#Is anyone happy?
Fascinating thread, folks. While I know that many of you Flyer-owners are
anxious and suffering, I appreciate that you are taking the time to share your
woes, thoughts, laments, etc. on CIS. I, who own an A2000 Toaster and am very
interested in the future of Newtek, have learned a lot. I'm sure many others
have as well.
One thought, if I may. It seems to me that a cardinal rule of technology
acquisition is being exposed here, which is that the cost-effective place to be
as a purchaser is not on the bleeding edge (no matter what the track record of
the company), but rather a few waves behind that where there is PROVEN
technology (i.e. techology that you just know you can get your money back on,
because it works and there's a market for what it does).
I bought a Toaster in '94 — used, set-up, debugged and totally working —
because it was awesome, affordable and I had a use for it. I benefitted hugely
from the learning curves, input and pains of folks like you, who jump in on the
bleeding edge.
Guys like me, and Mike too I'm guessing, will jump in on the Flyer version 5.x
or later, IF AND WHEN IT PROVES ITSELF. We'll miss out on all the thrills of
being first, on all the learning from debugging it, on ushering in the new
process and look it affords, but in all likelihood we'll get our money's worth.
I'm a proven technology buyer because I don't have $10,000 to risk of either my
own or somebody else's money. But I do have $10,000, and even $25,000 to
INVEST in something that will give me a virtually guaranteed return.
I assume folks who do like the bleeding edge enjoy the process of debugging,
risking, being groundbreaking, AND have the money to risk to be there.
Otherwise, I guess you get burned once and get out.
As for the way Newtek should finance their new technology, that's a whole other
and interesting question. Would be nice if they could use all those profits
they rack up from the many folks like me who buy their winners, to finance
their next bet. Wish Amiga had done the same with more success.
Thanks for the thread, and sincerely hope you all come out winners betting
early on the Flyer.
–David