#MFF bails out
7 messages in this thread
What is CBM supposed to do about this? There's no doubt, the Windows
market is much more lucrative than the Amiga market. I made more in eight
months as a Windows consultant than I did in two years as president of
Syndesis. 🙁 I wouldn't take "working on the fringe" as a put-down. It's
not hard to see that the PC and Mac markets are much more lucrative and
popular than the Amiga market. On the bright side, the latest AmigaWorld
Dealer Report includes a photo of a t-shirt with a new slogan used in CBM's
education campaigns, I think. It says "Make Up Your Own Mind." I'd love
to get one.
It's not time for CBM to get involved at the moment that a developer makes
a public announcement about switching markets. I'm sure Gary Samad made
his decision at least a year ago, when sales dropped off on Microfiche
Filer. Do you think CBM should get involved with a company when their sales
start to drop off?
That is too bad about Software Visions. As a long time friend of Gary's
and having done some work on MFF for him I'm sad to see him "bail out" but
I'm sure it was a question of survival and his continuing return on
investment that made the decision.
He is looking for a buyer for the MicroFiche Filer product line so
hopefully the product will have a life and possibly some future
enhancements.
Nick.
Nick,
The problem with another company acquiring MFF is that Gary is not going to
do any upgrades. So the only option for a company is to acquire the code
itself, not just the publishing rights. Even then they will be faced with
getting someone to learn the code from scratch (without the author around
to explain it) before they can even begin enhancing it. Not a very
appealing alternative.
James Bayless
New Horizons Software, Inc.
>> … Gary is not going to do any upgrades.
That's true. The buyer would own it lock, stock and barrel. [That's my
interpretation of his statements; I'm not speaking for Gary.]
One thing I can say is that Gary's work is high quality, easy to read and
understand. Maintenance should be no problem. Learning Gary's design
mindset and direction will, of course, take longer. It is certainly much
more appealing than starting from scratch.
Nick.
Nick,
>>It is certainly much more appealing than starting from scratch.
Not necessarily true. In a program the size of MFF, it is often just as
expensive in time and effort to start with a clean sheet of paper,
programming wise, than to try and figure out the existing code without the
author around to explain it.
James Bayless
New Horizons Software, Inc.
I don't know that they are *supposed* to do, John. :^) I know what I *wish*
they would do, and that's what I _said_:
"take notice"
By which I was implying that they should mainstream the machine, instead of
whatever they are doing now (which appears to be nothing much from my
perspective)
I wasn't taking Samad's view of "fringe" as a put down by Gary, just a
statement of marketing position (well, LACK of same). In some ways, a
fringe machine at this point in time has a lot going for it by simply NOT
being msdos. On the other hand, it's alot easier to starve to death.
Finally, I wasn't saying they should get involved. I said _notice_,
remember? Let Gary go where he sees 0x00FF00 grass, eh? and anyone else who
cares to.
BBS->Williams.Ben[AA7AS]
I am sorry to see them get out of the Amiga market, but frankly, Mff was
too slow in setting up a database. I like the program but it took forever
to set up. They also supported the program. Sad to see them go..