Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!aplcen!haven!uvaarpa!hudson!astsun8.astro.Virginia.EDU!gl8f From: gl8f@astsun8.astro.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: Re: What does the TT Buy me?? Keywords: atari, unix Message-ID: <2245@hudson.acc.virginia.edu> Date: 10 Nov 89 03:48:50 GMT References: <46bcb82f.14a1f@force.UUCP> Sender: news@hudson.acc.virginia.edu Reply-To: gl8f@astsun8.astro.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) Organization: Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia Lines: 101 In article <46bcb82f.14a1f@force.UUCP> covertr@force.UUCP (Richard E. Covert) writes: Gee, Richard, I thought people had been explaining to you in detail exactly what the TT gives you. For the present ST home user, the TT is a fast ST. For the Unix user, the TT is a nice cheap workstation. >And I mean the TT/Plastic as it is the most likely TT to make it >to the USA. Oh, I think it's pretty probable that the TT/X will make it here. >Except for the higher color rez I don't see anything in the TT >that would make me want to dump my investment in my current ST >hardware. So don't. People who NEED the TTs speed will buy it. People who NEED Unix will buy it. People who don't need it won't... >What would make me buy an Atari computer: > >1) A FAST CPU, at least a 25 Mhz 68030, with an option to go to > 33 Mhz or even 50 Mhz as Motorola releases the faster cpus. You don't understand what a 16 mhz 68030 means. The TT has burst-fill mode memory above 2 megs. This means it's faster than the Mac IIcx by as much as 50% for typical applications. Apple just released the Mac IIci which is capable of running burst-fill ram... the TT is very competetive compared to the Mac. When the TT delivers it will be interesting to benchmark it against '386-based Unix boxes. I think you'll find that it won't be that much slower than a "33 mhz 386" because of the burst mode and other reasons. It will not be two times slower, which you would think from the ratio of the "megahertz". Megahertz are relatively meaningless. >2) ability to change to a 68040 CPU without buying a whole new > computer. That is why I can Atari computers disposable. In order > to upgrade to a different CPU you have to "dispose" of your older > computer. Few if any other vendors supply this sort of capability. It costs extra money up front. >3) A true multi-tasking, multi-windowing OS. I mean, heck the Amiga > has had multi-tasking since the first A1000 was released. Unix plus X windows (or your favorite windowing system, I happen to be partial to mgr ;-) gives you this. It's clear that GEMDOS will NOT become a multi-tasking multi-windowing OS in the near future, not only because it's a lot of $$ to write, but also because current GEM programs are incompatible with multi-tasking in all sorts of little ways. Asking for things which can't be delivered is a bit strange. Unix is the future, Richard. >4) An open buss so that 3rd party vendors can develop boards for the TT. Every TT announcement so far has said the TT/X and TT/P have this. >6) Real color graphics ala the Macintosh. 640x480 in 16 colors is a joke, > and Atari should be ashamed for introducing a new machine with such > limited grpahics?? The TT will be the Atari machine for the early 1990s > and should be better then that!! Monitors that show resolutions greater than 640x480 in color are very expensive. Not very suitable for a small-business machine. You can always buy some PC Klone with one if you want it. Price high resolution monitors for the Mac. Note that they require a card. Note that the TT/P has a card slot. >7) A replacement for GDOS. Something that uses outline fonts. The Mac system > beats GDOS all the way to the North Pole!! GDOS is such a memory hog that > even 4 megs in my ST is limiting!! A third party could do that... it would sell and probably make money. >All in all, everything about the TT says if it had been released in Jan 1989 >instead of July 1990 it MIGHT have been an acceptable computer. But by the >Summer of 1990, when we can reasonable expect to see the TT on USA shelves, >it will already be outdated by the Amiga A3000, and the Mac IIcx, Mac IIci. The Mac IIcx and Mac IIci hardly outdate the TT, especially since it seems that they cost a lot more money (assuming the TT arrives, of course.) Looks like Atari has a very interesting product, if they do bring out Unix for it and ship both in a timely fashion. And to repeat: WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHUT UP AND LET THE MARKET DECIDE IF THE TT IS A GOOD MACHINE INSTEAD OF FLOODING COMP.SYS.ATARI.ST WITH MESSAGES ABOUT SOMETHING YOU'VE NEVER SEEN? >What has happened to Atari Corp?? They are making money selling computers. ------ Greg Lindahl gl8f@virginia.edu I'm not the NRA.