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From: manes@vger.nsu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: help on installing 1meg agnus ...
Message-ID: <62.2719a8e6@vger.nsu.edu>
Date: 15 Oct 90 16:17:41 GMT
References: <12411@chaph.usc.edu> <1990Oct13.035003.3737@isis.cs.du.edu> <90286.132554DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu>
Lines: 73

In article <90286.132554DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu>, DXB132@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
> That stuff about the 1MB Agnus "not supported" in a A500 is the most ludicrous
> pea-brained marketroid nonsense I've heard in a long time. Does anyone disagree
> ? I'd like to know the IQ of the person who thought of this. It must be
> tremendous. Probably worked at IBM before he/she/it came to C=...
> -- Dan Babcock
> 

I disagree.

Like it or not Commodore needs to "seperate" the A500 from the A2xx/A3xx
series machines, espeically now that the A500 is becoming a mass-marketed
machine.   

Dealers have a difficult time selling the higher-end Amigas because
the 500 and the 2000 seem so much alike.  Dealers try to sell 2000s 
by using the "expandability" sales tactic.  Now that A500s can expand,
by using 2000 boards and even have the ability to run the IBM software,
the margin of difference between the two is extremely narrow.  It is 
now down to the box and the slots.

Consider that R&D costs a lot, and the world is not demanding another
consumer-level computer from Commodore, what would you do to stimulate
the dealers?   And Commodore's pockets?

The answer is two fold in my opinion.
#1 - Seperate the product line a500 and a2xxx.
     Simple to do:  Don't allow the 1 meg agnus and don't upgrade
                     A500s to 2.0.

Doing this will make the seperation more than obvious.  People who 
want to buy 500s for the kids can be quite happy with 512k of chip
and Workbench 1.3.  They people who want this machine will not care
(need?) dealer support.

The customer who does not want a machine that looks like a c128.
(Sorry) and wants a machine that can do "professional" type 
applications (whether it can be done on the consumer 500 is not
a issue since we are talking marketing not techie) on a tight
bugdet will go the computer dealer and purchase a A2000 (A1500?).

#2 - Create a Amiga 1500.
     (A now PC slot, one/two slot A2000, low profile case, etc.)

By creating a Amiga 1500, the need for dealers to keep 500s is gone.
A500s could go to the mass markets without upseting the computer
dealers.  Even with the current A500P and A500 seperation it is not
enough to keep the dealers satisfied.

Though it may upset 500 owners, it does make sense.
 
It is the bottom line gentlemen.  Change that there box a bit and
make it LOOK different.  You will sell a ton.


FYI:
This is simply OPINION.  I am not basing my OPINION on any special
relationship with Commodore.  I am simply using the speculation on
the net and my own personal thoughts.

Ok.. let the games begin...

> "Kill all the lawyers" -- Shakespear
> "Kill all the short-sighted marketing people" -- me

 -mark=
     
 +--------+   ==================================================          
 | \/     |   Mark D. Manes                    "Mr. AmigaVision" 
 | /\  \/ |   manes@vger.nsu.edu                                        
 |     /  |   (804) 683-2532    "Make up your own mind! - AMIGA"
 +--------+   ==================================================