From: cadwallader@forty2.enet.dec.com ()
Subject: Re: Any Commodore users buying the Falcon in Germany?
Reply-To: cadwallader@forty2.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 12:01:07 GMT


>>>Anyone owning an Amiga considering the Falcon 030 over there?
>>>
>>No..why ?
>
> Sigh. Because it's obviously better than the Amiga, and perhaps
>computer hobbyists in Europe aren't as impressed by the PC clones
>as they are in the US.

Why would Amiga users go back to a bits-in-a-box /|\? We'll wait for AA
which promises to be a much nicer solution than Falcon (quelle surprise!).
Falcon has attempted to address Amiga-strengths in typical /|\ style,
e.g. poor-man's overscan, ("snap-to-one-size" only), still no excellent
copper type device (the REAL crux of the Amiga IMO, what makes ALL the
diff).

Falcon is "tomorrow's ST", why pitch it against "today's Amiga".Wait for
AA machines then decide which is best :-). If CBM were as willing to shout
their mouth off as /|\ we'd all know, (and you would) the REAL SPECS of
AA (not rumours). Because you don't you think Falcon will be up against
320*200 32 cols in 6 months time? I don't think so. The AmigaOS provides
an excellent integrated solution to the upgrade problem where new modes
will effortlessly be integrated into the system, I can't believe Falcon
will be as backward compatible as new Amigas will, this problem is one
of the great ones that has held new Amigas back, but will be proven to
be a Godsend IMO. Amigas are flexible, powerful, graphics tools that have
had inherent flexibility from day 1, they just go on improving (albeit
in leaps rather than smoothly :-) ), where /|\s are boxes full of junk
bits added on addhoc (look at STe). Falcon is primarily, ST + STe bits
+ new modes + DSP.... a big, big kludge!

>>Haha..equal..a joke ? If you want to buy an Atari(Don't know why,
>>but only imagine this) you have to search for it. 
>>Atari has dramaticly lost market share the last years and i see
>>no chance that they can come back......
>
> I suppose Len is referring to the fact that the Atari ST line
>has been outselling the Amiga for many years in Europe. Unfortunately
>they didn't get a new product ready in time to keep down the
>Amiga during its entire life cycle. 
 
Do I believe I read this right? Even in the UK, just about THE primary
ST market, STs USED TO outsell Amigas 10-1 (when A500s were 573). Now
you find 1/5 of the ST software that is available for Amiga, STs are
almost gone from all high-street stores, noone wants to know.... 

Forget the US in calculations, stupid meatheads who like PCs and Macs on
the whole... BUT you really can't be saying that the ST still outsells the
Amiga! Wake up!

Another thing I believe CBM don't get credit for is support (really!).
Look at Apple, terrible, 5 different OS's needed to run all soft, new
machines every other week bringing new problems... When I had my ST it
had a single sided floppy (ho-ho). /|\ upgrade without telling anyone
to double sided, no upgrade path, no recompense. They upgrade TOS, no
upgrade path, LOADS of incompatibility. They bring out STe in packs
without telling anyone, no upgrade path... get the idea, how can they
keep shitting on their users like that? You could have a 4 year old 1.2
Amiga 500 and now run the newest OS 2.04, you can trade it in for a CDTV,
you could upgrade your machine to a new Agnus and ECS... etc... running
a bit thin now to keep a 4 year old machine up with the pack, but at least
we weren't left out in the cold!

Remember, I used to have an ST; once you have forgotten it and gone to
Amiga you don't want to go back! Even to Falcon, it will be the same
old story when Falcon Plus comes out... it looks nice on paper but I bet
it is REALLY kludgey kit in a crap 1040STe box!

Finally (yawn), remember that market image is hardest to regain, /|\ are
just about dead in US, at least CBM have *some* respect there, in Europe
/|\ are failing badly, in UK they are almost withered and dead. A new
machine will not suddenly revitalise the image of a bad name... and
Falcon cost /|\ big-time. It's break or bust IMO, if AA comes up roses
as I expect then /|\ may be destined to crash and burn. 

Falcon could well be THE most risky machine you'll ever buy!

								- JIM CAD*