#No 2.0 for N.A. !!!
77 messages in this thread
Don,
I recently talked to someone WITHIN the engineering department of CBM who
told me that, at the moment, Medhi Ali (sp?) doesn't feel there's a market
for 2.0 enhancers for the 500/2000 in the U.S., and the company has decided
not to produce 2.0 enhancers kits for these computers right now–probably
because of the cost of production.
I know this sounds ABSURD, beyond any of the previous CBM marketing faux
paus, but it is TRUE. My source is a Commodore employee who's involved with
the production of 2.0.
She/he suggested that all users who want 2.0 should write a POLITELY
WORDED, CALM letter to Commodore marketing explaining that they and their
friends DO want to buy 2.0 for their A500/2000 machines, and they WILL
spend the money on it.
I know this sounds crazy, but if you knew my source, you'd definitely
believe me. I first heard it second-hand and went "naw…" But now I'm
extremely disturbed.
So folks, I'd wake up the user groups and start writing letters.
…Denny
(This makes me lose any faith that CBM has any concept of their
marketplace, by the way.)
Denny –
Sounds like he is taking a page out of Tramiel's marketing book. (Who
would WANT a disk drive on a VIC or C64?) 🙂
Bill, K3OZM
Support America!
Naw, they're busy building UNIX enhancer packages for CDTV! ;-(
In my opinion, marketing holds a death grip on the company, no matter how
many of 'em they fire or layoff each time they change presidents. The US
subsidiary has such a poor track record that they have absolutely no
confidence in doing anything on their own. They have to be shown that
something is a good thing to market before they will follow suit.
Things like the 286 BB being released in Europe, Canada, and Australia a
year before the US because they were afraid of hurting US PC sales is a
perfect example of this.
It was said that 85 percent of all CBM sales came from Europe last year.
The fact that Europe is a game and A500 market means that the most
incompatibility with software will fall there. It wouldn't supprise me to
see CBM Europe say that they don't want 2.0, and the rest of the CBM
subsidiaries around the world will follow suit.
I am afraid that many developers will drop the Amiga just because of the
way they have been dealt with. CATS has been beating on us to be 2.0
compatible for over a year. Pity the poor developer who has designed his
application around features in 2.0 that will never be released. All the
person hours and equipment and effort spent using 2.0 only features are
flushed down the toilet. Many managers will just cancel the project and end
it. I can see CATS going to europe to support their developer base in the
near future.
-Greg
The above is entirely in the personal opinion of one Gregory B. Tibbs
If there is just one person in the position to say yea or nay on 2.0, then
something at CBM is very wrong. It should be a group decision to prevent
personal feelings from making a major mistake.
-Greg
Starting 2.0 (1.4) development was probably approved by a comittee and now
a single person is holding it up?
-Greg
Remember when CBM got bad press for 'recalling' the Amiga Operating System.
Just think of how 'Cancelling the Amiga Dos Operating system' will look.
Right next to 'Cancelling Amix'.
-Greg
Nah, I got it all figured out… Commodore is bringing out 2.0, but by
making people write in for it first, they can look like they listen to
letters.
<grin>
Denny –
Would you mind if I quoted you on this in my club Newsletter (Warning –
CBM does get a copy). Or would you prefer that this news gets printed
unsigned. One way or the other, I'm going to print this!
It is truely a CRAZY Thought! If they hold back then there are going to
be alot of unhappy people.
– Roy Pahnke – Casper, Wyomin'
Roy,
I don't know who is getting the user group newsletters now, but before I
got laid off, they came to me from January '91 through my termination date.
Dave
Dave –
Welcome back to the real world of telcomputing, hows it feel to be able
to come over here as JUST a user? — Can we plan on seeing you over in
these forums on a regular basis? Especially now that your not so tied up
with your other Telcom/Support chores 😉 Sorry to here about the job
situation, I hope this opens you open to new and exciting possiblities for
futur employeement. Say, what's the unemployment rate in West Chester PA
these days anyway. 😉 And I'm not trying to make fun of your or others
recent events, I'm just kidding around with ya. I do hope you find work
soon, especially with the new baby and all. Say – Are you a Dad yet?
ConGrats' to you – hope it's a happy and healthy one.
Back to the subject at hand. Well, I haven't mailed a Newsletter since
Nov. of 90. But the group is getting it together again and I have again
been elected Editor (This time it's less all the other jobs like President,
Secretary, V.P etc.). And I'm doing a newsletter this month, so who ever
is left over there at the West Chester address – someone will get it I
suppose – They could throw it away for all I care.
But this news about 2.0 is really disturbing. I haven't read the
lastest messages in this thread yet, so if you responded in an opinion I
haven't seen it. Sure hope this is all un-true.
– Roy Pahnke – Casper, Wyomin'
Roy,
I'll be dropping through as time permits. The baby arrived Friday at 12
noon, so, as you can imagine, I may not be through here too regularly. My
time will be even less my own than it was last month. (grin)
I can't say anything on the 2.0 situation, not because I can't, but because
I just don't know anymore what is going on.
Hope to catch you online one Sunday night at the CO.
Dave
Congradulations on the Healthy Baby – Dave!
Now you ARE going to be buzy. (18 to 20 years Buzy 😉 ). Like I said,
it's good to have you around. Yes we'll meat in the CO some night.
be readin' ya.
– Roy Pahnke – Casper, Wyomin'
Roy,
Thanks for the congrats!
Dave
Dave;
Congrats, best to baby and mother too.
An Amiga message processed by Whap!,
bill
Denny –
Do you think the letter should go to the marketing folks in West Chester,
or the executive offices (Mehdi Ali) in New York?
Jeff Schweiger
Jeff,
It couldn't hurt to send letters to both locations.
Denny Atkin, Associate Editor
COMPUTE's Amiga Resource
Denny –
Shall I quote you to Usenet again? (grin). Think of all the letters that
that could generate (but I'd have to very heavily stress the use of
calmness and politeness!!)
Jeff Schweiger
Jeff and all,
Out of concern for this situation, I placed a call to Commodore's PR rep
today. He said he'd heard these rumors, but they were not true. He's
supposed to call West Chester and see what kind of info he can release to
me to squelch the rumors.
As I mentioned before, I would have never passed on the word in the first
place had *2* CBM software engineers who I trust told me that the rumors
were true.
I can't see an ulterior motive for wanting this information out, so I
assume that, at one point, CBM was not going to release an enhancer in the
U.S., but they have hopefully changed their minds. A press colleage called
Dionne's office today and was told that he rumors weren't true, and 2.0
would be released here as an enhancer kit.
I don't know if there was a quick turn-around, or if the engineering folks
had heard bad news but hadn't heard that the decision had been changed. In
any case, it's not time to panic yet. If you've written a letter, it can't
hurt to mail it. But don't spread around the original panic message until I
get more info, hopefully later today.
Situation recap, since I deleted the original messages: Two people who work
for Commodore and helped write 2.0 said that the US marketing folks had
postponed a U.S. release because of a perceived lack of demand for the
update. Commodore denies it and says a U.S. release is pending. Massive
confusion ensues. 😉
Denny –
I had not yet written a letter, or posted the info to Usenet. I will
refrain from doing so until I hear more from you.
Jeff Schweiger
You should let it fly anyway. If CBM understood that people have such a
low opinion of their marketting that lets them believe such an assinine
thing was even considered, maybe they will REALLY take a hard look at
getting a REAL PROFESSSIONAL marketting team in there.
wmc
I have to agree Wayne. Even though Denny's message of 2.0 not being
released may not be true, it had a large number of people believing it was
a fact or entirely possible, including myself. This goes to show that CBM's
previous history of blunders can cause us to believe anything is possible,
and usually not for the better.
John (in beautiful downtown Walla Walla) – via Whap!
Wayne –
I've posted Lou Wallace's recap of his phone interview with Jim Dionne to
Usenet. Of interest, the complaints about Amiga Unix also appear to have
been heard – Ewout Walraven (CATS) posted a statement from marketing (David
Archambault) that reconfirmed CBM's committment to the Amiga Unix to both
Usenet and Bix.
I still may send a letter, though. I will draft it somewhat differently to
reinforce that a continued committment to both 2.0 and Unix is desired, and
will also ask about certain long promised Unix products (software only for
A2500 and A3000 machines, multi-user licenses, ABI compliance/release 2.1).
We'll see what happens.
Jeff Schweiger
Denny,
I must have missed the original post, but from what I gather from here
(CI$) is that C= is NOT going to release the 2.0 OS in North America? Is
this correct? If this is true, I am going to sell my amy in protest and
buy a clone!! What kind of dunderhead thinking is this. My blood is
boiling. Please find out about this, if C= is so stupid as to pull a stunt
like this I will NEVER buy one of their products again. Just the fact that
they would entertain an asinine idea like this ought to tell you that they
have no concern for the loyal users of their products.
..Steve
Whap!ping from beautiful coastal South Carolina
Steve,
Sources within Commodore said that CBM's Mehdi Ali didn't want to release
2.0 in the U.S. CBM's PR rep said that that was not true, and that an
announcement of a release was forthcoming. Which is true? I don't know. As
soon as I find out, I'll post here.
Oops. See Lou Wallace's message elsewhere in this area. If it was true at
one time, it's not any longer. 2.0 is coming, and if Jim Dionne is right,
it's only about 6 weeks away!
Denny Atkin, Associate Editor
COMPUTE's Amiga Resource
Percieved lack of demand? Maybe some of the CBM marketing droids should get
on some of the Telecom services and see the daily screams for 2.0. It
becomes more apparent that whoever is in charge of US marketing doesn't
really know the market at all.
John (in beautiful downtown Walla Walla) – via Whap!
Denny,
I just spent a rather largish amount of cash to add another HD and I am
ordering the MegaChip 2000, the MultiStart and Super Denise (if I can get
it).
Now your telling me that I won't be able to get 2.0? Hmm… it's a good
thing I can't lay my hands on some plutonium or U-235. <no joke>
Brian J. Bartlett
Denny,
Again…my facts are that ROMs are being made right now. My guess
was that they'd be available sometime during September.
If Commodore doesn't make the kits available in the US market…you
are absolutely correct…they will have, for all intents and purposes,
abandoned the US market as far as the user is concerned.
I can understand Commodore making the decision to give priority to
other markets…that's where 70 to 80 % of the machines are, but to
completely deny the US market the upgrade would be a blunder of the highest
magnitude. I can't imagine them being that stupid.
But then stranger things have happened.
Do you by any chance have a 2nd source who could verify that?
I'm also quite sure that your statement here will spawn a bit of
discussion at Devcon in a few weeks…might make life very interesting for
some certain folks at Commodore.
Don
Don,
TWO CBM employees (not in marketing, but engineering-related jobs)
confirmed what was in that letter.
Denny Atkin, Associate Editor
COMPUTE's Amiga Resource
I am going to be vocal at DevCon, that's for sure. But I bet Dionne
chickens out and won't address the Crowd as a whole as did Copperman last
year.
-Greg
o|s6I imagine that, if this is the current plans of C= management, there
are going to be a LOT of very vocal people at DevCon. I'll be one of them.
Keith
We need to stage a protest at Devcon. We should have T-shirts and picket
signs to carry around so everyone sees 'em. A logo like :
1.3 H*LL NO!, 2.0 or We GO!
-Greg
– via Whap!
Greg,
Love your slogan! I personally are going to call them tomorrow. And I am
NOT going to be polite. You can't market what you won't sell. And if they
won't sell 2.0 in the US it means that the 2000 in this country is only
good as a Toaster platform, the 500 a 64/128 replacement and the 3000 for
Unix users mainly. It seems that the entire marketting function at CBM is
designed to P*&& off users and blow opportunities. If they had been smart
they would have put the 3000 prices where they are in power-up as a
permanent price last year, CDTV retail would be about $650, and they would
have developed a better dealer network by treating dealers better. But
NOOOOoooo! They are CBM – Crackpots, Bozos and Morons must be what that
stands for.
Sheesh, these guys are gonna make me take up drinking again…
wmc
I sincerly HOPE this is a fire-drill and it gets correctly resolved. If
not, the T-shirt idea sounds good to me… make mine an extra large.
Keith
Greg,
I wrote a fairly calm letter and mailed it yesterday to Mr. Dionne but
my inner thoughts were NOT calm. What a bunch of pea-brains!!! They must
be from Pluto! ***** Rest of message expurgated by author due to excessive
expletives.*****
….Mark
Dionne spoke at the mini-DevCon at WOA NYC, but I don't remember
him taking questions (could be wrong). He emphasized at that point the home
markets and said that the professional markets were a longer-term
proposition. Not very reassuring. We'll see if he has anything more to say.
What'll be interesting, from my position, is what'll be said in the
speech on educational markets. Since the DevCon agenda was created, the
education people have really been shrunk severely.
— Ethan
Ouch, boy have you hit a raw nerve. Although I have a 3000 and in the
process of getting 2.04, I have quite a few friends who are 2000/500 owners
who are very anxious to get 2.0. I can't believe CBM is going to abandon
the 500/2000 owners in this way. Like I said before in a previous message,
I love my Amiga but I hate CBM's support. I wonder what my friends are
going to say when I show them a copy of your message. Maybe I should just
hand them the note and then run 8^)
John (in beautiful downtown Walla Walla) – via Whap!
Denny,
CBM couldn't market real $100 bills for $20. So why should you be suprised
that they shove it to us on 2.0? Hell, its probably a cynical design to
boost 3000 sales – " ya want 2.0 and future support – get a 3000!"
wmc
I know I've been gone for a while, but, Wayne, I really don't
remember you being this childish. How old are you? I notice everyone else
is ignoring you, I guess that's a hint. I thought CompuServe was a step up
from Usenet in terms of level of understanding.
BTW, SysOps, if you feel this is inappropriate, delete it. I
understand. This isn't usenet. 😎
— Ethan
I was about to upgrade to a A3000 until I heard this news. I doubt that
developers will just support 2.0 products for the small installed base of
A3000's. Now I dont know what to do. Do I upgrade to a 3000 or not??? HELP!
Nick
Nick,
I have no doubt that eventually all Amigas will have 2.0 available.
However, it appears that Commodore could spend some time goofing around
before releasing it if Mehdi Ali doesn't stop messing around with 2.0. The
release is inevitable, but I think some friendly letters to the NYC CBM
office letting Mr. Ali know he's sitting on a potential cash cow will
probably help get the OS released much sooner.
The 3000 will run 1.3, in any case.
(Does anyone have the CBM NY office address?)
Denny Atkin, Associate Editor
COMPUTE's Amiga Resource
One point that we can't forget is that Commodore is not going to
manufacture two different versions of the KS chip. That would be idiocy. So
new computers will eventually be made with 2.0. It would be totally
non-sensical once that happens to not make it available to all owners.
— Ethan
Ethan,
You make several assumptions in that message:
1. That Commodore wouldn't have two versions of the machine. For a
long time they had NTSC and PAL versions of Agnus, so why not have 2
separate KS chips. Once the mask is made, it's no big deal to do a run of
chips.
2. That some of the higher-ups at Commodore aren't idiots. *IF*
the rumor is true that 2.0 won't be available in the US…then they have
just proved that they are in fact idiots.
3. That all things CBM does is sensical. Stopping production of a
machine at the same time as it's being pushed by the 'Power Up' deal, and
being advertised in UNIX magazines is rather non-sensical. My dealer has
had several units on order for over a month. They're all spoken for, and
the customers are getting a bit upset.
4. Etc.
Don
1) It is cheaper for Commodore to make only one kind of chip rather
than two. That is why Commodore is installing 1MB Agni in the A500s, even
though only 512K is activated (I believe).
2) If Commodore nixes 2.0 upgrades, they are idiots. But
considering they spent god knows how many man-years into 2.0 it would be
unimaginable for them not to ship it.
3) I have no idea what you are talking about when you say stopping
production. If you are referring to Unix machines, most likely the demand
for 3000s is SO GREAT that they are making more money, for now, by selling
3000s. What is stupid is that the Unix machines aren't on power-up as well.
I never said I agree with everything CBM does, but most of it does
make sense from some perspective, that perspective just might not be yours.
— Ethan
Ethan,
you give CBM too much credit for intelligence. Since the days when the
Vic-20 came out, I have been buying CBM and, Lord knows, they have shown an
immense talent for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty.
re 1) It is neither cheaper nor costlier to maintain two different sets
of chips once the mask is designed and in use. Either requires the same
amount of time and materials to produce. The _only_ overhead would be in
inventory control.
re 2) Nothing more need be said except they are idiots, usually.
re 3) It was mentioned in a conference (I remember) that CBM stopped
production of the 3000 at about the same time that they decided on the
'Power Up' deal. Apparently marketing decided that it wanted to promote the
machine to clear a backlog of machines whilst management decided that it
didn't need and inventory overhang. The result is a 4-8 week backlog of
machines. Typical of Commodore.
From the general flow of the information I've seen, the right hand isn't
even connected to the same universe as the left hand, which should be no
suprise to those of us that remember the C-128, the Plus/4, etc ad nauseum.
At least with my TRaSh-80 I was gaurenteed that nothing would work from
model to model. With the Amiga I play guessing games from week to week.
Brian J. Bartlett
A RUMOUR that I heard was that CBM was indeed using the Power-Up to clear
out the backlog so that they could clear out their warehouses because a new
"super 3000" with a new chipset etc (not the 3000T) that had stuff like a
640x400x256 colors mode etc… was on the way out. Current 3000 owners
would do a mother board swap for a certain amount of money.
THIS IS JUST A RUMOUR FOLKS AND NOTHING MORE.
Nick
What the delays in 3000 production tell me is that Commodore didn't
expect the demand it got, although it is also quite possible that they
screwed up badly. I don't know, and I doubt most people here know either.
— Ethan
The Unix machines ARE on power-up. After some confusion, a message was
posted on Usenet from someone at Commodore confirming that. I called a
dealer and they gave me a price quote for power-up Unix.
Anyone that is thinking about getting an A3000UX, should make sure they act
before the end of August.
Tom
I have a friend who has an A3000UX on order via GSA. CBM had a contratual
delivery dae and have already missed that by 6 weeks. People on the Gov't
side are getting nervous now that the Federal Systems group is gone. Within
the last six weeks, my friend has had three new contacts within CBM, each
time the previous contact was laid off.
-Greg
– via Whap!
Greg,
I don't know about the GSA procedure but my dealer has UX's in stock and
has had for several months.
-sja
The person I talked about got his in today. -Greg
GSA required 100 percent delivery at the same time. I think that was the
problem. -Greg
Hmm. Ben? Are you listening? Are 3000UXes available via power up? I
thought you said your rep couldn't get it? There's this person I know
waiting to get a UX…
— Ethan
The currently released to the public A3000 SuperKickstart file (2.03)
contains A3000 specific code for the extra HW that is not in the older
machines. An educated guess would be that the release 32 bit Roms would be
A3000 specific as well. Since 16 bit ROMs to fit A2000s would be a
different form factor, there are two physically different sets going to be
released, and you can make an educated guess about whether or not they will
be the same SW.
-Greg
– via Whap!
Greg,
2.04 is the current public release of the A3000 SuperKickstart file is 2.04
(37.175). It was sent to dealers within the last 10 days. If your dealer
does not have it check again in a few days.
-sja
I mentioned 2.03 to sidestep potential non-disclosure problems. I am full
aware of 2.04's release.
(and am running it at the moment)
-Greg
Ethan,
1. It is not necessairly cheaper to produce one chip vs two
similar chips. It depends on how many production lines you have.
Presuming more than one production line, then it's the same cost to run one
line making chip A while running the other line making chip B. If you have
only one production line…then yes, it's cheaper to make only one chip
since you don't have to switch. I'd bet Commodore Chips (or whatever their
name is this week) has more than one production line for making KS ROMs.
2. No one said Commodore was going to nix 2.0, the current rumor is
that Ali has nix'ed it's release in the US only. That still leaves about
85% of the market opne.
3. You haven't been reading the thread. Commodore stopped
production in May of all 3000's, not just UNIX boxes. Supposedly to cut
down on inventory, which is fine…no problem there. But they didn't
restart them till about 2 weeks ago. By that time…they had over 8
million dollars in backorders.
Don
Commodore contracts the ROM production out to other manufacturers.
Usually NEC, Toshiba, and Sharp. With semiconductor production, once the
masks are made, volume and yield are the major determining factor on costs.
1.3 masks are made, and based on postings I've read here, so are the 2.0
masks. It really wouldn't cost that much more to make both versions of
ROMs.
Dean
DKB Software
Don, why would Commodore nix 2.0 in the U.S. but then sell it, say,
in Europe? Because all those game-toy owners really need the prettier
workbench? That makes ZERO sense. No matter how convoluted your logic is,
that makes no sense.
And, Don, I have been reading the thread. I have heard the rumor
that all 3000 production was stopped in May. Emphasis on rumor. It could be
true, I don't know. The rumor could very well be referring to the
discontinuation of the 3000/16, which is true. From there it could've been
blown up into all 3000s. I don't know. We are all just guessing.
— Ethan
Ethan,
Haven't you read all the messages from folks who ordered 3000s
under the powerup program and have been waiting weeks for delivery?
Wouldn't that indicate to you that 3000 production was stopped at least for
some time period?
While I certainly agree that it's normal for production to run in
"spurts", that is…run for a month or two and then stop for a month or two
(or more). Production lines can make the machines faster than dealer's can
sell them. It's also not unusual to allow inventories to lower at the end
of the fiscal year (which for Commodore is June 30th).
So there's no reason for me to disbelieve that 3000 production was
stopped, and based on the large number of backorders (my dealer has several
folks waiting for up to a month for product), there's also no reason for me
to disbelieve that production wasn't resumed until very recently.
As to selling a product elsewhere, but not in the US. There's lots
of examples of that. The SideCar was available lots of places long before
it was available in the US. I believe the 1500 is a Commodore product
(rather than a 3rd party product) and it's not available here.
Don
The Sidecar may be one example of a product delayed in the U.S.,
but the 1500 isn't really. That isn't a computer made by CIL so much as it
is CBM UK just calling a 2000 with an extra drive by a new name.
— Ethan
DC>> Commodore stopped production in May of all 3000's, not just UNIX
boxes. DC>> Supposedly to cut down on inventory, which is fine…no problem
there.
We had a problem with at least one of our local dealers getting the 3000's
in stock all of last fall and most of the spring. Don't know if it's still
going on.
But a friend of mine paid in advance for his 25Mhz 3000 in October. Last
February, he gave up as the dealer claimed he had five on backorder and
couldn't get them. Chuck instead got a 2000 with the GVP 33 Mhz '030 and
his only regret is that he didn't wait a couple of months longer and get
the newest version of the Combo with the SCSI interface.
It sounds strange the CBM would have a backlog in inventory and not be able
to fill dealer's orders. Unless of course, the inventory was in Europe
which wouldn't surprise me.
Rick,
Yes…it does seem strange doesn't it.
Don
Could the rumor be just that… a rumor?! There were alot of layoffs at CBM
and for a disgruntled employee, this would be a good way to stir things up
as you can see by the replies here. (Just a thought.)
Tim
Tim:
No, I'm afraid that this was not just a simple rumor. It appears that
there are factions within CBM that did not want to release 2.0 as an
enhancer kit. Others in CBM, however, do. This whole scenairo appears to
have been an internal debate from within CBM that was leaked to the outside
by employees that were concerned about a bad decision being made (re: 2.0
release).
Lou Wallace posted a message saying that when it comes down to it, James
Dionne WILL release 2.0 enhancer kits in the US.
I guess we'll see.
This is a good example of how poor the managment structure is at CBM USA.
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
Michael,
If you reread Denny's message, it's not an example of "poor management
structure … at CBM USA". Dionne is all for the release of 2.0, the
problem lies with Mr. Ali at CIL.
I sure am glad that Atari didn't manage to aquire Amiga, Corp. 7 years ago,
but, at this point, I'm also sorry that Commodore did.
-sja
Steve…
I gues I should have said "poor management at CBM Worldwide"… you're
right, from what we have heard here, it is Ali over-riding Dionne.
I too, wonder where the Amiga would be had it either remained the
Lorraine-Amiga or been purchase by a different company (Sony, where were
you 8 years ago? hehe). (It was Loarraine, wasn't it?)
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
Yup….the original name of the Amiga was Lorraine.
Steve
Michael,
Lorraine was the name of the machine, Amiga the name of the
company.
Don
Tim,
Nope, this was from current employees, who weren't close to those laid off.
I believe what they told me was/is true.
Denny:
Is it possible that while still employed by C= that the recent layoffs
really pissed the off, so that they thought this would be a form of
retribution?
-Mike Schiller
In sunny Fort Lauderdale
Denny –
NY address:
(from the 1990 Annual Report)
Commodore International Limited
375 Park Avenue
Suite 2109
New York, NY 10152
Jeff Schweiger
Jeff,
Thanks. I think I'll end my direct involvement with all this by popping off
a nice, polite letter to Mehdi myself. 😉
Upgrade. It is a great machine. The 2000 is the past. And by now you
must know that 2.00 will be available for all by October. In any case,
what software do you want to run that won't run under 2.0??
Nick:
Upgrade. That is unless you need to install a Toaster. 2.0 _IS_ wonderful.
The 3000 is pretty, fast, and reliable, and fully compatable (with 1.3 on
hard disk). This really is one nice slick machine. Obviously the above is
just, IMHO.
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
ok! ok! ok! I'll upgrade! (grin)
Nick
Someone posted an *anonymous* message on Usenet about this very same
subject recently. Why anonymous? I don't know.