Isnt there something we can learn from them?

[beller]

LOL! How in the hell could I forget that?!? The PC10 and PC20 I think they were called. Not really marketed over here in the States though... mostly an overseas scam, were they not...  lol

Just remembered something... believe it or not, I saw Commodore's PC compatibles behind glass, marketed and for sale at the Toys 'R Us stores in Chicagoland back in the day. Talk about brand and marketing confusion.  :lol:

Actually, I owned a Commodore PC 10 which I carted into work since the powers that be had deemed it ok to put the computer in a room and let 10 people fight to use it!  Glad those days are gone.  It wasn't a bad machine for the time, CGA graphics and all.  I eventually upgraded it to a '286 before I sold it!

Great thread! I've made no attempt to hide the fact that I prefer the retro side of life.  In fact, I find myself beating on the 64c and SX-64 lately, and more than I've been using the Amigas I have.  While I love the thought of a 4.x Amiga system, I'm not about to pay the price required for admission...

Brand confusion is a perfect term for what's going on in the Amiga world these days.  Which, ultimately, is part of the reason the Amiga had trouble finding a market in the 80s and 90s.  The clone PC was for work, the Mac for desktop publishing, and the Amiga chased desperately for a niche until NewTek attempted to tackle the desktop video market in the 90s. Too bad that video production didn't have the impact on users that personal publishing did.    

Commodore's friendly image translated to "toy computers" in the US and they never really shook that image in the mass market here.  A sad story we all know...

Bob

[beller]

A  lot of the old C64 ganes are just right for those who want something fun and not too darn complicated if only the slow loading of the nest portion can be bypassed with jiffyDos or better some solid state drive.The C64 people only expect to have FUN with their stufflthey don't hope to become a major market force.

Why are some here bashing the Atari users?If you don't like that stuff,then don't buy it.(I have  both 520 and 1040 plus  some 800s;and it  seemed to me that Atari niche was musicians at the same time Amiga niche was video.)Now the sound cards in x86 PCs have more processor than the whole computer of the early 80s)Things change.

I remember the first time I used the 64 again after 20+ years, I remembered the slow loads but I'd forgotten how slow they really were.  Makes you appreciate just about every other computer.  Haven't gone to jiffydos, but my FastLoad cart does get a workout!

Atari certainly went after musicians.  My recollection is that they were the only system with midi built-in at the time.  Musicians, given the choice, usually went with the ST.  No need to hate, the wars are long over!  Can't we all just get along! ;>

[beller]

lol

I discovered a site a few years ago that made me think about checking out the Atari ST systems.  The site, http://www.myatari.com has everything (literally) Atari in either new or used condition.  How do they have new STs?  They build them, apparently from parts.  It seems they grabbed the warehouse when Atari first closed.

Heck they even have new Lynx systems!

Wish we had an Amiga related store with a similar retro stock!  As I said, I almost bought an ST just to see what I'd been avoiding since the '80s!

Bob

[beller]

I reviewed way too many Amiga games during my magazine writing days.  It was a pleasure to get a new F-18 or Lemmings or some other great game.  Most, however, were utter cr#p.  Idiotic scenerios, bad graphics.  Yuck!

Unfortunely, early on most writers learn that you have to say something positive in order to get published and (best part) paid.  I tried to find something good to say about the game.  "Yes it's utter shite, but at least the smell is sweet!"

I'm glad most games give you a demo to try out these days!  Helps seperate the good stuff from that to be avoided!  And, hey, someone out there probably loved the game anyway.

[beller]

Thanks, Persia but I've got one myself with very low hours.  I picked up a refurb'd 2600 from 4Jays.net.  Then I won one with a bazillion carts on EBay for $40....all this to play Kaboom!

Heck, I've even got the original Atari Flashback which was really really bad!  The II has great joysticks with Atari plugs if you like that style.   No STs here....never had one!