Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!leah!bingvaxu!sunybcs!uggbrand
From: uggbrand@sunybcs.uucp (G. Brandon Brooks)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Amiga vs. Atari ST
Message-ID: <6337@cs.Buffalo.EDU>
Date: 7 Jun 89 04:28:31 GMT
References: <8906062002.AA09843@EDN-VAX.DCA.MIL>
Sender: nobody@cs.Buffalo.EDU
Reply-To: uggbrand@sunybcs.UUCP (G. Brandon Brooks)
Organization: SUNY/Buffalo Computer Science
Lines: 59

In article <8906062002.AA09843@EDN-VAX.DCA.MIL> sullivan@EDN-VAX.DCA.MIL (Pat Sullivan) writes:
>
>
>
>No doubt this question has been asked before but I beg your

  Many, many times.....

>indulgence. I want to buy a "first" system which will serve the
>needs of a family whose ages range from 3 to 78. We are all into
>video and musical things, some more seriously than others. In

   The Amiga is by far the better computer for video applications with
all the genlocking devices (for connecting TV/VCR video to the
computer) and all the great video software.
   However, the Atari ST rules the music end with all the wonderful
MIDI software along with its built-in MIDI port.

>addition, we need some business applications and maybe some

  Both computers can be made IBM and Macintosh compatible for about
the same prices.

>technical things, though bringing work home is not a primary
>objective for this system. My 3-year old and I both need it for
>games. And we don't want to lay a lot of money out.
>
>At this point, I'm down to two finalists: Amiga and Atari ST.
>They appear to be very similar in capability and design intent.
>Amiga seems to do a few more things than Atari ST, while Atari ST
>seems to enjoy a slight price advantage, at least when comparing
>1 meg systems. Is there any reason why this isn't a coin toss?
>I could well be overlooking something. Thanks for any and all advice
>and information.

    The Amiga was originally, in 1983, made to be a high-end game
machine, which later, since the video game market fell apart, was
turned into a home computer. The Amiga has better resolution, more
colors, sprites (quickly moving characters), a blitter chip, better
internal STEREO sound, and all of which make it a better game machine
if that is what you are looking for.
    The Atari ST shines in its MIDI capabilities and its ability to
emulate other computers. If you are looking for a games computer this
is NOT the way to go. It may not be that the computer is awful at
making games, but just the software people don't seem to be trying.
Take a look at the games on each system and see for yourself. Amiga
games seem to have more 'playability' (more fun) than the Atari ST
games which sometimes seem blocky and/or slow and/or have annoying
interfaces. 

>
>Please reply directly to me as I am not on this list.
  I'll try that too.
>
>Thanks again,
>-Pat Sullivan
> Reston, VA.

		-Brandon!