Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!oodis01!uplherc!sp7040!obie!wes
From: wes@obie.UUCP (Barnacle Wes)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Info-Atari16 Digest V88 #330
Summary: PORSCHE?  Get real!
Message-ID: <134@obie.UUCP>
Date: 5 Aug 88 00:54:29 GMT
References: <880729-080043-5244@Xerox> <470@scolex>
Organization: the Well of Souls
Lines: 76

OK, OK, I know this doesn't really belong in comp.sys.atari.st, but I
just HAD to reply!

In article <470@scolex>, kurth@sco.COM (Kurt Hutchison) writes:
> Germany (mercedes, porsche), Italy (Ferrari, Lamborghini), and Japan (cheap
> reliable cars) would be my list.

Germany?  Overrated cars at vastly inflated prices.  Italy?  Rolling
works of art, but the engineering is only so-so (reliability IS a part
of engineering, you know), and the ergonomics are generally LOUSY.
Japan is doing their usual job of taking anything anyone else can build
and building it much, much better, and cheaper.  Unless the dollar keeps
sliding against the yen.

> Mercedes has the best engineering in the world (from interviews
> with engineers who work at American car companies), Porsche is not far
> behind.  Depends on what kind of car you want.

Hah.  BS.  Honda has the most advanced R&D in the world, bar none.  What
other company can produce an engine with OVAL PISTONS and make the
piston rings seal?  At 18,000 rpm?  This engine, of course, was in the
NS500 gran prix motorcycle.  It was the most amazing thing...  Not to
mention the RC125, a 125cc 5 cylinder 4-stroke that produced 37
horsepower.  Power band was from 18,000 rpm to 24,000 rpm, and it was
tuned so closely that riding it from sunlight to shade would cause it to
backfire.  Then there was the FWS1000, that produced so much horsepower
every time the rider banged the throttle open, the bike would spit
chunks of rubber off the back tire.  This was an 8" wide racing slick,
mind you!

> If I had to compare computers with cars, IBM would be the Americans
> (has most of the U.S. market with mediocre machines),

No argument there.

> The Mac would be Honda (decent and sells a lot),

No, the Mac would be a BMW/Mercedes.  Good car, a few stupidities crept
into the design, generally excellent workmanship, WAY overpriced.

> The Amiga would be Volkswagen (good > cars, higher performance in
> basic models, and more maintenance (The OS is better but more complicated)).

Well, a Volkswagen on steriods (spelled P-O-R-S-C-H-E).  Generally good,
fast, sexy, but irritating in some ways.  Like the enormous AmigaDOS
system calls that make programming it tedious.  Or like the 911's
annoying drop-throttle surge - much worse than the Ferrari 308 even.

> The ST is undeniably the Hundai of the computer world. :-)

Nah, be fair.  The ST is undeniably the Fiero GT of the computer world.
Much promise, looks really good, but the company just wasn't willing to
make it all that it could be.  Maybe the Flying Ts, and the GM upper
management, should join the Army?

> There aren't any computers that come to mind as Ferrari's or Porsche's.
> Maybe a screamin' 25 MHZ 386.  Computer technology just changes too rapidly
> for me to associate it with such venerable names as Porsche and Ferrari.
> You can't speak the name Intel (or Motorola or National) with the same
> reverence as you can when you say "PORSCHE"!

You say "Porshe" with reverence, huh?  Yuk.  A screaming 25 Mhz 386
would tend to remind me of a Lambo - fast, brutal, and ugly.  A Ferrari?
How 'bout the Testarossa vs. and SGI Iris workstation?  An early Sun
workstation and the 206GT Dino?  I could go on, but won't, since I'll
probably get lynched for this posting anyhow.

> When you say "Porsche", you've said it all...
				   .......you've said "Volkswagen" :-) :-)

			Wes Peters
			(One of these days, I'll own that Dino...)
-- 
                     {hpda, uwmcsd1}!sp7040!obie!wes
           "Happiness lies in being priviledged to work hard for
           long hours in doing whatever you think is worth doing."
                         -- Robert A. Heinlein --