From: davidme@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au (David Meiklejohn)
Subject: Re: Advocacy? What do you want for the Amiga?
Organization: Qld Dept Primary Industries
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 10:51:12 GMT

In article <C0nHrv.Grn@news.iastate.edu> barrett@iastate.edu (Marc N. Barrett) writes:
>In article <1993Jan10.093729.24025@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au> davidme@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au (David Meiklejohn) writes:
>>
>>No, thanks!  I don't know about you, but I use a computer with one of the best
>>multitasking OSs around. 
>
>   That is the typical Amigoid attitude.  With "one of the best multitasking
>OSs around", you are too proud to run useful software on the computer.  But
>perfectly willing to run non-multitasking games and demos.

Ahh, obviously you're blessed with insight beyond that of mortal man.  Frankly,
I can't see the relationship between what I wrote and what you read into it.
I am proud of my Amiga, yes.  I'd be even prouder if it had better software
available for it.  Better software does not imply "Works package", but it
certainly does include good quality single-purpose applications with which I
could put together whatever "package" I liked.

>> Integrated packages on other platforms simulate the
>>ability to have several packages running together.  We don't need that.
>
>   You have the vision of a bat.

This from someone who's only vision is to follow blindly what Apple have done.

> The included software in an Amiga 'works'
>package could easily be written to take advantage of all of the Amiga's
>multitasking capabilities.

Good.  Then each module would be a true Amiga application which could stand
alone or be used in conjunction with applications from other developers, as
the user sees fit.

> The big advantage of an Amiga 'works' package 
>would be having all of the most useful software applications packaged with
>the computer, with the applications written to easily share data with each 
>other.

All Amiga applications should be written to easily share data.  It has nothing
to do with being part of a "Works" package.

> This would make the Amiga much more attractive to people who might
>otherwise purchase a Macintosh system with ClarisWorks.  Apple sells a very
>nice system for $2000 that includes an LC II, monitor, StyleWriter printer,
>and ClarisWorks.  In terms of out-of-the-box usefulness, Commodore can't
>compete with it.  By developing an 'Amiga Works' package, they could.

I agree that bundling software with computers is a good idea.  Commodore
already do that, here in Australia at least, where one bundle includes
KindWords, a paint program, and a number of games.  That gets the typical
home user up and running.

My argument with you is that Commodore should be bundling simply a particular
range of applications suitable for the newcomer.  On a multitasking system, we
don't need a "Works" package as such.  I'll readily admit that current Amiga
apps don't cut the mustard when it comes to interoperability.  But, in
encouraging, or even sponsoring, improvement in this area, Commodore would be
ensuring the development of good Amiga applications, and not a "package".

>>  I'd
>>much prefer to mix and match those "modules" I'm interested in, with the exact
>>set of features I require (and not more), from a number of vendors.
>
>   Good for you.  With that attitude, Commodore could sell five Amigas to
>potential Macintosh buyers.  Maybe.

Are you saying that Mac buyers are incapable of making their own choices?
I'm an Amiga advocate, but I won't go that far in disparaging Mac users.
Anyway, Commodore can always offer default choices as part of a bundle.  I
wouldn't buy it, though, since I know what I want.  I guess I'm not much of a
potential Macintosh buyer, but then, I already knew that!  :-)

>>Try thinking like an Amigan, Marc!  We have the tools to go so far beyond
>>simple "integrated" packages...
>
>   I am.  I am thinking like an Amigan who wants to see Amigas sold by the
>boatloads.  I am not thinking like an Amigoid who wants to see Amiga sales
>kept to a minimum so as to keep Amigas to the elitest few.  This seems to be
>your attitude.

The Amiga is an elite machine, and so are its users - I make no apology for
that.  It takes a bit of extra effort to find out about, then buy an Amiga.
It takes a bit of extra money, too.  So, we form the elite, the proud, the
few, the Amigans.  I have nothing against making that the proud, the many...

Seriously, though (the above was just a little tongue-in-cheek, but not
entirely ;-), the Amiga is a machine that can be appreciated by those who are
all too familiar with other systems.  It's also a machine for the raw beginner.
I'm not discriminating.


>| Marc Barrett -MB-  |  email: barrett@iastate.edu


-- 
David Meiklejohn (davidme@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au)
 - PC's, Unix, and networks by day, Amigas by night...
Currently residing in Mareeba, Far North Queensland, Australia
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy