From: mbaffoni@skat.usc.edu (Michael Baffoni)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Case Design for Falcon
Date: 13 Oct 1992 18:08:05 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: skat.usc.edu

In article <BvvvzM.CyK@iat.holonet.net> wilsont@orac.holonet.net (Timothy Wilson) writes:
>Hiya,
>
>Whats the Big deal about the case design?
>that and the 'mushy' keyobard have got to be the 2 lamest gripes!
>(welll. in my opinion.. you are entitiled to yours of course.. )

	Big Deal:


(1040)STE case: 		TT case:			IBM case:

1 internal floppy		1 internal floppy		~5 drive bays

1 small power supply		1 medium PS 			1 large PS

1 2.5" HD, LPS design		1 3.5" HD, LPS NOT		see drive bays
  (present max=~80MB		  necessary (max ~1GB)		(max n/a, but 
								can be > 2GB)
1 built in keyboard, ext	1 detachable keyboard,		1 detachable kb
  will be available from	  but no available replcmnts	replacements 
  3rd parties.			  so far(that I know of)	for IBM availb.

1 expansion slot (only Falcon,	1 expansion slot (VME, not	many (typ:~8)
  the PDS slot)*		  counting ST/TTram connectors)


*note:  there is a memory card slot as well, but limited space also limits the
amount of memory you can put in (and design of motherboard follows - max 14MB)

	By using a STE or TT case, atari is effectively limiting the expand-
ability of the system.  Both in terms of PS, device bays, and most importantly
expansion slots.  A curse of owning a TT has been deciding between graphics OR
connectivity (ie, ethernet), however this has not been much of an option due
to the old catch22 (few buy ethernet products as they are expensive/hard to 
get, and producers make few/expensive ethernet products because the demand is
low).  If the new machines were in cases that permitted more than one VME
(or other standard) expansion slot, those who have wanted ethernet but needed
the graphics can be added to the pool of potential ethernet customers, as well 
as those who chose ethernet, but want to add graphic cards.  Not to mention 
that by adding device bays, you reduce the need for external HDs, thus reducing
the system to nearly a "one unit on stage" system that atari was trying to 
target with the Falcon.  When you add devices internally, you are adding to 
your power load so it helps to have the option of adding really hefty Power 
Supplies (say a 330Watt PS to handle the 2GB drive, the CD-ROM, the optical
drive, and oh yeah, the '040 system board with 32MB of RAM).  Of course, 
since an IBM case can hold standard PSs, you lower the cost of the machine
by using readily-available PSs that you (or rather Atari) can get real cheap
in quantities.

>I use a 386 and of course have an ST. 
>Personally, the 386 keyboard is all sticky, and ugh.
>the ST's doesn't stick. I don't type 40 pages a day unlike some of you guys/gals

	Yes, but if you had a problem with the 386 keyboard, you could always
go out and find a keyboard that you like for a reasonably cheap price.  If
you don't like the feel of the 1040 keyboard, you are stuck.

>I don't know, but You can _really_ feel a major differnce is keyboards?
>I can sorta tell a difference, but it doesn't bother me to the point of
>" ARARGH not an ST keyboard! where's my poison!! "

	Yes, I can feel the difference, but no (IMHO) the 1040 is not so bad
that it is unusable.  Just uncomfortable when used for long periods.  BTW, I
MUCH prefer my TT keyboard.

>The case design:
>does a detachible keyboard and a tower case improve the computer any?
>people bitched about the TT's case as being "ugly", Looks fine to me. 
>why worry about case designs and keyboards?

	We aren't talking "it looks ugly" - personally, I find nothing quite
so distasteful as looking as a case that screams "conformity", "just another 
PC","IBM".  However, (read above) it is extremely utilitarian.  It serves a
purpose.  It is hard to satisfy one's acstetic (sp?) needs, ones system
requirements, AND keep it relatively inexpensive.  

>I would think that if the falcon was just a 030 in a megaSTe case... then you
>could bitch about the hardware, nothing new, etc.. 

>I'm holding out for the 040, not because of the case, or keyboard,
>but that its going to be reallly fast. 

	Unfortunately, that sort of attitude may doom it to never come to
market:  Why should they produce an '040 if their flagship economy (=large
volume) model never puts a dent in the market.  In fact, they may not be able
to bring it to market if they sank too much money into the '030 without getting
a reasonable return.

	Of course, you must realize that the '040 will not cost the same as
the '030 - and you may find that you won't be able to afford it.

>my point is that i have no point.. just voicing my opinions over the bitching.

	Yes, it is bitching, but it has a point nonetheless.

>Timothy Wilson 
>wilsont@prism.cs.orst.edu

-Mike