From: manes@vger.nsu.edu ((Mark D. Manes), Norfolk State University)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: What to do about CBM
Date: 9 Apr 92 10:26:11 EDT

In article <mykes.2407@amiga0.SF-Bay.ORG>, mykes@amiga0.SF-Bay.ORG (Mike Schwartz) writes:
> Since I posted my article about how CBM is a game company, many people
> have written to me to ask what we can do about it.  Seems everyone, like
> me, is interested in seeing CBM keep up with the rest of the computer
> systems in its class.  Here's what I suggest is THE best policy.
> 

Mike... Mike!!!  MIKE!!!!

> 
> BOYCOTT any new CBM computer systems (at the high end) until they come
> to their senses.  The problem does NOT lie with the engineers at CBM -
> they are all fine.  The problem lies with the marketing, as MB has always
> reminded us.

The only way a boycott is effective is when the company being boycotted
*knows* why they are being boycotted.  Your plan would simply scuttle any
new attempt at high-end hardware confirming the bean-counters opinion that
Commodore can only make money at the low-end.  What do you think happened
to Amiga UNIX?

> 
> A boycott of a new $5000+ Amiga system is certain to have impact where it
> hurts CBM management the most - in the wallet.  In the past, CBM has had

It will hurt CBM alright, and take the already small dealer base into
oblivion.  No Amiga dealers, no high-end sales ever.  Face it, you don't 
sell many RTG, VM, memory protected systems by mail order.

> fire sales on computer systems they couldn't move.  This will end up driving
> the prices on their high-end machines down to reality.  CBM historically
> cuts the prices on those machine that don't sell well.  When the machines get
> to be a good value, they start selling.

Commodore historically cuts prices on *ALL* of their computer systems.  

> 
> If people keep accepting the low-end stuff stuffed into a high-end package
> with unfulfilled potential, that's all we're going to get.

That is not how it works Mike.  If you were going to boycott something, it
should be the low-end!  Purchase only high-end equipment! :-)

> 
> If it doesn't do RTG, don't buy it.  If it costs too much, don't buy it.
> If it doesn't do VM, don't buy it.  If it doesn't do memory protection,
> don't buy it.  The secret is to hit them in the wallet.

Well don't you think you should get some sort of agreement as to what our
new minimum requirements should be before we start a boycott?  Me?  I don't
care to pay the price for memory protection, and I am not even sure how
interested I am in VM now that memory has become so inexpensive.  RTG?
Maybe.  I would just be satisfied at this point with 32 bit custom chips
and at least 8 bit plane direct support in the hardware.

You wanna cure the game machine image?  It is simple really.  Let the
dealers get rich selling Amigas in the United States.  If Commodore were
to concentrate their efforts on making it possible for dealers to make 
money (and I mean a lot of money), things would be a lot better here in
the United States.  If a dealership is making money, people are drawn
to be Amiga dealers.

How do you let your dealers make money?

Marketing:
   - Aggressive TV/Print Advertising in non-Amiga specific computer
     magazines pushing the "high end"!
   - Protect the dealer margins, no more $18 profit on Amiga 500
     PowerUp programs!
   - Seperate the product lines.  Split A500/A600 machines from
     the professional machines.  Consider doing what Tandy did,
     and change the name of the hardware.  ComTeK Amiga or something! :-)
   - Commodore become an active member in the MPC organization and
     push for wider standards.
   - Donate at least 1 Amiga 3000/25 computer to every acredited computer 
     science department, and donate 3 CDTVs to every high school.
   - Develop a relationship with Digital Equipment Corporation or
     Hewlett Packard.  
  
Research/Development:
   - 32 bit blitter and 8 bit plane chipset!
   - Build mid-range Amiga (68020 at least) with an integrated 
     386SX Bridgeboard
   - Begin work on a next generation computer that is *not* an Amiga,
     taking the best ideas from the Amiga and work toward producing
     the first VR based system.  (5 year goal.. Am I dreamin' or what!)
   
Software:
   - Spend $$$ necessary to get Borland products ported to the Amiga
   - Spend $$$ necessary to get WP 5.1 ported to the Amiga, with payment
     only when the software meets and exceeds the 2.0 Style and Interface
     Guide. :-)
  
As I was writing this list of things it occurred to me that most of what
I want from Commodore is for them to invest in the American market.  
Donating is a proven way of building a long-term customer base.  Commodore
should also take a lesson from Digital, connectivity is going to be the key
to the future of all computing.  Products like Pathworks for DOS would be 
*wonderful* on the Amiga.     

As someone who works closely with our local Amiga dealership, I can tell
you that Commodore is trying.  They are constantly trying to find new
angles and new ways of making money with the Amiga.  They are investing
in software-development, just not enough.

I suspect this is not the fault of Commodore US, but rather the wonderful
Medhi Ali saying "heck, why bother..." 

> 
> --
> Author of Amiga GRn, MailMinder, Budokan, Beyond Dark Castle, Dark Castle,
> and Genesis Dick Tracy and Marble Madness.
> Mike Schwartz  (ames!zorch!amiga0!mykes or mykes@amiga0.sf-bay.org)
> 1124 Fremont Ave.
> Los Altos, CA 94024

-mark=
manes@vger.nsu.edu
"CDTV - It is an Amiga!"