From: utzoo!decvax!cca!NEVES@Mit-Mc@sri-unix Newsgroups: net.micro Title: price cuts Article-I.D.: sri-unix.2508 Posted: Fri Aug 6 14:43:17 1982 Received: Sun Aug 8 09:09:04 1982 From: David M NevesThere is news of at least a couple of computer manufacturers slashing their prices. There was a story in several financial papers a few days ago about how TI is going to reduce the price of the 44/a by $100 (to $199 retail) starting in Sept. In some info-atari mail it was rumored that the Atari 400 will be reduced to $150 in a couple of weeks. I have a gripe about all these soon-to-be-under-$200 machines. I am worried that more emphasis will be played on the video game playing capabilities rather than computational capabilities. This lack of emphasis will result in lack of software, lack of cheap floppies, and horrible keyboards. Look at the Atari 400 for example. Fantastic graphics. However, it clearly is oriented to games. If one wanted to write programs one has to buy a BASIC cartridge, cassette recorder, and has to suffer with the flat keyboard that wasn't really meant for typing. What should the real home computer have? This is my list. You may disagree. 1. Regular keyboard layout with keys that go up and down. The VIC is the only one that has this (I don't know anything about the Trash-80 color computer). 2. Color (all the cheap computers have this) 3. Built in language (i.e. BASIC). Atari doesn't have this but it can be purchased. 4 . Floppies. I consider cassette tape to be inadequate for program storage. It is too slow and error prone. The problem is that floppy storage is still too expensive for the micros. You're talking 500-600 bucks for that first floppy. 5. Communication capabilities (ie. RS232 interface for a coupler). I think the Trash-80 system has it built in, the VIC has a cheap addition one can buy, TI 44/a has expensive addition as does the Atari 400. There is a cheap direct connect modem for $100 (Signalman -- it is battery powered). 6. Total system cost should be in the range of a stereo, i.e. under $600.