#For Sale
28 messages in this thread
What is going on with all the A2xxx systems being put up for sale? Now a
developer is selling a full blown system! I'm getting a big hint that
something spectacular is about to happen and that the insider trading has
begun in full! So am I speculating or is my big investment in equipment
going to erode to nothing in six weeks?
Worrying in Delaware,
Chris
Chris,
I agree with you that something seems imminent, although with CBM that
might mean 9 months!
How about an 040 machine with DMI Resolver-like resolution and speed (16 M
colors, 2000 x 2000 dpi, 160 MFLOPS).
I don't think that anything we now have will be obsoleted, though.
Rich
Well, I'm about to spend the $75 and join the developer ranks just so I can
get the inside skinny from now on! If the wind is carrying new and exciting
breezes, I want to be in the group that feels it on their cheeks first! And
I don't mean on the backside either!
B^)
chris
Chris,
Is $75 all it takes to get developer status, and get all the inside poop?
Sounds like it might be worth it. But then you'ld have to keep mum about
all that info. A person could possibly burst under the pressure!
8)
Rich
Doc,
It ain't all that bad (the pressure). Actually I think the knowledge
keeps MY blood pressure down <smmiiille>. I will concur that less
uncertainty implies less stress.
Chris Tolmie,
Where did you get the form and information that it only took &75 to get a
developers status??? Inquiring minds want to know!!!!
JOHN – The Lost Southerner!!
john,
I called C= and asked for information on their developers' program. I'll
find the info (looking under piles of papers) and double-check. There are
two levels. The other cost is around $450 I think, but I'll check it out.
chris
Chris
Do you have a program your developing to submit with the fee. I was always
under the impression that you had to have a program under developement or
one you already developed to get that status.
JOHN – The Lost Southerner!!
John,
"…Do you have a program your developing to submit with the fee…"
I could claim non-disclosure to that question. B^)
But I did receive the developers information package, there are two
different support plans. One is very inexpensive the other around $450/yr.
Yes they do want to know about your development ideas. I have some ideas,
and NO I'm not telling and NO I don't expect to try and become a developer
in the VERY near future. Like I said in an earlier message. I was just
blowing off some frustration steam. It seemed like quite a few heavily
loaded A2000s were be sold off and then a developer offered one for sale,
and that just makes you think that they're dumping before something knocks
the value of the equipment, below today's used market prices.
chris
Chris (and John),
No…you don't have to submit a program with your application. You
only have to submit the general categories any programs you produced might
fit into.
Don
Depends on why the developer was selling….
Could be that there are hot new machines that (s)he g\has heard about from
C=, or it could be a departure form the market overall. – Alex
Well, I don't think New Horizons is departing the market just yet, so I'd
have to say hot new machines they have heard about from C=.
chris
John,
It takes more than $75 to be a developer. You have to be a
legitimate developer to obtain that status. Several applications have been
rejected from people who simply wanted the latest and greatest before
anyone else got it.
Commodore does screen developer applications…and rejects many of
them.
Don
DON,
That is what I thought. I wasnt sure how the other guy was going to get it
for just 45.00 without any programs to submit with it. I didn't think they
would just sell developers licenses for the money.
JOHN – The Lost Southerner!!
tell me john, If you were considering developing for the amiga platform,
and had no information on the machine, no docs, no includes, no ROM Kernal
manual, no hardware description, just an interest in the machine and an
idea, BUT you had some programming experience. Now how would you write a
program to SUBMIT with your request for developer status with Commodore?
Huh? And I didn't say $45. And there is a very small fee for one developer
program. I've just got to find the info to type into this thread.
So really think, if you had a program already to sell to Amiga owners,
maybe you would be wasting your money purchasing information from C=,
apparently your doing just fine without them.
Chris
Chris
Chris,
The information you need is available commercially. Anyone can buy the
Native Developers' Kit from Commodore for about $20 – all the includes,
etc., that are needed for programming. The ROM KERNAL MANUALs (four of
them) are available from any bookstore. The hardware manual can be
purchased at the bookstore. Many people write programs for the Amiga
without ever becoming developers. I was accepted as a developer as a
technical writer, based on articles published in the TRANSACTOR magazines
and in the AMIGAN APPRENTICE AND JOURNEYMAN (both dead and greatly
lamented.) But I had to dig out the information from books I bought at
the bookstore, write the articles, and get them printed *before* I was
given developer status.
Chris,
You don't submit a program as part of your application, but you do have
to list the products that you've developed, or are working on, even if it's
for a different platform.
Certified developer status isn't as hard to qualify for, but Commercial
status is next to impossible if you don't already have a product on the
market.
One other thing, that $100 ($75 annual and $25 signup) only gets you an
AmigaMail subscription and access to the closed amiga.cert conference on
BIX, if you've got an account on there (at your expense).
You don't get any documentation for free as a developer either, that
costs additional money. Figure on about $500 to get the RKM manual set,
all the DevCon notes, all the back issues of AmigaMail and some of the
other things that are available.
I can't tell you how to spend your money, but unless you're really
serious about doing development on the Amiga, save your money for something
else and buy the RKM set instead.
-jack-
jack,
If you (and others) have read the earlier part of this thread you'd all
realize that I was blowing off some steam. That many people (it seems
developers) are trying to sell heavily loaded A2xxx and A3xxx systems. It
appears to me that they know something the general users don't and it upset
me. So I made the comment about 'joining' the "IN" crowd, just to get some
sort of response. It seems something is in the wind, either it is going to
be good, or it might well be mediocre. I don't expect it to push the PeeCee
out of its marketshare, but I hope it is a vast improvement in what we've
witnessed so far of this company many of us have tried to cheer on. I'm
getting a chill, I feel something cold knocking on our door. I sure hope
its not Bill Gates taking over this area of the computer world too!
Chris
You never know…Bill & Microsoft have stated that they are working on a
version of Windows for consumer items like VCRs, microwaves, televisions,
etc. [No, I am not kidding and it is not April 1st.]
Just what I need, a Windows compatible microwave, I can just see it now:
"Yes, sir. This beauty is 1.5 cu ft, 750 watts, 8 Mb RAM of raw cooking
power!"
Sheesh!
-Chas
If Gates controls a microwave under Windows, does that mean thatyou'll
have to multiply the cooking times in a given recipe by 3?
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
.5 cu ft, 750 watts, 8 Mb RAM of raw cooking
power!"
And even with that, it can't cook two things at once. :*)
Steve
Chris:
CBM has made no secret of the fact that they intend to introduce new
rpoducts at WOC next month. It's been a long time (2 years+) since the
last introduction of a really 'new' Amiga… and if rumors hold somewhat
true, than these new machines may be very desirable… so it kind of makes
sense that anyone planning on selling off older equipment, especially
their 'back-up' units (like the 2000 that's just been sitting there since
the purchase of a 3000).
I don;t have that luxury… but it really doesn't matter that much to me.
If the new hardware excites me, I'll get it. And if my A3000 loses a bit
of value after the intro of the new product(s?), that, to me is a small
price to pay to not disrupt my computing activities. Anyway… that's how
I look at it.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael,
It hasn't been 2 years+ since the last introduction of a really 'new'
Amiga. The A600 introduction was about 6 months ago. I'd consider it
'new' because of the PMCIA slot and use of an IDE HD controller instead of
SCSI (a very bad move in my opinion). Sure, it's not what you or I would
want in a computer, it's not on the shelves in North America, but it is
currently selling (quite well) in Europe — and it _is_ 'new'.
-sja
Chris,
If you want to see first hand what CBM has new to offer I highly suggest
you attend the World of Commodore show in Pasadena next month. That's the
show that CBM traditionally unveils new products. If they don't show
anything there you'll still get to visit the land of Shake, Rattle, and
Roll.
-sja
Steve,
I'm hoping to make that show in Pasadena. I've friends out there who said
they'll send me a frequent flyer pass and let me stay with them. Plus I've
relatives in Hollywood, so getting there doesn't seem to be a problem. I
really am looking forward to attending this, THE BIG ONE!
Chris
Yeah, it won't be obsolete…
Just worthless 🙂
–Paul
Paul,
Worthless? I don''t think so. Of course that depends on what you mean by
worthless. If you buy an item for what you can eventually resell it, and if
the item can't be resold, then I guess it's worthless.
The 3000 is an immensely complex and capable piece of equipment. I rely on
it as a workhorse that turns out enormous amounts of typesetting and
graphic design every day. It is the core of my pre-press operation. It is a
tool that we are very comfortable with and that can grow far beyond the
configuration that we now have.
No question, if a better machine comes along, we will seriously consider
adding that to our operation. But that will in no way make the 3000
worthless or even obselete.
I think that the present generation of machines _has_ reached a level of
performance that will be acceptable for a long time to come. It is true
that advances in technology are necessary and welcome. But the concept that
each new machine obsoletes those that were before is no longer valid.
We are _not_ facing the obselesence of a CPM system in the face of MSDOS.
Or the trashing of 286 systems in the face of real machines – 386 and 486
systems.
I for one hope that a RISC machine is in Amiga's future, or that Amiga
motherboards will soon contain custom chips akin to what now reside on
Targa boards and DMI Resolver boards.
That won't make my present equipment worthless.
Rich 8)