#C= Bankrupt
30 messages in this thread
Well, it is official, I heard on CNN headline news this morning that
Commodore International and subsidiraries are liquidatiing. All assets
are being transfered to an undisclosed trustee.
Any Idea as to what we are in for as to support and the future? I
quess I nknew it was coming but the reality of being orphaned has not set
in yet. Is there any hope that someone will pick up the amiga line (not
just the tech) and try to continue. I was on the verge of getting a 4000
or 4000T. Should I get a clone now or a powermac?
Damn I'm depressed.
…Steve
====>>> Motorola 68030 Inside <<<====
Even with Commodore gone, the Amiga is still a very usable platform. I don't
think it's necessary to jump ship until you can no longer get the products you
need for your Amiga.
Let's face it. The Amiga has always been a machine supported by third parties
and end users (and a few dedicated souls in the CBM engineering department).
Commodore has really been out of the picture for a long time.
>>"Commodore has really been out of the picture for a long time."
That's true in a way… I could never reach them when I needed to.
Now, wouldn't it be silly if C= went away and no one ever noticed?
Oh, it's been noticed that C= is going away. CNN broadcast news of the
liquidation several times today.
Jeff Schweiger
>Commodore has really been out of the picture for a long time.
That's right, we have always supported ourselves with shareware and third
party companys right from the beginning of Amiga. The only difference is
that now we don't have CBM to kick around anymore. I do hope someone will
take up AmigaDos 3.1 and distribute it since it is finished.
Tom
Oklahoma City, OK
> …don't have CBM to kick around anymore.
That's true. I know there were some good guys at Commodore that really
believed in the Amiga. It's just too bad that the guys up top didn't share the
enthusiasm.
"I do hope someone will take up AmigaDos 3.1 and distribute it since it is
finished."
A few fellow Amiga users were discussing this at our favorite watering
hole today. Like one friend pointed out, if one company purchased the
rights to 3.1, while another purchased the rights to the chipset, then it
would seem that they would each have to work together before 3.1 could be
released. If not, then one could sue the other for infringement. So it
seems that 1 company would have to buy the rights to the chipset and the
software before 3.1 could ever be released.
// John (Speeding on the Information Superhighway)
\X/ Mercury@ins.infonet.net
Why? 3.1 has nothing to do with the chipset…
Bob Comer — Cruising the nets on Autopilot!
Cheyenne, Wyoming U.S.A.
My guess is that Amigas will go up in price as there is still nothing to
fill the void on any other platform and third party gear will keep it
snappy and fresh :}
You obviously missed NAB. From a video perspective there is a LOT to fill
the void – FAST, IMIx, DVision, even Digital Creations was showing what
was essentialyl a PC based Toaster…. The Amiga was loosing ground
rapidly even in its niche market, and with further development on the bae
technolgy at an end, any advantage it enjoyed will be gone by year's end.
wmc – via Autopilot!
"My guess is that Amigas will go up in price…"
WAY up… There is still no replacement for the Toaster. We may be
entering a VERY good time to sell used.
-Chris
That's not quite true. While third parties have done the marketing and the
neat add-ons, you still need a "Commodore" to make parts for computers, at
least.
Buying any Amiga now is a pretty dumb move unless you buy two. One to use, and
one for parts.
CNN headline news, that's were you heard the news.
You tell me they finally managed to advertise……
after they're dead. Did they report it as a homicide or suicide?
>it is official, I heard on CNN headline news this morning
Yeh, I guess that is what it takes to make something official today. 🙂
Seriously though, don't think it is over. There are folks out there still
buying from me to upgrade Atari1040's and won't give it up. We aren't
dead, only CBM Intl is, and how many things did you actually buy from CBM
other than the computer? In my case, damned little.
Tom
Oklahoma City, OK
>>and how many things did you actually buy from CBM other than the
>>computer?
Well, A500cpu, 1680 modem, 1010 diskdrive, 1020 disk drive (anyone wanna
buy it?) 1984 monitor, A2000 cpu, 2090a controller, 2091 controller, 1084S
monitor, 2088 bridgeboard, 2386 bridgeboard, replacement power supply, CIA
chips, another A500 cpu (for my son) I was one of the idiots who spent
$500 on a 2 meg RAM card when memory was sky high, So I have done my
share to support C=. 🙂 This is only CBM equipment, I have a plethora of
3rd party hardware also, not counting the thousands I have spent on
software.
The setup I have now does what I need it to do, so I am in no trouble
with the liqudation untill I need a new agnus or paula chip then what the
hell am I going to do?
…Steve
====>>> Motorola 68030 Inside <<<====
Any Idea as to what we are in for as to support and the future?
Having been through this with a previous machine, here's what you can expect.
Rumor upon rumor of somebody taking up the flag and carrying on.
Software near completion will be completed in the hopes of earning back at
least part of the develpoment costs. Totally new works by other than the most
successful vendors will cease rapidly. Some opportunists will try to tap the
installed user base, and get into software development. Their works and
products will mostly be minor in nature. Companies that support other
computers may continue development on current products, and might even release
easily portable products for the next year or two.
After about one year, you will most likely see only one surviving Amiga
magazine, and it will be a mere shadow of it's former self. There will
probably a couple of vendors who will buy up the remaining inventory of parts
and supplies, and turn a few bucks selling what it left over the next year or
two.
After that, it will be word of mouth for software produced in garages, and
parts from a few die hards that get into buying selling supplies.
The Texas Instruments TI 99/4a had sold over 1 million units when it died.
(and then TI agreed to provide parts/service/support for 5 years) The TI died
in Fall of 83. When was the last time you heard about development for it?
There are still a few individuals who write out of their homes, and sell parts
(used) out of their garages.
In the meantine advancement will continue on other machines….
>>I was on the verge of getting a 4000
>>or 4000T. Should I get a clone now or a powermac?
Yes…
Unless Apple can recapture market share, it's headed the same way…. While I
find the potential of the Power PC fascinating, I found the potential of the
Amiga fascinating also. At this point it's Apple against the world. (Tough
odds)
>> Damn I'm depressed.
Me too……
> Unless Apple can recapture market share, it's headed the same
> way…. While I find the potential of the Power PC fascinating,
> I found the potential of the Amiga fascinating also. At this
> point it's Apple against the world. (Tough odds)
While Apple is not dominate, it seems to be doing okay. Their market share has
increased every year for the least three years and they made 15% of the
personal computers sold on the planet last year.
While it is possible for them to go under, enough people bought them when they
cost more and were slower. I suspect that that percentage won't go away now
that their prices are lower and their machines are faster.
Their biggest competition is going to be Compaq, who may slightly edge them in
sales this year.
Do you really think they are in the same bin as Commodore? They come out with
models two or three times a year and they advertise! That ought to set them
apart! <grin> At least they are trying to do the right thing.
Oh well.
—— Andrew
"Do you really think they are in the same bin as Commodore? They come out with
models two or three times a year and they advertise! That ought to set them
apart! <grin> At least they are trying to do the right thing."
There's a lot more. Apple changed its distribution structure when it became
obvious that their old way of using only dedicated dealers wasn't working.
Apple will jump through hoops for any publicity opportunity. Apple will do
anything to survive including, as any Apple user knows, lie, cheat and steal.
Commodore just didn't do the job. Period.
Apple is still a reasonably solvent corporation, although could change
quickly if the PowerPC isn't a massive success. At this point, it's still too
early to tell. But, with an installed base of 15,000,000 users, they have a lot
further to fall than Commodore ever did.
Jerry
Apple's profits are down, Compaq _did_ surpass them this year, and with the
loss of their lawsuit, Windows 4.0 will even be more Mac-like.
According to a couple of published reports, Winows may even surpass the Mac OS
in features and ease of use.
Intel is hammering heavily at the Mac market, and one look at the software
selection in any software store for Mac vs Windows, shows who is really
dominant.
Market share did increase for awhile, but now is drifting downwards.
Electronics Botique, and other Mall based stores have stopped carrying Mac
software.
Now that the field is down to two, it will be Beta vs VHS.
I like Mac, and love the Amiga. However, in 5 years I have the ugly feeling it
will only be Intel/Microsoft that still are players.
> Apple's profits are down, Compaq _did_ surpass them this year,
> and with the loss of their lawsuit, Windows 4.0 will even be
> more Mac-like.
You can't say that. This years numbers are not in yet. 🙂 They won't be
here until Feb of next year or so.
_LAST_ year, Dataquest indicated Apple edged IBM to get to number one with
Compaq being third in number of machines sold.
This year, Compaq may pass Apple, with Apple and IBM battling for second.
> According to a couple of published reports, Winows may even surpass
> the Mac OS in features and ease of use.
Depends on the publication you read!
> Intel is hammering heavily at the Mac market.
Intel is very nervous over the PowerPC chip. It's faster and cheaper than the
Intel line. Even the PC rags are swooning over the chip. The PowerPC and AMD
and Cyixes chips will force Intel to lower chip prices by large amounts. There
goes their huge margins.
Those are the margins which have allowed them to make the 80×86 dinosaur as
fast as it is. By most estimates, the Pentium cost more to develop than the
entire current PowerPC line of four chips did. They have to fund that work out
of bloated chip prices.
> I like Mac, and love the Amiga. However, in 5 years I have the ugly
> feeling it will only be Intel/Microsoft that still are players.
Perhaps. If PowerPC fails then Apple _deserves_ to die. They are betting the
entire company on it bringing enough of a power boost to sway people.
Today a fairly constant 15% of the market seems to think the Mac is for them.
If they bought Macs when they were slow and expensive will they suddenly stop
now that PowerPC jacking up speed and cuting prices?
The next two quarters are critical.
—- Andrew
>According to a couple of published reports, Winows may even surpass the
>Mac OS in features and ease of use.
Not anytime soon. Windows, UGH! <G> You ought to watch a new Windows
user some time before you make silly statements like that. Hee hee hee, I
can't even count the times I've seen someone maximize a window, and try to
resize it, only to take the Program Manager with it. <Snicker> Where did
everything GO, they wail. Har Har Har ! (ROFL)
Urk, the thought that the future might require seeing Windows even more
than I do now isn't funny at all.
-Karl Speaking from the Rubble.
When that happens, I'll stop using computers and go live in a TeePee on a
mountain.
Dale L. Larson R360: You hit 23 Enemy Virtua Formula: 1/8
Intangible Assets Manufacturing AS-1: Most qualified
Alex
>>The Texas Instruments TI 99/4a had sold over 1 million units when it
>>died.
Yea I know I think I bought the 999,995th one. 4 days after TI quit
producing them. By the time I got familiar with it (my 1st computer)
parts and software had already dried up and was hard (not impossible) to
find.
>> >>I was on the verge of getting a 4000
>> >>or 4000T. Should I get a clone now or a powermac?
>>Yes…
Well I'l be damned if I am going to settle for a windoz box, The AV Macs
(with powerpc chips) look fun. But I'm the type to wait for the second
generation before I upgrade. I use a maxed out 2000 now and was looking
at the 4000's as the 4000's T are/were coming out. I can't really see
spending money on a deadend cpu now, when what I have meets my needs (not
wants!) at the present time.
I do hope there are plenty of replacement parts in the pipelines now.
Well, we just have to wait and see (business as usual with CBM (dead or
alive)).
…Steve
====>>> Motorola 68030 Inside <<<====
You and me both. I have about 99% of the money for a 4000 saved up. I w was
coming up against the hard decision of 4000, 4000lc, 4000T. I hear talk of
"Don't whine about the demise of Commodore, just enjoy your Amiga the way it
is" but my machine is getting flakey, and I am sick of waiting for 3.1 to
enhance my machine. This whole thing is Doom and Glooming me out 🙂
PMFJI, but what are the enhancements of 3.1 over 3.0 apart from allowing the CD
drive (of the 1200, for example), to be recognised?
—Richard Daniel.
More stable, an anim datatype, I don't know what else.
Any of you lucky souls out there want to clue us in so we can be properly
jealous?
Paul – Minus Pins!
3.0 has problems on ECS machines — any bugs on ECS were defered to be
fixed in 3.1, since they HAD to get 3.0 out for AA.
Dale L. Larson R360: You hit 23 Enemy Virtua Formula: 1/8
Intangible Assets Manufacturing AS-1: Most qualified
Just installed mine yesterday Dale:) HarryM