Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ginosko!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucsd!ames!pacbell!att!chinet!saj
From: saj@chinet.chi.il.us (Stephen Jacobs)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: official tos 1.4 release
Summary: Only because you asked
Message-ID: <9831@chinet.chi.il.us>
Date: 21 Oct 89 05:37:05 GMT
References: <4634aec9.14a1f@force.UUCP> <1734@atari.UUCP>
Distribution: comp.sys.atari.st
Organization: Chinet - Chicago, Ill.
Lines: 25

In article <1734@atari.UUCP>, towns@atari.UUCP (John Townsend) writes:
> 
> As for the serial port, We found the problem and we fixed it via the 
> TOS 1.4 patch. Unfortunately, it was not found until after the release of
> the ROMs. To verify this, we did not receive a single SPR on this problem
> from the developers that had the Beta version of TOS 1.4 or any reports 
> from anyone until AFTER the ROMs had been finalized.
> 
> But, the end result is that the problem was reported, we looked into it, 
> found there was a problem, fixed it, and released a patch program via the
> Networks and Dealer Network. What more do you want from us??

At the risk of seeming picky, I'd like a few things from a company whose
president announced the release of new operating system ROMs in front of
developers and press at Spring COMDEX.  I'd like my dealer (Software Plus,
a local Chicago-area chain) to get decent supplies of ROMs.  I'd like those
ROMs to be honest-to-pete mask programmed ROMs by now, not PROMs or (heaven
help us) EPROMs.  I'd like to be able to buy a Mega with the new operating
system installed as original equipment.  That's a fair fraction of what I
want from Atari.
    Is there any special reason why the TOS 1.4 rollout is going so 
fitfully?  Suggestions that it's going smoothly will be cheerfully laughed
at.  Suggestions that ROMs always have startup problems this bad will be
greeted with incredulity.
                                       Steve J.