From: edmondse@woods.ulowell.edu
Subject: Death Becomes AmigaII
Organization: University of Lowell
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 19:26:46 GMT

In article <34492@cbmvax.commodore.com>, campbell@cbmvax.commodore.com (John Campbell - CATS) writes:
> In article <1992Aug18.143043.1@woods.ulowell.edu> edmondse@woods.ulowell.edu
>  writes:
> 
>>
>>My sincere advice to C=, or any other third party software companies, is to
>>somehow get good quality standardized productivity software available for the 
>>AMIGA soon.
> 
> No offense, but this is easier said than done.  I notice you use the word
> "somehow".

Could this include having a software developer such as Borland or Lotus license
their source code to C= and have C= do the port? This seems to be a reasonable
compromise it allows C= to boast of first class software being available,
therefore improving sales of Amiga computers, and C= might even make some money
selling software that people (especially Amiga owners) want and are willing to 
pay for.

>  
>>
>>I hope C= somehow understands the basic fact that noone will choose a computer
>>unless there is software available for it.
> 
> No arguement.
> 
> 
> 1.  Amiga sells better, but is really competing in a different market (IMHO).
> 
> 2.  The arguement that X number of machines are necessary for a major vendor
> to support a platform is totally factual, and I have heard the arguement from
> many of the major PC software houses that everyone mentions.  The only path
> around this arguement is a HUGE outlay of money to take away all possible
> percieved risk for the development house.  When outlays are prohibitively large,
> it becomes very debatable if it makes sense.
> 
>>C= must get off its *&*%$ and actively support developement
>>of software from the business world, or ---- GAME OVER ----.
> 
> What do you think our developer support program is for?  We would like
> Amiga developers to produce quality productivity products and become
> successful.  We try to help in a number of different ways.  We have even
> funded (in full or in part) numerous titles, including the development of
> AmigaVision because at the time there were very few developers interested
> in an authoring system for the Amiga.
> 
> When it comes to the big 3 (wordprocessing, spreadsheets, databases), we
> have helped current developers in all three areas, and the products are
> improving.

I am getting very discouraged at this point. I have also spend a considerable
amount of money (Something in short supply for everyone, especially students)
on software for my A2000. After all this time and expense I find myself using
a shareware spreadsheet on my XT bridgeboard rather than one of the
spreadsheets I purchased for the amiga. I known there are many people who
have come to the same conclusion as I and will not spend money further for
inferior products. Now if current users are tuned off by the software available
for the machine I cannot see how C= intends to sell these computers to new users
who are also going to be shopping in Mac and PC dealers showrooms.

> 
> Commodore is a hardware company.  We realize we are dependent upon software
> for our success, but we believe that the existing software opportunities
> should be taken advantage of by software companies.  In that way everyone
> would benefit.

The number of software companies supporting the Amiga apparently don't share
this opinion or one of them might have already acted. I contend that to get the
Amiga moving forward in the short term you must have software, but you will not
have developers writing software unless the machine is selling so C= must prime
the pump. Noone else will do it. Witness the last seven years.

I agree that C= is primarily a hardware company and a pretty good one at that,
but at the current time C= has got to be willing to do whatever it takes to
get people to buy their hardware. I would suggest that must include taking
whatever steps it can to get mainstream applications running on the Amiga.
Even if that means spending some $$ on a top notch spreadsheet and
wordprocessor. I sincerely believe C= is at the point where if they do not
act to get software titles available they may not ever recover. 
 
Video and animation is excellent stuff but not for most people. Most people
use their computers for simple ordinary productivity tasks and maybe play
a game or two. CATS appears to be working towards the end I advocate but I
question if their efforts will be significant enough to ensure good
productivity software is available in time to save the Amiga.

> John Campbell
> Director, Commodore Applications and Technical Support (CATS)

Eric Edmonds
UMASS at Lowell
Dept of Nuclear Engineering