[comp.sys.amiga.misc] CDTV Marketing

bheil@scout-po.biz.uiowa.edu (05/29/91)

EEErrgghhh!!! 
The marketing of CDTV is not 'typical CBM marketing'!  Not allowing dealers to
show or advertise CDTV is exactly what Commodore wants!  This is not ignore the
dealer blah blah blah... this is a real marketing plan.  By avoiding promoting
CDTV in computer stores Commodore sheds 'compuphobia', the machine should be
sold in stores like Best Buy (a midwest chain... can't think of any west coast
places off the top of my head... Circuit CIty?).  Thats why it looks like a
stereo component and not an Amiga 500 with a CD-a-ma-bob hanging of the side.  

According to Commodore it is in test markets now (LA, Chicago, New York, etc.)
and will be released big time later on.  Give it a awhile before you flame
Commodore Marketing.

Personally I don't think Commodore will let this one slip out of their hands,
too much at stake considering the impending arrival of CD-I.

taab5@isuvax.iastate.edu (Marc Barrett) (05/29/91)

In article <6230@ns-mx.uiowa.edu>, bheil@scout-po.biz.uiowa.edu writes:
>EEErrgghhh!!! 
>The marketing of CDTV is not 'typical CBM marketing'!  Not allowing dealers to
>show or advertise CDTV is exactly what Commodore wants!  This is not ignore the
>dealer blah blah blah... this is a real marketing plan.  By avoiding promoting
>CDTV in computer stores Commodore sheds 'compuphobia', the machine should be
>sold in stores like Best Buy (a midwest chain... can't think of any west coast
>places off the top of my head... Circuit CIty?).  Thats why it looks like a
>stereo component and not an Amiga 500 with a CD-a-ma-bob hanging of the side.  
>
>According to Commodore it is in test markets now (LA, Chicago, New York, etc.)
>and will be released big time later on.  Give it a awhile before you flame
>Commodore Marketing.
>
>Personally I don't think Commodore will let this one slip out of their hands,
>too much at stake considering the impending arrival of CD-I.

   You are putting a great deal of trust in Commodore.  Remember that this 
is the very same company that has only managed to sell less than 500,000
Amigas in all of North America in almost 6 years.  That is less than
100,000 Amigas per year, and that just plain sucks, especially compared
to companies like Apple which have managed to sell nearly 10 times as
many systems in the same geographical area over the same time interval.

   When Commodore introduced the Amiga in 1985, more was at stake then 
just a potential market.  Commodore's very survival as a corporation was
in serious jeapardy.  Yet this did not make them advertize more.  I really
don't think things will be any different now.

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