#The End of the Amiga
4 messages in this thread
In the supplement to the year-end issue of TV Technology, John Spofford
contends that the Amiga is finished as a platform because its dealer network
has dried up, replacement parts are nonexistent, etc. (I am condensing his
thoughtful, well-reasoned argument).
I immediately called my Amiga dealer, and while they corroborated the lack of
parts for 4000 repairs, it was there feeling that Newtek would continue to
support the platform. It was their belief that the sheer mass of Toaster users
would keep the market going.
Yes, I know we've all discussed this turf before, but I figured I'd bring it up
again-with two Toasters myself, I figure there are others out there who are
just as concerned when they read something like TVT's story.
Duncan:
There is a current "battle" going on in the Bahamian courts (it's a
long story) over who will end up with the Amiga technology and,
presumably, start producing the computers again; at the moment the two
bidders are Creative Equipment Inc. of Miami (the former US distributor),
and David Pleasance and Colin Proudfoot of the former Commodore UK.
Perhaps you know this already; most people on this forum do. However,
the "mainstream press" has only noticed that there are no more Amigas or
Amiga parts available, and concludes that there never will be again. (I'm
starting to have serious doubts myself.)
But, "finished as a platform"? Considering that there is still no PC,
Mac, or SGI capable of doing what the Amiga does at the price (maybe soon
now, but not quite yet), this sounds like trying to perform the burial
before the wake: There were never a whole lot of Amiga dealers to begin
with (although I notice _you_ still have one); and how many "replacement
parts" have your Toasters needed that NewTek couldn't provide?
What "platform" does John Spofford suggest has "finished" the Amiga?
"With the cover off, a 9-card daughterboard fits…."
Mr. C
I believe that he suggested that both the Mac and the PC would have better
video apps . . .the Mac maybe, but even as a devoted PC user, I just can't see
this platform doing video well. Everything would have to be built on top of
Windows . . . nuff said <g>
Well…. The PC _might_ do all right in video, if the Kubota Action
Graphics card comes down in price (and _if_ it cooperates with OS/2)….
"With the cover off, a 9-card daughterboard fits…."
Mr. C