Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: amigean on March 16, 2007, 01:45:02 PM
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Talking about the new Commodore PCs - check out the pictures - a nice looking A500 figures there too...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6453339.stm
They seem pretty serious these new Commodore guys - they might even turn a profit! (when was the last time this happened in the Amiga world? :lol: )
Their new machines are sweet looking - would be great to get AROS running there!
Hope they do well with these PCs and then use some of their fancy design and marketing to propel AROS, C-1, minimig, EFIKA, Samantha or whatever else comes us along to the mainstream...
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damn i like those black cases
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i found some more
http://commodoregaming.com/pcshop/Home.aspx
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Here is some more info, check out the picture with the C= feet.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/15/hands-on-with-commodores-gaming-rigs/
Wonder if they would just sell the cases? Would make a cool A1200 tower project.
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I wonder, would they sell those black Tower cases separately? I know I would definitely want one...
I admit it's unlikely though, since those distinct cases are pretty much the main reason one would go for their otherwise off-the-shelf PCs...
I still think they stand to make a big buck from marketing and design alone - the commodore brand and logo are still recognisable, that BBC news story attests to this
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Their new machines are sweet looking - would be great to get AROS running there!
What exactly is the point? Just because it has the commodore logo? It is just a pc with high specs which currently are of no use on Aros due to lack of games, software and drivers to be able to use it properly, so it will all go to waste.
A cheap low end pc works just as fine on Aros.
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What exactly is the point? Just because it has the commodore logo? It is just a pc with high specs which currently are of no use on Aros due to lack of games, software and drivers to be able to use it properly, so it will all go to waste.
my point is not about utility - it is about generating buzz, (what those looking at technology markets call "network externalities") getting people to know that AROS exists, that a variant of AOS that many knew and loved now runs natively on x86 and that with a little push, it might even become usable for the odd nostalgia fix.
I see this as an opportunity - this "ressurection" is getting a lot of attention and it appears to be targetting the right kind of market - including a bootable AROS-Max LiveCD there could help spread the word - and it would still add some value to their product for no real cost to them. And then, who knows, these new commodore guys might even have some ideas for bounties they would like to see implemented...
anyone who considers buying one of those PCs will not base their decision on hardware specs alone, but because they like the package as a whole; it is ultimately about aesthetics and personal feelings (nostalgia included) - this may not be how many of us make our hardware purchase decisions, but there are good signs that a sizeable proportion of the market is motivated by marketing, packaging, fancy logos, GUI design and other non-strictly utilitarian considerations (see Apple)
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Wow. I really have to hand it to the new Commodore graphics-artists/industrial designers. It may be just a PC inside, but the case is beautiful. I half expected these guys would just buy a generic case and slap a sticker on it with the Commodore logo.....instead, they pulled out all the stops and designed a top-notch case with the Commodore logo moulded right into the sides, front, etc. Even subtle/hidden places like the inside of the door, the bottom of the LCD monitor, behind the power supply grille and the metal moulding on the bottom of the casing have real, embossed logos. The feet are moulded rubber C= logos! This is clearly a professional attempt at reviving the brand.
I know there are a lot of complainers out there....but seriously, what did you expect them to do....revive the Amiga or the 8-bit line overnight? Rome wasn't built in a day. These guys need to build capital with something that will sell right away. They clearly respect the heritage of the brand....so maybe there will be something for us "classic" users in the future.
They've already done a much more professional job of things than some of the past owners of the C= trademarks. It was nice to see the big, silver logo on the Commodore booth again! Well done!
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I agree... there's isn't much else that you could do with Commodore's brand than what they're already doing.
It's wishful thinking but there's a good chance this plays out well for them - and possibly for us nostalgia-nutters too...
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I don't see anything special about the case design. I mean, it looks good but really that's only because it's vaguely modeled after Apple's workstations. For instance, the prominence of the branding on the side panels, 'though they got it a little off and the positioning is really awkward to look at. This is less industrial design and more like an echo of the deluge of transparent coloured PC accessories that appeared in the wake of the original iMac.
What bothers me more is the talk of Commodore, the veteran computing firm releasing new machines as though they really have anything to do with the real Commodore, and then for people to get excited that they might do something for the Amiga community - dream on. They're using the Commodore name to shift units and nothing else; they'd do the same with Amiga except that they don't own that trademark.
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I am fully aware they are in the business of "shifting units" - which is what companies need to do to stay afloat - I do not think this is a bad thing; the same goes for the lack of link with the Commodore of the past - IMHO this is one of their positive qualities, if anything...
I am not suggesting that this will inevitably bring about massive changes for the fortune of our platform - but I am optimistic (dreaming, perhaps I know) that *something* "good" *could* come out of it for two reasons:
(i) Unlike Amiga inc, these guys appear to be pressing all the right buttons so far; they have actual products that have stirred some excitement in mainstream press and stand a fair chance of making some money
(ii) Market-oriented, serious companies respond to market incentives (again unlike Amiga inc) - IMHO there is some scope for an alignment of their incentives with those of the community (broadly defined; including not only users but also hardware/soft developers); there's a wealth of opportunities for them to add value to their products (and thereby shift more units) by doing the kind of things that would make us happy...
Then again - given our experience with Ainc, skepticism is indeed warranted and is perhaps the safest option if we are to avoid dissappointment
I guess we have to wait and see :-)
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Anyone remember the Commodore Colt?
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NoFastMem wrote:
They're using the Commodore name to shift units and nothing else; they'd do the same with Amiga except that they don't own that trademark.
Do you think the original Commodore Inc. had some sort of philanthropic motivation? Do you actually believe the original Commodore developed new Amiga models just because it had a love of that computing platform, or for the sole delight of seeing the happy smiles on their user's faces? No, they did it all because they thought they could make a buck. All that Commodore cared about was shifting units too....and by the 1990s they were headed the way of Windows with their many PC clones.
This new Commodore at least recognises there is money to be made from the 8-bit nostalgia. They had a Commodore-64 at their booth, they've loaded these new PCs with an emulator....if there is money to be made reviving the Amiga name, or making nifty DTV joysticks with 8-bits or Amiga tech inside, they will do it, and we will benefit, just like we did when the original Commodore thought it profitable to release Amiga hardware.
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Anyone remember the Commodore Colt?
Not really... care to elaborate?
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The Commodore Colt was one of the original Commodore's PC clones. It wasn't very remarkable.