Amiga.org

Operating System Specific Discussions => Other Operating Systems => CommodoreUSA Amiga => Topic started by: SysAdmin on December 24, 2012, 01:20:03 AM

Title: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: SysAdmin on December 24, 2012, 01:20:03 AM
If there's anyone left that still believes CommooreUSA's business model for selling Amiga's without AmigaOS is sound we actually dabbled in this ourselves in 2009.

http://aladdin4d.blogspot.com/2009/11/aspire-in-4d.html

Our customers expressed complete disinterest in this so we nipped it in the bud and never sold any machines. We would have included AmigaForever so customers had a way to run classic software like Aladdin4D. CommodoreUSA didn't even include a way to run classic AmigaOS so it's doubtful any customers were interested. Linux PCs have been available for many years from several vendors if customers want that solution.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/the-top-five-linux-desktop-vendors/9313
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: CritAnime on December 24, 2012, 03:48:18 AM
The c64x is a unique product so far as the case goes. But the rest of the stuff is generic off the shelf stuff. The vic slim, which is the only product they currently have appart from the c64x, can be bought brand new for $169 with ubuntu installed (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007W66BRG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007W66BRG&linkCode=as2&tag=ou00-20) as a complete system.
 
I know people that buy Linux systems on a regular basis, either for family or as buisness items, and they have all said the thought of spending so much on a prebuilt system with linux is mental. Even if they were completely os free they still couldn't fully justify spending that much on what would be considered a novelty purchase.
 
Speaking of the OS. I don't understand them selling discs of Commodore OS. In todays modern linux world mosts distros are easily downloaded and the iso's dumped onto USB drives or cheap writable cd's or dvd's for installation. There is only a few distro's I can think of that still sell physical copies of the OS. And even Canonical only sell them for a small amount. I would be interested to see how they play that one with a bloated OS with software that is easily downloaded with a simple sudo apt-get command.
 
On a final note i got a bit of a laugh recently when their one and only, that we know of, reseller had their joomla setup hacked by some Iranian hacker and now it's been left a gutted mess by the server admins from a really old backup.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: kedawa on December 24, 2012, 05:21:21 AM
Do we know who manufactures their c64x cases?
I wouldn't mind making an order myself.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: CritAnime on December 24, 2012, 05:25:49 AM
I would imagine it's one of the partners they show on their site. What are you wanting to order exactly?
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: Darrin on December 27, 2012, 05:40:43 PM
I said right from the start that they should have been simply selling PCs running Linux and/or Windows with a retro software package included.  "Confusing" (and I'm being polite by using that term) customers with talk about AmigaOS, CommodoreOS, Workbench5, etc was a very bad move.  Lying to us was an even worse one.  Their pricing was laughable and their tech support below what I would suspect was legally permissable.

They blew what chance they had of making it.  They needed solid products available for shipping when the Tron advertising was launched and the media was firmly onboard.  Unfortunately for them, either they couldn't organise a party in a brewery or something happened to delay their C64x models.  Either way, potential customers got of lightly.

If they want to survive then they need to quickly go back to the drawing board and completely redesign their business model around reality not fantasy.  Again, I suspect that C-USA is so far in the red that anything they do now will be a desperate attempt to claw back some cash before they are liquidated and Barry writes it off on his taxes.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: CritAnime on December 28, 2012, 11:20:02 AM
Their tech support was been handled by a hand full of users on their forums. I feel very little was been handled by themselves given the responses from users on their forum that tried the usual email and phone channels.

I have said from the start of their attempts at an os that it's a distraction they don't need. And I don't think people would be willing to buy the OS as a physical premium package. Considering you can download other distros for free. And the software packages can be found in the repositories for free.

And again can I note that the only distributor that has been seen has had their site hacked yet again. It's now an attack site for porn. Highly amusing.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: kedawa on December 28, 2012, 03:07:01 PM
Quote from: CritAnime;720179
I would imagine it's one of the partners they show on their site. What are you wanting to order exactly?


Like I said, the c64x barebones units.  CUSA is nothing but a middle man.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: CritAnime on December 28, 2012, 04:22:37 PM
http://www.technicraftplastics.com/ I would assume these are the people. However the C64x is one of their own products. There is endless complaining from barry about how much the mould cost. So I doubt you will be able to go to the company producing the cases and ask for a cheap one.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: kedawa on December 28, 2012, 04:32:49 PM
Yeah, I may have to wait until CUSA goes tits up.
Let's say February.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: CritAnime on December 28, 2012, 05:39:02 PM
Ah I see what you mean ;)
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: CritAnime on January 09, 2013, 01:08:42 PM
Their business model at the moment must be to not sell products. Their store page has been showing the same error message for a few days now, 4-5 days that I noticed, about there been no products in the shop. A couple of people have picked up on this on their forums. Though nothing seems to be done about it. Are they folding?
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: Kesa on January 09, 2013, 07:56:32 PM
"Unable to find Specified Product in Catalog."

Interesting. Doesn't look good for CUSA does it.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: CritAnime on January 09, 2013, 09:32:01 PM
Their amazon page shows they have five c64's, vic's and oddly 5 mio's. Odd.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: Darrin on January 10, 2013, 03:12:59 PM
Quote from: CritAnime;721903
Their amazon page shows they have five c64's, vic's and oddly 5 mio's. Odd.


"Buy It Now - $3000"?  ;)
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: spanner on April 21, 2013, 04:29:09 PM
Well it looks like the site....Dead Jim Dead..

But there's always this..  http://cbmosvision.webs.com
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: Amigoat on April 21, 2013, 08:08:26 PM
Quote from: spanner;732495
Well it looks like the site....Dead Jim Dead..

But there's always this..  http://cbmosvision.webs.com
Avast tells me this is a malware site!

Could be - some of the grammar on the page is awkward.

Ernie
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: CritAnime on May 11, 2013, 03:30:13 AM
The 32-bit version has been cancled and the site has been removed by the only guy working on it. Suppose there is little point really. Also judging from the CUSA Facebook page the latest buisness model litterally is dumping the stock to whoever buys it. Which would be Amibyte.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: persia on May 12, 2013, 01:05:26 AM
Amibytes website looks like it was built by a two year old, are they really selling anything?

Though I do like the line "The template for this display is not available. Please contact a Site administrator."  Very professional.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: CritAnime on May 12, 2013, 03:16:17 AM
It's joomla based and that's the fallback template. For when things go tits up with the install. Though the en sub domain ain't much better. But yes according to Facebook they are selling c64x's. For the time been anyway.
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: number6 on May 13, 2013, 05:17:44 PM
Quote from: CritAnime;734605
It's joomla based and that's the fallback template. For when things go tits up with the install. Though the en sub domain ain't much better. But yes according to Facebook they are selling c64x's. For the time been anyway.



Like I said...
once you accept... (http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?mode=viewtopic&topic_id=37136&forum=44&start=120&viewmode=flat&order=0#706496)

#6
Title: Re: CommodoreUSA Amiga business model
Post by: spanner on July 01, 2014, 11:50:26 AM
Quote from: Amigoat;732509
Avast tells me this is a malware site!

Could be - some of the grammar on the page is awkward.

Ernie


No its not a malware site,sorry about the wording on the site trying to sort it out,and its not dead,Making a mint 17 version,but can't get awn to work so got to use Cario instead.

I call it a customized version of Linux Mint with a touch of Commodore (NOT USA)..:)

Just having a problem with the boarders,they are invisible at the moment for some reason.

Love this site,long live the Amiga..;)  Peace  ..:D