Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!usc!jarthur!petunia!csuchico.edu!ekrimen
From: ekrimen@ecst.csuchico.edu (Ed Krimen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: TOS 2.0
Keywords: TOS NEODESK DCDESKTOP ROMS
Message-ID: <1990Nov06.213749.13906@ecst.csuchico.edu>
Date: 6 Nov 90 21:37:49 GMT
References: <35495@cup.portal.com> <mboen.657831766@peun33> <1238@digi.lonestar.org>
Sender: news@ecst.csuchico.edu (USENET)
Organization: California State University, Chico
Lines: 47

rgoseweh@digi.lonestar.org (Roy Gosewehr) writes: 

- Differing Opinion:
-
- - I happen to like having TOS in ROM.  The machine boots faster and 
- is less susceptible to viruses.  (This is a MAJOR benifit, IMHO.)
 
I agree.  I thought this was one of the advantages of having the OS 
in ROM: fewer viruses.  Isn't this why there are so many in the Mac 
and IBM world?  

Moreover, not to give anyone any hints, but couldn't NeoDesk and DC
Desktop be susceptible to viruses as well (even though I love NeoDesk
with a passion)?

- - I don't understand why everyone keeps banging on Atari to release 
- the TT TOS for the ST/STE.  First of all, that would impact both
- Gribnif (NeoDesk) and Double Click (DC Desktop).  We already know 
- how few GOOD developers support the ST market, why make it tougher.
 
I think Atari would look better in the eyes of its users if they 
released their newer desktop.  (Remember support?)  The release would 
show that Atari still knows that it has users out there.  On the other
hand, it doesn't stand a chance against NeoDesk and DC Desktop in the
marketplace; the others just have too many features.  I think this is 
why Atari won't release it; why waste time and *MONEY* (first in the 
Tramiels' minds :^) when no one would buy it.

In addition, this point is also valid:

- Secondly, if Atari came out with the TT TOS at (say) $70-$100, who
- would buy it?  The same people that are NOT willing to spend $30-$50
- on either NeoDesk or DC Desktop?  Yeah, sure.

Exactly.  Who would buy it, even if it was selling for the same price 
as NeoDesk or DC Desktop?  

On the otherhand, if the new TOS had something that the others don't 
have, such as multitasking (e.g. MIDI-tasking), then I think there 
would be many people out there in line (or on the phone to their
400-mile-away, local dealer) to get it.

-- 
         Ed Krimen  ...............................................
   |||   Video Production Major, California State University, Chico
   |||   INTERNET: ekrimen@ecst.csuchico.edu  FREENET: al661 
  / | \  SysOp, Fuji BBS: 916-894-1261        FIDONET: 1:119/4.0