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From: wrd@tekigm2.UUCP (Bill Dippert)
Newsgroups: net.micro.atari8,net.micro.atari16
Subject: Atari's At Work
Message-ID: <1128@tekigm2.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Oct-86 12:55:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekigm2.1128
Posted: Wed Oct 22 12:55:14 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Oct-86 23:46:48 EDT
Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or.
Lines: 28
Xref: mnetor net.micro.atari8:509 net.micro.atari16:2708

From the sounds of recent messages, I am not the only one who would rather be
using an Atari at work rather then an IBM.  Whether a ST or a XE/XL is, I
think, a moot point.  At work (Tektronix, Clark County) I have two options at
present:  I can use a Tek 4107 terminal to a Gould 9000 mainframe, or I can use
an IBM-XT (576k) PC.  What is so bloody frustrating about the IBM is that
everything that I can readily do at home on my 130XE takes a change in dip
switch here, a new ... board there, etc.  My Atari's are set up for color, the
IBM requires a special color card; the Atari is set up for graphics, the IBM
requires a special graphics card!  Who says that the IBM is better?  Arghh!!
[The Gould 9000 is down so much as to become almost a non-option.]

I have finally found a good equivalent IBM program that is very similar to
Atariwriter or Atariwriter +.  It is pfs:write.  Similarly, pfs has equivalent
software to SynCalc, SynGraph, SynFile, etc.  I suspect that AW is a clone of
pfs:write or that pfs:write is a clone of AW, and that both are also similar to
Applewriter.   pfs:write is probably not the most sophisticated wordprocessor
in the world, but it is simple (KISS) and works!  I have about had it with
"enhanced" programs that add more controls, commands, etc. then ten people
could use or figure out.  

Back to my original point, I just wish that Atari would become respectable
enough to allow its use at "work"!  Still am tempted someday to bring down a
spare 1200XLE (256k upgrade) and use it for my wordprocessing!

                       --Bill--

==>  I hope that the above will generate some discussion, particularly
discussion of experiences with using non-IBM in work environments.