CompuServe Messages

Unisys turned around with several _huge_ orders from the government. That infusion of cash along with very decent terms allowed them to get back on their feet. It was sort of a mini-bailout. Since then, they have done okay. But they are now system integrators and sellers of PC's. They do very little invovation. They are, in effect, a shadow of their former selves. I think, unfortunatly, that CBM is on it's final decline. There are only three things in their future. 1) Total liquidation. Someone may buy AAA, someone else may buy rights to some of the more likely consumer products like CD32. 2) Or, A total refocusing on CD32. It's cheap, easy to mass produce and does not compete in markets where expesive add ons are the standard. 3) Or, a lingering death over the next 2 quarters. Either way I don't see them staying in home computers. Of course they could get a large infusion of cash from someone, but I think the creditors will view that as sending good money after bad. CD32 by itself, could turn into a real winner, it doesn't require 8M of RAM, hard drives, or other things which jack prices up. Its got a good software library. And being low cost, can be produced in volume. This will let C= track prices closely to make maximum profit. CD32 lends itself to cheaper advertising. Everyone understands games! It's easy to get the point across. This brings up another whole series of questions… Assuming the worst. That C= fails, or drops out of home computers: 1) Would a 3rd party be able to step in and continue Amiga? Or would they face the same issues of money, distribution, advertising, and R&D? 2) What will current OEMS like NuTek do? Buy as many A4000's as they can to resell as toaster systems? Develop their own machine for their vertical market? Move to another platform like PC or Mac? I wonder what will hit the fan on Monday when the markets open. The stock could blithly continue on as if nothing happened or it could fall through the floor. I wonder if that could further strangle their cash flow? Oh well, —– Andrew