Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

Such a shame, i hope they do well and can farther expand and become more of what most Amiga lovers would like, he cant do that in today's market as a new guy, they would have to become a big company before they could make our idea of a modern Amiga a reality.

P.S. sorry if i am posting too much, this is actually the first forum that i have actually joined, i usually just look and read, never post.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

I doubt true Amiga lovers would go for this. Sticker tax is way too much which will lower sale expectations. Only ppl I see buying it, are the ones that had an c64/amiga/other old skool type but dreamt of an amiga, haven't been active for years (give or take 20 years) on original hardware or emulation so totally out of touch with the scene. Then here comes a company using keynames Commodore & Amiga which invokes passion inside, then uneducated out of touch user hands over a wad of cash. ( No offence to middleman) Same effect happens when ppl dont first research their purchasing decisions and end up paying alot more.. If they made lower margin then fine they may have larger chance for success.. but since they are a small company they need the $$$ so up go the prices just for the name/sticker.. oh well.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

I'm a linux noob. I've tried a number of linux distros over the years. I find the commodore OS Vision distro fun. Sure, it's not a spectacular feat of engineering but it have the old commodore feel of fun for me.

I just bought an iMac today for $1600. I could have built a similar spec'd x86 machine for half that. But I didn't. And millions of others didn't.

Do you think Dell engineers their own computers? Why hate against a company with enough balls to pony up to pay for the license for the commodore and amiga brands? They have already done more than Amiga inc ever did with it. Sure, it's not the classic Amiga or a new amiga but that will never happen.

I hope they do well. They are no Mehdi Ali or Gould. All profitable home computers these days run on x86 architecture. Macs and PC's. Mobile computing is the future. There are 3 major OS's available these days. Cusa does not need to re-invent the wheel. Just create something that has a sense of style customized with the spirit of Commodore.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

Linux should make computers cheaper for Windows tax, not more expensive. While all summed is true with Mac you at least get MacOSX and Mac designed components which is added value, while with CUSA Amiga Mini is none. With C64x at least was a new designed case/keyboard.

With too greedy strategy, there is a fat chance they will do well in such a competitive world.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

I really have to wonder if people are reading the same interview I was reading.
Commodore USA is currently a small company, with limited resources, and with limits to Amiga IP usage. We are doing the best, with the IP we have available to us, as we possibly can.
It's all fine to sit there and say, oh, I woulda done this I woulda done that.
We have to be rational about our business right now so as to avoid potential money pits. We're in it for the long haul.
We would love to do all the various things the community want, but we quite simply can't at the moment for various reasons both legal and financial.
But be assured that it isn't because we have no interest in doing so.
If we had the kind of money that would allow us to take such risks, and tackle such projects, then of course we would.
But, I do see that only as a matter of time...and a great many of our fans realise this even if the people on this particular forum do not, or for some kind of vested interest don't want it to be so.
All we can do right now is make a go of it with our current strategy of using commodity hardware and a custom branded OS.
There are pros and cons to this of course, but right now, the pros far outnumber the cons. Our strategy has been enough to enable us to establish ourselves.
Granted, things aren't perfect right now, in terms of products and pricing, but it is better to refine our product strategy than never to launch at all, and we still haven't even played our best cards.
We had the good fortune to be able to acquire usage of the trademarks, and there's no point sitting on them and doing nothing with them just because it isn't 100% what we wanted from day one. That gets you nowhere and Rome was not built in a day. Sitting still does not open up possibilities.
There is no other possible choice available to us than what we are doing right now, as much as everyone here might jump up and down about it.
I am sure we can all agree, money makes all things possible.
Unless you have selective reading it was stated a few times in the interview that we were willing to do what the next gen AmigaOS community wanted if we were able to.
We actually WANT to do all the cool things the community want us to do because we also believe it to be quite interesting, and in many ways align with our ultimate strategy.
We wanted to do AROS, for instance, but can't, and really, it isn't worth going into a protracted court battle over. We are open to the possibility of classic hardware recreation, but that requires money, and is quite a risk as well, with all the lead time and product development that would need to take place before a finished product.
We would love to include AmigaOS in our line up, especially for x86....but none of these things seem possible right now. There's no point blaming us for that.
Do you really think we have not looked into and considered every conceivable option?
That's just the way it is, and if you want that to change, then there is no point lobbying us, because we are in agreement.
I quite honestly believe you should pray for our success, not our failure, because we want to be the catalyst that re-unites all facets of the Amiga IP, and ultimately create the kind of high tech computer and environment all Amiga fans would like to use and see further developed.
We have stated many times that we are open to such cooperation.
I guess what is most infuriating for Barry and I, reading all these comments, is that we forget that you aren't aware of our future plans or our ultimate goals, and seem to believe what you see now is all there will ever be. We're so not against your ideas and sensibilities. We are trying to get to the point where we can make all your (and ours, because they are the same) Amiga dreams come true, and this requires money. Unfortunately, to obtain the money to reach a state where we can do this currently requires a detour (which both you and I, as AmigaOS fans, find annoying) in order to get there. Our plans and products will evolve. We aren't your enemy as much as you would all like to think us so. We aren't doing what we are doing because we refuse to cooperate, but because we have no other choice right now. You feel a sting right now, I know, but I believe it will all work out for the best in the end.
That that is why we always close with....The best is yet to come....because we honestly believe that.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

You'd be suprised at how little you pay for a Windows license in bulk. The cost is also reduced by things like free trials of antivirus etc. Everything about Linux is expected to be free, so this doesn't happen.

Linux is always going to be niche on the desktop. It only makes sense in embedded or server products.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

No, you haven't tried many distros. Maybe a couple.

Did you buy it because of the Apple sticker, or did you buy it because of the OS it runs?

That's not what worries me. What worries me the most is that they are milking and abusing a brand it is not related to in any way. There is absolutely nothing Amiga about CUSA's computers.

If CUSA stopped using the names "Commodore" and "Amiga", I would shut up and wish them all well. But until then, they can make up their own brand, or find another one to abuse. They're not going to destroy the good memory of Commodore and Amiga with this crap!

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

Cant really compare a iMac, Apple products have their own original unique elegant design and a very polished intuitive OS (1000's of mans hours of development time) even though its built on BSD, also your buying into the Apple ecosystem as well that works with their other products. So theres more perceived value to the $1600 even though its very expensive for myself. A bit different from off the shelf customised linux and off the shelf pc hardware in a not so unique chinese case except for the C64 thats a good case at least it looks like the original Commodore but I still dont agree with their pricing especially when you can buy the hardware cheap.

Nope Dell are just cheapo chinese budget computers (out of all the other brand names so not including no-names here) that are highly configurable at point of purchase.. Alienware a premium brand for them which isn't as bad with some appeal. ie styling and LED's here and there with light up keyboards..

Hate is a strong word, other ppl can get wrong impressions of other ppls preceptions and get the wrong idea.. My version of hate is to add in swear words, with more agressive wording bordering trolling.. I see healthy discussion here siding more to the negative side, but not too negative.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

Exactly my worries as well, thats why I saw the interview to be like a typical small business mentally.. Ride on the back of big names to make yourself look bigger = more success in the market place.. With Apple, they invented a name for themselves instead of using other peoples names..

Man I dont even like talking about Apple and Im kind of sticking up for them.. :(

PS - the Amiga CUSA cases do have the word Amiga on them thats probably only one thing I can see thats Amiga about them.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

Leo, you have my respect for coming here to answer critics, really you do. But you must understand that what you're saying is at odds with what we've seen from CUSA - or, more precisely, Barry.
Until CUSA do SOMETHING to further AmigaOS, even if it's only 10 bucks in a bounty somewhere, then all we see are promises and pipe dreams.
Just a token contribution would go such a long way.....
Speaking as a company owner, if I could buy that much good P.R. for so little, I'd be all over it in a flash.
You have here an audience who *want* to believe, but CUSA are just not using that untapped resource. That's what I don't understand.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

Yep exactly out of touch with the ppl! Maybe his passion is simply misdirected, on the wrong path ?

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

Your efforts are appreciated. I hope cooperation with Hyperion will be possible, so all things could fall into place again.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

Taking this as market survival strategy more focus on obtaining cheaper components (or lowering price some other way to be more competitive) would be essential. Even obtaining Windows 7 OEM licences would help to have dual boot machines with Amiga Forever also in Windows. Here and with not a mention of AmigaOS or heritage is just way too high price that kills it as survival strategy. Work more to get more.
At current rate you are completely non-competitive to any brand, including Apple.

Barry`s answers were not "we plan to but we can`t with existing resources, maybe 2013 and beyond" it was mostly laughing and categorical NO.

Also decent PR and marketing, not one that overrepresents the brand or insults other AmigaOS flavours, and more professional, not last minute one with early announcements but "when it`s done" would make company look better.

So far there was not much good seen to expect better.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

Vox. For once there is some constructive criticism in your response.
We know we have to lift our game and provide better value for money.
To have any chance at being competitive a company is required to go through continual cycles of improvement of its products and strategy.
We'll get there eventually.
At the moment AmigaOS has nothing to do with our products and we state as much on our Commodore OS page if you would care to look at it.
Whether you find that insulting or not...it is beyond our control at the moment.
And honestly, it is easily alleviated by installing AROS, whether we can do anything with it commercially or not.

Re: CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers
 

If you don't have the funds please sell the brand names to someone who has the cash and understanding/will to steer things into right direction. Don't mud the Amiga-brand with anymore products that aren't related to it.

And no more lies please...:sealed: