Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!samsung!aplcen!jhunix!esp_05
From: esp_05@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Stdnt 05)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Anti-Atari Bashing Flame (long - sorry)
Message-ID: <3357@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU>
Date: 20 Nov 89 16:28:47 GMT
References: <8911140141.AA02948@NARNIA.SAIC.COM> <1253@atha.AthabascaU.CA>
Reply-To: esp_05@jhunix.UUCP (Stdnt 05)
Organization: The Johns Hopkins University - HCF
Lines: 40

I just thought I'd put in two cents on the pro-Atari side.  I started
with a 520ST early on, didn't spend much on upgrades or software, just
stuck with the oriignal Megamax C and First Word that came with my
computer.  I wasn't in too deep on the dollars side, but I spend huge
amounts of time learning the system.  Would I buy another Atari?

Hell yes.  In August I spent a pretty good wad for a Mega 2/50M
HD/Spectre system.  Although I've been developing programs on contract
on IBMs for awhile (you cannot use PC DITTO for IBM development), I
got a new contract for Mac work, and took a gamble that I could
consolidate my Atari hobbiest past with my Mac development future.

I couldn't be happier with my choice.  For around the same price as a
Mac SE at a college student discount, I got a machine that was a
little less compatible with the real Mac world (at least hardware
wise) but compatible enough, a little faster, with hardware that's a
little better.  Technically speaking, the equivilant of a Mac IIci
isn't available in the Atari world, but speaking as a serious
developer, what do I want with a Mac IIci?  The company I did the
contract for (an international software and textbook publisher) owns
primarily Mac Plusses!  Were I running fractals or ray tracing a Mac
II or Atari equivalent would be nice, but as a serious developer, I
can't say I really need it.  Sure, you get faster compile times, but
if you can honestly tell me you spend most of your time compiling
programs instead of writing and editing them, you either write very
short programs or you're a fast typist.

I think I lost sight of the point of this exercize...oh yes.  As a
developer, I'm not sorry for spending all the time and money I did
with Atari so they can "abandon" me and pursue new markets.  The more
new markets there are, the more money there is to be made for
developers.  And I can't gripe about the time I spent learning GEM--I
went from never having touched a Mac to completing my first program,
windows, dialog boxes and all, in about three weeks, and I attribute
this to my experience with, and its similarity to, GEM.

Would I run out and buy a TT if they came out tomorrow?  Probably
not--my Mega 2 serves me fine.

Eric Ruck