Jack Tramiel interview in 1985

[Francois LE COAT]

Hi,

Here I share an interview with Jack Tramiel in 1985, about the ST.

*The Famous Computer Cafe 1985-01-17 Jack Tramiel (Atari)*
*and Bobby Kotick (Arktronics)*
Sur la chaine de Kay Savetz le 04/09/2024

The Famous Computer Cafe 1985-01-17, with interviews with Jack Tramiel,
chairman of Atari; and Bobby Kotick, chairman of Arktronics (age 21.)
Aired on KFOX.

Digitized from reel-to-reel tape by Harbor Digitizing of Friday Harbor,
Washington.

The Famous Computer Cafe recovery and digitization project was done by
Kay Savetz in 2024. If you have access to other episodes of Famous
Computer Cafe on tape, please contact Kay Savetz.

It's been almost 40 years. I hope that this fortieth anniversary will
be celebrated as it should be, next year. We learn that Jack Tramiel
did not conceive the ATARI ST to do a real commercial business. But he
wanted to reach people like us, students, not too fortunate, and who
could not afford a Macintosh or an IBM/PC. Because computers were way
too expensive at the moment he speaks...

ATARIstically yours =)

[Darklord]

Thanks for the link - will watch it later. I love those old video's. :)


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[Francois LE COAT]

Hi,

Post by Darklord
Thanks for the link - will watch it later. I love those old video's. :)

It's a radio broadcast from Computer Cafe in January 1985. Just when
the ATARI ST was presented at Las Vegas CES'85. I really hope a new
computer from ATARI will be proposed to fans, forty years later...

Regards,

[Chris Ridd]

Post by Francois LE COAT
Hi,

Post by Darklord
Thanks for the link - will watch it later. I love those old video's. :)

It's a radio broadcast from Computer Cafe in January 1985. Just when
the ATARI ST was presented at Las Vegas CES'85. I really hope a new
computer from ATARI will be proposed to fans, forty years later...

It was pretty short and not much more than a puff piece.

Tramiel noted the just released 130ST and 520ST, and mentioned a "true
32-bit" workstation was coming for hopefully less than $1000, which
presumably became the TT.

[Francois LE COAT]

Hi,

Post by Chris Ridd

Post by Francois LE COAT

Post by Darklord
Thanks for the link - will watch it later. I love those old video's. :)

It's a radio broadcast from Computer Cafe in January 1985. Just when
the ATARI ST was presented at Las Vegas CES'85. I really hope a new
computer from ATARI will be proposed to fans, forty years later...

It was pretty short and not much more than a puff piece.
Tramiel noted the just released 130ST and 520ST, and mentioned a "true
32-bit" workstation was coming for hopefully less than $1000, which
presumably became the TT.

Jack Tramiel was talking to people like me, I was 20, who couldn't
afford an authentic computer like Macintosh or IBM/PC, because it
was way too expensive for us.

Today, if ATARI was releasing the ATARI VCS all around the world,
and join it an authentic ATARI ST keyboard, it would be great! We
already have joysticks C40. That would seems as 40th anniversary :-)

I would love programming on a true ATARI computer, again...

Regards,

[Darklord]

On 01 Nov 24 10:40:33 Francois LE COAT wrote...

FC> It's a radio broadcast from Computer Cafe in January 1985. Just when
FC> the ATARI ST was presented at Las Vegas CES'85. I really hope a new
FC> computer from ATARI will be proposed to fans, forty years later...
FC>
FC> Regards,
FC>
FC> -- Fran�ois LE COAT Author of Eureka 2.12 (2D Graph Describer, 3D
FC> Modeller) https://eureka.atari.org/

To which Darklord replies...

Well, if nothing else, maybe we can hope that Wizztronics will release
their '040 based Falcon that everyone's been talking about lately. I'd
certainly love to see that! :)


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Dark><Lord
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[Francois LE COAT]

Hi,

Post by Darklord
FC> It's a radio broadcast from Computer Cafe in January 1985. Just when
FC> the ATARI ST was presented at Las Vegas CES'85. I really hope a new
FC> computer from ATARI will be proposed to fans, forty years later...
Well, if nothing else, maybe we can hope that Wizztronics will release
their '040 based Falcon that everyone's been talking about lately. I'd
certainly love to see that! :)

We know diverse ATARI clones since 1996. I have one, and we all know the
the power of these computers. The big thing would be that the ATARI firm
released another computer now, 40 years later. It should be partially
compatible so that developers have the opportunity to port GEM software.

Don't you think so?

Regards,

[Darklord]

On 06 Nov 24 20:12:26 Francois LE COAT wrote...

FC> We know diverse ATARI clones since 1996. I have one, and we all know
FC> the the power of these computers. The big thing would be that the
FC> ATARI firm released another computer now, 40 years later. It should
FC> be partially compatible so that developers have the opportunity to
FC> port GEM software.
FC>
FC> Don't you think so?
FC>
FC> Regards,
FC>
FC> -- Fran�ois LE COAT Author of Eureka 2.12 (2D Graph Describer, 3D
FC> Modeller) https://eureka.atari.org/

To which Darklord replies...

Yes, I think it would be a bit crazy to start over from scratch. There's
a decent size software library for the ST and it would be a shame for any
one to just turn their back on it. :)


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Dark><Lord
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[Francois LE COAT]

Hi,

Post by Darklord
Francois LE COAT wrote...
FC> We know diverse ATARI clones since 1996. I have one, and we all know
FC> the the power of these computers. The big thing would be that the
FC> ATARI firm released another computer now, 40 years later. It should
FC> be partially compatible so that developers have the opportunity to
FC> port GEM software.
FC>
FC> Don't you think so?
Yes, I think it would be a bit crazy to start over from scratch. There's
a decent size software library for the ST and it would be a shame for any
one to just turn their back on it. :)

GEM (Graphic Environment Manager) is existing for several platforms
thanks to Digital Research (DR). We know it for ATARI ST, that means
for Motorola 68k processors family. But it also exists for PC, that
means for x86 processors. GEM is already portable for different
computers, so it should be available on actual ATARI computers like
the ATARI VCS, so that developers have the opportunity to port their
software. And ATARI VCS should be available outside the USA, indeed.

A large part of ATARI authentic software is portable, and it should
be proposed a way to implement it on today's ATARI computers. I'm
thinking of mine Eureka 2.12, but I'm not the only one, of course!

ATARIans shouldn't give up their past, and original GEM software...

Regards,

[Francois LE COAT]

Hi,

Post by Francois LE COAT

Post by Darklord
Francois LE COAT wrote...
FC> We know diverse ATARI clones since 1996. I have one, and we all know
FC> the the power of these computers. The big thing would be that the
FC> ATARI firm released another computer now, 40 years later. It should
FC> be partially compatible so that developers have the opportunity to
FC> port GEM software.
FC>
FC> Don't you think so?
Yes, I think it would be a bit crazy to start over from scratch. There's
a decent size software library for the ST and it would be a shame for any
one to just turn their back on it.  :)

GEM (Graphic Environment Manager) is existing for several platforms
thanks to Digital Research (DR). We know it for ATARI ST, that means
for Motorola 68k processors family. But it also exists for PC, that
means for x86 processors. GEM is already portable for different
computers, so it should be available on actual ATARI computers like
the ATARI VCS, so that developers have the opportunity to port their
software. And ATARI VCS should be available outside the USA, indeed.
A large part of ATARI authentic software is portable, and it should
be proposed a way to implement it on today's ATARI computers. I'm
thinking of mine Eureka 2.12, but I'm not the only one, of course!
ATARIans shouldn't give up their past, and original GEM software...

Nolan Bushnell is telling those words in a recent interview to CHM:

<https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxfw-WXCy5wU3ryK0dBVyyouLZ4bPpNgEe?si=BP5q5qUIu3vCShdL>

to younger person "Try... Don't give up...". These words are not mine.

Regards,

[Darklord]

On 05 Dec 24 16:30:08 Francois LE COAT wrote...

FC> > be proposed a way to implement it on today's ATARI computers. I'm
FC> > thinking of mine Eureka 2.12, but I'm not the only one, of course!
FC> >
FC> > ATARIans shouldn't give up their past, and original GEM software...
FC>
FC> Nolan Bushnell is telling those words in a recent interview to CHM:
FC>
FC> <https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxfw-WXCy5wU3ryK0dBVyyouLZ4bPpNgEe?si=BP5q5
FC> qUIu3vCSh
FC> dL>
FC>
FC> to younger person "Try... Don't give up...". These words are not mine.
FC>
FC> Regards,
FC>
FC> -- Fran�ois LE COAT Author of Eureka 2.12 (2D Graph Describer, 3D
FC> Modeller) https://eureka.atari.org/

To which Darklord replies...

Good for Nolan! :)


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[Francois LE COAT]

Hi,

Post by Darklord
Francois LE COAT wrote...
FC>> be proposed a way to implement it on today's ATARI computers. I'm
FC>> thinking of mine Eureka 2.12, but I'm not the only one, of course!
FC>>
FC>> ATARIans shouldn't give up their past, and original GEM software...
FC>
FC>
FC> <https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxfw-WXCy5wU3ryK0dBVyyouLZ4bPpNgEe?si=BP5q5qUIu3vCShdL >
FC>
FC> to younger person "Try... Don't give up...". These words are not mine.
Good for Nolan! :)

Jack Tramiel is present in Computer History Museum interviews of course.
Nolan Bushnell was never invited, though his contribution to computer
prehistory is important. It's better late than never. He was working on
applied electronics, but he wasn't really believing in occurrence of the
microprocessor business, when it emerged from Intel laboratories in 1971

It's good to listen from Nolan, after all those computer's celebrities.

Regards,

[Darklord]

On 10 Dec 24 18:10:40 Francois LE COAT wrote...

FC> Jack Tramiel is present in Computer History Museum interviews of
FC> course. Nolan Bushnell was never invited, though his contribution to
FC> computer prehistory is important. It's better late than never. He was
FC> working on applied electronics, but he wasn't really believing in
FC> occurrence of the microprocessor business, when it emerged from Intel
FC> laboratories in 1971
FC>
FC> It's good to listen from Nolan, after all those computer's
FC> celebrities.
FC>
FC> Regards,
FC>
FC> -- Fran�ois LE COAT Author of Eureka 2.12 (2D Graph Describer, 3D
FC> Modeller) https://eureka.atari.org/

To which Darklord replies...

I thoroughly enjoy watching those old interviews with some of the main
players from the time. I also like watching when they have game
developers as guest speakers - usually always some great content then.


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[Bikerbob]

On 04 Nov 24 18:15:10 Darklord wrote...

DD> On 01 Nov 24 10:40:33 Francois LE COAT wrote...
DD>
DD> FC> It's a radio broadcast from Computer Cafe in January 1985. Just
DD> FC> when the ATARI ST was presented at Las Vegas CES'85. I really
DD> FC> hope a new computer from ATARI will be proposed to fans, forty
DD> FC> years later...
DD> FC>
DD> FC> Regards,
DD> FC>
DD> FC> -- Fran�ois LE COAT Author of Eureka 2.12 (2D Graph Describer,
DD> FC> 3D Modeller) https://eureka.atari.org/
DD> To which Darklord replies...
DD>
DD> Well, if nothing else, maybe we can hope that Wizztronics will
DD> release their '040 based Falcon that everyone's been talking about
DD> lately. I'd certainly love to see that! :)
DD>
DD> /\
DD> Dark><Lord
DD> \/
DD>
DD> --- RATSoft/FIDO v09.14.95 [JetMail 1.01] * Origin: STar Fleet HQ:
DD> Real Atari ST BBS! www.sfhqbbs.org (21:3/171.0)

To which Bikerbob replies...

Yes DL I am following that as well. Not sure yet I will be in on it, but
would be very cool for them if they could actually get something out
there that would sell. They invested a lot of money in that a long time
ago. Very cool that a bit of a retro market could maybe help them make it
viable.

Bikerbob

[Darklord]

On 15 Dec 24 12:14:14 Bikerbob wrote...

BB> To which Bikerbob replies...
BB>
BB> Yes DL I am following that as well. Not sure yet I will be in on it,
BB> but would be very cool for them if they could actually get something
BB> out there that would sell. They invested a lot of money in that a
BB> long time ago. Very cool that a bit of a retro market could maybe
BB> help them make it viable.
BB>
BB> Bikerbob
BB>
To which Darklord replies...

I'm pretty sure that if they get to the point where they are offering
them up for sale, I'd try my best to grab one. :)



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