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╒NCONTROLLED ┼XECUTION: ╘HE STRANGE SAGA OF THE ┴MIGA
┬Y ╨HILIP ╙. ═OORE

[ITALIC]
┴S THE CREDITORS SIT AROUND THE TABLE, THEY CONSIDER THE
SITUATION AND IT IS GROWING WORSE. ╞OR THE UMPTEENTH TIME A
DEADLINE HAS COME AND GONE, AND AGAIN A LETTER OF INTENT FADED
AWAY WITHOUT A TANGIBLE OFFER.
┴T THIS POINT, IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE TO LIQUIDATE
AND TAKE WHAT THEY COULD GET FOR THE PIECES, BUT ┴MIGA IS A
GOING BUSINESS GENERATING A SMALL PROFIT. ┴ND GIVEN THE
MAGNITUDE OF THE DISASTER THEY ARE DEALING WITH, THE RECEIVERS
DON'T WANT TO THROW AWAY ANY OPPORTUNITIES, NO MATTER HOW
SMALL.
[ENDITALIC]

┴MIGA--THE NAME WAS SYNONYMOUS WITH INNOVATION. ├REATED IN 1984
BY A PROTOTYPICAL ╙ILICON ╓ALLEY STARTUP COMPANY AND ABSORBED
BY INDUSTRY GIANT ├OMMODORE ┬USINESS ═ACHINES, THE COMPUTER
OFFERED A GRAPHICAL INTERFACE AND COMPUTING POWER EQUAL TO
┴PPLE ═ACINTOSH, AS WELL AS PRE-EMPTIVE MULTITASKING AND A
FACILITY FOR MIXING VIDEO, IMAGES, TEXT AND SOUND UNMATCHED IN
THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY FOR ALMOST ANOTHER DECADE.
╔N ADDITION, DUE TO ITS USE OF A PATENTED PROCESSOR CHIP SET
AND INNOVATIVE OPERATING SYSTEM DESIGN, THE ┴MIGA COULD DO ALL
THAT WITH VERY LITTLE ╥┴═. ╔N AN ERA WHEN ╙╔══S COST $100 PER
MEGABYTE, THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT ADVANTAGE. ╧NLY 512 KILOBYTES
OF ╥┴═ WOULD EASILY HANDLE VIRTUALLY EVERY BUSINESS AND
PERSONAL COMPUTING NEED. ╫ITH ONLY SLIGHT MODIFICATION AND
UNDER 2 ═┬ OF ╥┴═, THE ┴MIGA BECAME A "╓IDEO ╘OASTER" CAPABLE
OF FAR REACHING "MULTIMEDIA" APPLICATIONS.
┘ET, DESPITE ITS TECHNICAL SUPERIORITY, ┴MIGA WAS AN ALSO-RAN
IN THE WORLD OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS. ╘HE TECHNICALLY PRIMITIVE
╔┬═ ╨├, WITH AN OPERATING SYSTEM ONLY SLIGHTLY IMPROVED FROM
THE ORIGINAL ┴LTAIR 8080 PERSONAL COMPUTER, WAS THE TOP SELLER
FOR BUSINESS APPLICATIONS. ═ACINTOSH, TECHNICALLY SOPHISTICATED
BUT STILL LACKING IMPORTANT MULTITASKING AND MULTIMEDIA
CAPABILITIES, RULED THE EDUCATIONAL AND GRAPHIC ARTS MARKETS.
╘HAT LEFT ┴MIGA A FEW COMPUTER GAMING FANS IT SHARED WITH
┴TARI, WHICH INTRODUCED THE EQUALLY INNOVATIVE ╪╘ COMPUTER
SYSTEMS, THE VIDEO PRODUCTION MARKET AND A SLENDER SLICE OF THE
HOME/HOBBIEST MARKET. ╔T WASN'T ENOUGH.

[ITALIC]
╙ORTING THROUGH THE FINANCIAL WRECKAGE AND TENS OF MILLION OF
DOLLARS IN UNPAID BILLS AND UNSOLD INVENTORY, IT WAS DIFFICULT
TO REALIZE THAT JUST A FEW MONTHS BEFORE, ┼SCOM ╔NTERNATIONAL
HAD BEEN ┼UROPE'S LARGEST ELECTRONICS RETAILER WITH STORES
THROUGHOUT THE ┼├ AND ╙CANDINAVIA.
┼SCOM HAD LOOKED LIKE THE ANSWER TO A PRAYER FOR THE CREDITORS
OF ├OMMODORE, FINALLY AT THE END OF AN ACRIMONIOUS AND
LINGERING DEATH WATCH. ┼SCOM'S FLAMBOYANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE,
═ANFRED ╙CHMITT, VOWED TO PUT ┴MIGA AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE NEW
INTERNATIONAL PERSONAL COMPUTER MARKET.
┬UT IT WAS NOT TO BE. ┼SCOM WAS A MIRAGE, BUILT ON DEBT. ╙EVEN
MONTHS AFTER COMING TO THE ┴MIGA'S RESCUE, THE MIRAGE BEGAN TO
FADE.
[ENDITALIC]

┴MIGA'S FATE WAS PROBABLY SEALED BY A MAN WHO LEFT ├OMMODORE
BEFORE ┴MIGA BECAME PART OF THAT COMPANY. ╘HE MAN'S NAME WAS
╩ACK ╘RAMIEL.
┬ORN IN ╠ODZ, ╨OLAND, IN 1927, ╘RAMIEL SAW THE ARRIVAL OF THE
╬AZIS WHEN HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD. ╘HROUGH DETERMINATION AND LUCK,
HE SURVIVED THE ┴USCHWITZ AND ┬ERGEN ┬ELSEN DEATH CAMPS TO BE
ONE OF ONLY 970 OF ╠ODZ'S 200,000 ╩EWS TO SURVIVE THE
╚OLOCAUST.
╓IRTUALLY PENNILESS, ╘RAMIEL ARRIVED IN ╬EW ┘ORK IN 1947,
DETERMINED TO MAKE SOMETHING OF HIMSELF. ┬Y 1954, HE STARTED A
TYPEWRITER REPAIR BUSINESS IN THE ┬RONX CALLED ├OMMODORE
╨ORTABLE ╘YPEWRITER. ╔N 1956, HE MOVED TO ╘ORONTO AND WENT INTO
THE MANUFACTURE OF ADDING MACHINES. ╘HAT COMPANY WAS CALLED
├OMMODORE ┬USINESS ═ACHINES.
┴DMIRED AND HATED, OFTEN BY THE SAME PEOPLE, ╘RAMIEL WAS FRUGAL
TO EXCESS AND A RELENTLESS TASKMASTER. ╚E WORKED HIS EMPLOYEES
HARD, PAID POORLY AND AGGRESSIVELY NEGOTIATED WITH SUPPLIERS
AND DISTRIBUTORS.
╔N 1966, WHEN HE NEEDED MONEY TO EXPAND, HE MADE WHAT WOULD
TURN OUT TO BE A FATEFUL MOVE AND SOUGHT OUT ├ANADA'S LEADING
FINANCIER, ╔RVING ╟OULD. ╘HEY WERE A GOOD MATCH AT THE TIME.
╟OULD'S HANDS-OFF INVESTMENT STYLE PERFECTLY MATCHED ╘RAMIEL'S
HANDS-ON APPROACH, AND AS LONG A THE PROFITS KEPT ROLLING IN,
EVERYBODY WAS CONTENT.
┴S THE MARKET FOR BUSINESS MACHINES CHANGED, SO DID ├OMMODORE.
╞IRST, ╘RAMIEL WENT INTO MAKING POCKET CALCULATORS, EARNING A
LARGE SHARE OF THE MARKET BEFORE BEING BURNED IN THE MARKET
COLLAPSE OF THE EARLY 1970S. ╬EXT, HE TURNED HIS ATTENTION TO
COMPUTERS.
╘RAMIEL SAW THE COLLECTION OF HOBBYIST MACHINES THAT FOLLOWED
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ┴LTAIR 8080, PRODUCED BY ANOTHER FORMER
CALCULATOR MANUFACTURER. ╘RAMIEL SAW THE POTENTIAL IN THE
CONSUMER MARKET AND SET OUT TO DESIGN A PERSONAL COMPUTER THAT
WOULD BE READY TO OPERATE, RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX--A NOVEL
APPROACH AT THE TIME. ╘HAT COMPUTER WAS THE ├OMMODORE ╨ET.
╘HE SUCCESSFUL ╨ET WAS FOLLOWED BY THE HUGELY SUCCESSFUL
├OMMODORE 64 PERSONAL COMPUTER AND A VARIETY OF OTHER SPECIALTY
MODELS, AND FOR A TIME, ├OMMODORE ENJOYED A DOMINANT POSITION
IN THE ╨├ MARKET. ╚OWEVER, THE COMPANY'S SUCCESS WAS BUILT ON
AGGRESSIVE PRICE CUTTING AND A SCORCHED EARTH APPROACH TO
RESELLERS, WHO ╘RAMIEL LOADED WITH ├OMMODORE MACHINES, THEN
UNDERCUT THEIR PRICE WITH THE SAME COMPUTERS SOLD TO MASS
MARKET RETAILERS.
┬RAGGING THAT ├OMMODORE MADE COMPUTERS "FOR THE MASSES, NOT THE
CLASSES," HE IGNORED THE BUSINESS MARKET AND VETOED DEVELOPMENT
OF A 16-BIT COMPUTER TO MATCH THE POWER OF THE ╔NTEL 8086-BASED
PERSONAL COMPUTERS.
╚E GOT AWAY WITH IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT BY 1983,
├OMMODORE 64 SALES WERE DECLINING AND STOPGAP REPLACEMENTS,
SUCH AS THE ├OMMODORE 128, WERE NOT HELPING AS THE COMPANY'S
MARKET SHARE ERODED. ┬Y THE ╩AN. 13, 1984 BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S
MEETING, ╘RAMIEL COULD NOT PROVIDE THE PROFITS THAT ╟OULD
WANTED, AND WOULD NOT OFFER A SOLUTION THAT ╟OULD FOUND
ACCEPTABLE. ┴FTER A HEATED ARGUMENT BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS OF
THE MEETING, ╘RAMIEL RESIGNED FROM THE COMPANY HE CREATED THREE
DECADES EARLIER.
╟OULD NEEDED A NEW COMPANY PRESIDENT, AND FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE
OF ┴PPLE, HE REACHED OUTSIDE THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY AND
APPOINTED ═ARSHALL ╙MITH, A STEEL INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE. ╙MITH
KNEW THEY NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER TO PUT ├OMMODORE BACK ON TRACK.
╚E ALSO KNEW THE COMPANY WAS HEADING TOWARD ITS FIRST LOSSES
AND COULDN'T WAIT TO DEVELOP ITS OWN.
╙MITH NEEDED TO BUY A DAZZLING NEW COMPUTER, AND HE NEEDED IT
FAST. ╚E FOUND IT IN A SMALL FACILITY OUTSIDE ╙AN ╩OSE. ╔T WAS
QUAINTLY CALLED THE ┴MIGA.

[ITALIC]
╫HILE EVERYTHING ELSE AT ┼SCOM IS FALLING APART, ╨ETRO
╘YSCHTSCHENKO KNOWS WHAT HE HAS TO DO. ┴MIGA ╘ECHNOLOGIES
DIVISION MUST KEEP GOING AS IF NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE PARENT
COMPANY. ╘O FALTER WOULD MEAN SHUTDOWN, AND FOR ╘YSCHTSCHENKO
WHO HAD ENDURED THE LIQUIDATION OF ├OMMODORE, ANOTHER SHUTDOWN
IS UNTHINKABLE.
╔N ═AY 1995, JUST A FEW MONTHS BEFORE, ╘YSCHTSCHENKO WAS CHOSEN
BY ┼SCOM TO BE CO-PRESIDENT OF THEIR NEW SUBSIDIARY, ┴MIGA
╘ECHNOLOGIES ╟MB╚, IN COOPERATION WITH ╙TEFAN ─OMEYER,
CO-PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MARKET
COMMUNICATIONS.
╫ITHIN WEEKS, EVERYTHING WAS BACK ON TRACK, AS IF THE ├OMMODORE
BANKRUPTCY HAD NEVER HAPPENED. ╧VER 40 PEOPLE WERE WORKING AT
THE HEADQUARTERS OFFICE IN ┬ENSHEIM, ╟ERMANY, SELLING ┴MIGA
1200S AND INTRODUCING THE NEW ┴4000╘ ┴MIGA TOWER. ╘HE
SUBSIDIARY WAS RESTORING OLD AFFILIATIONS WITH SUPPLIERS AND
DISTRIBUTORS, AND EXPANDING INTO THE NEWLY OPENED ┼ASTERN
┼UROPEAN MARKET.
┘ET, THEY HARDLY HAD A CHANCE TO GET THE OFFICE FURNITURE IN
PLACE BEFORE UGLY RUMORS STARTED TO SPREAD ABOUT ┼SCOM.
╞INANCIAL MARKET ANALYSTS WARNED THAT THE COMPANY WAS EXPANDING
TOO FAST. ╙OON, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE PERSONAL COMPUTER
MARKET DID NOT DO WELL DURING THE ├HRISTMAS SEASON AND ┼SCOM
HAS AN ALARMINGLY LARGE INVENTORY OF UNSOLD MACHINES.
┼SCOM ┴.╟. ANNOUNCED A $30 MILLION LOSS IN ╩ANUARY. ┬Y ╞EBRUARY
THE LOSS IS REVISED UPWARD TO $83 MILLION AND THE ╟ERMAN STOCK
EXCHANGE SUSPENDED TRADING ON THE COMPANY'S STOCK. ┴ FAMILIAR
SCENARIO UNFOLDS FOR THE FORMER ├OMMODORE PEOPLE AT ┴MIGA
╘ECHNOLOGIES. ╞OR A SECOND TIME, ┴MIGA IS HOSTAGE TO A
BANKRUPTCY.
[ENDITALIC]

╞OR ┴MIGA ├ORP. AND ├OMMODORE, EACH WAS THE ANSWER TO THE
OTHER'S PRAYERS. ┴MIGA ├ORP. WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1982 BY ═IDWEST
VENTURE CAPITALISTS HOPING TO CASH IN ON THE VIDEOGAME BOOM.
╘HE COMPANY THEY CREATED, ╚I-╘ORO, WAS TOO LATE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE BOOM BEFORE IT WENT BUST AND INSTEAD, THE
COMPANY'S ENGINEERS TURNED THEIR ATTENTIONS TO DEVELOPING THE
NEXT GENERATION OF COMPUTING.
╥ENAMING THE COMPANY "┴MICA", ╠ATIN FOR "FRIEND", THEY TOOK A
LOOK AT EVERYTHING THE PERSONAL COMPUTER WAS CAPABLE OF DOING,
AND SET OUT TO BUILD THEIR MACHINE TO ACCOMPLISH THEM.
═EANWHILE, THEY WERE INFORMED THAT ANOTHER COMPANY HAD THEIR
NEW NAME, SO THEY CHANGED IT TO THE ╙PANISH VERSION, "┴MIGA".
┴FTER TWO YEARS, ┴MIGA'S STAFF HAD ACCOMPLISHED WHAT THEY SET
OUT TO DO, BUT THE NEXT STEP--MANUFACTURING AND SELLING THE
MACHINES--WOULD REQUIRE MORE MONEY AND THEY WERE BROKE. ╘HE
VENTURE CAPITALISTS FACED THE NEED FOR FURTHER INVESTMENT AND A
LONGER WAIT FOR A RETURN, IF ANY.
╔NSTEAD, TO THE DISMAY OF ┴MIGA'S ENGINEERS WHO WORRIED ABOUT
├OMMODORE'S REPUTATION FOR DISCOUNT PRODUCTS, THEY SOLD OUT AND
├OMMODORE WELCOMED THE NEARLY COMPLETE ┴MIGA AND ITS STAFF WITH
OPEN ARMS.
╧N ╩ULY 23, 1985--LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER THE ┴UGUST 1984
PURCHASE--THE ┴MIGA 1000 WAS INTRODUCED AT ╠INCOLN ├ENTER TO
REVIEWS LABELLING THE MACHINE "INCREDIBLE" AND "AMAZING". ╔T
OUT-═ACINTOSHED ┴PPLE'S ═ACINTOSH AND MADE THE ╔┬═ ╨├ ╪╘ LOOK
LIKE A DINOSAUR. ╘HE FUTURE FOR ├OMMODORE AND THE ┴MIGA LOOKED
SECURE. ╘HEN THE COMPANY FUMBLED FOR THE FIRST, BUT NOT LAST
TIME.
╔T TOOK THREE MONTHS FOR ┴MIGAS TO BEGIN ARRIVING IN THE
STORES, LOSING A PRECIOUS SHARE OF MOMENTUM AFTER THE
INTRODUCTION. ╬EXT, ├OMMODORE BEGAN POSTING QUARTERLY LOSSES
AND REACTED BY REDUCING ADVERTISING AND SALES BUDGETS,
CRIPPLING 1985 ├HRISTMAS SEASON SALES.
╘HESE BLUNDERS WERE FOLLOWED BY AN OFF-AGAIN, ON-AGAIN
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAJOR COMPUTER RESELLERS AND MASS
MARKETERS, SUCH AS ╙EARS, DENYING THE COMPUTER EITHER THE
CONSUMER MARKET SERVED BY THE RETAILERS OR BUSINESS MARKETS,
SERVED BY THE COMPUTER STORES.
╙MITH SAW LITTLE CHANCE OF TURNING THINGS AROUND AND RESIGNED
IN 1986, TO BE REPLACED BY ╘HOMAS ╥ATTIGAN, A FORMER ╨EPSI├O
EXECUTIVE. ╥ATTIGAN WAS FIRED A YEAR LATER, ESCORTED FROM
├OMMODORE'S ╨HILADELPHIA HEADQUARTERS BY SECURITY GUARDS. ╚E
RETALIATED WITH A $9 MILLION BREACH OF CONTRACT SUIT. ╬EXT,
FORMER ╔╘╘ EXECUTIVE ═AX ╘ROY TRIED HIS HAND AS ├OMMODORE
PRESIDENT AND RESIGNED LESS THAN TWO YEARS LATER.
╬EW MODELS WERE INTRODUCED, SUCH AS THE ┴MIGA 2000, ┴MIGA 500,
┴MIGA 2500 AND 3000. ╘HEY ALL RECEIVED GOOD REVIEWS BUT WERE
DOGGED BY ├OMMODORE'S DISMAL REPUTATION. ┴S A RESULT, SALES
WERE DISAPPOINTING AND ├OMMODORE'S SHARE OF THE PERSONAL
COMPUTER MARKET SLIPPED FROM 26 PERCENT TO A MEAGER 6 PERCENT.
╧NLY ┼UROPEAN SALES REMAINED STRONG, BUT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH TO
KEEP ├OMMODORE'S STOCK PRICE FROM SLIPPING FROM $61 TO $8 A
SHARE.
╟OULD, 70 YEARS OLD IN 1989 AND LIVING IN THE ┬AHAMAS TO ESCAPE
├ANADIAN AND ╒╙ TAXES, REACHED OUT AGAIN FOR SOMEBODY TO TURN
AROUND ├OMMODORE'S DECLINING FORTUNES. ╚E SELECTED FORMER
─ILLON ╥EAD INVESTMENT BANKER ═EHDI ┴LI, NAMING HIM PRESIDENT.
┴LI DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE ┴MIGA OR COMPUTERS. ╚E CARED ABOUT
KEEPING ╟OULD HAPPY AND THAT MEANT CREATING PROFITS, NO MATTER
WHAT.
╙TARTING IN 1989, ┴LI BEGAN A FIVE YEAR ODYSSEY OF
CANNIBALIZING ├OMMODORE, CUTTING BUDGETS AND STAFF AND ┴MIGA'S
ALREADY INSUFFICIENT ADVERTISING AND MARKETING OPERATIONS IN AN
ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE PROFITS ROLLING IN. ┴MIGA'S USERS AND
DEVELOPERS WERE FANATICAL IN THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE COMPUTER
SYSTEM, BUT THEY KNEW ┴LI WAS STEALING THE FUTURE TO PAY FOR
THE PRESENT.
╘HE FUTURE ARRIVED ON ┴PRIL 29, 1994, WHEN ├OMMODORE
╔NTERNATIONAL ╠IMITED, THE PARENT COMPANY, COULD NO LONGER
CREATE PROFITS THROUGH CUTBACKS AND FILED FOR LIQUIDATION IN
THE ┬AHAMAS ╙UPREME ├OURT. ╫ITHIN HOURS, THE COMPANY'S
EMPLOYEES WERE LET GO AND THE DOORS ARE LOCKED.

[ITALIC]
╘YSCHTSCHENKO LATER DESCRIBED HIS EXPERIENCES AS "THE MOST
TERRIBLE TIMES IN MY LIFE." ╚E PERSONALLY PLEADS WITH THE
RECEIVER TO ALLOW ┴MIGA ╘ECHNOLOGIES ╟MB╚ TO CONTINUE TO
OPERATE. ╚IS EFFORTS ARE AIDED BY A PURCHASE OFFER ON THE TABLE
FROM THE ├HICAGO COMPANY, ╓╔╙CORP, WHICH WAS NEGOTIATING TO
LICENSE ┴MIGA'S PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY BEFORE ┼SCOM FAILED,
THEN SWITCHED ITS EFFORTS TO BUYING THE WHOLE SUBSIDARY.
╧FFERING $40 MILLION FOR ┴MIGA ╘ECHNOLOGIES, ╓╔╙CORP PLANS TO
PRODUCE "SET-TOP BOXES" TO OFFER COMPUTING AND WORLD WIDE WEB
BROWSING OVER THE TELEVISION. ┴DDING ┴MIGA'S DISTRIBUTION
NETWORK MAKES THE OPERATION A VALUABLE ASSET.
╘HE RECEIVER KEEPS ┴MIGA ALIVE UNTIL THE DEAL CAN BE COMPLETED
AND FOR A FEW WEEKS, ╓╔╙CORP ACTS AS IF IT ALREADY OWNS TO THE
COMPANY. ╘HE ONLY THING REMAINING IS FINAL PAYMENT, AND THAT IS
SCHEDULED FOR ┴UG. 20, 1996. ╚OWEVER, ON ┴UG. 20, ╓╔╙CORP
EXECUTIVES ASK FOR AN EXTENSION UNTIL ╙EPT. 20. ╧N THAT DATE
THEY ASK FOR ANOTHER, THEN ANOTHER, NOW COMPLAINING THAT THE
PRICE IS TOO HIGH.
┬Y ─EC. 2, 1996, ╓╔╙CORP OFFICIALLY WITHDRAWS ITS OFFER, BUT
NOT BEFORE ┴MIGA ╘ECHNOLOGIES' ├O-╨RESIDENT ─OMEYER AND MOST OF
THE KEY STAFF WALK OUT AND FORM THEIR OWN COMPANY, ╨╔╧╙,
PROCLAIMING THAT "THE ONLY CHANCE TO KEEP ┴MIGA ALIVE IS A NEW
START."
┴NOTHER ┴MIGA LOYALIST, PERIPHERAL MAKER ╨HASE 5 OF ╟ERMANY,
AGREES AND ANNOUNCES THEIR OWN PLANS TO PRODUCE AN ┴MIGA
COMPATIBLE COMPUTER CALLED "┴/BOX".
╬OW ONLY ╘YSCHSCHENKO AND TWO STAFF MEMBERS REMAIN AT ┴MIGA
╘ECHNOLOGIES, ┴XEL ╦RAEMER AND ┴NDREAS ╙TEEP. ╘HE THREE ANSWER
PHONES, OPEN MAIL, RUN TO THE BANK AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO
KEEP THE DOORS OPEN.
"╘HANK ╟OD ╔ COULD CONVINCE THE TRUSTEE TO NOT SMASH ┴MIGA FOR
THE PRESENT," ╘YSCHSCHENKO COMMENTS. "╫ITH OUR SALES, WE CAN
KEEP OURSELVES EASILY ALIVE."
╘HEY DO BETTER THAN THAT. ╙ALES IN ┼UROPE ARE RISING AND A DEAL
WITH THE ╬ORRISTOWN, ╨ENNSYLVANIA COMPANY ╤UIKPAK HAS BROUGHT
THE ┴MIGA BACK TO THE ╒╙ WITH SALES OF THE ┴4000╘ AND AN
UPGRADED VERSION CALLED ┴4060╘.
╔F THE RECEIVERS CAN SETTLE THE ULTIMATE OWNERSHIP ISSUE, ┴MIGA
╘ECHNOLOGIES IS READY TO REBOUND. ╘HE SITUATION AWAITS AN ANGEL
AND ╤UIKPAK STEPS IN WITH AN OFFER.
╘HE TRUSTEE, LEERY AFTER THE ╓╔╙CORP FIASCO, WELCOMES THE OFFER
AND SETS A DEADLINE FOR FINAL SETTLEMENT BUT DOES NOT COUNT THE
COMPANY AS SOLD. ╔T TURNS OUT TO BE A GOOD MOVE.
[ENDITALIC]

╫ITHIN DAYS OF ├OMMODORE'S 1994 ANNOUNCEMENT, THE COMPANY
EMPLOYEES DISPERSED AND THE REMAINING ASSETS WERE IN THE HANDS
OF THE CREDITORS. ╘HIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE END OF THE STORY,
BUT A STRANGE THING STARTED TO HAPPEN--PERIPHERAL AND SOFTWARE
PRODUCERS BEGAN TO COME FORWARD, VOWING THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT
FOR THE PLATFORM.
╞IRST A HANDFUL, THEN DOZENS...ENOUGH TO KEEP THE ┴MIGA ALIVE,
AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING. ╔NSTEAD OF A QUICK DEATH, IT
BECAME A PROTRACTED WAITING GAME, WITH EVERYONE WATCHING TO SEE
WHAT THE BANKRUPTCY AGREEMENT WOULD INDICATE FOR THE FUTURE.
╔F THE ASSETS WERE AUCTIONED PIECEMEAL, THEN THE CHANCES THAT
THE ┴MIGA WOULD RETURN WERE REMOTE. ╔F THE COMPANY REMAINED A
SINGLE ENTITY, THEN THE STORY WASN'T OVER.
┴LMOST IMMEDIATELY, FORMER ├OMMODORE STAFF MEMBERS WERE HIRED
BY COMPANIES INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING THE ┴MIGA OR ITS
TECHNOLOGY. ┴S THE COMPANIES INDICATED THEIR INTEREST IN THE
┴MIGA, THE CREDITORS OF ├OMMODORE BEGAN TO SEE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SELL THE COMPANY, NOT IN PIECES, BUT AS A SINGLE PACKAGE.
┴N AGREEMENT WAS REACHED FOR SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS AND A DATE
WAS SET FOR RECEIVING OFFERS FOR THE ENTIRE ASSETS OF
├OMMODORE, INCLUDING THE ┴MIGA. ╧N THAT DAY, ┴PRIL 21, 1995,
THE OFFERS WERE OPENED, AND THE WINNER WAS A ╟ERMAN COMPUTER
AND ELECTRONICS RETAILER, ┼SCOM ┴.╟. ╘HE COMPANY LOOKED LIKE A
PERFECT MATCH.
╘HE ├OMMODORE CREDITORS WERE, IF NOT HAPPY, AT LEAST SATISFIED.
╘HE ┴MIGA'S COMMUNITY OF USERS AND SUPPLIERS THOUGHT THE CRISIS
WAS OVER, AND THE FUTURE LOOKED ASSURED.

[ITALIC]
╬ORTH ╙IOUX ├ITY, ╙OUTH ─AKOTA IS ABOUT AS FAR FROM ╟ERMANY AS
YOU CAN GET, IN MILES, TOPOGRAPHY AND MENTALITY. ┘ET, IN THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF A GIANT ╙OUTH ─AKOTA COMPANY, THE FUTURE
OF ┴MIGA WAS BEING DECIDED.
╤UIKPAK, DESPITE ITS GOOD INTENTIONS, CANNOT RAISE THE PURCHASE
PRICE BY THE DEADLINE AND AGAIN ┴MIGA IS HEADING TOWARD THE
BRINK.
╘IME IS RUNNING OUT FOR ┼SCOM'S CREDITORS AND THE THE RECEIVER.
╔F THE STATUS OF ┴MIGA ╘ECHNOLOGIES CANNOT BE RESOLVED IN THE
IMMEDIATE FUTURE, THERE WILL BE NO CHOICE. ╘HE COMPANY WILL BE
SHUT DOWN AND THE ASSETS AUCTIONED TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
╘HIS SCENARIO IS THE SUBJECT OF THE DISCUSSIONS IN THE OFFICES
OF ╟ATEWAY 2000, THE WORLD'S LARGEST DIRECT MARKETER OF
PERSONAL COMPUTERS. ╔T HAS BECOME THE TOPIC OF INTEREST BECAUSE
╘ED ╫AITT, CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THIS ╞ORTUNE 500
COMPANY, HAS DECIDED THAT ╟ATEWAY 2000 MAY WANT TO REACH BEYOND
ITS TRADITIONAL BUSINESS OF MAKING WELL-LIKED BUT UNREMARKABLE
╔┬═-COMPATIBLE MACHINES AND ACQUIRE ┴MIGA ╘ECHNOLOGIES.
╘HERE IS NO QUESTION THAT ╟ATEWAY 2000 HAS THE MONEY. ┬UT DOES
IT MAKE SENSE TO SPEND IT ON THE ┴MIGA? ╫AITT THINKS IT DOES.
┴T FIRST, ALL HE WANTED WERE THE PATENTS. ╘HE ┴MIGA'S
MULTIMEDIA CAPABILITY IS STILL AN INDUSTRY LEADER AND COMBINING
THAT WITH ╟ATEWAY'S NEW ENTRY INTO THE SET-TOP BOX MARKET
OFFERS TEMPTING TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITIES.
╚OWEVER, THE MORE HE LOOKS, THE MORE ╫AITT BELIEVES THAT THERE
IS A FUTURE FOR THE ┴MIGA, ITSELF. "┴MIGA HAS SOME FANTASTIC
TECHNOLOGY," HE COMMENTED IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ┬OOT MAGAZINE.
"┬UT THERE MIGHT BE A LOT MORE THAN JUST A SET OF PATENTS.
╘HERE'S THE TREMENDOUS ENTHUSIASM OF THE FOLKS IN THE ┴MIGA
USER ENVIRONMENT."
╧N TOP OF THAT, THERE IS A COMPANY OPERATING AS A SMALL BUT
PROFITABLE CONCERN AND AN OVERSEAS MARKET THAT IS GAINING,
RATHER THAN LOSING GROUND.
╞OR A MAN WHO DECIDED THAT HE COULD MAKE COMPUTERS IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE ╟REAT ╨LAINS, IN A TOWN WHERE THE LARGEST
EXISTING EMPLOYER WAS A HOG SLAUGHTERHOUSE, IT ALL LOOKS TOO
TEMPTING.
[ENDITALIC]

╘HE TORTURED SAGA OF THE ┴MIGA REACHED A SUDDEN AND SURPRISING
END ON ═ARCH 27, 1997 WHEN ╟ATEWAY 2000 ANNOUNCED ITS INTENTION
TO PURCHASE ┴MIGA ╘ECHNOLOGIES ╟MB╚.
╘HIS HAPPY TURN OF EVENTS STARTLED EVERYONE, INCLUDING ┴MIGA
LOYALISTS WHO HAD BECOME MORE ACCUSTOMED TO BAD THAN GOOD NEWS.
╘HEY COULD NOT QUESTION ╟ATEWAY'S ABILITY TO MEET THE PRICE,
NOW DOWN TO ABOUT $16 MILLION, BUT THEY WONDERED WHETHER THE
COMPANY PLANNED TO CLOSE THE COMPANY, TAKE THE PATENTS, AND
MOVE ON.
╔T TOOK ONLY A FEW DAYS FOR ╟ATEWAY TO PUT THEIR FEARS TO REST.
╧N ═AY 18, AT A NEWS CONFERENCE PRIOR TO THE OPENING OF THE
╫ORLD OF ┴MIGA ├ONFERENCE IN ╠ONDON, ╟ATEWAY ANNOUNCED THE
RENAMED ┴MIGA ╔NTERNATIONAL ╔NC., AND VOWED THEIR COMMITMENT TO
THE FUTURE OF THE ┴MIGA COMPUTER.
╧N THE PLATFORM WAS ╩IM ╘AYLOR, ╟ATEWAY'S SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
FOR GLOBAL MARKETING, WHO NOTED, "╔T'S EXCITING TO KNOW HOW
MUCH SUPPORT ┴MIGA CONTINUES TO ENJOY."
╩OINED BY ╘YSCHSCHENKO, WHO REMAINED PRESIDENT OF THE RENAMED
SUBSIDIARY, ╘AYLOR VOWED TO SUPPORT THE ┴MIGA COMMUNITY. "┼VERY
┴MIGA CUSTOMER SHOULD KNOW THAT WE SHARE THEIR BELIEF IN THIS
PRODUCT AND WE BELIEVE THAT IT HAS A STRONG ROLE IN OUR
MULTIMEDIA COMPUTING WORLD."
╙INCE THEN, ╟ATEWAY HAS MADE GOOD ON ITS PROMISES, AGREEING TO
BROADLY LICENSE ┴MIGA'S TECHNOLOGY AND ASSIST IN DEVELOPING NEW
PRODUCTS BASED ON AN OPEN STANDARD. ┬Y EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF
COMPANIES IN THE ┴MIGA BUSINESS, EVEN POTENTIAL COMPETITORS,
╟ATEWAY SEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE ┴MIGA CHEAPER TO
PRODUCE, FASTER TO DEVELOP AND EASIER TO UPGRADE.
═OSTLY, ╟ATEWAY 2000 IS OFFERING THE ┴MIGA A CHANCE TO REMAKE
HISTORY. ╞ROM A LONG, TORTURED PATH LITTERED WITH MISTAKES AND
NEAR SUCCESS, THE COMPANY NOW HAS THE STABILITY AND CREDIBILITY
TO FULFILL ITS POTENTIAL. ╞OR ONCE, IT IS A CHANCE THAT,
┴MIGA'S ENTHUSIASTS PROMISE, WILL NOT BE MISSED.



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