Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!ogicse!milton!sumax!csc23042
From: csc23042@sumax.seattleu.edu (Dave Jorgan)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: TT (vapor)
Keywords: TT,Atari
Message-ID: <2472@sumax.seattleu.edu>
Date: 16 Mar 91 00:57:25 GMT
References: <10247@uwm.edu>
Distribution: all
Organization: Seattle University, Seattle WA
Lines: 37

The article was somewhat different that what I would expect from START- but
I can trust Dave Small to give a honest appraisal of things.Hopefully they will
fix the monitor/case interference/support problem. I like the wealth of serial
ports on this machine, and indeed the large number of interface ports overall
makes for a lot of possibilities. The twin fans look nice too- should make it rliable.

   The point I thought was strongest was the pricing scheme.Now true Atarians
will much rather buy a TT than a Mac even if the price is same. But if you
are trying to convince new people to sign on, then Atari has to (if they can)
revive the spirit of the orginal ST. This would be something like the TT
selling for $2000 w/monitor. Look, I don't know exactly what price point it
should be, but recall in the old days of 1985 when you could buy a ST for
$899 w/monitor that would outperform the corresponding PC or MAC ( Mac Plus,
IBM AT) at 2/3 to 1/2 the price. 
        It looks like the main Atari philosophy is to beat their
competitors price. They can still win a great victory doing this. If the
new Mega STE is sold cheaply enough (undercutting the Mac Classic) then
they have a really good shot at reclaiming market share. Greg Pratt
seems to have grasped this, at least one interview suggested this, of
beating the equivalent Apple product at every level (save perhaps for the
IIfx.) They have the machines to do it. The ST or 1040ST can be really
slashed to dominate the low-end. The Mega STE can hold off the pitiful
Mac Classic. And the TT can (if the price is lowered) either outperform
the Mac II LC or beat the IIsi in price (this will be a harder fight, 
because it is tougher at this level to make the advantages of your machine
apparent,as opposed to the feeble Mac Classic.)
	The TT is solid hardware. I would not waste too much time with Unix,
unless they can push a Unix box out the door for $2500 or less (thus giving
them a all new price/power point to deal from.) They should really go for
the hack and slash here. I don't think there would be as many complaints
about Atari service/support, if the machines were being sold at price-
war prices, like the old c-64 was. The price-slashing strategy might be
the best one for them and the Tramiel philosophy. Either that, or ax the 
Tramiel sons. Proof that nepotism does not pay.......


Dave