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From: cmcmanis@sun.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.atari16
Subject: Re: The 68020 Suggestion
Message-ID: <5311@sun.uucp>
Date: Mon, 21-Jul-86 20:15:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: sun.5311
Posted: Mon Jul 21 20:15:41 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 22-Jul-86 09:10:57 EDT
References: <860720202512.001@Juliet.Caltech.Edu>
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Lines: 35

Lingus (CCL @ CITROMEO) writes :
> 
> I hope that Atari listens to the suggestions posted by this 
> conference.  I feel that Atari should continue to keep competition
> off balance by coming out with a 68020 based micro instead of 
> the DMA box they plan on marketing.  I think that the DMA port
> should be reserved for the harddisk.  A 68020 machine, with
> the power of a S*n workstation, could be produced for under
> $3000, estimating conservatively.  I also think that Atari
> should come out very soon with an inexpensive upgrade to add R/W
> and the additional address lines to the ROM port to maximize
> the potential of the STs.  Though I do not own an ST, I am very
> interested in these "new" 68000 machines.  (aside: 68000s at 
> 8Mhz now sell for under $10.00) 
> 
> Any info on laserprinters, CDs and the graphics upgrade for the STs
> would be very welcome.
> 
> Lingus  (CCL @ CITROMEO)

While we all admire what Atari has wrought with bringing the price of
68000 machines down to earth, your $3000 number is a bit absurd. Mostly
because the monitor alone to display 1200 X 800 monochrome graphics is
on the order of $1000 wholesale. Add to that the $200 price of *each*
68020 chip, multihundred dollar price of 68881 chips, 4 Meg of ram 
(which at $3 per 256K chip is still $384) Add to a new box, bigger 
power supply, you have to include a hard disk to make it run at any 
speed. No, I don't think $3000 will buy you a Sun workstation ($8000 
will :-)) I think the best that can be said is that in 5 years it
will probably be possible. Ah well.

--Chuck McManis

Note: These are my opinions and my mine alone, they do not represent those
of Sun MicroSystems.