On Saturday, December 9th, 1995 - Michael Bennett wrote:
 
MB> As to the ST actually being the "next link" in the Atari chain, it 
MB> was not.  The 8bit was an 8bit and was a chain unto itself.  Some 
 
I understand what you're saying, but at least "culturally" it was the
next link in the "Atari" chain.  Why?  For simple fact that so many
Atarians bought them.  To this day, there is ST software that supports
8-bit conventions and protocols (an example is the program Degas Elite,
which is still on the market - it can import MicroIllustrator graphics).
It should also be noted that the ST was the next system which could use
Atari 8-bit peripherals (using the Xformer cable), and that the ST was
the first system to have an attempted emulation of the Atari 8-bit.
 
I agree, there was no real chipset heritage.  The similarities were
mainly superficial (130XE had the same case styling as the 520ST).
 
MB> claim that the Amiga was actually the grandchild of the Atari 
MB> 800/XL/XE series and that may be so, but the 8bits are unique.
 
True.  In fact, the concepts carried forward from the Atari 800 to the
Amiga were present in embryonic form in the Atari 2600.  Many of us
actually call the Atari 8-bit the "Amiga Junior".  I add to that lineage 
by calling the Atari 2600 the "Amiga Embryo".
:-)
 
 
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