NetNews Offline 2/NetNews Offline Volume 2.iso/news/comp/sys/amiga/misc-part2/12474

Internet Message Format | 1996-08-05 | 9.9 KB

Path: cobra.uni.edu!sinclap2954
From: [e-mail] (PETER SINCLAIR-DAY)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy,comp.sys.amiga.misc
Subject: Re: Elitist Amigans and their demands (was Re: Walker vs. the $999
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 14 Apr 96 14:06:45 -0500
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <4kq6na$[e-mail]>
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <4kq6na$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (George Noel) writes:
> In article <[e-mail]>,
> Dr. Peter Kittel <[e-mail]> wrote:
>
>>to one of my postings!) are just imaginations? And still, it doesn't
>>help too much when we know what you here on Usenet want, you are all
>>a rather small, elitist group with very specialized requirements, which
>>is not representative for the bigger market we are selling to. And we
>>know this, because we also listen to our customers who *buy* Amigas
>>and not only argue about them.
>
> OH GAWD! Ha! You sometimes amaze me with your comments.
>
> Talking to the people here on the Internet means talking directly to your
> consumer base past, present (in some parts of the world anyways) and
> future.  Every one post here stating views about the Amiga I would assume
> represents 10 - 100 Amiga users who do not have net access and/or do not
> take part in these discussions, if not higher.  These "elitist" people
> you talk about also run BBSs (in some cases), call other networks or
> online services, have friends with Amigas and know the scene around the
> world moreso then what you guys do in your part of the world basing decisions
> on market figures, cost vs. profit figures and in recent times, losses.
> Not everyone fills out qustionairres and sends them back to the company
> and what is good for one part of the world is not good for another part
> but that doesn't mean you leave out a section of the world.
>
> Based on your opinions Dr. P. K. (in the past) the new Walker would only
> come with one internal floppy, no high density disk drive and no hard
> drive and would be in an all in one case if it were left up to you.  "Add
> a second floppy drive! It would still be a useable machine". Come to
> think of it "floppies are getting old now so there is no need for a high
> density drive, it doesn't give much more cost per space performance
> anyways".  "Because you can get by with two floppy drives, you really
> don't need a hard drive to store files on". And the best one "It has to
> be in an all in one case to keep the price down".  Granted now I am
> summarizing and making fun where possible, not direct quoting you.  You
> think comments like those actually reflect the Amiga user base and the
> comments here don't?

Very true..

>
> Now granted some of the people asking for 060s and graphics cards built
> in and still having a decent price range IS asking a bit much but some of
> the comments about the 040s are valid but I still agree with the 030.  I
> am glad to see a lot of the user bases problems will be solved with the
> Walker.. ie: high density standard, Hard Drive standard, CD-ROM drive
> standard, new OS fixes and additions, ability to go from lowend to
> highend in the same case etc.  The only two questionable tactics so far
> is the choice of the shape of the case (not the idea behind it) and it
> still being up in the air whether it will ship with one or 2 MB chip
> ram.  The latter should not even be a question.
>
> The delay in bringing the A1200 Surfer to the North American market has
> been a mistake.  It should have been long enough now to translate the
> documents into English and make NTSC versions of the programs (we can run
> the PAL versions here too) along with gathering the NTSC parts needed for
> the A1200.  The problem I have seen with it is lack of money and the lack of
> willingness to take a chance. So you have to translate the documentation
> into 11 languages alone on your own shores but the bigger Internet and
> online market is in North America using English.  There are a lot of
> people over here not on the net and want something new and easy to get
> onto it but don't want to face uncertainty in the PC market which has
> seen computers go from 60 MHz to 160 Mhz in 14 months with all the latest
> software requiring maximum memory and CPU speed.  Why do you think the PC
> market is hurting so badly and Windows '95 sales haven't been as good?
> People are TIRED of having to upgrade their system so often or upgrading
> to rediculous amounts of hardware.. the Amiga is not like this!

Oh, I see now..'Buy an Amiga now and you don't have to worry about hardware and
software upgrades for 10 years'...

Is the PC market hurting and Wintel 95 has not done well?  Are you smoking
something.  The PC market has reached almost saturation were growth has slowed.
Many Wintel 3.1 users did not see the need to upgrade but still can use
Netscape and other intel apps quite well.

The Amiga surfer package would of have been a disaster if it reached this side
of the Atlantic because the hardware is not upto snuff and the net apps
suck(even Carl at Viscorp states that)..  You can get nice PC and Mac/PowerMac
systems for a $1000 and will run Netscape and MS Explorer quite well and blow
away the Amiga surfer package to hell.


>
> Also do not compare the dumping prices of 486s and Pentiums 60 and 90 to
> the price of the Amiga Surfer.. those machines are being dumped and not
> supported anymore.. this is the reason they are reaching the low prices
> of the Amiga and what it can offer.  Also do not compare the Amiga Surfer
> to the "WEB PCS" who have no local storage, they will not go after the
> same market.

Who are you kidding..  Those 486, Pentium 60 and 90 do quite well running net
apps.  What support are you talking about?  There are more high
quality/powerful net apps than there are Amiga ones..
>
> I just hope the Walker comes to North America also in September but I
> fear not and if you wait to re-enter North America with the Power Amiga
> alone next year, I think you will find yourself with no company and/or
> name recognition hurting your product from the start.

Currently, the Amiga surfer would not have a chance at all in NA.  The pippin
would make the Amiga surfer look pathetic...

Is there a market for the Amiga and surfer in NA?

>
> Advertising has been the major beef in the Amiga community for years now,
> Commodore made the mistakes and it seems AT and Escom might follow (though
> you guys do have some good deals and ideas going on in your own country).
> Alienating North America is a big mistake, Commodore did it (and for
> crying out loud, they originated in Canada) with the Amiga in my opinion
> hoping to follow up on the popularity of the C64 and everyone switching
> over to the Amiga.  They didn't advertise much in North America and
> delayed shipping of units here in some cases but concentrated on overseas
> (which was good as that was their best selling point) BUT if they had to
> advertise here, the Amiga scene would be much different.  I know
> advertising costs money and I know Escom doesn't have a lot to spare but
> they bought into an International computer, one which has nowhere to go
> but up while the PC market is constantly going down - people don't fully
> know about the Amiga and/or the Amiga philosophy along with your company,
> with advertising all this will change and more product will be sold
> getting back capital faster (including what is spent on advertising).
> You need someone at the helm to take a risk and that someone now, not
> even wanting to get the NTSC parts for 5000 or so A1200s doesn't show a
> good sign.  The high price of the A4000t is hurting the Amigas image
> worldwide also but I understand you are trying to use some of the money
> gained from that price towards advertising and marketing.. how much of
> that will go towards North America though? (Where the most will be sold).
>

The Amiga 4000T is big joke orice/performance wise.  A web browser as good as
Netscape and MS Explorer is need and thats were AT should use their scarce R&D
to address.  Having the hardware and neglicting the apps is suicide..

> Manfred Schmitt turned Escom into a world wide name by aquiring the
> Amiga, the Amiga could turn AT and Escom into a household name given the
> chance.  Funny how Manfred resigns or was forced to resign when the whole
> PC industry went downhill and him not getting the chance of balancing out
> the losses over the next year after turning much attention to Escom with
> his acquisitions.. the Amiga can help AT and Escom get out of their slump
> if you are willing to take more of a chance with it and make it more
> available in North America again.  Don't make the same mistakes Commodore
> did and don't give into the pressure of the PC/Windows market.
>
> All this from one elitist Internet user..
>

What do you expect, Peter(not me) is from the old C= to..

>>--
>>Best Regards, Dr. Peter Kittel       //    Visit  http://www.amiga.de
>>Private Site in Frankfurt, Germany \X/  Email to: [e-mail]
>>Employed at AMIGA Technologies GmbH in Bensheim, Germany
>
> -=*George*=-
>
>

 GREETINGS..
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|   Peter Sinclair-Day                         POWER MACINTOSH 7100/80        |
|    University of Northern Iowa                 NEWTON 110                   |
|     Graduate School of Library Science                                      |
|      Rod Library - Systems & Technology                                     |
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