From: dburnett@emunix.emich.edu (Don Burnett)
Subject: Re: CDTV is ALIVE!!! (was: CDTV is DEAD!!!)
Organization: Eastern Michigan University
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 16:07:18 GMT

In article <Steven_Hurdle.00zd@amusers.UUCP> Steven_Hurdle@amusers.UUCP (Steven Hurdle) writes:
>In a message dated Mon 25 Jan 93  5:35, Campbell@cbmvax.commodore.com (john
>wrote:
>
> C>  1.  Mr. Eggebrecht, VP of Engineering has stated many times
> C>   our commitment to CDTV and CD technology.  Our stated
> C>   goal is to bring CD technology to our entire line.
>
>I presume that this means, in addition to the A570, bringing out an A670,
>A1270, and A4070 (or whatever you should choose to name them), correct? 
>When you say the entire line, I presume you mean just the A600, A1200, and
>A4000.  BTW, shouldn't the A670 work in the A1200 because the footprint of
>the two cases appears to be indentical and the PCMCIA (v2.0) smart-card
>port is as well, as I understand it.
>
  Are you sure there is enough logic to bring this through the PCMCIA slot?

>It's taken forever to get the A570 out.  PLEASE don't dilly-dally like that
>on the CD-ROM add-ons for AGA machines.  AGA CD has so much potential that,
>IF the hardware gets out there straightaway, it could go over a storm.  I'm
>sure you must understand it, but I'll feel better about it if I make the
>point.  :)  BTW, what is holding up the A670?
>

 First of all, C= had this out in Europe way before they did in the US,
 and from what I understand you should blame the US sales company and
 the FCC for this..


> C>  2.  We are more than a US company, and viewpoints you get from
> C>   strictly the US market can often be misleading.
>
>Too true, but North American support IS an issue though.  Just because CDTV
>is going over gang-busters in Europe and Japan, doesn't mean a lot if local
>stockists won't bring anything in.  Luckily, there's no problem that way in
>my locale where CDTV is the only game in town and supports pretty high.
>
  I am disappointed that C= didn't follow through with plans to try to
  market these machines through the "appliance store/catalog store" type
  of chain.. It's perfect and I didn't even see the effort there.. 


> C>  3.  We are currently reviewing a revised Groliers Encyclopedia
> C>   which has many improvements, including greater speed
> C>   and the ability to print text.  We believe that it is
> C>   vitally important to improve the quality and the quantity
> C>   of CD software, but this will take time.  While we all wanted
> C>   it out as soon as possible, quality is important.  It is
> C>   expected that this product will be shipping in March.
>
     This is really great to hear.. Support for printing information is
     essential..


>I was never one of the critics of Groliers, so any improvements will make
>me the happiest camper around.  The one thing I would like is this: when I
>look up "Star Wars", something more interesting than an article on SDI
>ought to appear!!!  ;)
>
   Talk to Groliers, George Lucas etc..


> C> Although it is not a requirement, it would be great if we could be
> C> constructive
> C> (i.e. "XYZ" would be a great CD product, etc....), lest we fall prey
> C> to the
> C> long and many useless postings of comp.sys.amiga.advocacy.
>
>Hmmm.... Commodore seems to have a good one there with the Guiness CDTV
>Disc of Records.  I haven't used it, so I don't know if execution is any
>good, but the concept is there.
>
>What I most wonder about is this: since Commodore is selling all the discs,
>in Canada at least, through their own licensing programme, why didn't they
>sell units at cost (with a small mark-up to take marketing and unexpected
>costs into account) straightaway.  It seems sensible to me that most of the
>money long-term will come from the discs.  Am I misreading what the
>situation was?
 
 At least from info I heard at World Of Commodore Toronto a year ago they
 were doing this..


At the very least, it seems a workable suggestion to keep
>two versions of the machine around (in this case, the original ECS CDTV and
>possibly a new AGA CDTV down the road?).  The first would be sold at cost,
>but probably no money put into marketing it.  The second machine could see
>a significant mark-up, until such time as yet another better version comes
>around in which case the present low-end ceases to be, and everyone moves
>down a peg.  All the while Commodore licences the discs.  This doesn't seem
>to have really factored into the strategy up until now, and I think it is
>the most workable strategy.
>
>
>Steven Hurdle <==> The Swindler                [public replies only please]
>Writer of "Virtual Rumours", a rumour/news column in some club newsletters.
>Coming to you from Victoria B.C., the Bahamas of Canada:  via SupraFAX!!!!!
>
>                     "Give me AGA, or give me DEATH!!!"


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