Ah, no. Television is _not_ 160x200 resolution; it's closer to 520x400.
Remember; the interlaced "second screen" is independantly addressed, and
therefore counts both technically and in visual impression. Now, in terms of
_effective_ resolution; well, cable TV and laserdisk, on a decent screen,
pretty much reach television's resolution. A third generation video tape, on
the other hand, will drop down pretty low - but even then, nowhere near
160x200.
     That's full-screen, of course. TVs don't have graphic display regions with
edges.
     Analog colour literally gives you an "infinate" set of colour values;
of course, one quickly (relatively speaking) reaches a point wherein colour
n and colour n+1 are not distinguishable on the cruddy phosphor most TV sets
use...
        And mentioning, and mentioning, and mentioning... :-)
                                                      - R'ykandar.
--
| R'ykandar Korra'ti, Editor, LOW ORBIT | phoe@ms.uky.edu | CIS 72406,370 |
| Elfinkind, Unite! | phoe@ukma.bitnet | PLink: Skywise | QLink: Bearclaw |

In article <5@cps3xx.UUCP>, use@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) writes:

I have previously sent this posting to the boys at the pc dept. but the didn't
seem to know anything about the machine,so I come to you  :

I am seriously thinking of buying a PC at the moment and I have basically
decided on one of two models,

                1)ATARI ABC

                2)AMSTRAD 2086

Both cost around the same,and both include a 30mg hard disk.The Atari uses a
286 micro-processor however and thus seems the obvious choice.The only trouble
I am having is getting info/reviews on this machine.Does anyone have/know of
the machine and if so could someone please offer me advice on buying it?

All replys will be muchly appreciated,

                        Big Bad Dom.

                                dbea@vax1.tcd.ie

********************************************************************************

please send me as much info on the atari ABC (if it indeed exists,as my dealer
assures me!!)

                        again any help would be appreciated,

                                        B.B.D.

even info on the reliability of atari machines in general would be
helpful,especially their range of pc compatibles!!
********************************************************************************

Well I had no idea such a macine existed, especially not in the US,  as per
reliability, it seems Atari ,makes very good machines(I have owned six of them)
and I have never had a problem(I abuse them too!)
 -if you get any info on this Atari ABC, please post it when you get it.
-Ajay CHoudhri

********* !uunet!mimsy!aplcen!jhunix!ins_bac ************
ZZ

If this 2086 Amstrad is similar in design to their other machines, I
would say forget it.  A friend of mine owns a computer store, and will
not touch any Amstrad computers.  They seem to like to do non-standard
stuff with their designs, such as putting the power supply for both the
computer and monitor in the MONITOR.  Of course, this means you can ONLY
use an Amstrad monitor with their computer.  

Don't know about the Atari ABC.  Might be a new name for the PC-3(4,5)
or something.  I do know that their MS-DOS machines offer quite alot of
bang for the buck.  They currently don't sell in the US though.

Chris Freemesser, Rochester Institute of Technology :BITNET:%clf3678@RITVAX
    |||        ____________                         :GEnie: C.FREEMESSER
    |||       /___    /          (and 8-bit too!)   :USENET: Don't bother,
   / | \   ______/   /                              :        it doesn't work
Call the A.C.O.R.N BBS (716)436-3078, 300/1200 baud :<-or my BBS

The Atari ABC286 is a low-cost PC/AT compatible machine designed
around an 8 MHz 286.  The motherboard includes:
  o  640Kb RAM
  o  EGA compatible video
  o  2 serial ports
  o  1 parallel port
  o  floppy disk controller
  o  3 AT expansion slots (one of which is normally used for
     a hard disk controller)
  o  socket for (optional) 80287 math coprocessor

(It is not (yet) available in the US.)

Jim Tittsler, Atari Corporation

"Big Bad Dom" asks:

More important than the technical differences between the two machines is
the difference between the companies which make the computers.

Amstrad is a professional company which produces computers.  They have
established a world-wide reputation for delivering good, solid computers.

Atari Corp is a toy company which has established a reputation for being
poorly managed, and for its capricious treatment of its users, dealers
and suppliers.  While the "Atari ABC" may be the computer of the week now,
you may find yourself holding an obsolete system when they go off after the
next glittering gizmo and leave you with an unsupported orphan next week.

Then again, maybe they won't...  it's your gamble...

BobR

Sorry, Bob,
 I've worked with, sold, and used Amstrads. I wouldn't let my worst enemy
 buy one. They are junk.

 If you think Atari is only a toy company go to Europe. You will find out
 how extensively they are using their 'toys'.

Pete I.

I'm not an Atari loyalist, I just don't like the other expensive junk
in the market. ( Amiga is OK, though, emphasis on OK )

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Movie Quotes of the 80's:
"I'll buy that for a dollar!": Robocop
"What's amatter Colonel Sanders, Chicken?": Dark Helmet
"Poachers shooting at rabbits scare the big game away.": D.R.Scoundrels
Pete Ikusz : P@csd4.uwm.csd.edu : University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pete Ikusz says:

Whew... I've been learning a lot about the way Amstrad is perceived in the
U.K. and Europe...  

Here in the U.S., Amstrad computers seem to be among the "second line" of
third-party machines, along with names like Blue Chip and Packard Bell...
we don't have Amstrad stereos and other things.

Since the original question came from the U.K., I'll have to defer to the
experience of those in that marketplace...  I think my point was clear
though, even if the comparison with Amstrad was flawed...

BobR

I recently upgraded my ST sytem to 2400 baud, and moved my 1200hc to my 130XE.
I had previously used Kevin Ledbetter's term program for the XM301 (I used that
term program for years, and now I can't remember the name of it).  I wanted to
use his program for the 850 and P:R: connectors, but I couldn't get it to work.
The software was included in my P:R: connector's box, but it wouldn't go.  I
also tried BobTerm (which everyone tells me is the best) but it also would not
work.  I have managed to get DeTerm to work.  The Ledbetter program has a built
in driver, so I don't know how I can get that one to work.  I have tried using
the driver that works for DeTerm on BobTerm, but the system does bizarre things
after the dialing is finished.  I have yet to make a connection with it.  

Do I need a special driver?  Anyone know why Ledbetter's program (Ah, now I
remember, 850 Express) doesn't work with the 1200hc?  Could someone e-mail me
the driver they use for BobTerm?  Once again, the system I am using:
        * Atari 130XE computer
        * P:R: Connector interface
        * Avatex 1200hc modem

DeTerm works OK, but I'd like to see if BobTerm or 850 Express are better.
Thanks.

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