CompuServe Messages

Atari ST/Amiga survey

#: 25243 S/Help/AnnouncementsForum unknown
    04-Jul-86 01:07:28
Fm: Geoff Soard 74025,1616
To: SYSOP*Tom Hudson 76703,4224

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First let me compliment you on your fine work for the Atari ST. I sell both the Atari and Amiga lines, and have found your DEGAS and CAD-3D packages to be very nicely written. I have some views on the Amiga/ST struggle which you may be interested in. Please read my message #25241 on the subject. I have had some disgruntled folks on both sides of the situation, but I sort of view the two machines in the same perspective as the Commodore 64 versus Apple II in the 8-bit market. People who seem to be more concerned about image and less about price have chosen Apple for home use (lets ignore for now the obvious applications software advantage of the Apple since many Apples are used merely for games as are the 64's). Those same type of people seem to buy Amigas based on what appears to be a more professionally built machine (whether it is or not is a matter of opinion, but the machine has a substantially more expensive look and feel to it – and the price tag to go with that feel). The Commodore 64 type owner seems to be concerned more with price/performance. In other words, how much can I do for a set amount of money. These people also perceive the Atari ST as the better machine due to its lower price (while retaining great power), and its somewhat of a head start in software development. Like the 64, the ST seems to be the next major MASS MARKET machine. They may soon sell at KMart the way the 64 sold a short time ago. The Amiga will still have its followers, but I do think they will always be a bit more selective, and a smaller group. I'd be interested to hear your input. Thanks for listening, see ya…