-=-=-=-=-=-›› OUT OF THE PACK - #1› by Kevin Packard, WNYAUG, excerpts› (and free use of EDITORS license),› reprinted by OL' HACKER A.U.G., Inc.› with permission, and our thanks!›› (From  the  Editor:   The   following› article in our opinion is a MUST READ› for all 8  BIT  owners.  The  "BEAST"› (ATARI),  is  not  dead,  I  detect a› flutter of life. Perhaps ATARI  Corp.› may  open  its  eyes and see what has› been obvious to us all along.  THE  8› BIT  IS  ALIVE AND WELL, and an all 8› BIT CLASSIC magazine may give it more› strength  yet!)          I   have   2› articles in the works but last Friday› I   received  the  Atari  Corporation› Annual Report for 1991. I  thought  I› would make a couple of comments about› it.         The   1991  report  is  a› departure from  previous  years.  The› report  is  just  that, the necessary› facts and figures in a plain package.› The glossy pages with pictures of the› products are missing. The only colors› are  black  and white with a touch of› gray on the cover (white pages, black› letters).  In Sam Tramiel's letter to› the shareholders, he  apologized  for› the  "frugal  appearance, but not the› money we saved." (Ed.  A  good  start› for  the  up-  ward climb in the open› market!)       I wish the  company  I› worked for had this much sense. After› seeing my raise and  then  estimating› the  cost  of   the   annual   report› something    tells    me   that   ITS› priorities are screwed up.        The› letter to the shareholders was on the› inside cover  and  continued  on  the› back  inside.  I  only  mention  this› because  I didn't read the fine print› and it took me a couple of minutes to› find  the  second half. I guess I can› sum it up by saying, "All is not well› in  Atari  land."  (ED.  but the mere› fact that  common  sense  of  cutting› back  costs  shows  that ATARI may be› awakening.)        Sales  were  down,› inventory was down, costs were  down,› liabilities  were  down, and research› costs were down. Just  remember  that› DOWN  IS  NOT  ALWAYS  BAD!››    The list of products that Atari is› selling is impressive although I have› not  seen  all  of  them at the local› Atari dealer. The STE, ST  BOOK,  and› TT  accounted  for  53%  of sales and› were the first to get mentioned.  PC-› compatibles  (the Portfolio, ABC386SX› and ABC386DX) represented  10%.›› Lower sales of the 2600 and 7800 game› machines were partially offset by the› sale  of  the LYNX. The Lynx actually› had an increase of 80% for units sold› over  the  1990  figure.›      If you remember, the 1990 report› did  NOT  mention    the  Atari    XE› Microcomputer  Series.›› In 1991 on page 4 in  letters› the  size  of  the rest are the words› "The  Atari  XE  8-bit  Microcomputer› Series",   (I  prefer  that  to  GAME› MACHINE as often used). What it  said› is this:       "Atari's XE(tm) series› of computers  are  targeted  for  the› price conscious markets. The 65XE(tm)› and 130XE(tm) have 64k  and  128k  of› RAM,  and  generally  retail for less› than  $100  and  $150,  respectively.› Both are supported by  a  variety  of› peripheral equipment and a variety of› software       titles       including› entertainment software. This computer› line retains compatibility  with  the› Company's  previous  generation 8-bit› computer systems, i.e., the  400  and› 800XL  computers."        I  will now› spit in the eye of the dog  who  said› the  Atari 8 BIT is dead.       Atari› has spent a lot of  time  and  effort› getting  their  affairs   in   order.› Hopefully  these  efforts  will  bear› fruit in the next couple of years. We› should be seeing signs of this by the› end  of  1992. (ED. If the release of› the "FALCON" computer is as  good  as› claimed  then  PHOENIX  MAY  YET RISE› FROM  THE  ASH)        Sam  Tramiel's› closing words to the shareholders are› to  all  of us. "As I look forward to› the year ahead, I would like to thank› our      shareholders,     suppliers,› employees,  customers  and  end-users› for their continued support."             ›          -=-=-= end -=-=-=-››