Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!mit-eddie!apollo!rehrauer
From: rehrauer@apollo.HP.COM (Steve Rehrauer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: SIMMs for the STE
Keywords: SIMM, STE,
Message-ID: <490df390.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM>
Date: 7 Mar 90 17:12:00 GMT
References: <2703@erix.ericsson.se> <2069@atari.UUCP>
Sender: root@apollo.HP.COM
Reply-To: rehrauer@apollo.HP.COM (Steve Rehrauer)
Distribution: na
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Apollo Division - Chelmsford, MA
Lines: 45

In article <2069@atari.UUCP> apratt@atari.UUCP (Allan Pratt) writes:
>euaanu@eua.ericsson.se (Arto Nummelin) writes:
>
>>I've just tested 1M x 8 SIMMs from a Mac IIcx in my 520 STE.
>
>Here we go again: Standard SIMM Reply #1:
>
>The SIMMs are there mainly for the cost and space savings on the PC
>board, not so you can add memory to your machine.  Sometimes we use
>SIPs, not SIMMs, and they're soldered right into the board! Don't rush
>out and buy a 520STe expecting to be able to upgrade it.

Allan, I know such decisions aren't in your hands, so this isn't directed
at you.  It seems such a short-sighted policy, though.  I don't purchase
parts or build hardware, so my opinions on the matter are just that.  But
just by browsing the back pages of Computer Shopper, I get a gut-feel that
Atari's per-shipped-CPU savings couldn't possibly amount to more than $5 by
juggling use of SIMMs/SIPs.  That "savings" means that RAM upgrades will
cost an ST owner more, repairs will cost an ST owner more, and it may be
the "nit" that discourages someone from buying in the first place.  Why
does Atari do this sort of thing??

I can speak from experience when I say that customers do appreciate the
use of SIMMs, and the ease and lower cost of memory upgrades they provide.
The HP/Apollo DN2500, an entry-level 68030-based workstation, uses standard
SIMMs.  The DN2500 has been quite well received, and in fact we get many
favorable comments regarding our use of SIMMs in this box.  It really does
help sell the box, especially to budget-minded customers.  I know Atari and
HP/Apollo aren't selling to the same people, but I don't believe anyone is
so dim that they can't appreciate a line like, "More memory can be easily
added in the future, using widely available standard parts" in the eye-
catcher glossies.  For that matter, I'd think it would give your "authorized
dealers", wherever the heck they live, higher margins on upgrades they
perform.

So again:  Why?  Why?  Why?

>============================================
>Opinions expressed above do not necessarily	-- Allan Pratt, Atari Corp.
>reflect those of Atari Corp. or anyone else.	  ...ames!atari!apratt


--
>>"Aaiiyeeee!  Death from above!"<< | Steve Rehrauer, rehrauer@apollo.hp.com
   "Flee, lest we be trod upon!"    | The Apollo System Division of H.P.