Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!ucla-cs!sdcrdcf!trwrb!sansom From: sansom@trwrb.UUCP (Richard Sansom) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: CES News Message-ID: <1517@trwrb.UUCP> Date: Sun, 11-Jan-87 20:03:00 EST Article-I.D.: trwrb.1517 Posted: Sun Jan 11 20:03:00 1987 Date-Received: Tue, 13-Jan-87 05:08:31 EST References: <2135@felix.UUCP> Reply-To: sansom@trwrb.UUCP (Richard Sansom) Organization: TRW EDS, Redondo Beach, CA Lines: 72 Atari Announces New Products at CES ----------------------------------- Las Vegas, NV, Jan. 8 -- In a dramatic press conference held this morning at the Consumer Electronics Show, spokesmen for the Atari Corporation introduced a panoply of new products for 1987. Highlights included three significant new additions to Atari's flagship ST line of high-performance personal computers, a revolutionary low-cost laser printer, and an IBM PC-compatible personal computer of radically new design. The new ST computers, dubbed "Mega STs 1, 2, and 4" incorporate one, two, and four megabytes of RAM, respectively. Encased in a newly-designed system unit with integral 800K microfloppy drive and detachable, ergonomic keyboard, the new machines are visibly different from Atari's current 520ST and 1040ST models, while remaining 100% compatible with them. Additional enhancements to the Mega machines include a battery- backed realtime clock, internal mounting space for an additional circuit board, and full external routing of the 68000 bus, making their architecture "wide open" for further enhancements. "We took all our customer's suggestions on how we could improve the ST, and incorporated them in this series," said Neil Harris, Atari's Director of Marketing Communications. Delivery of the new machines, via computer specialty stores, is expected to begin shortly at a price-point of "about $1000." The new Atari laser printer, shown in a prototype version, will match or exceed the performance of present laser printer systems while costing only about half as much -- about $1500. Atari has accomplished this enormous cost-saving by exploiting the power inherent in their ST computers. Coupled with a 2- or 4- megabyte Mega ST, the laser printer will form the output stage of a desktop publishing system costing less than $3000 total. Atari's new IBM PC-compatible machine, the Atari PC, is a radical departure from present "PC clone" designs, offering top- of-the-line compatibility and features at a record-breaking price of under $500. Housed in a system unit similar to the Mega ST with integral 5-1/4" floppy drive and detachable XT-style keyboard, the PC/XT compatible Atari PC sports 512K RAM standard (expandable to 640K on the motherboard), an additional 256K of graphics-dedicated RAM, a custom graphics chip providing enhanced EGA, CGA, IBM Monochrome, and Hercules graphics capabilities, and a Microsoft compatible mouse. It operates at the IBM standard 4.77 Mhz or at a high-speed 8 Mhz "turbo mode," and provides for the addition of an 8087 math coprocessor at either speed. A monochrome monitor designed for use with the Atari PC was also announced. Costing under $200, the monitor supports all Atari PC graphics modes, including the high-resolution, multicolor EGA mode in grey-scale. Shipments of the Atari PC will begin in March. The new products -- perceived by some as the fulfillment of promises made over a year ago by Atari CEO Jack Tramiel -- are universally hailed as milestones for the Atari Corporation. One informed onlooker commented: "It's as if Atari, in one fell swoop, had stepped to the leading edge in three markets: high-performance workstations, desktop publishing systems, and the lucrative PC- compatible game. They're going to be the company to watch in 1987." With somewhat less fanfare, Atari also announced a new slimline 20-megabyte Winchester drive for its ST line, incorporating an extra port for daisy-chaining with other DMA- compatible peripherals, such as the new laser printer. At the same time, Atari announced price reductions on existing ST models. A 520ST CPU will now be available for under $300 retail, a 1040ST with monochrome monitor for around $799, and a 1040ST with color monitor for around $999. -- __________ ______ ____ _____ ___ /_________//___ ||__|/____|/__/ Richard E. Sansom ___ ____/ / ____________ TRW Electronics & Defense Sector / / / /\ < | /| / One Space Park Drive, R3/1028 / / / / \ \ | / | / Redondo Beach, CA 90278 /__/ /__/ \__\|__/ |__/ ...{decvax,ucbvax,ihnp4}!trwrb!sansom