¢FUTURA EDITORIAL - ISSUE 10¢November/December 1993¢¢¢THE YEAR IN PROSPECT¢(A BLUEPRINT FOR SURVIVAL)¢by Stuart J. Murray, NOSAUG.¢¢ It's becoming a regular occurrence at this time of the year when we say the following year will be crucial to the future survival of our beloved system. However, I have to say that 1994 will truly be a very important year for the Atari 8-bit community!¢¢ Why? Well, the user base has steadily decreased since Atari abandoned us a couple of years back. This is understandable; afterall, if the parent company shows no interest in the system, the run-of-the-mill computer user will inevitably move on to another, more popular system.¢¢ By now, most of us will know somebody who has moved onto the ST, Amiga, or PC. I know of four Atari 8-bit users who have done so this year alone!¢¢ Our user base is not a bottomless pit! Unless we are very careful, we will eventually hit rock bottom. I don't enjoy wrinting about such a gloomy subject but it must be said! Only by facing the problem can we tackle it head on!¢¢ To maintain the current size of our user base I feel that the following factors are vital:¢¢(i) The wide availability of Atari 8-bit hardware, especially computers, drives, printer-interfaces and power-packs! We must support the remaining sources of new hardware such as CSS and Best Electronics as well as smaller suppliers, e.g. Peter Mattock, Gralin International and Derek Fern. Also, by supporting Page 6 we can use the Contact column as a hardware mini-market.¢¢(ii) Low-cost, high-quality software! Only by offering quality software at low prices will we keep our user base interested in the system. Users will compare their Atari 8-bit to other systems. If they see the software on the Atari 8-bit as being of good value when compared to other systems, they will stay with us! If software developers and suppliers charge high prices we will loose many users!¢¢(iii) An international forum for Atari 8-bit users. Publications such as Page 6, Atari Classics, Zong, News-Disk, Ol' Hackers Newsletter, ACPC, TWAUG, Mega-Mag, and, of course, Futura must be supported! We need to have the ability to communicate as an international user base!¢¢(iv) A local forum for Atari 8-bit users. This is very important! You might call this the front-line of the battle! If we can keep Atari 8-bit users interested on a local level, they will obviously see no reason to move onto another system. Whether it's a user group or a collection of friends, we must keep in touch with each other on a local level. We need to know that there are other Atari 8-bitters out there!¢¢ This is where the user group comes in. Most people see a user group as a small group of computer friends who meet every week-end to discuss new happenings in the world of computers. Atari 8-bit user groups may have been like this in the past but today they must organise themselves on local, national and international levels!¢¢ NOSAUG is a very informal user group. This was always my intention when I started it back in 1991. There are no elections for positions, no weekly meetings, no voting procedures, etc. This just wouldn't work today, in my part of the world!¢¢ The Scottish membership is spread throughout the country - east, west, north and south! There are also many members in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Eire, Europe, North America and Australia. There are well over 100 members now and the vast majority are non-local!¢¢ Yes, there are local NOSAUG meetings but they are generally informal gatherings of three or four Aberdeen-based members. The local Aberdeen membership numbers only six people! However, whether it's six or sixty, it doesn't really matter because it's the enthusiasm and dedication that counts!¢¢ Stay in touch on a local level. If you don't know anyone, advertise in your local newspaper.¢¢ Stay in touch on a national level. Use the pen, telephone and car to stay in touch with fellow Atari 8-bitters in your country.¢¢ Stay in touch on an international level. Write to users in other countries to let them know that there are 8-bitters all over the world dedicated to the cause! Chack out the ads in Page 6 Contact and Atari Classics.¢¢ The bottom line is...¢¢IF 8-BITTERS ARE UNITED,¢WE WILL NEVER BE DIVIDED!¢¢ Stay in touch and support your local, national and international Atari 8-bit community!¢¢¢Stu.¢
