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From: steve@wlbr.UUCP (Steve Childress)
Newsgroups: net.micro,net.arch,net.micro.6809
Subject: Re: Architecture, or Coincidence?
Message-ID: <373@wlbr.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-Oct-85 12:49:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: wlbr.373
Posted: Tue Oct  8 12:49:59 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Oct-85 13:31:03 EDT
References: <482@ihwpt.UUCP> <> <792@nmtvax.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Eaton IMS, Westlake Village, CA
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Xref: watmath net.micro:12290 net.arch:1878 net.micro.6809:549
Summary: Atari's smart periph's

In article <792@nmtvax.UUCP>, robert@nmtvax.UUCP writes:
> 
> I still think Atari's smart peripherals were a mistake.  "My 'smart' drive
> makes my computer go "bede-bede" whenever it does anything."  Sounds 
> pretty stupid to me...
> -- 
> 

As I recall, Atari embarked upon the intelligent peripheral scheme 
as an answer to the FCC emissions edict. They (mistakenly) chose to
answer the problem by using an easy to shield serial bus for peripherals.
Thus, the peripherals HAD to be smart as compared to ordinary, parallel-
bus resident peripherals.

Apple's success in running parallel cables to the floppies despite
the FCC requirements demonstrates Atari's mistake.

		Regards,
			Steve Childress
			Eaton IMS    R&D Group MS 43 
			31717 La Tienda Drive
			Westlake Village,  CA    91360
			(818) 889-2211 X2148
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