lch3e@holmes.acc.Virginia.EDU (Lauren C. Howard) (06/22/91)
OK, folks, it's time for yet another write-in campaign. Believe it or not, they ARE effective (when a reasonable number of people write); and this is one of the most important issues I've seen in the ST world. WORDPERFECT FOR ATARI Z*Net announced weeks ago that WordPerfect was going to end its Atari support after a cancellation of a major order by Atari Germany. The story continues to develop. The German order was for version 5.1 of WordPerfect, which is not yet completed and may now never be. WordPerfect programmers had prepared the code and had grafted major parts of the NeXT computer version of 5.1 into what was to be the Atari version. Full FSM GDOS management and compatibility was also integrated, making the Atari WordPerfect 5.1 perhaps the most advanced version that would have been available on any platform. However, after Atari Germany canceled their advance order of 10-15,000 units under pressure of German developers, WP contacted Atari in Sunnyvale. Reports vary somewhat, but the result of that talk seems to be that Atari Corp will not at this time back WordPerfect by assuring a minimum order. WP has left the matter open-ended, and does plan to continue the periodic bug-fixes and minor tweaks of the 4.1 version that is available for the Atari. Some Atari officials are working to reverse the situation and persuade all parties to take whatever measures needed to assure production of WordPerfect 5.1 for the Atari. Ataris' developer man, Bill Rehbock, has asked Z*Net to clarify what he is looking for in support for a new revision of WordPerfect. The company is hesitant to release version 5-point-something because of fears of insufficient sales. Bill has been actively soliciting reports from users as to their actual reasons for buying/ not buying WordPerfect to date, including bug reports. So far, Bill tells Z*Net that his mail has been primarily negative, bashing him and Atari for flubbing the WP deal. What he NEEDS are letters to take with him to WordPerfect in July. Those letters should say what YOU think about WordPerfect, both in the current incarnation for the Atari and what would make you buy a new version. Reasons you didn't buy the existing version are important too. Atari Corp, Bill Rehbock, 1196 Borregas Blvd, Sunnyvale, CA 94088. And /or direct to WordPerfect, 1555 North Technology way, Orem, UT 84057.
larserio@IFI.UIO.NO (LarsErikOsterud) (06/22/91)
ABout WP for Atari ST. How can they expect to sell it if they don't have it :-) Word Perfect Scandinavia didn't even know the dofference between Atari and Commodore and they didn't have WP for any of them (they said to me) Lars-Erik / ABK-BBS +47 2132659 / ____ ______ ________________________ Osterud / larserio@ifi.uio.no / /___ / The norwegian ST __________/ ______________________/ ____/ / Klubben, user association
<ONM07@DMSWWU1A.BITNET> (06/24/91)
In article <1991Jun21.181638.21970@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, lch3e@holmes.acc.Virginia.EDU (Lauren C. Howard) says: > Atari Germany canceled their advance order of 10-15,000 units under > pressure of German developers, WP contacted Atari in Sunnyvale. Reports > vary somewhat, but the result of that talk seems to be that Atari Corp > will not at this time back WordPerfect by assuring a minimum order. > This is simply not true. Atari Germany has TONS of unsold 4.1 versions. They asked WP for a beta test or preview version of 5.x, but WordPerfect wasn't able to show something -- would YOU have ordered 10000 units of a program you don't know, having lots of unsold copies of an older program version that virtually no one buys. Please don't blame the `germans'. WP is mainly an american company, and if they can't succeed in the U.S., they won't in Germany either. BTW: I would *love* to see a new WP on GEM! ___________________________ cut here _____________________________________ Julian F. Reschke, Hensenstr. 142, D-4400 Muenster, Phone: ++49 251 861241 fast eMail: ONM07@DMSWWU1A.BITNET, slow: jr@ms.maus.de (++49 251 77216) ____________________ correct me if I'm wrong _____________________________
rost@aqua.enet.dec.com (My name is Brian Rost) (06/25/91)
In article <91175.115025ONM07@DMSWWU1A.BITNET>, ONM07@DMSWWU1A.BITNET writes... >Please don't blame the `germans'. WP is mainly an american company, and >if they can't succeed in the U.S., they won't in Germany either. > >BTW: I would *love* to see a new WP on GEM! >___________________________ cut here _____________________________________ >Julian F. Reschke, Hensenstr. 142, D-4400 Muenster, Phone: ++49 251 861241 >fast eMail: ONM07@DMSWWU1A.BITNET, slow: jr@ms.maus.de (++49 251 77216) >____________________ correct me if I'm wrong _____________________________ Julian, WordPerfect is doing fine in the US, just not on ST platforms! It's a real hot seller in V5.0 for the IBM. I guess the developers don't see enough $$$ in doing an ST version, and that's that. If this keeps up, pretty soon, I'm going to have to write all my own application software 8;( Brian Rost @rgb.dec.com 508-568-6115 **************************************************** * * * The above does not reflect the opinions of * * my employer. * * * * If music is outlawed, only outlaws will be * * musicians. * * * ****************************************************
Bob_BobR_Retelle@cup.portal.com (06/26/91)
WordPerfect IS succeeding in the US market... in fact, it's one of the largest software companies in the entire world..! It's Atari Corp which has screwed up the US market, virtually assuring us that we will NEVER see an upgrade to WordPerfect 4.1 for the ST. WordPerfect can't sell product to non-existant customers with non-existant computers. What may or may not have happened in Germany isn't going to affect the US market much, if at all... BobR