available for
a similar cost. But many of us (like me!) bought our Atari 8-bits when they
were a much better deal. I'm not prepared to fork out $1000 for a new machine
right now, so I have to make do with the Atari 8-bit system I forked out
$500 for three years ago (800XL, plotter, 1050w/USdblr, amber monitor, s/w; it 
was used, though). Yep, it's obsolete. Yep, it does the same kind of stuff as 
it did when I bought it. Yep, there are lots of machines out there that do a 
whole lot more (I'm typing this message on a UNIX box which makes my Atari look 
silly). When I get a new machine, will it be an updated Atari 8-bit? Certainly
not! But until I get a new machine, I'm still interested in my 8-bit.

Marc, your 8-bit is still good for something, and people like yourself or
myself who still have some interest in an 8-bit will keep the market going
(somewhat). But Darek, you're absolutely correct in stating that there's not
much future in the 8-bit market, especially for new machines. (There's the
8-bit 'video game' market - that's another story) 

One caution for Marc and other Atari 8-bit owners out there: don't let your
fondness for your machine and your sense of nostalgia interfere with your
decision-making capabilities. Eg: is it really worth it to buy a MIO and
a hard disk for $1000 and run it on your 8-bit? Why don't you buy a cheap
PC and stick the hard disk on it? You still might decide to go the MIO route,
but make sure your reasons are good.

John


BTW, Darek, I still use your GUP package occasionally. 
---
John DiMarco                   jdd@db.toronto.edu or jdd@db.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, CSRI    BITNET: jdd%db.toronto.edu@relay.cs.net
(416) 978-8609                 UUCP: {uunet!utai,decvax!utcsri}!db!jdd