c162-de@zooey.Berkeley.EDU (David Navas) (09/11/89)
I originally tried to e-mail, but somebody's mailer barfed on the huge return address. [Regarding commercials] I'm really confused now. Are we going to get commercials or not? Of what magnitude and where? I'm confused because there was an article that said we've got some huge multi-media presentation -- and then one that said "it" isn't true. But the "it" needs to be better specified. IE: should I buy Commodore stock, or what :-> Do you know why "we" didn't get Sears? -David c162-de@zooey.Berkeley.Edu
don@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (Donald R Lloyd) (09/12/89)
In article <17036@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> c162-de@zooey.Berkeley.EDU.UUCP (David Navas) writes: >[Regarding commercials] >I'm really confused now. Are we going to get commercials or not? >Of what magnitude and where? (etc...) We're gonna get commercials alright. Starting October 16th, five separate commercials produced by George Lucas (an avid amiga fan!) and directed by the guy who did "Batteries Not Included." They'll be running during prime time hours from the 16 of October to the 24th of august. Look for 'em during monday night football (well, maybe I'll just tape the game & fast forward it to get to the commercials). CBM is also now an official sponsor of Monday Night Football, as well as some college games, and a bunch of the Christmas specials that apple usually buys into. Then there's the 7-page ad in Time, Life, and Newsweek. Why the sudden push? Mainly because CBM was recently approached by Lotus and Microsoft about the possibility of porting their software to the amiga. They reached an agreement that if CBM can sell 100,000 amigas in the US between October and December, they'll port their stuff over to Ami, thus giving it a tremendous boost in prestige (if I'm not mistaken, Lotus doesn't even write its stuff for the Mac...). So CBM's thrown all the dollars (and then some) that it can spare into a major ad campaign focusing on the 500 (the easiest model to sell 100000 of), hoping to reach the 100000. If they don't, they won't even break even from the ad costs, and they'll get quite a bit of negative press from it, so the amiga may never take off. So basically, it's an all-or- nothing kind of deal. In addition to the ads, they'll also be shipping 500's with a word processor, music program, and paint program, and when you send in your registration they'll send you coupons for rebates on lots of CBM & third party stuff. The guy who tells me most of this is the sysop of a local amiga BBS. He's also the product manager for a couple of local Computerland stores. Sometime next month, his two stores will start carrying Amigas (they'll only display the 500 at first, but will be able to order 2000's & peripherals) He predicts that if these two stores can sell about 200 500's in the next 3 months, not only will they continue to carry it, but they'll probably bring in a 2500. He also mentioned that a year ago, his boss ( a district manager or some such thing) was given a 500 by CBM and allowed to use it for a month or so. After this time period, when CBM came back and asked his opinion of it, his reply was something along the lines of, "I love it! But there's no way in hell I'm gonna have it in my stores!" (it would take away too many sales of the more expensive, less powerful Apple IIgs). He did buy one for himself, however. Oh yeah, called CBM's customer service line lately? Count the rings. Bet you won't hit two. (Unless of course you call at 1:00 am or some such time). -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------- Don Lloyd El Campeador don@vax1.acs.udel.edu | | |Gibberish is | DISCLAIMER: don@pyr1.acs.udel.edu | | |spoken here. | My employers are idiots. They wouldn't understand | | --------------- my babbling even if they WERE literate enough to read it. | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
fiddler%concertina@Sun.COM (Steve Hix) (09/12/89)
In article <4343@udccvax1.acs.udel.EDU>, don@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (Donald R Lloyd) writes: > In article <17036@pasteur.Berkeley.EDU> c162-de@zooey.Berkeley.EDU.UUCP (David Navas) writes: > >[Regarding commercials] > Why the sudden push? Mainly because CBM was recently approached by Lotus > and Microsoft about the possibility of porting their software to the amiga. > They reached an agreement that if CBM can sell 100,000 amigas in the US between > October and December, they'll port their stuff over to Ami, thus giving it a > tremendous boost in prestige (if I'm not mistaken, Lotus doesn't even write > its stuff for the Mac...). Sorry. They announced plans back when the Mac was very new to do a version of Symphony for it. After some years, and not a little rumor-mongering, they finally shipped something called "Jazz". What with various problems, not the least of which was a $600 or so price tag, they gave up. Too many other products that worked better and cost less. Sound familiar? ------------ "...I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing: and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress, while producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralization." - Petronius Arbiter, 210 B.C.
swarren@eugene.uucp (Steve Warren) (09/12/89)
In article <4343@udccvax1.acs.udel.EDU> don@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (Donald R Lloyd) writes: [...] > He also mentioned that a year ago, his boss ( a district manager or some >such thing) was given a 500 by CBM and allowed to use it for a month or so. >After this time period, when CBM came back and asked his opinion of it, his >reply was something along the lines of, "I love it! But there's no way in hell >I'm gonna have it in my stores!" (it would take away too many sales of the more >expensive, less powerful Apple IIgs). He did buy one for himself, however. What a ridiculous lack of vision. If you have a better, cheaper product, you'll make sales you never would've made otherwise. OK, maybe he gets a really awesome incredible margin on his GS line. (who knows?) But a higher volume of sales that can be generating by selling 500s means more satisfied customers who will be needing software. Don't software sales mean a lot in a computer store? This really seems like a self-defeating attitude (not that it would hurt my favorite micro for him to change his mind :-). --Steve ------------------------------------------------------------------------- {uunet,sun}!convex!swarren; swarren@convex.COM
keithh@atreus.uucp (Keith Hanlan) (09/13/89)
In article <4343@udccvax1.acs.udel.EDU> don@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (Donald R Lloyd) writes: >... > In addition to the ads, they'll also be shipping 500's with a word >processor, music program, and paint program, and when you send in your >registration they'll send you coupons for rebates on lots of CBM & third >party stuff. Does anybody know what plans CBM Canada has? If it is attractive enough, I may just not wait for my stocks next year. Thanks.
rick@gtisqr.UUCP (Rick Groeneveld) (09/17/89)
In article <4343@udccvax1.acs.udel.EDU> don@vax1.acs.udel.EDU (Donald R Lloyd) writes: >prime time hours from the 16 of October to the 24th of august. Look for 'em >during monday night football (well, maybe I'll just tape the game & fast >forward it to get to the commercials). CBM is also now an official sponsor >of Monday Night Football, as well as some college games, and a bunch of the ^^^^^^^^ :-( Looks like its time to scrap the Amiga and get an Atari ST :-( At least I'm not the only one with enough sence to avoid the &*#%@$~ ballgame. -- Rick Groeneveld rick@gtisqr.UUCP uw-beaver!uw-nsr!gtisqr!rick (206)742-9111