NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #30/NN_1992_30.iso/spool/comp/sys/atari/st/18334

Text File | 1992-12-14 | 3.8 KB | 72 lines

Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Path: sparky!uunet!pipex!warwick!dcs.warwick.ac.uk!leo
From: [e-mail] (Leo Hendry)
Subject: Re: You Could Win Big Money...
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (Network News)
Nntp-Posting-Host: stone
Organization: Department of Computer Science, Warwick University, England
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 17:59:30 GMT
Lines: 59

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John Hutchinson) writes:
>
>>Basically, the 520 has 512K RAM and the 1040 has 1Mb RAM.  Other differences
>>can abound, however, depending on how old the system is.  Some 1040's did
>>not have an RF modulator (therefore no hook up to a TV), early 520's did
>>not have a built in floppy drive, etc.  Just look before you leap.
>
>Huh? I never came across a 520 with a  floppy  built  in.  Always
>thought all 1040's had one and all 520 don't.

The 520STFM (built in floppy) is the commonest ST around by along way.

>However, the correlation between the number in  the  system  name
>and  the amount of RAM does not seem to work 100% -- I once heard
>there was a 520  ST+  with  1  MB  of  RAM,  no  disk  drive,  no
>modulator.

The 520ST+ was not an offical machine - A few companies sold them in 1987 when
a 1040STF cost 599 pounds and an 520STFM (single sided disk drive) cost 399
pounds.  They where basically 520STFMs with an extra 512K memory soldered
in by the vendor effectively giving a 1040STF plus modulator but with only a
single sided drive (Which then cost 199 pounds each) for about 499 pounds.
  Nowadays you can buy a 1Mb, 2Mb or 4Mb "520STe" from several places and
these are just 520STes with extra SIMMs plugged in.

BTW as far as I remeber the ST range goes as follows

 520ST - first machine (no internal disk drive or modulator - I can't remember
whether the power supply was internal.).  TOS was booted from disk.
 520STM - As above with built in modulator - the first machine designed for
games.  In at least some models TOS was in ROM.
 1040STF - 1Mb of memory, built in floppy double sided floppy - designed for
business use. Cost: Initally #599, later dropped to #499.
 520STFM - As 520STM, but built in single sided disk drive (my first ST,
bought in Christmas 87).  Cost: Initially #399, later dropped to #299.
 1040STFM - 1040STF with modulator.  Cost: #399.
 Mega STs - Initially shipped without blitter.
 520STFM with double sided disk drive and #500 worth (at RRP) of slightly
dated software.  Introduced May '88, coinciding with an increase in price of
#100 across the whole range of STs and a #100 decrease in the price of the
Amiga 500.  IMHO this marked the beginning of the end of the ST.  For games
players the Amiga was now the best value for money and the balance of sales
began to tip in it's favour.  The bundling of all those free games seriously
damaged ST games sales and they never recovered.
 Mega ST1 - Never really made in any numbers.
 The STes - Initially priced at #399 for the 520STE and competed against a
520STFM (TOS1.4) with games bundle at the same price and a 520STFM without
games for #299.  Later reduced to #299 for 520STE and the STFMs disappeared.
 The TT - Overpriced.
 Mega STEs - Nice machines that can now be picked up for under 400 pounds.  I
don't think a version with a UHF PAL modulator was ever produced.  Now dead.
 The Falcon030 - Still not available in the UK.

I would recommend Mega ST2/4s and STFMs with TOS 1.4 as good second hand buys.
Most STe owners seem to want far too much for them (Usually 230 pounds of a
520STe that you can get for #199 new), so are rarely worth buying second hand.

- Leo