cmcmanis@stpeter.Eng.Sun.COM (Chuck McManis) (07/07/90)
In article <45221160700991.30671.01> Eduard.Wilts writes: [price rumor of $200 + deleted] > ... The price seems rather high, especially in light of the > previous upgrades (1.0 to 1.1 was free, 1.2 and 1.3 were quite > inexpensive (less than $70 combined), 1.3.2 was free). I'm sure this will come up a _lot_ in the future since there is literally no way that Commodore will be able to offer the 2.0 upgrade for a comparable price to the 1.x upgrades. The point to remember is that 2.0 is _very_ different than 1.X, while remaining upwardly compatible. Parts of it (such as the ARexx interpreter, Fonts) were purchased by Commodore from a third party and Commodore has to recoup those costs somehow. Finally, the documentation required for 2.0 is much higher since instead of just giving you another addendum to your existing documentation, they needed to come up with a completely revised set. All of these combine to make it fundamentally more expensive to produce than the 1.x upgrades. $200 sounds pretty reasonable to me as a beta tester of 2.0. -- --Chuck McManis Sun Microsystems uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis BIX: <none> Internet: cmcmanis@Eng.Sun.COM These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you. "I tell you this parrot is bleeding deceased!"
es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) (07/07/90)
In article <138486@sun.Eng.Sun.COM> cmcmanis@stpeter.Eng.Sun.COM (Chuck McManis) writes: > >I'm sure this will come up a _lot_ in the future since there is >literally no way that Commodore will be able to offer the 2.0 >upgrade for a comparable price to the 1.x upgrades. The point to >remember is that 2.0 is _very_ different than 1.X, while remaining >upwardly compatible. Parts of it (such as the ARexx interpreter, Fonts) >were purchased by Commodore from a third party and Commodore has >to recoup those costs somehow. Finally, the documentation required >for 2.0 is much higher since instead of just giving you another addendum >to your existing documentation, they needed to come up with a >completely revised set. All of these combine to make it fundamentally >more expensive to produce than the 1.x upgrades. $200 sounds pretty >reasonable to me as a beta tester of 2.0. > I don't think it is possible that they could charge $200. They probably won't recoup their costs from sales of 2.0, but rather (hopefully) from more Amigas sold BECAUSE of 2.0. It is definitely in Commodore's best interest to get as many people to move up to 2.0 as possible. If many people don't (like 80% wouldn't at $200) the O/S will not be a viable entity. Most likely, it'll be $75 or so. Don't forget that Apple gives upgrades for around that price as well. > >-- >--Chuck McManis Sun Microsystems >uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis BIX: <none> Internet: cmcmanis@Eng.Sun.COM >These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you. >"I tell you this parrot is bleeding deceased!" -- Ethan Ethan Solomita: es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu "If Commodore had to market sushi they'd call it `raw cold fish'" -- The Bandito, inevitably stolen from someone else
Eduard.Wilts@bsc.galaxy.bcsystems.gov.bc.ca (07/07/90)
[Yes, Dave, I KNOW it's a marketing question :-)]
Have there been any figures released by Commodore yet as to the pricing of the
2.0 upgrade? The rumours floating around here (from an authorized Commodore
dealer) are $200 Can$ for JUST the software, with the Kickstart ROM being an
additional charge on top of that (plus installation, of course). With the ROM
not being an optional feature, I don't understand why they should even be
packaged separately. The price seems rather high, especially in light of the
previous upgrades (1.0 to 1.1 was free, 1.2 and 1.3 were quite inexpensive
(less than $70 combined), 1.3.2 was free).
Any info greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
.../Ed Preferrred: Eduard.Wilts@BSC.Galaxy.BCSystems.Gov.BC.CA
Ed Wilts Alternate: EdWilts@BCSC02.BITNET (604) 389-3430
B.C. Systems Corporation, 4000 Seymour Place, Victoria, B.C., Canada, V8X 4S8yarnall@usceast.UUCP (Ken Yarnall) (07/08/90)
In article <1990Jul6.232726.18463@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) writes: +In article <138486@sun.Eng.Sun.COM> cmcmanis@stpeter.Eng.Sun.COM (Chuck McManis) writes: +> +>I'm sure this will come up a _lot_ in the future since there is +>literally no way that Commodore will be able to offer the 2.0 +>upgrade for a comparable price to the 1.x upgrades.... + + I don't think it is possible that they could charge $200. +They probably won't recoup their costs from sales of 2.0, but +rather (hopefully) from more Amigas sold BECAUSE of 2.0. It is +definitely in Commodore's best interest to get as many people to +move up to 2.0 as possible. If many people don't (like 80% +wouldn't at $200) the O/S will not be a viable entity. Most +likely, it'll be $75 or so. Don't forget that Apple gives +upgrades for around that price as well. Don't forget, C= will probably (PURE speculation here!!) bundle the 2.0 upgrade with the new Denise chip. $200 for the software, rom chips, and an expensive custom chip (how much is the porky Agnus upgrade?) doesn't sound so outrageous. + -- Ethan kenny -- Ken Yarnall /// yarnall@cs.scarolina.EDU Math Department, USC \\\/// yarnall@ucseast.UUCP Columbia, S.C. 29208 \\\/ (803)777-6686
es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) (07/08/90)
In article <3321@usceast.UUCP> yarnall@usceast.UUCP (Ken Yarnall) writes: >In article <1990Jul6.232726.18463@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) writes: >+ I don't think it is possible that they could charge $200. >+They probably won't recoup their costs from sales of 2.0, but >+rather (hopefully) from more Amigas sold BECAUSE of 2.0. It is >+definitely in Commodore's best interest to get as many people to >+move up to 2.0 as possible. If many people don't (like 80% >+wouldn't at $200) the O/S will not be a viable entity. Most >+likely, it'll be $75 or so. Don't forget that Apple gives >+upgrades for around that price as well. > >Don't forget, C= will probably (PURE speculation here!!) bundle the 2.0 >upgrade with the new Denise chip. $200 for the software, rom chips, and an >expensive custom chip (how much is the porky Agnus upgrade?) doesn't sound so >outrageous. > Although Commodore MAY offer such a combo, they certainly won't reqire it. Don't forget that neither the new Agnus nor the new Denise is necessary for 2.0. All that is needed is the new KickStart and WorkBench. For 1.3 those two cost around $70. My guess is that Commodore will want to bring as many machines as possible up to the new standard and will probably charge less. Just a guess. They might also sell it without a manual as an option. -- Ethan Ethan Solomita: es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu "If Commodore had to market sushi they'd call it `raw cold fish'" -- The Bandito, inevitably stolen from someone else
jet@karazm.math.uh.edu (J. Eric Townsend) (07/08/90)
In article <1990Jul7.215507.21059@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) writes: >All that is needed is the new >KickStart and WorkBench. For 1.3 those two cost around $70. My If you don't care about autobooting from a hard drive, you can upgrade for around $30 by just buying 1.3 dos and blowing off the new roms. -- J. Eric Townsend -- University of Houston Dept. of Mathematics (713) 749-2120 Internet: jet@uh.edu Bitnet: jet@UHOU Skate UNIX(r)
yarnall@usceast.UUCP (Ken Yarnall) (07/09/90)
In article <1990Jul7.215507.21059@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) writes:
+
+...They might also sell it without a manual as an
+option.
Oh, god, I hope not! That would be sure to wreak havoc. The 1.2 manuals
were pretty limited, but then 1.2 (at least, the Workbench) was so limited
that it is easy to figure out, for the most part. 2.0 really begs for a
manual, and a good one.
+ -- Ethan
kenny
--
Ken Yarnall /// yarnall@cs.scarolina.EDU
Math Department, USC \\\/// yarnall@ucseast.UUCP
Columbia, S.C. 29208 \\\/ (803)777-6686