From: barrett@iastate.edu (Marc N. Barrett)
Subject: Re: Advocacy? What do you want for the Amiga?
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 18:23:54 GMT

In article <1993Jan10.093729.24025@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au> davidme@qdpii.comp.qdpi.oz.au (David Meiklejohn) writes:
>In article <C0K2p1.1HF@news.iastate.edu> barrett@iastate.edu (Marc N. Barrett) writes:
>>
>>   Here is what I would like to see:
>>  
>>   A quality 'works' package developed and bundled in Amiga packages.  'Works'
>>packages have been developed before, but they have been junk.  Something needs
>>to be developed with a decent word processor (something like Final Copy II
>>with EPSF and DR2D graphic importing and CompuGraphic and PS Type 1 outline
>>font support added), a quality database, a quality drawing package, a quality
>>spreadsheet, and a quality communications package.  The whole package should be
>>well integrated and the software should work seemlessly together.
>
>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.

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

>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.

   BTW, the 'Amiga Works' software I am advocating would only be sold with 
special Amiga bundles.  ClarisWorks is not sold with all Macintoshes, either.
If you didn't want the software, you would not be forced to buy it.

---
| Marc Barrett -MB-  |  email: barrett@iastate.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------
"No, I just think that a computer grafted on top of another computer
is a kludge.  It has nothing to do with the AGA chipset." -- me
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy