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- From: gwmeyer@iastate.edu (Jane Meyer)
- Subject: DELPHI CO Trasnscript
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- Summary: Sam speaks about the Falcon030
- Keywords: transcript, tramiel, delphi
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- Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
- Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 07:39:47 GMT
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-
- Transcript of Formal Conference
- August 13, 1992
- Special Guest: Sam Tramiel
- (copyright 1992, DELPHI's ST Advantage)
-
-
- BIBLINSKI:Gordie>
- Good evening, everyone, and welcome to tonight's formal
- Conference. Our very special guest this evening is Sam Tramiel,
- president of Atari Corporation. This is Sam's first visit to
- DELPHI, and he's here to make an official announcement to us
- DELPHI members about Atari's newest 68030 based computer.
- Hopefully, he'll like it so much here, that he'll be back for some
- future Conferences. <g>
-
- I'd like to remind everyone that we are formal tonight (not in
- dress, but in behavior), so our format is a little more
- structured than usual. Sam will have some opening remarks,
- after which he will take questions about those remarks, and
- answer when he can. He can't talk about everything, yet, but
- we should be able to get a fairly good feel for what the new
- machine is like.
-
- Because formal COs tend to take a bit longer than our regular
- informal ones, we'd like to try to limit the questions to
- tonight's topic, so we don't end up with a marathon session.
- So, please don't stray too far from the topic at hand.
-
- To ask questions when the time comes, you need to use the
- /queue command. You'll be prompted for your question, then for
- a brief description of the question. To provide as many people
- as possible with a chance to ask questions, we won't take
- direct follow-ups tonight. So, try to ask your question in
- such a way as to be as complete as possible. I'll be keeping a
- list of who has questions and will be trying to let as many
- people as possible ask them.
-
- Remember, too, that Atari will be formally debuting the new
- machine in Dusseldorf, Germany, next week. And they want to
- keep some secrets for that event!
-
- .Gordie>
- With that done, and everyone digesting it, <g> I'd like to
- thank Sam for taking a little time this evening to join us
- here.
-
- Sam, the floor is yours.
-
- .Sam>
- Good evening, all. I'm very pleased to be here on DELPHI in
- the Atari ST Advantage area for the very first time! We're
- excited to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of Atari
- Corporation this year. We're especially excited because this
- is a time that we can introduce another milestone product to
- the world.
-
- I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize some people that
- have been close allies of Atari Corporation. The entire staff
- of the Atari areas on Delphi, under the direction of Clayton
- Walnum and Gordie Meyer have been providing stellar support to
- our customers for many years now. As most of you know, the
- roots of the Delphi area were established in the days of
- A.N.A.L.O.G. Magazine. Delphi has long been a supporter of
- Atari products. Thank you Clay, Gordie, and the rest of the ST
- Advantage staff for your support of our mutual customers.
-
- Tonight, we're pleased to be able to finally announce the Atari
- Falcon 030 Computer. This computer will be unveiled to the
- buying public at the Duesseldorf Atari Messe in Germany next
- week. The Falcon is a machine that we're very excited about.
- We think that it places us back in the forefront of the "Power
- without the Price" place in the market.
-
- Here's the specs on the Atari Falcon 030:
-
- CPU: Motorola 68030 running at 16 Mhz
- 32-bit Bus
- Optional 68881 or 68882 FPU
- RAM: 1,4, or 14 megs
- Standard Atari Cartridge Port
- Motorola 56001 DSP chip
-
- Expansion Bus:
-
- Internal direct processor slot for 386SX PC emulation, or other
- coprocessor
-
- Graphics:
-
- Super VGA graphics: 640x480 with 256 colors
- True color 16 bit mode allowing a display of up to 65,536 colors
- Accepts external video sync signal to allow high quality genlocking
- Overlay mode for easy video titling and special effects
- Overscan on TV's and ST Color monitors
- 262,144 possible colors
- hardware-assisted horizontal fine scrolling
- BLiTTER graphics co-processor
-
- Sound features:
-
- Eight 16 bit audio DMA record and playback channels
- Stereo 16 bit digital DMA input
- Stereo 16 bit DMA audio output
- SDMA sound/DMA Coprocessor
-
- Standard Ports
-
- SCSI II port with DMA
- High speed LocalTalk compatible LAN
- Connector for analog RGB color (ST or VGA) or composite video
- RS232C serial port
- Bidirectional parallel port
- MIDI IN/MIDI OUT
- Stereo microphone input, miniature stereo plug
- Stereo audio out, miniature stereo plug
- Two joystick connectors
- Two enhanced digital/analog controller/light pen connectors
-
- Data Storage
-
- 1.44 Mbyte floppy disk drive
- Optional internal IDE Hard Disk
-
- System software
-
- Pre-emptive Multitasking with adaptive prioritzation (MultiTOS)
- Inter process communication
- NewDesk desktop and eXtensible control panel
- Multiple window user interface; number of windows limited
- only by memory or software in use.
-
- We see this computer as exceeding all of the multimedia
- expectations of the computer buying public. As well as being
- an exceptional value as a home computer system.
-
- Extensive testing with the Falcon has already been done on
- existing software. We are very pleased with the high degree of
- compatibility. For instance, PowerNet, a increasingly popular
- LocalTalk networking solution works fine with no modifications.
- Calamus SL, PageStream, WordFlair II, Cubase 3.0, STalker 3.0,
- STeno, Arabesque, and many other well written applications will
- work perfectly.
-
- I'm taking the liberty tonight of responding to some questions
- that have already been submitted by the Delphi Staff, in order
- that we might conserve some time:
-
-
- What monitors will work with the Falcon?
-
- The Atari Falcon030 will work with any VGA, or Atari ST
- Color Monitor...SC1224 or SC1435
-
- Suggested retail price?
-
- Sorry, tonight we will not be giving out the suggested retail
- price of the Atari Falcon030. That information will be
- announced at the Duesseldorf Atari Messe in Germany next week.
-
- Will there be a trade in plan?
-
- It is not our practice to offer a trade in plan directly from
- Atari. This is something that is up to the discretion of our
- dealers.
-
- Will there be a LAN?
-
- Yes, there is a LocalTalk port on the Atari Falcon030. It is
- fully compatible with the Atari Mega STE and Atari TT030.
- PowerNet from DragonWare Software works fine with it.
-
- Will there be a method to connect to a mainframe via ethernet?
-
- No, there is no ethernet connector on the Atari Falcon030
-
- Why no detachable keyboard?
-
- We felt that offering the unit in this configuration was the
- most cost effective. Also, using the 1040STE case allowed us
- to save on design costs, as it is the only unit (until the
- Atari Falcon030) that has analog joy sticks in it.
-
- Will the DEKA work with it?
-
- We do have a new keyboard controller in the Atari Falcon030.
- We've not checked a DEKA unit with it yet. We'll have to get
- back to you on that.
-
- Have we hired a good technical writer, to document system interconnectivity, and add ons?
-
- Our developer documentation for the Atari Falcon030 has met
- with rave reviews from all of the developers that are in
- possession of an Atari Falcon030. YES, the documentation is
- greatly improved.
-
- MultiTOS- how is it configured, ram or rom, and what software
- will run on it?
-
- MultiTOS is a combination of rom and disk based software. Most
- well written applications seem to work fine. We've made
- certain that our developers have been closely involved in the
- enhancements of MultiTOS. I'm confident that it will be HIGHLY
- compatible with your software library.
-
- Is there anything being done with multimedia, and/or speech
- recognition software?
-
- Yes, Multimedia is one of the key area for the Atari Falcon030.
- However, I cannot go into specifics at this time. We do expect
- to see a lot of exciting applications at the Duesseldorf Atari
- Messe next week, though!
-
- Will it be advertised? How big is the budget, is there an
- agency, will it be in mainstream media, or specialty
- publications?
-
- Sorry, we're not going to enter into those kinds of specifics
- tonight. We'll be making announcements on all of those things
- either at the Duesseldorf Atari Messe, or shortly after it.
-
- Any dealer incentive programs?
-
- Again, we will not discuss the marketing issues tonight. That
- will be something that we'll pick up after the Duesseldorf
- Atari Messe.
-
- Any bundled software with the Falcon?
-
- Yes, there will be a number of things packaged with the Atari
- Falcon030. There will be a couple of games written especially
- for the Atari Falcon030...LandMines, and a BreakOut kind of
- game. We will also have a Rolodex type of application called
- Cal/Apt, a calculator application called ProCalc, and a Talking
- Clock desk accessory.
-
- Is there a lease/purchase plan?
-
- We already have such an arrangement in place for our products.
- However it is more orientated toward business purchases than
- home users.
-
- That's it from us for now, we're ready to take questions from
- the audience.
-
- Gordie>
- Okay, folks. Sorry for the delay. There's a lot of buffer to
- search through for questions. Hang on a sec.
-
- LMCCLURE>
- Will the Falcon retain that name after it's release? If not,
- what will it be called?
-
- .Sam>
- Yes, the name is the Atari Falcon030.
-
- BRITFLASH:Brit>
- Will there be support for the future release of Apple/IBM OS
- "Pink"?
-
- .Sam>
- When we see it, we'll answer you. It's still in development.
- ga
-
- PWRIGHT:PaulW>
- Will it be able to run other operating system and which ones?
-
- .Sam>
- With plugging in optional third party coprocessor boards, you
- will be able to run PC type software, and maybe even MacIntosh
- software. ga
-
- PIZZA_THIEF>
- Is some sort of direct-to-disk recording/edit package under
- development (or slated for released concurrent with) the
- falcon? With the D/A converters it is reported to possess,
- this should be relatively easy to write.
-
- .Sam>
- Yes, there are several direct to disk recording systems under
- development. And we expect at least a few of them to be
- debuted next week at the Atari Duesseldorf Messe.
-
- ATARIO:Steve>
- Will memory upgrades be through SIMMs?
-
- .Sam>
- Memory upgrades will be through a "Atari Falcon" ram board.
-
- RMARIANO:Ralph@STReport>
- Sam, congratulations on the Falcon its quite the promising NEW
- product. I understand 500 are to reach Europe within two weeks.
- What is the time table for North America and the States in
- particular?
-
- .Sam>
- I'm happy that you have information on what is going to Europe.
- But, you're wrong, the plans are for North America to have
- machines by mid to late October.
-
- BRYEDEWAARD:MegaRob>
- What kind of keyboard will the Falcon come with? The old mushy
- ST-style version, or the newer Mega ST/Mega STE/TT one?
-
- .Sam>
- The Atari Falcon030 keyboard is the same wonderful keyboard
- that you can find on a 1040STE.
-
- MERICKSON:Miles>
- I noticed that the standard ACSI DMA port wasn't on your list
- of "standard ports." Does this mean that the Atari laser
- printer will not work with the Falcon, or will a new controller
- be made available for use with the Falcon?
-
- .Sam>
- There are a number of fine third party developers that are
- working on a SCSI to ACSI converter box. ga
-
- DAVIDNIELD:David Nield>
- Sam, Thank you for coming. The introductory information was
- great. I would like to know what kind of digital recording the
- Falcon030 is capable of: Will the 16 bit digital recording be
- useful for direct to disk recording or 'simply' as a sound
- source for midi manipulative sounds? Any light you can shed on
- that aspect would be helpful.
-
- .Sam>
- Yes, you can use the Atari Falcon030 for direct to disk
- recording with appropriate software. Just plug a microphone
- into the microphone input.
-
- HOWBAR>
- Will the microphone input sounds directly, like the mac?
-
- .Sam>
- Yes.
-
- CHUNK>
- What kind of speed enhancments for the 030?
-
- .Sam>
- I don't understand the question...it is using a 68030.
-
- .Gordie>
- Chunk, did you want to clarify your question? <no response>
- I'd guess he wonders about using a faster 68030.
-
- .Sam>
- The design and supporting chips is for a 16Mhz 68030, and 32
- Mhz bus, which gives you a dynamite machine. Terrific
- performance! ga
-
- TRIX:Trix>
- Will there be a port of Microware's OS-9 Operating system for
- the Falcon030?
-
- .Sam>
- We're in regular contact with Microware, and OS/9 works for the
- most part just fine under the Atari Falcon030.
-
- JBWHIT:JB>
- When will development tools that support the 68030, math
- coprocessors and DSP56001 be available?
-
- .Sam>
- The developer machines that have been shipping to select
- developers for the past few months, have all the tools. A
- complete 56000 debugger will begin shipping next Thursday.
-
- .Ron <ym>
- You stated memory of 1, 4, or 14 Meg. Why 14 Meg? What's
- wrong with 16?
-
- .Sam>
- 2 megabytes of RAM are masked out for backward compatibility
- with ST I/O space. We pride ourselves on maintaining downward
- compatibility with all of our products.
-
- STGUEST:Oliver>
- Sam, it was reported that Atari is going to introduce a new
- software packet called ST-Sutra at the Duesseldorf show next
- week (source: Atari Journal, Germany). Could you give us some
- details (features, price, availibility...) Another software-
- related question: Can you confirm that there will be a MultiTOS
- upgrade available for old STs (MC68000 machines)? Thanks!
-
- .Sam>
- We are saving this for Germany, Oliver. See you at the show! :)
- MultiTOS will be available for the Atari TT030. But we have no
- plans at present to make it available for 68000 based Atari STs.
-
- TURBONICK:Nick>
- You said that the Falcon can have 1,4,or 14 MB of RAM. In the
- 14MB configuration, is some of that RAM "fastRAM" like the TT
- has? Will the '030 have "burst mode" (or whatever it's called
- when it fetches multiple longwords in one instruction) access
- to that RAM?
-
- .Sam>
- All ram accesses are 32 bits wide. By the way, the supertechy
- questions are being answered by the ever capable Bill Rehbock.
- :) The ram does NOT operate in Nybble mode like an Atari
- TT030. ga
-
- SGTR>
- 32 MHZ bus. Does that mean that the Falcon030 is capable of
- 32MHZ to RAM,HardDisk etc... If not then what is the main
- impetus ?
-
- .Sam>
- That's a 32 bit bus, sorry for the confusion. It means that
- the Atari Falcon030 memory controller and DMA and video chips
- access memory at 32 bits wide at a time.
-
- HUDSONHARDY:Hudson>
- How will the TT and the Falcon relate compatability-wise?
-
- .Sam>
- They are very compatible. The Atari Falcon030 is actually more
- STE compatible than the TT030.
-
- DPJ:Dana@STReport>
- Sam, first, welcome to Delphi. In light of the recent Forbes
- article, how do you feel the Falcon will do to re-establish
- Atari in the marketplace? It sounds like the Falcon will be
- the finest Atari computer yet to come. GA
-
- .Sam>
- Regardless of the Forbes article, we feel that the Atari
- Falcon030 is a giant step in personal computing. It will help
- Atari re-establish itself in the North American market.
-
- .Gordie>
- Sam, one thing that sounds really exciting is the 8 channel 16
- bit sound. Won't that make the Falcon030 a virtual recording
- studio in a box?
-
- .Sam>
- Gordie, YES! We are very excited. We forsee desktop editing in
- the future with the Atari Falcon030.
-
- .Gordie>
- Have any MIDI developers been working on implementing that
- capability? That you know of, anyway?
-
- .Sam>
- YES, a leading developer in the UK, around Cambridge, is
- working on this type of software.
-
- .Miles>
- In a previous message, you said "and maybe even MacIntosh
- software." Does this mean that the Falcon isn't compatible
- with Spectre?
-
- .Sam>
- The Atari Falcon030 does not have an external floppy connector,
- and this of course makes it difficult to connect the existing
- Spectre GCR. We simply do not want to comment on Dave Small's
- behalf. :)
-
- DAVIDSHORR:Dave>
- Would you comment on some of the changes that were necessary to
- make the Falcon 030 more STe-compatible than its big brother
- the TT030 (the 16meg address space seems to be one)? Can the
- Falcon run Spectrum Holobyte's Falcon<grin>? GA.
-
- .Sam>
- Mostly custom chip issues. We haven't given Bill enough time to
- try Spectrum Holobyte's Falcon yet! He's been working too
- much!!
-
- PHULSE2>
- Hi Sam & Co. Two questions, first off, could you list the
- various developers which have been working on products for the
- Falcon? Any who previously dropped our computer and have show
- a renewed interest with the Falcon? Secondly, will the
- 'brains' of the Falcon be easily upgradeable to the inevitable
- 68040 release, or is that possible? Thank you very much for
- appearing here! Max @ 734
-
- .Sam>
- MultiTOS will indeed work with a 68040 platform. On the first
- question regarding developers, there are too many to mention
- now. And yes, some that were not working on our system are
- now. Such as NeXT developers because of the DSP 56000 which
- opens the world to really exciting software.
-
- DIGISOFT>
- Is there a true expansion bus or just a coprocessor slot, and
- is 640x480 the highest standard resolution? ga
-
- .Sam>
- Yes, there is a true expansion bus. It is a direct processor
- slot with all of the necessary goodies...interupts, etc.
- 768x480 in overscan is the highest standard rez.
-
- .Ralph@STReport>
- Sam, all my info may not be accurate, but that is not the
- question, I asked; "What is the timetable for North America
- and in particular, the USA?"
-
- .Sam>
- With all due respect, we've already answered you. The US is
- part of North America, and we plan mid to late October.
-
- CHRYSTAL>
- As I see it, most Atari users have little criticism of the
- hardware Atari produces, but are upset with the marketing of
- that hardware. The Forbes article also made that point. If
- not tonight, when will we learn what marketing strategy Atari
- has for the Falcon?
-
- .Sam>
- We felt that the present ST/STE family was not strong enough to
- market in the US. We have been waiting for this new product,
- and we do plan to support it and market it in the US. It will
- be a hard battle, but we will put a good effort behind it.
-
- .Gordie>
- Okay, folks, the clock on the wall says we have time for just
- one more question. And, that lucky person is... NORM!
-
- NORMAN238:Norm!>
- Will there be any "HANDS ON" looking at the Boston Computer
- Society's Meeting?
-
- .Sam>
- There will be hands, feet, etc on looking, touching, at BCS.
- We will have more than one machine there, Norm.
-
- Thank you all for coming tonight. We appreciate your support.
- We've enjoyed our first visit to Delphi. Good night all, there
- will be more information coming after the Duesseldorf Atari
- Messe. Good night!
-
- .Gordie>
- That about fills up our time for tonight, folks. I want to
- thank Sam, Bob and Bill for dropping by. Good night!
-
- This CO is officially over!
-
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