From: jawalsh@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (John Anthony Walsh)
Subject: Attempt at Objective View of Atari
Originator: jawalsh@copper.ucs.indiana.edu
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington IN.
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 00:41:08 GMT

Hello All, 

I've been reading this newsgroup for the past two months or so.  I'm in
the market for a computer, and after hearing about the Atari ST, TT, and
yet-to-be-released Falcon, I became very interested in the Atari
products.  Since I'm about to write a dissertation, I need a computer
with that will support a *great* wordprocessor.  O.K.  If my needs ended
there, a PC running WordPerfect 5.1 would be great.  It so happens that I
am also a musician and I heard that Atari's are the best machine for
MIDI (Macs are supposed to be pretty darn good with MIDI).  I've also
heard that Atari's are *great* when it comes to Desk Top Publishing
(again Macs compete well in this arena).  My other major need is for a
michine is very good with network communications via modem or ethernet
or other network media.

O.K.  So you know what I need.  Now, I am fairly knowledgable about
computers, and I know there are better things out there for the money
than a PC or Mac, so I'm really interested in the Atari products.  Of
course, I'm afraid that *practically noone owns an Atari/there is
relatively little support/there is relavively little application
softwarey* but if it's great unit, and I know some people who will help
with support(through the net, etc.), and I'm getting more computer for
my money, hey, this may be the way to go.

DISCLAIMER:  I AM NOT ABOUT TO BASH THE ATARI!

Here is how much I was interested in the Atari.  I don't own one, but I
was interest enough to spend two or three buck on an Atari Explorer
magazine just to see what they looked like.  O.K.  I'm stil interested
after reading May/June issue cover to cover.  In this issue they report
about the Mid-Indiana ST Atarifest happening today, July 25, in
Inianapolis.  There it was.  I'm from Bloomington, IN, about an hour and
a half away.  This was the perfect opportunity for an interested person
to go look at the machine and actually see how it worked, what it was,
etc.

I drove up there this morning (some more in-depth reporting from Atari
Explorer would have made my trip much easier) to check it all out.

HERE IS WHAT I THOUGHT:

First, it is important to explain that I wanted to be blown away and
impressed by the Atari.  I didn't drive all that way to see something I
knew sucked.  From reading this newsgroup, I really believed that
the Atari was great machine (I still believe it may be).  I went
wanting to come away with the conviction to save my money until the
Falcon was released and then buy one.

Disappointments:

After hearing all the hoopla about Atari and MIDI, there was not one
booth at this "Atarifest" running anything MIDI related.  To me, this is
a serious flaw in organizing.  Atari Corp. was there (more on this
later) represented by Bob Brodie, and one would think that if no one
else was going to do it, Atari would set up a display showcasing one of
the recognized strengths of their system.

The on-screen "look" of the Atari was a disappointment.   I was
expecting a very impressive GUI, and was disappointed by the crispness
of the look.  A Mac looks much better, IMHO.  However, I realize that a
lot of these machines (1040 ST's, 520ST's, etc.) are old machines, so
all is forgiven there.  The TT's I saw were indeed impressive.

The software available at the "Atarifest" was limited and unimpressive.
Some of it may be excellent software,  I do not mean to insult anyone,
but the packaging, etc.  looked as though it the software was being
written, marketed, and sold by a lot of amatuers and not professionals.
There is some charm to owning a computer owned and supported by a
network of amatuers, but when one really needs a computer for serious
business or productivity, do you want to settle for this?  I walked
around listening to to software sellers constantly saying, "Well, it
doesn't do that yet, but we're working on it."  Can we all afford to
wait?  

Finally, about Atari Corp.:  Can you say FAILURE.

O.K. Atari Corp.  was represented at this Atarifest by one of their
excutives, Mr. Bob Brodie.  He was there sharing a table w/ the GEnie
people.  Atari had nothing to show, offer, sell, explain--nothing.  No
Falcon--no anything.  Isn't this a failure?  O.K., so the Falcon isn't
ready for release, it doesn't have a price.  If it exists, couldn't they
at least bring it to a semi-majore Atarifest to show people?  The
Falcon aside, shouldn't the Atari people have brought something?  I am
dead serious--there was nothing--no pamphlets about MIDI, laserprinters,
Desk Top Publising, nothing--just Bob Brodie sitting there telling
people he couldn't tell them anything about the Falcon.  

O.K. After finally seeing some Atari machines and the community of
support surrounding them I'm much less enthusiastic than before.  Please
don't write me off as some guy who loves to piss people off and get
involved in flame wars.  I'm not that type.  From all I heard, I wanted
to fall in love w/ the Atari, buy one, love it, and laugh at all my
PC/Mac-owing friends.  Unfortunately, my first experience was little
less than a disaster.  I just wanted to offer my opinions.  I would love
to get some helpful responeses explaining reasons why the Atari is still
a good choice for a computer.  I think a computer that can do great
things w/ MIDI and emulate a Mac at a reasonable price would be a great
thing for me.  My problems are:  What the hell is wrong w/ Atari Corp.
(why can't they set up a decent booth?) and Can I get good software for
my machine (Wordprocessing, communications, database, etc.--I know there
are good DTP programs and plenty o' games). 

Thanks to everyone reading this group.  I hope this isn't too long.
Please don't flame me, but all helpful responses are welcome.  I was and
still am very intersted in Atari computers.  I was all excited to be
blown away and was disappointed.  Please explain to me why I should still
have faith.  If I shouldn't, please tell me which PC or Mac to buy.
Thank you, all
-- 
**********John A. Walsh, Dept. of English, Indiana University************
*               jawalsh@copper.ucs.indiana.edu (Internet)               *
*         jawalsh@iubacs.bitnet (Bitnet)  812/323-1035 (Voice)          *   
*********1216 S. Stull Ave. #2, Bloomington, IN 47401 (US Mail)**********          
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st