#CEI/CBM Status
10 messages in this thread
Jim says:
"I have numerous dealers that complain about CEI4000M systems and the
general business practices that appear to be common with CEI".
1. What are the implied bad business practices of CEI?
2. If you only sold 100 Emplant boards to CEI for integration to create
the A4000M what is the dispursement of machines to the dealer base to give
you the 'numerous' dealers figure?
Jim says:
"Making new machines is NOT going to regain the trust in Amiga products,
especially to those people STILL waiting (us included) for replacement
A4000 motherboards…"
A couple of thoughts come to mind:
1. You are not likely to get a replacement motherboard from Commodore.
(grin)
2. What does the fact that Commodore did not decide to fix everyones
motherboard have to do with CEI?
CEI should be allowed to start with a clean slate. It is a brand new ball
game and any one that holds them responsible for the ills of Commodore is
simply being unfair.
Finally–if I had my choice SGI would have bought the Amiga. I am not an
agent for CEI. I simply think given what we have to choose from–CEI
holds the best promise for the Amiga.
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
SGI buying the Amiga would probably have been useless. It is clear that they
know how to make neat expensive toys. They have no experience whatsoever
making low cost toys (and our most expensive machines are cheap by comparison).
There is little to nothing technology-wise that SGI would want to take from the
Amiga to put into their current machines. I just don't see the point (other
than that you might like the pretty SGI casework 🙂
Dale,
Um, pretty case work and brand name recognition gets my vote. OK, OK… you're
right. Sigh.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Regards,
John Chang
The complaints I have received from dealers about CEI revolve around getting
product, and returning product. I don't think it is fair to start naming
problems (or dealers)… problems exist on enough of a scale to make mention of
it. I know our personal dealings have been dismal at best.
Creative purchased approximately 100 EMPLANTs for the CEI4000M package. We have
sold more than 30,000 EMPLANTs. We have more than 400 dealers in the US,
Canada, and Australia (all of Europe is handled by a single distributor which
has many dealers of their own).
CEI made a lot of hype about the CEI4000M, and are apparently using it as some
form of leverage for public's opinion (I just read a review with Alex Amor
about the CEI4000M being part of the future of CBM). However, in the last 2
years, very few systems were made… no explanations, no returned calls… it
makes you wonder.
Anyone who assumes the Amiga can not just start with a 'clean slate'. Do you
think that somebody sitting on an A4000 with a bad buster (soldered in) is
going to toss their machine and buy a new Amiga? I don't think so. If you
assume the Amiga, you must assume the customer base as well, and the problems.
Sheesh… it would be great if all of the world's problems would just go away
when something went into bankrupcy… it doesn't work that way.
Jim,
Isn't it true that about the time CEI was promoting the A4000M product that the
supply of Amiga products started to really dwindle? Maybe that is the cause of
your disappointing sales? As you may know, we consumed quiet a number of
machines for our own customers, for purposes that did not necessarily need to
include your product.
What Mark was trying to tell you on the faulty "Buster" situation, is that
whomever gets the technology (i.e. CEI or the UK Group), is not responsible for
Commodore's actions. I'm sure a motherboard swap program could be initiated,
but the swap will probably involve a monetary charge. Probably less than you
think.
>(I just read a review with Alex Amor about the CEI4000M being part of the
future of CBM)
Duh. If you just read this review, and you and your company may be involved,
wouldn't it be prudent for you to give him a call? If you want, I'll call him
to ask if he will call you. Frankly, IMHO, both of you are handling this in an
unprofessional and very immature manner. I don't know why I even bother.
Regards,
John Chang
The supply for A4000's two years ago (not long after they were introduced) was
a not a problem.
I did talk to Alex when our attorneys were getting into the Bahamian court
records and such. He was not friendly with the idea that I wanted the Amiga
technology as a developer-ran corporation. I think those that make their money
from the machine, should have control over its future.
I just hate to have to fight everyone to keep this thing going… and in my
opinion, Commodore UK is the only real chance of keeping the Amiga (as we know
it now) alive.
>>you think that somebody sitting on an A4000 with a bad buster (soldered
>>in) is going to toss their machine and buy a new Amiga? I don't think
>>so.
I have a 4000/040 with the so called "bad Buster", all I can say is so
what. I have a PAR, TBV-IV, 120 meg. and 540 meg hard drives, and an
Opalvision card in it and soon will have a Warp 040/40 and a CD-ROM and
the Opalvision Video Processor. I purchased it when the 4000 first came
out and the only failure I have had was the power supply which Micro R&D
remanufactured into a 300 watt supply. That "bad Buster" has not had any
effect on my use. The computer works every day doing 2 and 3D animation,
DTP, and telecommuting work. Untill the 5000 (or whatever the name of the
next generation Amiga) comes out I will still use my 4000. If the next
Amiga can do things better and faster than my current machine, I'll buy
it.
Jim R. Ollick
Using AP from Bergenfield, NJ
Sometimes it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Perhaps, by reason of
experience, there are those who have seen what others may tend to do, despite a
"clean slate" situation; old business habits, as with with personal habits, may
be hard to change. "Once burned, twice shy."
Mark,
I am an Amiga dealer and I have had trouble getting products like Scala
Multimedia from CEI in the past. On occasion, it has taken five phone calls
and 8 weeks to get a products that was supposedly in stock according to CEI.
They have gotten some orders out quickly but many orders have several days or
weeks between when a product was ordered and when it was shipped although we
were told that it was in stock. I have called CEI twice recently and left
messages on the voice mail that still have not been returned. I applaud their
attempts at supporting the Amiga but my experience with them in the last two
years makes me feel that they are in over their heads with the distribution
that they currently have and I worry how they are going to be able to expand
and have the production AND the distribution. For now, we hope for the best.
Nancy Y. Doss