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From: thomps@gitpyr.gatech.EDU (Ken Thompson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: IBM PC ??  Nahhh ....
Message-ID: <2802@gitpyr.gatech.EDU>
Date: Mon, 15-Dec-86 14:16:33 EST
Article-I.D.: gitpyr.2802
Posted: Mon Dec 15 14:16:33 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 17-Dec-86 04:44:59 EST
References: <186@sbstaff2.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 38
Summary: Requirements should drive hardware purchase

In article <186@sbstaff2.UUCP>, lean@sbstaff2.UUCP (Lean L. Loh) writes:
> 
>   Hello hackers,
> 		Having seen and played with both the Atari 1040ST and an
> IBM PC (AT), I wonder why there are still people buying (and using !!) the
> IBM PC AT. And the IBM PC (generic 8088)?  Ughhh.........
> 		The Atari ST has an incredible monochrome monitor and an
> excellent color system. If any of you IBM fans out there haven't seen the
> ST and its capabilities, check it out. It's worth it.  
> 
> ................Of course, if people have loads of $$$$ to throw around, 
> then it's a different story.   Any comments.

I question what criteria you are using to make your decision. In buying a
computer, you should :

1. Determine what it is you need it to do

2. Determine what reliability and repair requirements

3. Decide what software you need to meet your requirements

4. Find hardware which will run the software packages you need and which
   meets your requirements for reliability and repairability.

5. Choose one that meets your requirements and fits (hopefully) your budget.


If I was buying a micro primarily for experimentation and hacking, I would
probably by an atari 1040 or an amiga. However for real work, the available
software and hardware packages led me to choose a PC XT clone. Certainly,
it is not as technologically advanced, but the software and peripherals are
available now to make it do what I need to do.
-- 
Ken Thompson  Phone : (404) 894-7089
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Georgia Insitute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!gitpyr!thomps