Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-sdd!apollo!rehrauer
From: rehrauer@apollo.HP.COM (Steve Rehrauer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Portable Mac vs STACY
Message-ID: <45e9895f.71d0@apollo.HP.COM>
Date: 28 Sep 89 18:23:00 GMT
References: <2122@kodak.UUCP> <45da3096.14a1f@force.UUCP>
Reply-To: rehrauer@apollo.COM (Steve Rehrauer)
Distribution: na
Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, MA
Lines: 57

In article <45da3096.14a1f@force.UUCP> covertr@force.UUCP (Richard E. Covert) writes:
 >I would like to know how Atari can produce and sell a Laptop ST for under
 >$2,000 while Apple charges almost $5500 for basically the same machine??

Possibly because Apple produced a real machine for which there will be an
upgrade path, support, expandability, etc?  Dunno; I haven't seen either.
Apple's laptop IS pricey, but perhaps not outlandishly so.  The market will
decide.

 >The only real hardware difference between the two machines has to be the LCD
 >display??

Since when has hardware been the only important factor?  TOS is junk.
GEM is near-junk in its present buggy ST incarnation.  No, that's not
fair I guess; TOS & GEM are "priced almost appropriately" -- howzzat?
You should pick your hardware based largely on what it will run that
you wish to run.  Why else would bazillions of people still choose to
buy XT/AT-clones (price aside :) ?

 >Geez, if there is that big of a market for a Laptop Mac , then a LapTop
 >ST, with the Gadgets By Small (which is now shipping according to the
 >latest news on GEnie!!!) GCR mac Emulator should sell by the thousands!! 

I don't follow that logic.  As someone else here has already remarked,
"emulation" does not a clone make.  I bought a Magic Sac for my 520ST
because it was a neat hack & fun toy.  But depend on it?  Pfah!  You'll
have to tack a few 9's after "99.%" compatible before businesses will
buy it.  And I doubt the consumer market (i.e.: us) will ever eat more
than the first one or 2 of your "thousands" of GCRs, let alone Staceys.

 >I have seen pictures of the Laptop ST and seen actual Laptop Macs on
 >TV, and the Laptop ST is much smaller and lighter then the Laptop Mac.
 >So, let's just hope that Atari can get the Laptop ST out before Apple
 >eats the market.

IBM/NEC/Zenith and Apple >>> OWN <<< the portable market in this country.
It's already been eaten.  Atari may get a few crumbs in the USA, if they
pursue them.  [ I find it helps to think of Atari as a European company
that builds for Europe, sells in Europe, and just coincidentally happens
to live in the U.S. ]

 >Ken B, or John Townsend, if you read this message PLEASE PLEASE ask Jack
 >Tramiel to advertise the Laptop ST in the WALL STREET JOURNAL like Atari
 >has done for the Atari PORTFOLIO!! And mention the GBS GCR cartidge, and
 >Atari could clean up with the Laptop ST!!! 
 >
 >Well, its startinf to look good, if only Atari can get the Laptop ST and the
 >TT out this year!!! I have told my local dealer that I want one!!!

My my, SO many exclamation-marks!  :)  Forget "cold fusion"; if we could
only bottle "Atari-owner loyalty" there wouldn't BE an energy crisis.  :)
(So speaks an ex-Atari-enthusiast.)
-- 
>>> "Aaiiyeeeee!  Death from above!" <<<  | Steve Rehrauer
    Fone: (508)256-6600 x6168             | Apollo Computer, a
    ARPA: rehrauer@apollo.hp.com          | division of Hewlett-Packard
"Look, Max: 'Pressurized cheese in a can'.  Even _WE_ wouldn't eat that!"