sbrown@bgsuvax.UUCP (Scott F. Brown) (04/22/89)
This message is directed at Atari but I would be interested in other responses to this idea. I would like to see Atari put a small weekly update on what Atari is doing to this net. It would contain the status of machines and have news about what Atari is doing in general. Does anybody out there have any input on this? - Scott F. Brown ****************************************************************************** * - How many time do I have to tell you? If you're going to live on our* * planet, you have to speak our language. * * * * -Scott F. Brown * * * * sbrown@andy.bgsu.edu.uucp * ******************************************************************************
caromero@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (C. Antonio Romero) (04/22/89)
In article <4039@bgsuvax.UUCP> sbrown@bgsuvax.UUCP (Scott F. Brown) writes: > This message is directed at Atari but I would be interested in other >responses to this idea. I would like to see Atari put a small weekly update >on what Atari is doing to this net. It would contain the status of machines >and have news about what Atari is doing in general. Does anybody out there >have any input on this? While I understand your desire to know what to expect from Atari and your frustration at the lack of outward signs of progress from other than the rumor mill, realistically I don't think this is in Atari's interests at all. No corporation wants their strategies and progress known in this fashion. o A company's plans and problems are usually considered its own business. A company's fiscal health could be very adversely affected by releasing information about the current state of ongoing projects. A series of good progress reports followed by word of a setback could have catastrophic effects on the company's stock performance. o After all the flak Atari has taken about vaporware products etc. can you imagine how much trouble weekly progress reports like this would get them into with exactly the same people who want this information? Atari would inevitably take flak over any decision they announced in this fashion from the same people who asked for the information to be publicized... ("Not enough graphics modes!" "Too expensive!" "We demand a better upgrade path!" etc.) Atari is still trying to get their act together. I think from what I've seen lately they're doing better for themselves by playing it close to the chest... it gives them a little more room to maneuver without having hordes of Atari owners or Atari watchers nipping at their heels with complaint after complaint... while this 'weekly news from Atari' might be a nice PR gesture if it contained anything of substance it could cause no end of headaches for the company. -Antonio Romero romero@confidence.princeton.edu