Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!rochester!rit!ultb!clf3678
From: clf3678@ultb.isc.rit.edu (C.L. Freemesser)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Comparing Apple and Atari peripheral prices
Summary: Apple is more expensive....definitely
Message-ID: <1831@ultb.isc.rit.edu>
Date: 25 Dec 89 02:23:52 GMT
References: <INFO-ATARI16-REQUEST@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL> <8912210835.AA07308@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Reply-To: clf3678@ultb.isc.rit.edu (C.L. Freemesser)
Organization: Information Systems and Computing @ RIT, Rochester, New York
Lines: 62

In article <8912210835.AA07308@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> MBERNAR@ERENJ.BITNET (mb) writes:
>In a discussion on unexpandable mega ST's, kclenden@silver.bacs.indiana.edu
>Kevin Clendenien states that Apple computers (he
>also mentioned another brand) need Apple peripherals and that they cost much
>more than Atari ST peripherals.  I don't know if you've looked at the Apple
>side of things lately, but this just isn't true.
 
Yes it is....

>First of all, Apple computers (specifically Mac's) don't need to use Apple
>peripherals.  Maybe you're not aware that there are more third party peripheral
>suppliers for Macs than for ST.  Just look in any Mac specific magazine
>and you'll be surprised to find how many brands of hard disks (internal and
>external), back-up tape drives, graphics display cards and monitors and
>floppy drives are available for the Mac.   There are also alternatives to
>Apple Laserwriter and Imagewriter.

Find a 3rd party Apple floppy drive that is totally compatible with the
Apple drives, and I'll show you a snowball that survived a trip through
hell....

Sure there are alternatives to the Imagewriter, but the I-writer is the
most used.  Ergo, it is the most supported by software.

>Second point.  Apple peripherals from third party suppliers are priced
>at least the same as Atari ST peripherals.  In some cases, they are even
>cheaper on the Mac than on the ST.  For example, look at hard drive prices.

Let us not forget that the Mac has the SCSI board ST users need built
in.  For the IIgs and other Apples, you spend $120 for this board.

>Quantum has an ad for a 20 Meg hard disk for $499 (Atari Explorer).  You could
>buy a larger drive for the Mac for the same price (Cutting Edge: 20 Meg - $439.
>30 Meg - $499).  External floppy drive for the ST costs $149 (this is the
>cheapest I've seen).  An equivalent Mac floppy drive costs the same.  Of course
>memory is also cheaper on the Mac.

Tell that to my friend who bought a new 3.5 inch Apple drive.  The
retail price is $400!  I spent about $100 building one for myself.  As
for hard disks, I built one for my father's 1040...a 20 meg Seagate,
Adaptek, and ICD host adapter for $350.  Beat that on a Mac.

>It seems to me that the only thing cheaper on the Atari ST is the computer
>itself. I have a bare 1040STF at home and a new Mac IIci with loads of stuff
>at work.

No kidding.  Atari planned it to be less expensive.

In my little bits of hardware hacking on the ST, I've found it to be a
VERY versatile computer.  I can add IBM drives, generic power supplies
(as this Lambda 12A supply shows....my drives are connected to it too),
and joe-schmo printers and modems.  I have STANDARD ports for these.
The Mac has those dopey 8-pin Apple plugs.  I can even open up my ST.
That damn Mac has those recessed Torx screws.  PLUS, I can have color
AND monochrome on my machine.


Chris Freemesser, Rochester Institute of Technology :BITNET:%clf3678@RITVAX
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