Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ginosko!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!ames!think!husc6!m2c!wpi!bill From: bill@wpi.wpi.edu (Bill Marrs) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit Subject: Re: get real Message-ID: <4414@wpi.wpi.edu> Date: 30 Sep 89 17:26:34 GMT References: <4398@wpi.wpi.edu>Reply-To: bill@wpi.wpi.edu (Bill Marrs) Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA. USA Lines: 35 In article wilmott@topaz.rutgers.edu (Ray Wilmott) writes: >... And that about sums up *my* personal needs... I think we both have very personal needs. >...is it worth shelling out $1000-$5000 for new hardware, PLUS hundreds >or thousands more for the basic software packages that I'll want/need >for the machine, just for some fancy graphics and improved speed? I think so. Those 'fancy graphics' include things like photographic quality pictures, real-time animation, direct video input editing, etc... As for the improved speed, The difference in running a mandelbrot generating program on an atari-8bit versus a Mac II is measured like: Atari 8-bit: 3 days, Mac II: 3 minutes. Seriously, I used a public domain Mandelbrot generator on a Mac II that used 256 colors and 640x480 pixels and it took under 5 minutes to draw the same region and iterations as it took my atari 800xl to do in 3 days with 4 colors and 192x159 pixels. ( I realize this can somewhat to using basic on the atari, but still...) >...I'll stick to my 8-bit for my own home use for another year or >two, thank you! Have fun, I would rather use my school's computers, they are faster and easier to use. I used to bring my 800xl up to school so that I could play games on it, but now I am play on others computers and leave my 800xl in the closet. Anyone out there interested in making me an offer for a 800xl with 1050 disk drive P:R:connection interface, small thermal printer, and 100's of games...It has to be worth my while to go to the trouble of going home and getting it out of my closet. -=bill