=*==*=¢ THE EDITOR ON THE SOAP BOX¢¢ To confirm what I have often¢ said, I would like to share with you¢ part of a letter that I received¢ (name ommitted at writers request).¢ It reads in part as follows ...¢¢ "Now for some "ramblings". I read¢ with interest your past comments and¢ advice on not up-grading from XL to¢ an ST, PC or clone unless needed for¢ a particular reason, such as a job¢ related work. I recently bought ¢ a Macintosh computer for my work at¢ the University, (forced into it¢ actually, as their standards for my¢ thesis presentation are based on Mac¢ software and a Mac laser printer,¢ for Chemistry Dept. ¢ ¢ Although I find the Mac wonderful¢ for the purpose I bought it, I still¢ spend much more time at my 800XL.¢ Apart from the old 40 column screen¢ drawback,(Ed. An 80 Column upgrade is¢ available. A.P.) I don't think that¢ there is any application in general¢ computing which cannot be achieved¢ in practice on the XL.¢¢ Sure, the others have more¢ colours, higher res. graphics and ¢ a more "professional" appearance,¢ but these things mean little after¢ the novelty has worn off.¢¢ My 800XL can play music, print¢ newsletters, produce a spreadsheet,¢ process words, (word processors) run¢ text adventures and play wonderful¢ games at a level which should satisfy¢ any but the most critical, but not¢ necessarily knowledgable, user. And¢ it is easy and looads of real fun¢ to program! Let's face it, the ST¢ or Mac are not liable to push the IBM¢ from the office, and so will, in¢ most cases, be put to the same use¢ as an XL/XE, where its performance¢ will not realistically be that much¢ better, as to be worth the price.¢ difference.¢¢ Why isn't the XE games¢ machine touted as a REAL computer?¢ Why must Atari always be labelled¢ as a "Games" machine, and be treated¢ with disdain by the whole computing¢ fraternity? Where are the 8-bit Atari¢ magazines? GONE! Why didn't Atari¢ outsell the much more expensive¢ machines many years ago? Don't use¢ the PIRACY argument, as there must¢ also be many IBM, etc. pirates.¢ I think that poor software stocks,¢ lack of budget titles years ago, poor¢ distribution of 8-bit computers such¢ as the 130XE and lousy marketing¢ are making sure that it is only the¢ Atari faithful who will continue in¢ this field, and they will be ever¢ tempted to make the move to IBM, ST¢ etc. I love my Atari and I fail to¢ see why many others, child and¢ adult, cannot sample the delights¢ of this wonderful machine, and at such¢ a reasonable cost.......¢ .......Sorry. I got carried away¢ there for a moment"¢ ¢ (Ed. 'Nuff said! Dont you dear¢ members get carried away by trying to¢ keep up with the JONES! My Thanks to¢ ------- and happy computing to all out¢ there-- A.P.)¢ *=**=*¢¢¢
