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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:AMIGA NOTES
Notice:Join us in the *NEW* conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:HYDRA::MOORE
Created:Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5378
Total number of notes:38326

4158.0. "Macworld article...." by EUCLID::OWEN (Rent-to-own a clue) Fri Sep 28 1990 12:39

Article        66563
From: pab@po.CWRU.Edu (Pete Babic)
Subject: MacWorld article blasts Amiga
Date: 26 Sep 90 20:12:06 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
 
 
I would like to make everyone aware of an insulting article published in
the Sept. 1990 issue of MacWorld. The article titled 'Verbatim - An
interview with James von Ehr, President and CEO of Altsys Corporation'.
A direct quote from the article (without permission):
 
MACWORLD> Do you have any comments about the demand for a low-cost machine?
 
VON EHR> I get tired of people clamoring for a low-cost Mac. I don't want a
         toy. If I wanted to program a toy I would work on Amiga or Atari
         machines. I want a computer that can do useful work for people at
         a low price. People bought lots of Apple IIs in the $1500 price
         range ten years ago, so I don't think it's unreasonable to ask
         people to pay $2000 today.
 
Later in the interview:
 
MACWORLD> What technology should Apple be adding to the Macintosh?
 
VON EHR> Hardwarewise, we're missing graphics accelerators, but there is
         another issue in hardware. DMA is needed to increase the access
         speed to the disk. There is a lot of commentary about the need
         for multitasking, but that will depend upon the availability of
         DMA.
 
I guess Apple has some catching up to do with the "Toys".
 
In the same issue there was an article (State of the Mac) where they talked
about Apple IAC (like AREXX only not as good) finally being available when
System 7.0 comes out (1991) but will not be in wide spread use until 1992.
Its amazing what a computer can do when its not a "toy".
 
I didn' post this to flame apple or start a flame war, just wanted everyone
to know how ignorant and out of touch some CEO's of computer software
companies are with the computer industry.
-- 
Pete Babic  -  pab@po.cwru.edu    |  I'm not totally useless -
Integrated Library Systems        |  I can always serve as
Case Western Reserve University   |  a bad example!
Cleveland, Ohio                   |
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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4158.1What a foolSHARE::DOYLEFri Sep 28 1990 12:534
     If I had stock in his company, I'd be worried.
    
    						Ed
    
4158.2BAGELS::BRANNONDave BrannonFri Sep 28 1990 21:2411
    re:.1 
    
    Depends on what kind of company it is.  Considering that he
    is interviewed in a Macintosh magazine, it isn't much different
    from the sort of stuff you find in any system specific magazine.
    Maybe they make add-ons for the Mac.
    
    At least he's willing to consider DMA and multitasking as not toys
    if Apple ships it :-)
    
    Dave
4158.3ego trips are expensiveSALEM::LEIMBERGERMon Oct 01 1990 08:3223
    Recently I had the pleasure of talking to a person that was looking to
    buy an amiga for their bussiness. They needed an amiga because they
    have ordered the toaster from NewTek. They spent a lot of time talking
    down to me, after all they had a several hundred thousand dollars of
    very high end video equiptment, and anything less than $4000 had to be
    a toy. I had to bite my lip to say the least. This is a situation where
    these people have put themselves up on a pedestal and only come down to
    earth to talk with the likes of me when they have too. Of course the
    ironic part is they have the order placed for the toaster,and will need
    too buy an Amiga. They insists on the biggest,baddest system available
    and said they know that it will take time to find the right
    combination. I told them a 2000,with a 33meghertz or higher GVP
    card, 8 meg of 32 bit ram,and a 200mb drive would be good. Of course I
    suggested that they clear this thru Newtek for compatability. I did not
    tell them I know people in the video industry that passed by the
    $50,000 Crylon charecter generater they are so proud of for a $3000,00
    amiga because the Amiga did more. I hope that when they finally get
    their Amiga it will grind their egos to dust. CBM should have a special
    model for people like this. Something along the line of a 2500 with 8
    meg of ram for 8000.00 . I really believe it hurts people like this to
    admit a system like the Amiga can do the job. This is because if they
    do they have to admit what as__ they have been.
    							bill
4158.4you got the ideaFASDER::AHERBWed Oct 03 1990 23:515
    Commodore should offer a special deal to Mac users. Raise the price of
    a amiga 2000 to $4000 so they wont call it a toy..And for the people
    who would rather buy a new car instead of a $10000 give it to us for
    $1300
    
4158.5Huh?LEDS::ACCIARDIProbing the limits of adhesionThu Oct 04 1990 11:011
    
4158.6I guess they really meant itMSVAX::BARRETTI will not instigate revolutionThu Oct 04 1990 15:2642
    Just came across this. You'll know why I posted it here when you read
    both articles...
    
    
Article        67295
From: Sewall@UConnVM.BITNET (Murph Sewall)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Murph's VAPORWARE Column for October 1990
Date: 28 Sep 90 03:57:30 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
    
    [text removed]
    
     
Miniature Production Studio.
Newtek Inc. of Topeka, Kansas will offer a $1,595 VLSI board
named the "Video Toaster" for the Amiga Computer.  When used
with Newtek's point-and-click Light Wave software (bundled
with the Toaster), the Amiga becomes a miniature production
studio for less than $5,000 that can perform numerous
editing functions at a professional level.  Newtek's Toaster
is a video switcher, effects generator, dual frame buffer,
and character generator with a 16.8 million color, RT-170
resolution NTSC output.  The largely intuitive New Wave
software is accessible to users without specialized video
training.  - InfoWorld 3 September
 
Video Explorer.
A professional quality video card for the Macintosh from
Intelligent Resources called the Video Explorer is scheduled
to ship early in 1991.  The Video Explorer allows digital
special effects such as blending, mixing, and fading of
multiple live and recorded images as well as standard fades,
wipes, and dissolves.  At "under $10,000," the card is
somewhat more pricey than Amiga's Video Toaster.
- InfoWorld 17 September
    
    
    I think I'll keep to my lower priced toys.
    
    Keith

4158.7BAGELS::BRANNONDave BrannonThu Oct 04 1990 19:369
    
    remember the A500C and A500P, what CBM needs an A3000M priced at
    non-toy prices, say whatever the eqivalent mac goes for.  It would
    help if it was done in some sort of limited edition plastic color,
    and had some famous signatures on it.  The pricing and marketing
    would be the new stuff, they already did the plastic and signatures
    with the A1000.
    
    Dave
4158.8It works for OS/2 too...NAC::BRANNONvalue addedThu Oct 04 1990 20:4110
    I was recently looking at preconfigured PC DECstations packages that
    had minimal configured systems with DOS bundled in and full to the
    gills systems with OS/2 bundled in.  Maybe that's the approach we
    need.  An A3000M with 8MB and a 320MB disk (or larger).  That should
    drive the price up to acceptable Mac levels...  Seems to be needed
    for OS/2 users too...
    
    regards,
    dennis