#Attention Believers!
52 messages in this thread
OK, time for me to try and get some consensus around here
i have a question which I would like (IF possible) ALL forum members to
answer;
Do we want the Amiga to have a future?
Before you answer that contemplate this analogy, Your at a Baseball
game, it's the bottom of the 9th innings, your team's 4-0 down there's two out
and the last man is up to bat. There are Four likely actions of a spectator 1)
They walk out and later hear they lose, a grin comes across their
face (He knew it would happen) – Is anybody here that cynical? 2) They
walked out and later heard that they had won 5-4 , you feel
cheated – you missed a lot of action. 3) You hung around, but they lost,
but you feel satisfied that they tried
everything. 4) You hung around and they won, Wow what a Buzz – wouldn't
that feel
good?
Well it's the bottom of the 9th innings and the Amiga is up to bat
what do you want to do?
For those who continue to Pooh-pooh the intentions of a group wanting
to stay in the game, I might suggest that you at least be objective and
constructive. If there is to be any future for the Amiga, we at least need
unity
because if we can't try and save our own butts any likely financier/ investor
isn't going to give anything let alone the time of day. For those who have
invested in AGA or were thinking about buying
an A1200,A4000 or any successor You have a lot to lose with the demise of
Amiga. So do we want the Amiga to Survive? If it's yes then we at least need
to get behind Jim Drew and support him as best we can!
OK I'm done now. <g>
Lets start a ballot on line.
Here are the issues – please vote only once – 100036,174
1. I want the Amiga to have a future.
2. I intent to by future Amiga products as they become available.
Developer Section
3. As a developer I would be interested in licencing AMIGA technology.
4. As a developer I intend to maintain development of AMIGA products.
Money where your mouth is Section
5. I am willing to support the new AMIGA.
6. I am willing to financially support Jim Drew's proposal if it becomes
a reality.
——> Lets see how many people are willing to answer – Yes
–> Television without lights is Bad Radio 🙂
–> WES TATTERS, BRIZ 31, AUSTRALIA –<
OK, here goes: 1. Yes! But my desires may have little to do with what might
actually happen. (I assume you mean a positive future. 🙂 2. Sure, I'll
keep buying products as long as I can keep these machines alive… no problem
so far finding spare parts. 3. Most developers already license the Workbench.
What else do you mean? 4. Yes, Syndesis will continue Amiga development. 5.
What new Amiga? 6. What proposal? He's taking money already? Even I didn't
hear that. 🙂
Hi John,
Hypothetical Survey only !! 😕
:: How's my DRIVING – 100036,174 – ON AUTOPILOT ::
:: WES TATTERS, BRIZ 31, AUSTRALIA ::
1) yes, I want the Amiga to have a future 2) yes, I intend to buy future Amiga
products as they become available 3) not a developer 4) not a developer 5) yes
I'm willing to support the new Amiga and mom and apple pie too 6) yes I'm
willing to finacially suport Jim Drew's proposal if it becomes
a reality. I invested in Phoenix Microtechnologies A1000 mother board
replacement project (remember that one?) and was amply rewarded. I'm
ready willing and able to do it again if it means avoiding the choice
of giving up home computing or buying a PC or a Mac.
Ron
1, 2, 5, 6.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
1 – YES
2 – Yes
3 – I am not currently developing anything comercial, but if I was, Yes
4 – see above
5 – Yes
6 – I'd have to hear a lot more!
Bill… on Autopilot in Womelsdorf 😉
Wes,
1. Y
2. Y
3. NA
4. NA
5. Y
6. Y
Pete Gould (No relation to Irving)
1,2,5: yes
6: yes!
3,4: not applicable
1,2,5,6 Aye
1. Amiga future: Yes. I just bought a Supra 28MHz accelerator for my A2000
to see if I could extend its life. It added zip, but the Amiga software still
lags behind what is available on Mac and PC.
2. Amiga products: Possibly, depending upon the product and its comparison to
similar products on my Mac Centris 660AV.
3. Not a developer.
4. Not a developer.
5. Support the new Amiga: possibly (same as 2 above regarding A2000-compatible
purchases; not too likely regarding new CPU purchase; possible for upgrade to
A2000 hardware, such as replacement motherboard).
6. Invest: Not in a financial position to do so.
Some words of explanation and observation about these gut-wrenching events of
the last week.
I am a classic case of an Amiga purchaser who bought my A1000 because it did so
much more graphically and audibly than any other computer at the time (1987),
and cost less. I was upgrading from my original purchase of a C-64 for the
rather expensive price of $595 (just the CPU – my machine has a serial number
of 14232). But compared to the Apple IIe available at the time, even at its
introduction price the C64 was a price/performance leader. I later traded up
to an A2000HD in 1990.
When I considered an Amiga 4000 purchase in 1993, I compared the machine
against a Mac Centris 660AV, which could digitize NTSC video as well as sample
audio (16-bit resolution at CD speed) RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. When I factored in
the purchase of an Emplant board to get the Mac compatibility I needed with my
day job, I came to the unfortunate conclusion that there was simply no piece of
software that I needed to run that was only available on the Amiga; that
similar packages such as word processors and structured drawing packages
available for Macintosh outperformed those available for Amiga; and, irony of
ironies, the 660AV would cost less than a similarly-configured A4000, even
without the Emplant. Those Apple ads about doing more and costing less aren't
just blowing smoke anymore – they accurately reflect Apple's new competitive
pricing. The more I considered an Amiga 4000, the more it felt like my prior
purchase of a Sony SuperBeta hifi VCR.
And consider the planned modular PowerMac AV machine to be released this
summer. It has specifications that sound like the computer that the A4000
should have been – modular boards which allow replacement of any component of
the system – video, audio, CPU. It's like the A4000 processor board, taken to
its logical conclusion. The first three PowerMacs are only the beginning, and
none of them will do Audiovisual work as well as that Modular AV Mac.
If I needed to do video switching or direct-to-NTSC animation, especially
broadcast-quality 3D work, I would have bought an A4000 on introduction. But
without that overriding reason to buy one, I could not justify the purchase
(and still could not today). I anticipate using my A2000 less and less until
it joins my C64, still functioning, but only occasionally turned on,
nostalgically taking up space next to more capable machines.
Though I really do hope that the Amiga product line will survive, and do wish
the best for such an effort, I fear that the damage done during the last few
years of mis-management, lost opportunities, non-existent publicity, and
technical stagnation have allowed other systems to overtake the Amiga, and have
irreparably damaged it. Seeing the writing on the wall, I have already voted
with my pocketbook. It would take a product as technically innovative and
groundbreaking as the original Amiga was in 1985 to get my attention again.
And one last note: if somebody actually acquires the rights to the system,
PLEASE BRING BACK THE AMIGA CHECKMARK!
> PLEASE BRING BACK THE AMIGA CHECKMARK!
Revisionist!
BRING BACK THE BOING BALL!
🙂
-larry
Bring back cassette tape drives 🙂
NO DON'T!
Stephen Bailey
Sawyer & Bailey Film & Video CIS # 72773,2451
Yes, come one, come all, get the all new PET 5000, guarunteed to put to
good use all those obsolete old cassettes of the Beatles and the Rolling
Stones! Get a CD player and get a PET! Will not bite! Does not have
rabies!
Paul
Cassettes? What will I do with all my carefully archived punched paper
tape?
regards, Lu on AutoPilot downunder
Make Nostalgic Techno Jewelery out of it 🙂 HarryM
Cassette drives? You lazy so-and-so. Bring back binary front panel switch
loading of bootstraps! <mad cackle>
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Hold on there, old timer! <hand on shoulder> How'z about a drink? That
cackle sounds thirsty.
Stephen Bailey
Sawyer & Bailey Film & Video CIS # 72773,2451
How'z about a drink?
Gosh .. another form of LIQUIDATION! 🙂
–Jim
All this talk about liquidation is making me thirsty! Where's that ice
tea, or lemonade?
-= Vance =- Image Master
Flying high on Black Belt Systems' Imagemaster R/t!
I don't drink – it's probably why I cackle now and again… :^)
–Ben
…via AutoPilot
Cassette drives? Nahhh … bring back punched paper tape!
–Jim
Do you still have a KIM?
Randy Brooks
Yup, I still have my original KIM-1, with 1K+ of RAM, 2K of ROM, hex keypad,
8-digit LED display and no ROR instruction.
It is, however, framed and hanging in my hallway. I could dig it out and
power it up if there were a real need, but it looks real pretty there.
–Jim
Well put. A lot of ground has been lost the last 3 years. It would take alot to
gain it back. I dunno if it can happen, Toaster notwithstanding.
Yes to all!
Yes to all.
Wes:
1> Most certainly! My family would kill me if I deserted the Amiga.
<grin>
2> Based on available funds, certainly. House payment comes first
though. <sigh>
3> Yes.
4> Chaocity will continue its Amiga development, though I'm not as
fast as I used to be. <sigh> VRLI has agreed to continue upgrading its
Amiga products. (Though since I do both, it may take time.)
5> I imagine that I will support whatever new development happens to
the Amiga.
6> I'll be glad to donate all of my lotto winnings. <grin> (Someone
may have to front me enough for a ticket though. <sigh>)
Clint <VRLI><Chaocity>
Just a consumer, but I'll support the line if it shows capability for growth.
I'll buy shares from moonlighting consulting jobs to back up the words. But it
don't mean a thing if it ain't got "vision"… I gotta see a chance for the
surviving technology to grow and evolve.
1, 2, 5, 6 if I can.
Richard -> AutoPilot on the A1000
1. yes
2. yes
3.
4.
5. yes
6.yes
Ahhhh, that felt good.
Oklahoma City, OK
1. Yes
2. No (Things like CD32)
Yes (A5000, A6000, AAA, A++ – chip-sets)
3. —
4. —
5. Yes
6. Yes if he's going public
Marcus Gasser
AMICOM-Informatik, Berne, Switzerland
FWIW –
yes
yes
N.A.
N.A.
yes
yes
. . . . JimDoc, on AutoPilot
Here goes….
1. Certainly
2. Yes-in-diddy
3. Not currently a developer
4. Not currently a developer
5. Ohhh Yeah
6. Sure. Why not? I'm a DINK (Dual Income No Kids (yet).
Randy
Traveling the $uper Information Highway
1. Y
2. Y
3. N/A
4. N/A
5. Y
6. Y
Bob Comer — Cruising the nets on Autopilot!
Cheyenne, Wyoming U.S.A.
1. YES
2. YES
3. Not applicable.
4. Not applicable
5. YES
6. I've ordered an Emplant, I'll buy the PC emulation next 1st of June and
I'm saving money to get the MP board.
Rafa <Motorola Inside>
…via AutoPilot 1.061 now from Berlin
OK, here goes:
1. Yes. (or, rather, !)
2. Um. Does that, like, mean I will buy "every" product? No! But
products which are of use to me or appeal to me for other reasons – Yes!
3. N/A
4. Well, I _am_ only a beginner, but I _intend_ to do so… ;^)
5. Yes!
6. Yes! (Hail to Jim Drew! – and all supporting him in this.)
// Chris coming in from Germany
\X/ still on AutoPilot 1.061….
Wes,
Do we play like last year's Phillies or this year's?
1.Yes, 2. sp buy…yes, 5.yes, 6.yes
———————————————-Don- via Whap!
of course Nr.1
also Nr.2
(I have invested about 2000 $ in the last year)
and I want also invest some Money in the future !
3 na
4 na
5 na
6 if I can of course
best wishes
Who did you say was Amiga's opponent in that baseball-game??? 😉
Mario -= MoToRoLa RuLeZ, InTeL FooLZ! =-
68020 aGa inside.
Mario, it's not a case of who Amiga's opponent is, it's the principal
of either standing by the Platform or walking away from it. Myself personally
have invested in the following in the last 12 months – an A4000, A2386BB,
PicassoII, VGA adaptor (Yuck – at least it was cheap)
and I might end up using my last slot for Jim's '060 board , it now has 10Megs
ram total – in all I've shelled out close to US$5000 equivalent
and I ain't going to lie down and die or walk away. I hope there are 000's of
others who feel the same way and will stand behind any proposed
continuation of either 3rd Party peripherals or the Amiga line itself> With
that can I presume you are in favour? <g>
Ian Gatrell
Count me in for that!!! I still think Amiga is the very best. Too bad the
computer is kind of 'ahead of it's time', so to speak…
I recently invested quite a lot too: an A1200 with 250Megs aboard and an
VGA-multiscan-monitor. Together good for about $1500 (fl. 2700,-), I guess…
I will back-up the Amiga-pltfrm aaaaaaallllll the way!
Mario -= MoToRoLa STILL RuLeZ, InTeL FooLZ =-
68020 aGa onboard
Actually Ian, we need to get behind whoever surfaces with the "remains" of
our computers. I don't doubt Jim's ability to accomplish, if the
opportunity to do so exists.
Yes, I plan on supporting the Amiga. As for unity, the equation is
simple:
You are for, or against.
Thos who are against us, we ignore and press on. As Amiga users, we've
had to do that with individuals outside our community anyway. Now it is a
matter of who stands to be counted, and who goes "over there", wherever
that may be.
Chris – Fast and Low on my '020!
Is it significant that my spell checker doesn't know "Quit"?
Chris, the more spport we can get the _better_ our chances are for a
future as somebody once said – Nothing ventured, nothing gained C= stopped
venturing a while back, I suppose _real_ people are
going to have to pick up the pieces and take a chance.
Ian
I am all for it, and I'll do what I can. (I can assure you that it isn't
much tho!)
Chris – Fast and Low on my '020!
Without the Amiga… the toaster is just another card.
What are you taking about leave the stadium, this isn't even the
world series yet they have more games to play.
but seriously there are so many options available it isn't funny
why should one jump ship now. If we could figure these things out
and have all these ideas that we put out on the forums surely cbm
has thought of it. it makes you really wonder if the things that were done
over these years to put the amiga in the position it is in
was done on purpose, you know like they really didn't care, because
nobody in charge of a million dollar company can be that stupid where
the consumer has a better idea of running the company and they don't
even own it.
Charles, I hope there are more matches to play, but it could also be
considered a relegation match. I'm not suggesting that anyone should jump
ship. Far from it. This would without doubt destroy any user base
which might at least have a chance of survival. Who would likely buy an Amiga
under present circumstances? It would
be up to the user base to show that despite C='s demise we aren't going to be
flustered and act either irresponsibily or irrationally. Those who want to
_try_ and offload their Ami's to new unsuspecting
arrivals to the computer world, they may feel they've been landed with a
lemon. And weren't we all New to the computer field once?
One of the qualities we need right now is stability. The faster the boat
rocks, the quicker it takes on water!
YY YY EEEEEE SSSS **
YY YY EE E SS SS **
YYYY EE SS **
YY EEEE SSSS **
YY EE SS **
YY EE E SS SS
YYYY EEEEEE SSSS **
// Chris coming in from Germany
\X/ still on AutoPilot 1.061….
Special award for Chris!! Can I use that to make a tagline, something like
"just say YES to Amiga"?
Oklahoma City, OK
Feel free to use it for whatever you like… ;^)
// Chris coming in from Germany
\X/ still on AutoPilot 1.061….