Re: MiNT Computing!

[Peter Ross <pross@soho.ios.com>]

Wouldn't the PAK-030 boards supply sufficient computing power for MiNT-X'ed STe computers?
My idea is that since STe's, Falcons, and TT's are inexpensive in the case of second hand units,
it would seem to be a great way for people that can't afford more expensive new systems to get
familiarized with Unix, Multimedia, MIDI, and computing in general.  ESCOM is still selling
Amiga 1200 computers world wide as well as C-Labs selling Falcon computers.  The main difference
is that ESCOM has set up a web page informing prior and new users of their plans for the 
Amiga platform.  Basically, I am talking about maintaining the Operating System more so than 
anything else.  MiNT, with it's ability to truly multitask, unlike the Mac operating system
is available for both Atari's and Apples.  This gives 68k computing a standard operating system
since Apple is moving away from the 68k family.  More powerful TOS/MiNT based systems have been
released in the form of the DirectTT040/060 and the Medusa Hades computers.  The Falcon, with 
it's 68030 and 56001 upgradeable to 68040 using the Afterburner, is still a better platform for
music creation compared to PowerMacs which can only have a total of 6 digital audio tracks.
No other computer, except the BeBOX has a larger array of built-in ports than the Falcon.
The main thing that I see for the Falcon interms of upgrading the hardware in future models
would be the support of the 68040, 68060, Ethernet, PCI, and Very Wide SCSI (III).  I recall
reading about the possible development of a Falcon clone coming from France.  The question is,
is the Falcon computing platform less useful than the Amiga platform?  What is going to happen 
to all of those 68k Macintoshes once Apple releases the PowerPC only Copeland?  MagiC is nice
and now it is available to Atari, Mac and PC platforms, however, MiNT has better support of
Unix and internet related software.  MiNT support can be extended to STonX, thus allowing PC's
to be able to utilize Atari software.  

Why should there be support for MiNT?

Being that the Atari platform is SO rich in hardware features such as JagPaDS, LocalTalk,
Centronics Printer, Serial, DSP 56001, etc.  It would make sense to allow MiNT to become
a rich multimedia oriented operating system.  Perhaps MiNT will blossom with the release
of Fenix.  The Falcon has the ports, upon its release Byte magazine gave it a best product 
reward.  What we have to do is just what Amiga developers have done, they have realized that
Commodore is no longer around, ESCOM is maintaining the Amiga platform.  The same can be said
about the Falcon and the TT, with C-Labs, Direct Computing, Medusa Computers, and the people
who create the Eagle, TOS platform computing continues.  Most of the emulators that I mentioned
were created to run on most DOS based computers.  Some of those computers are running 286's
or 386's.  The developers aren't concerned about whether IBM or Microsoft will drop DOS,
they were more concerned about allowing users of these computers to utilize their computers
in a different way, allowing them to enjoy the TONS of games and educational titles available
for the system.  TOS/MiNT based computers aren't as well supported as DOS computers, this 
is more of a reason for emulation to be a VERY important area for Atari's.  I guarantee you
that if ShapeShifter were released for the Falcon, and Falcon users brought in their Falcons
to work and connected them to AppleTalk networks, many people would be amazed at the capabilities
of the Falcon and more would be sold.  I personally got some people into the MegaSTe when 
the Spectre GCR was released.

Peter Rottengatter:  Do you feel that a 68060 based TT clone is not powerful enough for running
			MiNT-X?  Is a Falcon030 a good enough system for running MSX software?
			MSX was a MIDI based computer system that was adopted by many countrys
			as a computing standard.  Lots of educational and musical software	
			had been released for it.  Would the ability to run Super NES game
			cartridges on a Falcon with a parallel port based cart adapter satisfy
			your craving for 256 color, stereo based games until more Falcon specific
			titles, such as Bad Mood and Willie's Adventure are perfected?  
			Children from other countries, familiar with MSX would be pleased to be
			able to run some of the software used in their schools on their 1040 STe's.
			The idea is to figure out solutions to continue the usefulness of these 
			computers.  I applaud the creation of X for MiNT without the requirement
			of a floating point math unit.