Creative Computers/Creative Computers CD-ROM, Volume 1 (Legendary Design Technologies, Inc.)(1994).iso/text/info/jdrew.txt

Text File | 1994-11-17 | 6KB | 110 lines

Subject: Amiga
==============

Attention Amiga developers and interested parties...

After speaking with Mike Levin (CSM hall of fame) tonight on CIS (and via the
phone), we have come to several conclusions about possible solutions to a
panic'd public and potential loss of the most powerful home computer made to
date (that's the Amiga folks).  He suggested that I lead the attempt to
purchase the rights to the Amiga hardware.  Rights that would be purchased by
all parties and made available to all parties.

I would like to hear from developers who would be interested in still
developing for the Amiga, or anyone who would like to support this effort in
general.

Nico, I know you hate me and are probably laughing at all of this, but all
feelings aside, you are a damn good programmer (scala wouldn't have you
otherwise) and I hope that you will continue to develope for our machine.

Same goes for you Dan (Babcock).... you don't like me anymore than Nico does,
but you too know your stuff and could be very beneficial to what is about to
unfold.

People can think what they want of me, my statements, my comments... to me,
that's been very good to see... my corporation, my products, and myself have
been changed a lot from the responses I have seen here, GEnie, and on
CompuServe.  My persistance has paid off.  Because of EMPLANT's success, I
will never have to work another day in my life.

I am willing to put everything on the line.  I believe in this machine, the
platform, and the people (even though we bicker like a bunch of old hens
On behalf of the Amiga's continued existance, I am asking for you
support.  Let's all make some noise about the Amiga. Commodore kept it the
best computing secret of all time, I think it's time to let the cat of the bag.

I will be in contact with ALL of the major 3rd party Amiga peripheral
corporations tomorrow, also asking for their support.  If we can somehow form
a public corporation and obtain the rights to the Amiga hardware, we can make
the Amiga work.

My goals for this project are...

Obtain information concerning current ownership rights of the Amiga hardware
design, and other important peripherals.  From what information I have heard
(and have had gathered by noisy attorneys), the rights were transferred to
'trustees' for holding.  If this is true, there very well may be some
interesting legal problems involved here, since the technology behind the
Amiga is the only real asset that Commodore Intl had less...that would leave
an empty shell for the creditors to pick through.

Purchase the rights from current ownership, or work with another corporation
to see that continued development and *gasp* advertising is done.

Contact major MAC and PC developers (Adobe, Aldus, etc.) and once again offer
to port their products to the Amiga at little or no cost.  Once people see
*us* running the big boys software more efficiently than other platforms can,
they will think hard before buying that next MAC or PC system.

Continued developer support.  I plan to have CATS revived, and I hope that
Carolyn and the rest of the original team will be interested in doing this.

Continued devlopment of new machines.  One thing I have learned in producing
hardware is how to cut costs.  EMPLANT is cheap to make... and it is *still*
made in the US (this is important to me).  Another thing I learned is that the
short time I spent talking with Dave Haynie, he is alright in my book.  We
chatted for about 30 minutes at one of the WOC shows, and he is as sincere
about the continued development as I am.  I definately want Dave and the
original crew back working together.  I would hate to see a bunch of new
comers (I am not oppose to new ideas brought out by new people), but right now
we need a dedicated team going to get things done in a flash.  New people come
with success.

Remove the poor publicity.  The only advertising Commodore got was bad.
Dealers wanted to kill them... developers wanted to kill them.. all due to the
poor management.  The only way to do this is to rid the Commodore name.

So you're asking "what's in it for Jim?".  Gratification.  As I stated before,
I could wash my hands clean of this situation and walk.  I don't want to.
There is a pile of money to be made for everyone, and more importantly a
computer to be saved from extinction.  I know a lot of Amiga developers have
made themselves rich with the Amiga, and some would like to forget it... I
think that is selfish.  I for one, am willing to give back to what made me
where I am today.

So, in closing, I would like to thank those people who have sent me
incouragement letters, and even hate mail.  :-)  I am stubborn (I think you'll
*all* agree on this one... perhaps a usenet first?) and I can use this to our
advantage, obtain the rights to the machine, make these right publically
available (anyone could produce the machine ala PC clones), and see this thing
through... or I'll end up on the street trying...

If you are a developer, no matter how small and you have an interest in
supporting the Amiga, please FAX my office [phone]  (we have boxes of
fax paper).  If we do not succeed in obtaining the rights to the Amiga, and
someone else does... a huge list of developers wanting to support the platform
would be a big incentive to keep the product alive. I really don't care who
makes the machine, as long as it is made (and promoted this time around).

Thanks for your attention,

Sincerely,

Jim Drew - Utilities Unlimited International, Inc.
           [e-mail]
           72662,14 - CIS
           j.drew2 - GEnie