Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!aurs01!whitcomb
From: whitcomb@aurs01.UUCP (Jonathan Whitcomb)
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Re: Advice: MIDI Atari or Mac?
Message-ID: <59827@aurs01.UUCP>
Date: 13 May 91 20:39:39 GMT
References: <2TBq22w163w@zitt> <91131.125827JJL101@psuvm.psu.edu> <1991May12.175032.17426@dgbt.doc.ca>
Sender: news@aurs01.UUCP
Reply-To: whitcomb@aurw04.UUCP (Jonathan Whitcomb)
Organization: Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh NC
Lines: 72

In article <1991May12.175032.17426@dgbt.doc.ca> ted@dgbt.doc.ca (Ted Grusec) writes:
>Another consideration about IBM clones versus other platforms is, what
>else are you going to use the computer for? 

Some may argue that this is a major reason to avoid the PC! :^)

>If, in addition to music, you want to use the machine for other 
>DOS programs, then you don't have much choice. 

You actually have lots of choices, as there are several PC emulators
for the ST.

>Not that other programs on the Atari or whatever may
>not be as good. In some instances they may be. 

Every platform has it's strengths.  The ST's are music and
desktop publishing (and games, of course).

>But if you're going to
>be exchanging spreadsheets with other people, or word processing
>files, or whatever, then you are relating to a world quite apart from
>music even though music may be your major application.

The newer Atari ST's format disks that may be read by a PC, and some
of the applications programs may be transferred between platforms
(such as Word Perfect).  And even disks formatted by some PC's may
not be readable by others.  Your point is well taken, however, that
in the US, the PC is king, and you are more likely to be compatible
with other folks if you stay with the PC platform, unless you
are careful to choose programs on other platforms that use common
file and disk formats.

But to get back to music, the Atari ST has always had MIDI support, and
all of the new machines continue with it.  Even the portable ST's
(both the STacy and the yet to be released ST Notebook) have MIDI 
ports built in.  This means that as your computer needs grow and
change, you don't need to start from scratch with new software and
specialized MIDI hardware.  Just upgrade to another ST model.  I
started out with a 1040ST in 1986, and am now using a Mega ST4, and
I've never had to throw out my old software.

Everybody has their own reasons for buying a computer...this is why
so many different computers have survived.  Dollar for dollar, there
is no computer that can match the ST in terms of MIDI power, flexibility
and options vs. price.  For example, here's all the hardware you need
to buy to get started with MIDI on the ST (I assume you already
have a MIDI instrument):

  Atari 1040 STE					~$400.00
	Includes 1 Meg RAM (upgradable to 4 megs using
	snap-in SIMM chips @ ~$60.00 a pop), 8 MHz
	Motorola 68000 processor, operating
	system in ROM, keyboard, mouse, built-in 
	disk drive and MIDI ports.

  Atari SM124 High Resolution Monochrome Monitor	~$180.00
							========	
  Total:						~$580.00

These are typical US merchant prices (sorry non US folks!) for
*new*, factory warrented equipment, and I've seen it advertised 
for less.  I didn't add in the cost of MIDI software, because 
there's so much of it, and the cost doesn't vary much across 
platforms.  But the only other thing you'll need are
MIDI cables, and you are ready to go for well under $1000!  I
really don't think there's anything that can touch it at
these prices.
**********************************************************************
Jonathan Whitcomb                    UUCP: <whitcomb%aurgate@mcnc.org>
Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh, NC                    Delphi: JBWHIT