From: alrashi@ecf.toronto.edu (AL RASHID SHAHIR)
Subject: Compatibles and stuff...
Organization: University of Toronto, Engineering Computing Facility
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 23:04:22 GMT

I posted this thread quite a while back, but it did'nt seem to stir anything so here I go again. BTW, this is not (well, shouldn't be anyway) flamebait...

Regarding the X86 line...
Hey, I'm assuming MOST of you know about the big layoff by IBM in the last few months...Jeez!! Anyway, just wanted to tell all you hidden IBM advocates in ATARI advocating skins...IBM has their own problems too, eh? Just look at the P5 (or 586)... I guess you guy's in the PC world are gonna start feeling the money pinch pretty sonn if you want to upgrade. While everyone in the other computer markets keep "upgrading" their computers (dunno what to call it anymore; re:flamewar on upgrading...) at the same ap

proximate prices, all you compatible users will no longer be able to upgrade with "compatible" prices anymore. 
 What happens when Motorola comes out with the (in development) 68060??? This will surely blow away the 486 (not a jibe). The point is, 486 users will surely want to upgrade (human nature) but what will they upgrade too? IBM in their perilous position will have to sell the P5 at higher (maybe much higher) cost than other compatibles, as compatibles will no longer exist...(P5 will be copyrighted - or IBm will die). With all the trouble between IBM (one side),and Microsoft and Intel (the other side), I have 

heard rumours (reasonably reliable and logical) that IBM is quite interested in Motorola's 86000 line (not sure), which are RISC based, to use in future computers. Maybe true (IMHO), maybe not...but it still highlights the fact that IBM is dissatisfied with Intel.
 How 'bout Microsoft? Jeez, any idiot can see that IBM do not like Microsoft anymore (just look at the conflict between OS/2 and Windows if you don't believe me!). Or how about the new dos IBM releases?? IBM dos Version 5 ????? If these aren't moves to pull away from Microsoft, what is??
 IBM, a company with conflicts with their biggest software supporter and even their chip developer... Makes you think doesn't it..?

 How about Atari?? Jeez, close to another basket case!! Atari's fanatical supporters will continue to plug the Falcon.. but if Jack Tramiel (who is back from a long absence - notice the chaos in his absence) doesn't do something fast (which I think he is already doing... don't know what it is, though) the company's computer branch is sunk. The incredible thing is, without the ST or the Falcon, or any computers...Atari will not necessarily die! With their Lynx (more a scaled-down portable Amiga than anythin

g else) doing good business, Atari Games (which is at least paying royalties for the name Atari if nothing else- I don't know the story here...), and even the Atari PC (hey don't knock it, even Commodore PC's exist - I've used both) will keep Atari afloat...for how long, I don't know. Certainly longer than IBM, IMHO.

 Y'see, Atari's in trouble..but owing to their RELATIVELY small stature (compared to the worldwide IBM), it will stay afloat quite a bit longer than IBM (with their rapidly failing RISC market and all)... So to all out, there there is "no fate but what we make..." <--- great line eh?? (got it from T2 if ya didn't know!)

Thanks for the ear, if anyone waded through this..
AcEzE

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