From: jsvec@umaxa.weeg.uiowa.edu (Joe Svec)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: WHERE ARE THE TV ADS, WHERE ARE THE BANNERS IN STORES, WHERE IS THE MEDIA BLITZ???
Date: 7 Apr 92 14:53:04 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

In article <OLENDER.92Apr7073945@rodrigo.cs.colostate.edu> olender@rodrigo.cs.colostate.edu (Kurt Olender) writes:
>
>Calm down guys!
>
>I think it would a mistake for IBM to start advertising heavily to the general
>public until the product is actually in the stores.  As so many of us have
>found out in the past, it's extremely frustrating to hear about a product, go
>to a store, and the store doesn't have it in stock (or have a way to order it
>in less than a week).  Generates a lot of negative feelings.
>
>I will be extremely disappointed if we fail to see the start of the campaign
>by April 21, though.
>
>I'm attending the Denver area OS/2 2.0 rollout event this afternoon.  I do
>intend to ask them some pointed questions about when we will see the ad
>campaign turn up.

Something that popped in my mind last night while watch TV was that most people
in this country (who watch TV) know more about the virtues of KRAFT MIRICLE
WHIP than they do about OS/2!

I suppose you're right...  I still wonder if they are going to be pushing
OS/2 on PS/2s, or if they are going to ALSO show OS/2 running on CLONES!!
In my opinion, most people (especially those who already have clones) aren't
interested in PS/2s.  

People are also scared that once everyone is "hooked" on OS/2, IBM will 
"turn the tables" and make OS/2 work only on IBM hardware (an unjustified
and parinoid thought I.M.H.O).  

Isn't IBM's biggest market people who are ALREADY "POWER USERS", and who
have ALREADY invested lots of money in putting together a machine that will
run Windows half way decently?  This "base" of machines is probably capable
of running OS/2 with no modifacations (maybe some more memory).  Memory should
be "good", not "bad".  People should think: "My machine has lots of memory
(translate "balls")" instead of "Look how well (NOT!) my machine runs with
only 2MB of memory"!  

I think, right now, most peoples perceptions are that OS/2 might not run
on their machine - that should be a major thrust of the advertising...
(That OS/2 WILL run on ANY (?!) 386SX or above)
  
Blah, blah, blah...  I just want to see something IMPRESSIVE!  Banners in
stores.  Machines set up next to each other doing Windows/OS2 comparisions.
SALESPEOPLE WHO KNOW WWHHYY YOU SHOULD TRY OS/2, and ACTUALLY BELIEVE
WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT (and KNOW what they are talking about)!!!

Is all it would take is some "rep" comming into the store and meeting with
ALL of the knowledgable staff "hackers", or "power users", and INSTALLING
OS/2 in front of their eyes, and then opening up a few Windows windows -
playing with them until they bomb and then closing them (after they bomb) and
going back to the Presentation Manager (or whatever they call it in 2.0).
SOMEONE HAS TO GET THESE SALESPEOPLE AND SOFTWARE STORE OWNERS EXCITED
ABOUT OS/2 SO THEY RANT AND RAVE LIKE CRAZED MANIACS ABOUT THE VIRTUES
OD OS/2 (LIKE I DO TO EVERYONE I TALK TO ABOUT "PCS"!!!!!!!!!!!!).

THESE RETAIL PEOPLE NEED TO ***KKKNNNOOOWWW*** ***WWWHHYYY*** THEY SHOULD
RANT AND RAVE, AND WHY THEY SHOULD SEND FLYERS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND WHY
THEY SHOULD GET ALL OF THEIR CUSTOMERS TO SWITCH FROM WINDOWS TO OS/2!!!!

The installation should be done on a CLONE machine!  Heck!  I'll do it
if IBM grants me the power, and gives me "n" copies to take around to all
of the stores in my area and install and demonstate.  (They'd have to make it
worth my while though - like giving me copies of ALL oif OS/2 attachments
like TCP/IP X-Windows, etc,etc)

They should also put up billboards which have a picture of Mr. Clone running
OS/2.  THey should give HUGE banners to all of the stores that will be carrying
OS/2 WITH A BIG PICTURE OF MR. CLONE RUNNING OS/2!   

They SHOULD NOT limit OS/2 to being shown only on PS/2s or carried ONLY
by stores that carry PS/2s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL:  Please let us know what the answers to these questions are.  

Joe Svec
ACT
Iowa City, IA  52245