From: nwickham@nyx.cs.du.edu (Neal Wickham)
Subject: Re: A Commodore Engineer speaks out.
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Keywords: Reverse Enginneering AGA - can it be done?
Reply-To: nwickham@nyx.UUCP (Neal Wickham)
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 92 03:57:00 GMT



In article <9775@cbmger.de.so.commodore.com>
peterk@cbmger.de.so.commodore.com (Dr Peter Kittel Germany) writes:
>In article <35618@cbmvax.commodore.com> grr@cbmvax.commodore.com (George
Robbins) writes:
> >
> >Note that Apple may be in a better position to make such a move because
> >their volume/profit is spread over more systems and perhaps because they
> >didn't have much choice if they wanted to have new software to perform
> >"effectively" on all their hardware.
>
>Hmm, sorry, but I claim this very argument always for Commodore! We do
>have the broadest palette of different computer worlds, with our three
>lines of C64, Amiga, and PCs! Ok, Apple offers more Mac models than we
>have Amiga models, but don't forget the even bigger picture.


My roomate is a computer salesman for a large distributer and he was to a
couple of seminars lately, one regarding the future of Apple and the other
regarding developements at Microsoft.  He is under NDA of course so the
info I have is rather vague.  He knows not to tell me much as he knows that
I will post it to the net. 

Apple is after the multimedia market.  It is no secret that they have
several new CD-ROM models coming out.  One looks a little like CDTV. 
Another thing that is down the road is remote computing.  I don't know
exactly what we're talking about here, but they are apparently designing
some systems for sales people and the like who want to take shows on the
road.  I think it also involves some complex networking and communications. 
My roomate was pretty awed by what he saw even though he wouldn't tell me
exactly what it was.  :)

He was also awed by a presentation Microsoft put on just this week.  They
have apparently developed some very nice office networking software.  Again
I don't have any specific information but it sounded like it was highly
polished LAN software with extensive mail, data base, communication, etc,
capabilities that is EEEEASY and SSSLICK to use and share. ...better than
Mac!

So... I'd say that the EASY and SLICK to use software advantage Apple once
had is evaporating.  Microsoft is going to ensure that Mac does not
penetrate the business market much more than they have now.  Apple, in turn
is looking at special nich markets like the remote computing thing. (This
is an in depth analysis on my part. :)  And since C= sells PCs, it will be
good if Mac loses market share to PCs in the business market.


Anyway... I hope C= continues to go after the multimedia market.  It sounds
like Apple is wanting it bad but does not really have the system for it. 
Things don't look so rosy for Apple IMHO.  They are going to sink all the
money they've made in past years in chasing a bunch of "maybe" nich
markets.  

I also hope C= pounds away at the home/entertainment market also.  (This
may be a biased opinion however.)

As far as the A600 goes... what scares me is that Amiga is going to get
even more strongly identified as a low-end kids/game machine.  It is bad
enough as it is.  I think C= marketing ought to make a clear distiction
between the A600 and the new AGA machines.  Call the 32-bit Amigas Amiga
IIs or something.  A4000/040 is not enough.  A clear distinction needs to
be communicated and then the A600 can be the little money maker they want
and not hurt the higher end market.  DID ANYONE IN THE C= MARKETING
DEPARTMENT HEAR THAT????  MAKE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE A600 AND THE
HIGHER END MACHINES!!!!!  GIVE THE NEW MACHINES A NEW NAME!!! ...AMIGA II
or AMIGA 32 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT!!!!  (Geese!)

I played with a 4000 this week.  What struck me most was that even regular
HAM looked better than 256 colors while in high res mode.  (And boy could
that thing convert pictures fast!)  HAM and HAM8 are great little systems
that have great potential in entertainment and multimedia and elswhere.



                                     NCW



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