Mini-Conference, April 20th, IRC #auction ========================================================================== MINI-CONFERENCE WITH JASON COMPTON, IRC #AUCTION, APRIL 20TH ========================================================================== [To help clarify the day's events, I held a short conference on IRC #auction. The edited transcript appears below. Thanks to panther@gate.net for compiling this. -Jason] This is the my log (using grapevine, powersnap, and a custom arexx script to put it all together) of the #Auction conversation with Jason Compton, editor of Amiga Report magazine on April 20, 1995. This is the shortened version... Just Questions & Answers -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Begin Log -------------------------------------------------------------------------- «Join» jcompton (jcompton@jobe.shell.portal.com) has joined the channel. jcompton OK. Today, the only valid bid presented to the liquidators was from Escom. jcompton Two other bids were presented. One, from Creative Computers (NOT CEI, a California-based dealer) was rejected because they could not put up the necessary deposit. [NOTE: I was wrong, it wasn't Creative Computers.] jcompton The second, from Dell (PC-clone manufacturer) was rejected because it dictated a 7-day investigation period on patents. jcompton The liquidators ruled that any and all conditions were unacceptable, which is why Alex Amor and presumably David Pleasance did not bid. jcompton So, Escom's standing bid of $5 million was accepted. jcompton NOW-Tommorow Judge Garrity will be ruling on the objections to the sale. jcompton In addition to the objections from the C= US creditors, the liquidators of Commodore BV/Philippines/Netherlands/UK, and IBM... jcompton He will ALSO have objections from Alex Amor, very probably from Dell, and possibly from David Pleasance. jcompton Essentially, Dell and Amor are both willing to offer more than the Escom $5 million and can't fathom why their bids have been rejected or invalidated. jcompton Amor told me he hopes to get the judge to open the courtroom floor for bidding right there and then. How likely this is, I have no idea. jcompton That's all I know. jcompton Sorry I don't have better news. HammerD jcompt: will this be all said and done tomorrow or do you think it will take longer? jcompton Well...I mean, Garrity could throw out all of the objections and then we're stuck. Or, he could accept them... JosherII Why is this bad news? jcompton Josher: Because nobody has the first clue what Escom wants. Intrd jcompton but is that you that said that ESCOM is willing to give out tehcnology to poeple like CEI? jcompton Intrd: Wasn't me. CEI and Escom have had talks, but apparently Escom was acting very coldly towards Alex today. Zool jcompton: shit...what else would Escom want to do with the tech? jcompton Zool: We don't know. HammerD jcompt: was alex pissed? jcompton HD: "Exasperated" would be the word. At the end of our talk, he put me on hold for a few minutes, told me he got some new good information and that there was still hope, and left. jcompton HD: I don't know if he's just being dramatic or what. Pappy Escom is incabable of continuing the Amiga(esp. development) jcompton Pappy: They seem to have enough money to do it, but they don't seem to have the inclination. Menacer Jcompton: Are Dell just after patents or are they intrested in selling Amiga's ? I live in Austin TX (where dell is based) and know quite a lot about the company .... jcompton Menacer: We don't know word #1 about Dell. This is the first I've heard of them interested, even in the wildest fantasy of false information. Intrd Jcompton but is it aT DELL or Compaq tjhat some ex-Engineer of C= working on the AAA were engaged? jcompton Intrd: That's Tim McDonald at Compaq. Pappy jcompton: Honestly, do you see Escom winning the entire auction? jcompton Pappy: As of now, they HAVE. I'm hoping the good grace of the judge overturns it because it's silly. NiteFlite JCompton, so what's on Comp.sys.Amiga.misc is true? jcompton Nite: More or less, yes. JosherII JC: If they aren't planning to do any R&D do you think they would be willing to sell the rights to do so? jcompton Josher: I know nothing about them. jcompton Nite: Alex objects and hopes that the judge overturns the Escom deal and opens the floor for more bids. NiteFlite JC, so CUK and CEI did not bid because they are banking on the objections to be upheld. jcompton Nite: No, Alex did not want to submit a bid without any conditions. HammerD did not objections have to be in by last week? jcompton HD: Objections to the sale PROCESS, but if you were a bidder, you can object to the bidding process as it happened. NiteFlite Alex, will then just wait to see who wins and negotiate with them? jcompton Nite: No, I JUST SAID, Alex will hope that he can put in a bid            on his own terms tomorrow. jcompton Nite: I don't know what Pleasance is doing. I'd ask him if I knew what hotel he was staying in. :) Intrd jcompton so you know where is alex? jcompton Intrd: Yes... HammerD jcompt: you going to talk to Amor again tonight? jcompton HD: No, I think he'll be in meetings until he goes to sleep. (He had a meeting at 2 am this morning, if that gives you any indication...) fallous_ The ONLY fucking way that the Amiga production would be slowed is if Escom won, and of course they did. Goddamn, this is complete bullshit. jcompton fallous: You could have Dell if you prefer. :) fallous_ jcompton: I'm still trying to figure out why Dell wanted it. jcompton fallous: Patents for lawsuits. jcompton fallous: Set-top technology, maybe. jcompton Mitchman: On the contrary, Commodore UK is up for sale, they're part of Commodore International. NiteFlite JC, did Alex say how much he was willing to go? jcompton Nite: No. toymaker are all the companies at the auction listed in that news file? toymaker (in other words, is there another outside party besides Dell and IBM) jcompton toymaker: Everyone who bid or should have bid, not counting the people who showed up to try to bid piecemeal but never really did. skyman JCompton: so did anyone not show that was expected to? jcompton skyman: No. jcompton toymaker: IBM's not bidding, they're objecting. Gazer jcompton: Cool, nect think you know we will get the soapie "AMIGA: the true story" jcompton Gazer: Well, the prospects for a book keep getting better... skyman JCompton: were you there? how long was the session today? jcompton skyman: I wasn't there. Once it started, it only took a few hours because they just rejected everything but the Escom bid and everyone had to go home. jcompton Mitchman: The patent license [IBM's license on Commodore patents] is VERY broad. I tried calling IBM's lawyers to get some clarity, but they never returned my calls. fallous_ who set the terms on whether a bid is accepted or not? jcompton fallous: The liquidator and his lawyers, subject to the approval of US Bankruptcy Court Justice William Garrity, Jr. oleg Amiga might have had a hope if Dell won ;) toymaker oleg: why is that? oleg toymaker, because Dell is a gigantic, solvent computer maker with credibility. HammerD oleg *PC* company. oleg hammerd, what's your point? they are big, they are solvent, and they want Amiga jcompton oleg: They want Commodore's assets...that's not necessarily the Amiga, especially at these prices... oleg i don't think CEI has the $$ to compete. pure and simple. the best they will dois startup 1200/cd32 lines, saturate the marketplace, tehn sell off the technology jcompton oleg: You could well be right. Of course, nobody knows who's backing Amor or Pleasance, either. AH jcompton: Again, Thank You! YOU should get a Medal or something. :) Well, off to spread the news in My Home Boards... :) jcompton AH: I'd prefer a job... Number1 oleg: One of the press releases I received from CEI (several months ago) said they were prepared to spend $20 Million on advertising during the first year if they won. jcompton #1: That's invalid now. They don't have that sort of money to blow. Ahzwon jcompton: So, out of all this, your *personal* opinion of tomorrow's outcome? jcompton Ahz: As usual, it's not up to me. I HOPE the judge does what seems to be the right thing, and re-open the bids. Intrd jcompton didtn you said that Alex got support from IBMM supposly to get amifa manifacture? jcompton Intrd: They signed on IBM as a contract manufacturer. But no mention of capital investment. jcompton Intrd: Same thing they do for the Atari Jaguar. They take the plans, build the machines, and take their money. dib wots the countdown to the auction, I wouldnt know wot time it is in the US ( it midday Friday 21st here :) jcompton dib: The auction is over. The court hearing commences in 11 hours, 30 minutes. skyman jcompton: who does have the most money ...or offered to spend the most? jcompton skyman: Unknown. Amor seems to be able to spend at least $7.5 million, around what he thinks Dell offered. toymaker jcompton: well doesn't that make it sound like the only way it could be resolved tomorrow is if Escom wins jcompton toymaker: Not necessarily. If things go Amor's way, the courtroom floor will become the bidding ground. I presume there's some precedent his lawyers have informed him of, I doubt he made that up himself. jcompton toymaker: I'll wait another week if it's not Escom. A company as relucant to talk to ANYONE about ANYTHING as they are just doesn't make me feel better. toymaker jcompton: Such a scenario could be set up in a day? jcompton toymaker: Again, I'm not a bankruptcy lawyer. But he seemed convinced that it was at least possible. NewOrde who is dell and what are there plans toymaker NewOrde: Dell is a PC clone manufacturer jcompton New: And nobody knows what they want. JosherII jcompton: What, in your opinion would be the next viable system to invest in.. A PMac or a Pent. on OS/2? jcompton Josher: Whatever makes you feel good. Seriously. I haven't switched because at the moment I'm having a great time doing this on my 3000. Play with both and see what you like. HammerD jcompt: what time is the hearing tomorrow? jcompton HD: It's supposed to start at 10:00 EDT, so in 11 hours 30 minutes. Intrd jcompton hey if i come during lunch time do you think i might have some scoop? jcompton Intrd: Maybe. Zool is going to the hearing and hopes to have a laptop, but...well, for the authoritative, condensed, summarized, AR'ed version, you have to wait. :) toymaker I wonder if anyone's videotaping the auction. :) toymaker that would be interesting to watch... jcompton toymaker: No cameras allowed. No recording equipment of any kind allowed. JP jcompton: who exactly made the decision to accept Escoms bid, the Judge? jcompton JP: No, the liquidator and his lawyers. jcompton JP: The judge hears everything tomorrow. mUb Ahzwon: Thats what im trying to say to these people, it may not be so bad after all..... jcompton Mub: Escom has rejected all contact with Amiga users. jcompton Mub: Does THAT makes you feel good? HammerD jcompt: he may take time to "rule" on these objections.. :((( jcompton HD: He's had a week to read half of them... mUb JC: Indeed no, CBM were just like that.... jcompton Mub: I have had AR reps call, other perople have tried...they have lied about their interest and now just won't talk about it. steiner jcompton: so I was correct? E! won't make/sell Amigas? jcompton steiner: Well, we don't know at all. toymaker Is Gould at the auction? jcompton toy: I don't think so. toymaker jcompton: yah.. his life would probably be at risk or something.. :) NewOrde Does anyone know anything about the AOS project that C=Uk have had underway for a while know is it gonna be released with the A4000 and A1200 jcompton NewOrde: Commodore UK's head of developer support forwarded a letter from David Pleasance saying "We think what you're doing is great, hey, we're going to get the Amiga so we'd like you to help develop for us." steiner for info on AOS project: http://www.hyperreal.com/music/machines/Analogue-Heaven/ «Quit» jcompton has signed off (Leaving). -------------------------------------------------------------------------- End Log -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Email panther@gate.net for comments on this log. 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