Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!lll-winken!uunet!mcvax!ukc!icdoc!syma!grahamt
From: grahamt@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Graham Thomas)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: TOS 1.4 (really a plea to atari)
Message-ID: <794@syma.sussex.ac.uk>
Date: 16 Mar 89 09:57:12 GMT
References: <1387@atari.UUCP>
Organization: SPRU, Univ. of Sussex, Brighton, UK
Lines: 33

From article <1387@atari.UUCP>, by danscott@atari.UUCP (Dan Scott):
> 
> Sorry, but TOS 1.4 will only be supported in ROM form only.  That means
> no EPROMS or RAM based versions will be suppored by Atari.
> 
> This is due in part to the large number of RAM revisions that left Atari for
> developer testing and the number of pirated EPROMs available off those RAM
> versions.
> 
Hmm.  Given Atari's previous record of not getting products out
the door quickly, it would seem that the 'pirated' EPROMs of TOS
1.4 are a sensible precaution on the part of well-equipped users
who want to use the improved OS before 1992.

I would have thought that allowing dealers and others to
duplicate TOS 1.4 would be a quick way of getting it out to the
people who need it, and one which would reduce Atari's expenses. 
Surely Atari isn't planning to make lots of money out of the
upgrade??

Admittedly, there is a danger that nasty people might try to sell
or give away EPROMs that they'd modified in some manner, and I
can see that Atari wouldn't like to have to carry the can for
subsequent complaints.  What do you all think is the right way to
balance our wishes to get the upgrade as soon as possible with
Atari's justifiable desire to retain some control over what gets
out?

-- 
Graham Thomas, SPRU, Mantell Building, U of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9RF, UK
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