From: csullogg@cc4.crl.aecl.ca
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: ST Upgrading
Date: 5 Jan 93 14:33:18 GMT
Organization: AECL RESEARCH

Question: Why did Windows only become popular recently?
Answer: Until recently, no PC was fast enough to run it effectively.

Question: Can a person with little or no computer knowledge set up
          his/her own PC?
Answer: Not likely.

Question: If you use DOS based software, how many user interfaces
          do you have to learn?
Answer: One for each program.

Question: Can an XT or AT owner expect to make much use of software
          released in 1993?
Answer: Yes, if he/she needs door stops.

Question: What company has built an empire based on upgrades (even
          when those upgrades provided minimal improvement)?
Answer: Microsoft.

Question: Who gave the world DOS?
Answer: Microsoft (That's reason enough to hate Microsoft)

Question: Who gave the world Edlin?
Answer: Microsoft (a second reason to hate Microsoft)

Question: If any other company besides IBM had marketed the XT, would
          it have survived?
Answer: Not likely.

Question: What computer was outdated when it was released?
Answer: Anything with a 386SX processor.

I am sure that someone who hates Atari, Apple, Commodore, etc can
come up with a similar list of questions. The point is, everyone
can criticize the other system. The point of MY posting about PCs
was that I get to use them almost every day (XT right on up to a
40MHz 486) and I still prefer to use my Mega or my TT. No amount
of bitching from Darek is going to change that.

My statement that it has been cheaper to upgrade STs by replacing
them IS true. When I bought a 520 for $1200 in 1985, a 640K PC
with dual floppies cost over $5000. When I went to a Mega with a
20 meg HD I paid $3000. It was still over $5000 for an XT with
a hard disk (I sold my 520 for $500). Software for the ST cost
in the range of $50 - $125 when PC applications were $150 - $500
for similar programs. Altogether, I have invested (all hardware
and software) about $8000 in Atari hardware and software (I
now have a Mega4, a dual 50-170 meg HD, an SLM605 laser, a
REFLEX card (1024x496 on an SM124 monitor), a 21 meg floptical,
and my software (Pagestream, Calamus SL, LDW, ...). If I
had gone with the XT plus HD it is UNLIKELY that I would have
swapped boards to go to an AT (several years ago there were
many fewer clone manufacturers and very limited support; it's
not the same today) I would have invested about another $2000-
$3000 and would have had to abandon that for a 386 or 486 in
order to run Windows based software. So, ignore the hype from
pro-PC users. Overall the cost of swapping STs has been
cheaper than upgrading PCs and software and I still use a
computer bought in 1987 to run software written in 1992 and
will run software written in 1993 quite nicely. Can the same
be said for a 1987 vintage PC running software in 92 or 93?


The following are quotations for computers based on a request
for quotations I issued in Septermber 1984. You be the judge 
as to whether or not a PC was a good choice.

CPU      Tandy 2000     HP150      Mac
         128K RAM       256K RAM   128K RAM
         one floppy     two flop   one floppy
         $3800          $5054      $4830

DOS       --            $361       $220 (Apple Opsys)
128K RAM $359           ---        not avail
mouse                   touch      included
& board  $285           screen
monitor  $349           included   included
video
card     $600           included   included
2nd
floppy   included       included   $790

The next time someone describes the quick replacement
of boards and components for a PC, just remember that
the person is describing TODAY's market; not the
market of '84 and '85 when there were very few suppliers
(IBM failed to quote on the above request because it
did not have a user friendly front end as required by
the quote request. The HP150 touch screen was purchased
because the Mac had virtually no software. The touch
screen was used for four years to enter data to a
CYBER database).

Again, I stand by my statement that overal it was FAR
cheaper to turn over STs than PCs as the computing
world matured. It was even a better deal considering
that I resold some early acquisitions to offset the
cost of upgrades.