>
 > HC> otherwise is a very big mistake. This nonsense about expecting
 > HC> programmers and developers to survive and continue working for our
 > HC> computing benefit . . . for $5 or $10 update fees is absolutely
 > HC> ridiculous.
 > HC> Give me a break.
 >
 > Okay, fine.  I was just brainstorming a few ideas.  I can see you have
 > already worked out the numbers on all of this, and have done a full
 > market analysis that goes way beyond my limited understanding.
 > I'm sorry I ever offered any of my lame ideas or thoughts on this
 > subject.  Thank you for the correction.  I just wish you didn't have to
 > be so nasty about it.
 >
Rodney Howard has in my opinion given you excellent points for each of your
questions. I have not seen his replys as being nasty with any of them. Not to
pick on you but your one of the people that has helped destroy the Atari
market place. You still have a TOS 1.0 computer, your looking for a used
keyboard for another system and last time I think you exclaimed that you had
an XT or a 286 at most. There is absolutly no market that any decent sized
company would be interested in that could be supported with this type of
userbase. Atari found this out and moved on. Just because theres 1000s of
users out there with 520s and original 1040s does not mean there is a viable
market believe me I know. Even the smallest of diehard Atari enthusiasts that
own/operate a Atari related business find it hard to survive. Thats exactly
why it was hard for him to get 20 MAJOR Atari companys interested in
attending an Atari related gathering. How much can you make if you drive from
say TEXAS to Michigan to sell your products. If you charge to much no one
buys, if you charge to little you have helped make a happy Atari user but out
of your own pocket. Toad is well known in the Atari community but consider
they are one of the LAST few places left and do most of their sales to people
in areas with NO Atari stores. If I want to buy the newest version of TOS, or
if I want to buy a new Atari computer where can I go? I don't have a store
for 50 miles and even then in most cases what I want is not in stock. I will
go for Toad. Atari was forced out of the computer business by people who
never upgraded from their first ST. In order for them to survive they needed
people like you call mindless PC droids continuelessly upgrading their system
for a new one. Keeping a computer for 10 years is great for the user but
destroys a company that survives by selling new systems. Each new system
Atari marketed was upgraded to by fewer people. I would hate to compare the
original 520/1040 sales to the Falcon sales. It would be pretty sad. I know
people in the clone world that have bought a NEW system almost every year,
hell I know one guy that upgrades every 3 months. He actually does pretty
good because his system is still new enough he gets a good resale price!
However this is why the market is like it is for PC systems. Before you say
it NO I don't like it but it is the difference between life and death for a
company that makes its money selling computers. I use to buy 4 Atari mags
each month they were filled with advertisers one by one they died because
there was less and less advertiser and the cost of the mags became more than
the money recieved.

--- GEcho 1.00+

[+/105 of 200/108 Mins] = * FIDO: ST_PROG =: Next...