Organization: Computing Technology Services, Michigan Technological Univ.
Date: Thursday, 15 Oct 1992 23:09:33 EST
From: Jeff McWilliams <JJMCWILL@MTUS5.BITNET>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Jack - from Commodore to Atari
 <1bk1orINN4n1@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>

In article <1bk1orINN4n1@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>, aa399@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Len
Stys) says:
>
>In a previous article, cpb@sys6626.bison.mb.ca (Chris Billows) says:
>
>>Anybody care to voice their opinion?
>>
>
>
>It is because of the IBM compatibles, I'm almost sure of it.
>
>Also, you had several people making the decisions at Commodore, not just
>Jack Tramiel.
>
>When you have more people to debate the steps needed to be took, you usually
>take the right steps.
>
>Len

Len,

I'm not so sure about the part of Jack not being in control of Commodore.
If you read a book called "The Home Computer Wars", you get some excellent
insight into how Jack thinks and runs a company.  The references in the book
to the "Jack Attack" leaves me with the impression that although others
were running different parts of Commodore, if they were doing something
that Jack didn't like, they got a verbal beating.  But, I want to be careful
when I say all this, it's been a while since I've felt nostalgic enough
to pick up the book and devote time to reading it again.  I don't know
anything about how Jack runs Atari internally, there haven't been any
books about him while there.  Maybe, because the Atari rotating door
doesn't allow anyone to be as close to Jack to really get an idea what he's
about these days.  Straining in memory, perhaps Jack did leave things more
to others... people who weren't Tramiels.

I also think the markets then and now are totally different.  Commodore
VIC 20's and Atari 800's were out before the invasion of PC compatibles.
Now, it seems cool to have a business PC at home, instead of a well rounded
computer that the whole family can enjoy.  For me, you look at a PC, and it
doesn't say family.  Look at the old Atari and Commodore machines.

THey had nice graphics, nice sound, were easy to use, and everything
was pretty much plug and play.  You bought a computer, disk drive,
maybe a printer, and plugged the thing into your TV and away you went.

Today, you have to worry about processor type, processor speed,
weird buzzwords like Cache, wait states, bus speed, you have to decide
which operating system you want to run, you want sound?  Gotta get a
sound card.

It's pretty scary.  I mean, sure people are expected to be computer
literate these days, but computing just doesn't seem fun anymore.
Back then, your computer was to play games, teach the kids, manage the
family finances, keep a recipe book, print some posters for your local club.
Today, if you buy into the PC business GEEK philosophy, your machine isn't
for farting around, as much as it's meant to drag your work home with you
so you can make your boss happy.  That's no fun, it's turned your den
into an extension of your office!

I think Jack still thinks the old way, while most of the computer community
has bought into the idea that a computer is for business, it isn't a
home computer, it's a personal computer, which sounds more impersonal
to me than ever.  People, in my opinion, have gotten too serious about
computers.  Nobody is happy with what works, it's always gotta be
bigger, faster, better, when the average joe doesn't really need a
supercomputer on his desk.  He thinks he does, because Intel and
Bill Gates has told everyone that they do.  But they really
don't.

Sure, there are those who do need all that power, but not everyone
is a power computer user.  Everybody seems to think they have to
be, but I feel it's silly.  That's why Jack put out the Falcon030
with a 16mHz speed.  It's not supposed to be a NeXT workstation,
it's supposed to be a home computer.  A nice, well rounded machine,
something that doesn't scare the heck out of the average buyer.
You take it home, plug it in, and away you go.  Everything the
average Joe needs in already in the machine.  Hard drive,
graphics, sound.  It's all there.  no decisions to make,
no needing a COMPUTERese to English dictionary to understand
what extras are needed to make the computer work.  You take it home{,
unpack it, and load your software.
But see, people don't seem to be happy with that, because they
think the machine needs to be more than that.
Intel regurgitates this vomitous philosophy that your computer has
to be expandable, and capable of running your own Star Wars Defense
system, or it isn't worth a darn.  I don't believe it.

WHen I want to serious stuff, I go to school, and use expensive,
serious computers.  I run circuit analysis programs on a SUN,
and do all my heavy duty lab reports, Mathematica number crunching,
CAD stuff, on a Next.  When I want to enjoy myself, I come home and
use my Atari.  It's simple.

I don't think there is a whole heck of a lot wrong with the Falcon030
if you just take a different approach in determining how it's supposed
to be used for most things.  It's a consumer appliance, not
a business PC, or workstation.  It shouldn't cost as much as a used
car, a home appliance computer should be cost comparative with other
home appliances, like your dish wasther, television, and VCR.

Just my two cents worth.  I feel like a candidate in a debate,
"Mr. Perot, your time limit has long expired...."

Jeff McWilliams

Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st