Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!dsinc!bagate!cbmvax!daveh From: daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy Subject: Re: They'll Look Like Toys? (Was: The Amiga's Future) Message-ID: <22378@cbmvax.commodore.com> Date: 12 Jun 91 21:49:07 GMT References: <#g1H3+$o@cs.psu.edu> <22340@cbmvax.commodore.com> <1991Jun11.235259.19539@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> Reply-To: daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie) Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA Lines: 52 In article <1991Jun11.235259.19539@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> mnc@turing.acs.virginia.edu (Michael N. Chapman) writes: >Dave, I have to disagree about computers. You wouldn't happen to have a line feed on that terminal you're typing at, would you? All I get is a single line for each paragraph. Anyway... >I think people will always be willing to buy the most advanced computers they >can afford. Some yes, because, as I mentioned, they are technology collectors. Others are happy with what they have, since it does the job and they're perfectly satisfied with that job, the way it's done. My mom has been perfectly happy with her C128 until just recently, when she needed it to do something it couldn't handle. Last I heard, Jeff Porter's sister still writes novels on her C64. Certainly an Amiga would be a better tool, but why bother with a new computer if you don't need it. You're not seeing that because, like most people, you're a computer enthusiast. In general, people on usenet do actually go out and buy hot new computers when they're released. You probably don't buy the latest and greated sports car, or TV set, or CD player, or weed wacker, or table saw. Other folks treat their computers like I treat my microwave oven; who cares what else is available as long as mine does the job I'm after. >As technology cheapens, people will keep buying better and better systems. You have to make it cheaper and make software for it. Without the software, what I mean by changing the job, the new system doesn't do much most people. If an A500 with 68040, 24 bit graphics, 16x blitter, and hard disk hit the stores tomorrow at an SRP of $800, you wouldn't see any significant video games for it until a significant number of the suckers were sold, it wouldn't make any sense for most software companies to spend extra development time they don't have for an insignificant piece of the market. Obviously, if such a computer like that came out, lots of them would sell quickly. Because, more than anything, hardware innovation is being driven by competition. Software on the Amiga is just barely beyond the A1000, yet hardware's out for A3000. Software on the PClones is largely back at the 8086/8088 systems, yet they're shipping 33MHz '486 hardware. A small segment of both markets needs that extra performance, most of the market growth is simply because it can be done, and if company A doesn't do it, company B will. >And one more thing - I want 24-bit standard before I buy another Amiga. See, even you have limits. You're claiming that a certain level of advancement must be met before you buy a new system. That implys that what you have now is pretty much suiting your needs. If you only had a C64, you couldn't likely wait for a 24 bit color Amiga.... -- Dave Haynie Commodore-Amiga (Amiga 3000) "The Crew That Never Rests" {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!daveh PLINK: hazy BIX: hazy "This is my mistake. Let me make it good." -R.E.M.