CompuServe Thread

#Haynie Joins Scala

22 messages in this thread
#151572From: Betty Clay/SYSOPJun 8, 1994 9:01 PM
This is great news for SCALA, John – but not for the Amiga. I guess I have kept thinking that as long as Dave was there, we had hopes of the Amiga continuing. Congratulations, though. Dave should be a wonderful addition for your company. —Betty
#151575From: Harry ManolopoulosJun 8, 1994 9:30 PM
Yeah, but what if he gets to build what he really would like to! Congrats Dave – Harry M –
#151623From: Dale LarsonJun 9, 1994 4:44 AM
Dave decided to leave before he decided which offer to accept. At least while he is at Scala he is still living in the area and is working with the largest single group of former Commodore engineers (I'm pretty sure Scala has exceeded 3DO on that count). If Amiga design technology is needed again, there is still some left at Commodore (George Robbins of A500 and A1200 fame and Greg Berlin of A4000 fame, for example). And I'm sure Scala would have some interest in renting or loaning out some of its resources as needed. — Dale L. Larson, Intangible Assets Manufacturing
#151640From: Betty Clay/SYSOPJun 9, 1994 9:42 AM
That's good to know, Dale. Thanks. I knew that Dave would have no problems finding a good job, and I knew he would have to be thinking of such – but I'm still sorry to see him (along with quite a few others) have to leave. The fewer knowledgeable people are left, the more difficult it would be for a purchaser to continue with the Amiga. —Betty
#151655From: Dale LarsonJun 9, 1994 11:54 AM
Commodore is moving out of the West Chester building and up to it's CSG building about 10-15 miles north. I think Dave just didn't want to move his office. 🙂 — Dale L. Larson, Intangible Assets Manufacturing
#151702From: Betty Clay/SYSOPJun 9, 1994 6:42 PM
That is understandable, too. I suspect that it's getting rather lonely around Commodore these days, too, isn't it? —Betty
#151649From: John ChangJun 9, 1994 10:27 AM
Betty, Thank you. We expected reactions to be mixed on Haynie joining us. Indeed, we are pleased that he decided to join Scala. We can greatly benefit from his talents. As to the fate of the Amiga, we would not be adverse to assisting the new owners of the technology. ;-} Regards, John Chang Technical Support Manager Scala, Inc.
#151701From: Betty Clay/SYSOPJun 9, 1994 6:42 PM
John, I can see many benefits to having the Amiga engineers and programmers working for people like you. I can understand why Dave might have felt that he had to find another position – though I cannot imagine that being a problems for him – and I'm delighted to see him working with the other Amiga engineers and with a company that appreciates the Amiga. But until the fate of the Amiga is finally settled, it will continue to sadden me each time someone I've known at Commodore decides to move on. We all appreciate your attitude concerning the new owners of the technology. Hey—–if YOU became the new owners, we'd be in great shape, wouldn't we? —Betty
#151750From: Paul HigginbottomJun 9, 1994 9:29 PM
>if [Scala] became the new owners [of the Amiga], we'd be in >great shape, wouldn't we? It's a long distance from selling multimedia software to worldwide manufacturing and sales of computers. I very much doubt Scala has the resources. I still believe it will take a capital and marketing investment of about 300 million dollars to rejuvenate the Amiga (if it's possible). Moreover, Scala seems to have some much more lucrative things cooking.
#151781From: Betty Clay/SYSOPJun 10, 1994 12:35 AM
I know that, Paul. It's just that they seem to have the people who know how. It's been obvious all along that they were not planning to manufacture Amigas.. —Betty
#151810From: John ChangJun 10, 1994 9:11 AM
Betty, You said and I quote, "We all appreciate your attitude concerning the new owners of the technology. Hey—–if YOU became the new owners, we'd be in great shape, wouldn't we?" Indeed, it would be great! Unfortunately, we will not be the new owners. Again, we look forward to working with whomever owns the Amiga technology. Regards, John Chang Technical Support Manager Scala, Inc.
#151962From: John DraperJun 11, 1994 11:54 AM
Congrats to you and Dave! I had been wondering where he would end up. -larry
#152203From: John ChangJun 13, 1994 11:12 AM
Larry, Thanks. BTW, I've relayed some of the messages to Dave. He says hello. Regards, John Chang Technical Support Manager Scala, Inc.
#152340From: John DraperJun 14, 1994 2:56 AM
Thanks for forwarding.. It's been a long time since I chatted with him. -larry
#151670From: Steve AhlstromJun 9, 1994 2:03 PM
Betty, Eric Cotton is still there and he says … ——– … Just to add to Peter's comments, yes there are still a number of us remaining – we're just not as vocal or as visible as Dave was. True, Dave was (and is) one of the best and brightest but there are still some talented people around with whom I'm proud to work. While I think the heart and soul of the Amiga has always been the engineers, there are still too many of us left to declare the patient dead 🙂 Eric — Eric M. Cotton (215) 431-9100 Commodore-Amiga eric@commodore.com 1200 Wilson Drive "Destination anywhere… West Chester, PA 19380 East or west, I don't care." ——— In hardware, Robbins and Berlin are still there. The people that are left will be moving to a new building shortly. The time and expense of moving (to the guard shack?) is partially encouraging since it'd be easier to just lock the doors. -sja
#151703From: Betty Clay/SYSOPJun 9, 1994 6:42 PM
Thanks for that word, Steve. Any idea how many ARE left in West Chester? —Betty
#151715From: Dale LarsonJun 9, 1994 7:18 PM
Depends on how you count. Less than 40 by any count, maybe less the 30, with less than half of the total being engineers (and CATS, all two of them, are now counted as part of engineering). — Dale L. Larson, Intangible Assets Manufacturing
#151672From: Mark D. ManesJun 9, 1994 2:03 PM
Betty, Getting Dave into SCALA is the best thing right now for the Amiga community. I would not like to see Dave working at 3DO (though I have one and love it) or working at SGI, etc. If he is at SCALA at least he will be with other Amiga engeineers and the possibility still remains that SCALA could be contracted to do some work for whoever takes over the machine. It really is the best thing. -mark= Otto Pilot Engaged..
#151704From: Betty Clay/SYSOPJun 9, 1994 6:42 PM
Mark, I can see that. John has made it very obvious that SCALA will do all it can to help keep the Amiga alive. I can easily agree that it is good for all of us that, if Dave were leaving Commodore at all, SCALA would be the best place (from our viewpoint, anyway) for him to go. —Betty
#151740From: Paul IdolJun 9, 1994 8:57 PM
Well, you have a bit of a vested interest, don't you now? <g> I'm enormously happy for Dave, but I'm even more sad for the Amiga. One of the best and brightest has passed from its lands. I'm sure he'll do great things for Scala, but I'm sad nonetheless. Still, at least I know that Scala won't turn its back on the Amiga completely. But nonetheless, business realities are business realities. Paul
#151820From: Mark D. ManesJun 10, 1994 9:27 AM
Scala will never turn it's back on the Amiga, that is very true. I also can say with a certain amount of certainly that if the Amiga somehow resurfaces in another company's hand, that Scala will be very pleased. We do have new products for the Amiga computer. -mark= Otto Pilot Engaged..
#151696From: Steve SetzerJun 9, 1994 5:50 PM
Betty, My thoughts exactly. I have been guardedly optimistic of future amigas, but with the departure of Hazie, it has turned pessimistic. Good news for Dave though and I wish him the best of luck with Scala, he sure has done a tremendous job and all Amiga owners owe him a debt of gratitude. …Steve Cruising on Autopilot from beautiful Coastal South Carolina