Interview with Wayne Hunt at Amiga.org
WOA> What was the first Amiga you owned

WH> Amiga 500, but I've forgotten what year I got it...

WOA> What first attracted you to the Amiga

WH> I had literally bought a full (and expensive) brand-new C64 system on a Friday. By chance, a friend and I went to the regional "hamfest" computer show the next day and I saw the Amiga for the first time in the booth sponsored by NASAU. After a frantic search for my receipt, I took the c64 back, sent off for my A500, and never looked back.

WOA> How long have you been using the Amiga?

WH> If I were to guess, since about 88-89.

WOA> What do you think should happen to the Amiga?

WH> Unlike a lot of people I talk to who get "religious" about the subject, I'm realistic about the so-called 'Classic Amiga' and its' ability to be upgraded to current standards.

While I find my Amiga indispensible and hate when it isn't around, making (or even rebuilding) the current systems into the next "Wintel Killer" just isn't possible any more.

In truth, as a web developer I have a certain set of needs in a computer system which Wintel just doesn't satify.. I need Graphics, I need sound, I need Networking, I want software (yeah, ok, games). I also need it fast, small, easy-to-use, and efficient. If Amiga can provide me a machine which has the look and feel, is innovative, and is built upon the principles of my current Amiga, I don't care what "MMC" it runs, or any of the technical jargon.

After hearing all the plans from Amiga, if they get it right (which it sounds to me they will) I'll buy not only a new desktop system, but a palmtop, a "destination"-type system, and just about anything else they make which fits my criteria listed above.

WOA> Any further thoughts?

WH> My thoughts right now are that the Amiga community (both online and off) has gotten to the point where we're "it". To borrow from Jim Collas, we are almost literally the last remaining "soldiers" on the field for the Amiga.

By this point we've stood together through three bankruptcies, virtual waves of criticism that "the Amiga is dead", the complete ignorance of the mainstream computer press, and enough self-interested political gameplaying in the community to drown out any similance of purpose or meaning.

As stated by my favorite T-Shirt (bought at the Columbus show) it's time to "Stop the Madness" and regain our focus to support the community and the Amiga (both the computer and the company) to the best of our abilities. After all, the relatively few Amigans left here are "the best of the best" and the Amiga's greatest Champions.

Contact...

Wayne Hunt
Executive Director
User Group Network
ugn.amiga.org
"Users Helping Users"