Amiga.org

Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga News and Community Announcements => Announcements and Press Releases => Topic started by: jd997uk on June 24, 2002, 08:51:42 PM

Title: New Executive Update
Post by: jd997uk on June 24, 2002, 08:51:42 PM
Confirmation of Gary Peake's health status,  PartyPack Owners discount for OS4, Amithlon 2 agreement and a special A1G3SE/OS4 discount deal/prize draw.

Executive Update (http://www.amiga.com/corporate/062302-mcewen.shtml)



Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: D@n on June 24, 2002, 08:04:13 PM
WOW THIS IS FREAKIN FANTASTIC!!!
Look @ THAT PRIZE DRAW :-o  :-o  :-o  :-o  :-o  :-o
How does one enter, I mean do u like have to have already placed and order for the A1 or do you just sign up for the prize draw?
Also what is the Amiga Enabled Cell Phone?
Which phone is it?
Where/When can I buy it?
Cheers
D@n :-D
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: GadgetMaster on June 24, 2002, 08:10:38 PM
Apparently, you have to buy a $50 voucher that can be redeemed on the purchase of the AmigaOne with OS4.

Apparently, this is to find out how many people are serious about buying it.

Apparently, the prize draw is only for those that have purchased their vouchers.

 :crazy:
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Rodney on June 24, 2002, 09:07:35 PM
Ahhh, i missed that bit. I wondered how this would actualy help them track what users wanted the A1. Yer, sounds good. Now all we have to do is get the word out.

Easier said then done. Slashdot is pretty much our only answere, but i dont know how many Amigaians actualy use slashdot!?!?!

Whatya say people? Wanna floody slashdot with this great news? Everyone write about the same thing in a different way and we'll see if we can get it posted.

I've already writen one, but i might write an other know that i know how they actualy track buyers. Who's in? We have to do our part :)
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: DaveP on June 24, 2002, 09:18:16 PM
I wouldnt post on Slashdot, posting anything Amiga related  has this tendancy to expose the lamers, clueless and flamers. In fact dont post anything anywhere until you can actually order an A1 with OS4 in my view.


Dave.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 24, 2002, 09:23:24 PM
@DaveP

I agree! I'd wait until A1/OS4 is shipping before posting to Slashdot. Once it is shipping the signal-noise ratio would improve.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: asian1 on June 24, 2002, 09:27:49 PM
>50 thousand -> Free trip to Hawaii / Florida.

Unfair for customers who live in Hawaii / Florida :(
For 10 million voucher, perhaps the price is trip to ISS (International Space Station)! :)

Perhaps Bill McEwen should create a formal press release and announce the exact release date.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: DaveP on June 24, 2002, 09:30:59 PM
Well perhaps you get to fly once around the world instead.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 24, 2002, 09:31:05 PM
Quote
Unfair for customers who live in Hawaii / Florida :(


You mean me? ;-) Actually Hawaii sounds good.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Kronos on June 24, 2002, 11:15:36 PM
/me is waiting for Ben Hermans to start ranting
about that (almost anual) pre-payment-scheme.

Party on  :-P
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: DaveP on June 24, 2002, 11:17:32 PM
Im sorry I dont get you?
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Kronos on June 24, 2002, 11:32:31 PM
Quote
Im sorry I dont get you?


Is it really so hard  :-o

Whenever Ben was loosing an argument on ann.lu in a Pegasos-related-thread
he did start ranting about the fact that so many people lost money in th Phase5-
preorder/bancrupsy and how bad pre-payments were. He even called those
people stupid (or was it idiots ?).

Now AInc is offering the second pre-payment for the same  products with an
uncertain release-date. These product are even not produced (or financed)
by AInc. but by Eyetech(MAI) and Hyperion.

Thats why I expect our honest, neutral, fair and nice friend Ben to do some
of his typical commenting on this  ;-)
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: xeron on June 24, 2002, 11:43:31 PM
Quote

 These product are even not produced (or financed)
by AInc. but by Eyetech(MAI)


Are they definately working with MAI then? They pretty clearly, unambiguously, and definitively said that the AmigaONE is not a TeronCX.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 24, 2002, 11:57:16 PM
Quote
Thats why I expect our honest, neutral, fair and nice friend Ben to do some


Oh come on now Kronos! You and I both know VERY well that a $50 deposit is *ALOT* different than throwing $1200USD++++ at a preorder. I can drink $50 in a bar in a few hours!

 :-o
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: z5 on June 24, 2002, 11:57:45 PM
I have never been impressed by ANY executive update. Every update has the same "announcements soon" "go to this show for something big" "big companies showing interest" "deals are nearly signed" "the amiga community is fantastic" "soon" "DE is amiga anywhere" "cellphone" "we are gonna rock the world"... It's all pure PR talk, nothing more. I'm still waiting for the first executive update saying "it's out".  8-)
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: asian1 on June 25, 2002, 12:00:40 AM
>Amithlon 2 announcement.

I am glad the legal problem is solved.
To avoid confusion, Mr Bernd Meyer should update his page and Amiga Inc should ask H&P to close their Amithlon website. The customers will be confused by the 2 different announcements.

http://www.amithlon.net/en/amithlon_statement.txt
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 25, 2002, 12:03:45 AM
@z5

There WERE a few OUT NOW updates! Don't you remember the "Silly games pack for WinCE" announcement? ;-) JK actually.

There was the OS3.9 shipping, the DE SDK, DE player, Linux Player, Nokia(since died) and the games pack. More than any other owner since C=.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Kronos on June 25, 2002, 12:08:05 AM
Quote
Oh come on now Kronos! You and I both know VERY well that a $50 deposit is *ALOT* different than throwing $1200USD++++ at a preorder.


It's still a damn pre-payment ! And AInc. are still not investing one
single $ into the development of A1/OS4....
Quote
I can drink $50 in a bar in a few hours!


And someone like that is allowed to have kids  :-o

God bless America  :roll:
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: z5 on June 25, 2002, 12:13:25 AM
@redrumloa:

Can you actually use any of it (apart from OS3.9 which was the worst OS update ever imo)?

It's always about "soon". I bought my first Amiga 1000 in 1986 (damn, i'm getting really old:-x) and it's still in my heart (just bought myself a new...A500  :-D and have A1000 and 2 A1200). I will always hope for the best for the most stunning and stylish computer ever. I believe in the quality of Hyperion but i have never believed in Amiga Inc as they are now. They do a bad job. Just as they do a bad job with the AmigaOne preorder action.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Kronos on June 25, 2002, 12:14:30 AM
Quote
They pretty clearly, unambiguously, and definitively said that the AmigaONE is not a TeronCX.


Just like they said that the "Escena_ONE" was allmost ready,
that the dev-boards (all of them) would be shipped in April, that they have them but they would need to "fix the rom", that
they have them (all of them) but just have to adapt Linux before, and
that they have borrowed Apple's CPU-socket.

Reality:
The A1 is a (slightly) modified TeronCX and will be produced (and yes
I mean "will be" and not "has") by a yet unknown company. The A1-XE
will be a slightly modified version if the TeronPX, which (suprise suprise)
uses a megarray CPU-socket, just like Apple does.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 25, 2002, 12:14:49 AM
Quote
It's still a damn pre-payment ! And AInc. are still not investing one single $ into the development of A1/OS4....


$5Million isnt enough? Would be happier if Gateway2000 still owned everything?

Quote
And someone like that is allowed to have kids  
God bless America  


Thanks for the insults.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: xeron on June 25, 2002, 12:21:15 AM
Quote

Reality:
The A1 is a (slightly) modified TeronCX and will be produced (and yes
I mean "will be" and not "has") by a yet unknown company. The A1-XE
will be a slightly modified version if the TeronPX, which (suprise suprise)
uses a megarray CPU-socket, just like Apple does.


OK. And where are you getting your "facts" from, or are they just based on the fact that the boards are similarily specced? I'm not arguing, its just that you are just some guy on a forum, so I take what anyone says with a pinch of salt  :-P

And, at the end of the day, even if it was just a slightly modified TeronCX, why should anyone even care? If it does the job of running OS4 nicely, surely thats what matters?
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Kronos on June 25, 2002, 12:24:51 AM
Quote
$5Million isnt enough?


They paid that for the name and the (developer) community, but weren't
interested in the OS itself, actually the tried allmost every possible trick to
kill it in 2000.
They changed their mind in 2001 (good), but still haven't added one single
line of code to the project or payed for any actual development.
Quote
Thanks for the insults.


Be my guest  :-D
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Kronos on June 25, 2002, 12:32:08 AM
Quote
OK. And where are you getting your "facts"


Even Alan addmitted that it has been developed by the same persons
that did the TeronCX, and given the limited time and money frameset it's
absolut impossible to create a completly new design.

Quote
If it does the job of running OS4 nicely, surely thats what matters?


If it really does (doubt it) ? No problem at all, but I do have a problem with
the hot-air Alan is talking just to avoid the saying the truth. Which is that
Eyetech is just a reseller and not capable to get such a big project off
the ground without relying on others.

But that was not the point.
The Point was that AInc. doesn't take any finicial risk in the A1/OS4 operation,
but still there are the ones who are asking for a pre-payment...
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: MarkTime on June 25, 2002, 12:34:23 AM
It goes without saying, so obviously I feel the need to say it anyway.  This will not show the number of people who will buy the board.  For one, most people who order the board will not prepay.  For two, some who prepay really don't have the money for the board.  Still the second option nets Amiga 50 bucks.

The final success of the board also depends on momentum.  If its taking off like a lightning bolt, then more ppl will jump on the bandwagon.  It also depends, I think to a small extent anyway, the alternatives like G3 upgrades and maybe pegasos.

They might get 1,000 pre-orders if they are darn lucky, and this shouldn't be indicative of anything, except they really need $50,000 bucks really bad.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 25, 2002, 12:35:21 AM
Quote
Be my guest


-abuse-

Yeesh I have to edit my own post :-x
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: AmiGod on June 25, 2002, 01:08:33 AM
I don't know about you guys, but I'd like to know what I get for my money before putting my money down.  Sure, it says I would get an A1 with OS 4.0 and a free shirt.  But what are the specs for this A1?  Is it a G3, a G4, what's its speed, and what exactly is the final pricing for all of this?

AmiGod
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Herewegoagain on June 25, 2002, 01:09:26 AM
Quote
They changed their mind in 2001 (good), but still haven't added one single
line of code to the project or payed for any actual development.


Honestly Kronos, do you have some sort of vested interest in overseeing that Amiga has to spend X amount of dollars?   And how do you know so much of what goes on internally at Amiga concerning their finances?  Do you loose sleep over this at night?

Personally,  I could care less what they have spent or how many lines of code they have actually produced in-house... that means squat to me!  The only thing that matters to me is that things are happening.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 25, 2002, 01:12:19 AM
It's been pretty well documented AmiGod, in case you missed it.

http://www.eyetech.co.uk/addbar.php?Address=/NEWS/AMIGA001.HTM

Also check Amiga Inc's website for details on OS4.0.

www.amiga.com
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Kronos on June 25, 2002, 01:19:17 AM
@Herewegoagain

Didn't Ben always say that OS4 was  a pure Hyperion-thing ?
And the A1 a pure Eytechech-one ?

I don't have a problem with AInc. "outsourcing" this, but I don't think it
is a good idea to take money in advance for products developed by
someelse. If they had said that they money would be passed over to Hyperion/
Eyetech to help them in getting things finished faster it would have made some
sense, but in the way it sounds to me now it's just another desperate
"we need money now" -cry just like the Party-Pack last year.

@Red
"-abuse-"

 :-o  :-o  :-o

Did you really see this as an abuse ?
I found the idea of labelling my Krusty_the_Klingon_insult_comedy
as something typical german quite amuseing..
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Herewegoagain on June 25, 2002, 01:30:49 AM
Quote
If they had said that they money would be passed over to Hyperion/
Eyetech to help them in getting things finished faster it would have made some
sense, but in the way it sounds to me now it's just another desperate
"we need money now" -cry just like the Party-Pack last year.



Well, I understand what you are saying in that respect, but I find it hard to believe that the money will not somehow go to or at least toward those companies.  If nothing else, it could be deducted from any sort of fees/royalties they would have to pay Amiga, but that is just speculation even on my part.  I'm sure they have worked out the details amongst themselves.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Valan on June 25, 2002, 01:33:01 AM
I think they should post the number of pre orders they get on a weekly basis.

The pre order window is very short so the machines and OS4 must be ready to ship.

I suspect to a lot of true Amiga lovers the speed of the CPU won't really matter. All the fun OS stuff seems to have been updated. IT looks like they have expanded the feature list for the OS so that DE integration may come a lot sooner.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: starbird80 on June 25, 2002, 01:47:28 AM
I'm sorry to say that what I see in this promotion is an attempt to raise cash from the community, with NO guarantee that you'll get anything more than a T-shirt for your US$50.  

Bill McE:  Make that a $100 discount for $50 up front and I *might* consider it an investment in the future.  Clarify that this discount can be used for ANY A1-certified hardware, not just a clone of the developer board, and I would consider it very seriously.  Otherwise, my dollars will go to Amithlon.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Kronos on June 25, 2002, 01:49:46 AM
@Herwegoagain

This is how I understand it:

You pay $50 to AInc.
AInc. keeps that money (and maybe spends it on the DE).
The A1 is released.
You buy a A1.
You send the recipt to AInc.
AInc. sends you a cheque about $50.

And now what happens if AInc. go bankrupt before the A1-release ?
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 25, 2002, 01:54:42 AM
Quote
And now what happens if AInc. go bankrupt before the A1-release ?


You still get your A1G3SE/OS4.0, but maybe no rebate. Who says A-Inc is going under?
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: FluffyMcDeath on June 25, 2002, 02:06:23 AM
Wait and see-ism is as useful as procrastinastion when developing something new. Wait and see-ers will hang around and cherry pick as the work of others starts to bare fruit, but they depend on do-ers and investors, because development needs investment and commitment else nothing happens.
If the wait and see-ers feel more comfortable waiting and see-ing then that is their perogative and it is a low risk strategy, but a wait and see-er should never try to discourage committers and doers because if no-one is planting the cherry trees, there won't be any cherries to pick.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 25, 2002, 02:12:39 AM
Quote
FluffyMcDeath


LOL I love that nick! Is that a dangerous new McDonalds breakfast? :-D
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: bhoggett on June 25, 2002, 02:55:10 AM
Nah. It sounds like the usual McDonalds breakfast to me.  :-o
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: pellerhead on June 25, 2002, 04:19:02 AM
"And now what happens if AInc. go bankrupt before the A1-release ?"

Your out $50.  :-o

Unless your making a living on a paper route you should survive. However, for those that do I suggest they consider the much cheaper i86 platforms that exist as neither Amiga or bPlan are going to be inexpensive.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Hammer on June 25, 2002, 06:39:44 AM
Quote
And now what happens if AInc. go bankrupt before the A1-release ?


If you notice, Alnc has multiple revenue stream to minimize this risk...
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Valan on June 25, 2002, 09:59:13 AM
Quote
And now what happens if AInc. go bankrupt before the A1-release ?

I think Eyetech and Hyperion have that covered in the agreement made last year. Alan said that they had made a deal that secures the future development of the hardware and the Amiga OS for the future no matter what happens.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Kronos on June 25, 2002, 11:40:46 AM
Quote
If you notice, Alnc has multiple revenue stream to minimize this risk...


AInc has a revenue ? With what product ?
The game-pack ? The SDK ? The fantastic Sharp-deal ?

Their first income will probraly be Amithlon_2.0 which seems
to be "their" only real product that actually has a market.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Rodney on June 25, 2002, 04:34:22 PM
Quote


They paid that for the name and the (developer) community, but weren't
interested in the OS itself, actually the tried allmost every possible trick to
kill it in 2000.
They changed their mind in 2001 (good), but still haven't added one single
line of code to the project or payed for any actual development.


You dont know that for sure.  Hyperion have already said numerious times that there was code already there to build on that Amiga Inc had created before they couldnt pay their contractors.

Amiga Inc have worked on AmigaOS, but the DE is their first prioirty (itll be ours too come OS5) and they couldnt afford to work on it. So Hyperion steped in. You know this!
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: whabang on June 25, 2002, 04:35:55 PM
Baah! Just ignore him... I suspect that most of it will be gone soon anyway.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: AmiGod on June 25, 2002, 11:02:27 PM
Red,

Quote
It's been pretty well documented AmiGod, in case you missed it.


So what you're basically telling me is that this deal revolves around the SAME A1 card that developers are getting, with a G3 processor and all.

You see, I was hoping that this special revolved around the more recent announcement by Eyetech about the G4s and dual-processor A1s.

This is why I asked.

Personally, I don't want a G3 A1.  Especially with Eyetech having announced the G4s and dual-G4s.

That would be like buying a bare-bones A500 after hearing about the A4kT with an 060.  Why buy the cheapest when you can afford the best.

Quote
Also check Amiga Inc's website for details on OS4.0.


Yup, I've been keeping tabs on everything OS 4.0-related since it was first announced.

Thanks anyways for the heads-up.

AmiGod
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 25, 2002, 11:21:04 PM
Quote
Personally, I don't want a G3 A1. Especially with Eyetech having announced the G4s and dual-G4s.


Well you have to walk before you can run. Besides the Eyetech trade in offer sounds decent.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: Kronos on June 25, 2002, 11:26:01 PM
Quote
Hyperion have already said numerious times that there was code already there to build on that Amiga Inc had created before they couldnt pay their contractors


When  I asked Ben on a IRC-chat early this year about H&P and
there involvement in OS4 he replied wit something in the line of
"they are doing their share". Somehow that doesn't fit in with facts that
we know now.

The only things that have been done before Hyperion took over was 3rd-
party stuff like RoadShow.

And yes one of the first AInc told everyone in 2000 was that AmigaOS
was dead. And yes H&P wanted to do (minimal) PPC version of 3.9, but
weren't allowed back than.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: DaveP on June 26, 2002, 12:12:48 AM
I dont recall one press conference or exec overview saying that
it was dead in 2000. I recall Fleecy and Bill saying that they
wanted to take the Amiga brand forward to be a new widget
based universe running on top of intent and that "classic" Amiga
products would not be directly supported by them.

This remains true up to a point although they have increased
their support of "classic" to the point of not calling it "classic" any
more with a strong platform direction.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: redrumloa on June 26, 2002, 12:27:52 AM
Quote
This remains true up to a point although they have increased their support of "classic" to the point of not calling it "classic" any
more with a strong platform direction.


True, personally I think AmigaInc are starting to see the error of their ways. The A1/OS4.0 is more promising ATM then DE.
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: AmiGod on June 26, 2002, 12:40:50 AM
Red,

Quote
Well you have to walk before you can run. Besides the Eyetech trade in offer sounds decent.


True, it is a good deal, but not to a packrat. :-(

AmiGod
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: whabang on June 26, 2002, 12:41:59 AM
Quote
True, personally I think AmigaInc are starting to see the error of their ways. The A1/OS4.0 is more promising ATM then DE.


Hopefully they are... It should have happened sooner though!  The world is simply not ready for a product like DE/AA...

I belive that the "incompatability issue" will continiue to spread in the next few years. Especially if Apple continiues be as successful as the iMac turned to be. Add this to the spreading of PDA's and different Linux/BSD systems, and then start an intensive marketing campaign. Platform independant 3D and sond API's  ( hopefully, Warp3D will have matured by then ) and binary independance? Way to go! Just not quite yet...
Title: Re: New Executive Update
Post by: DaveP on June 26, 2002, 03:44:43 AM
Id agree with this whilst there are no killer apps on that platform.

1. Developers are not ready to pay for platform agnostic write once run anywhere mechanisms.

2. Consumers dont give a toss what the OS is or the platform so long they can run their programs.

3. Write once compile everywhere has become pretty much a solved entity.

Whilst I dont think the desktop war is over ( there is still a chance as the resurgance of the Mac has proven ) I do think that DE has had its chance and has unfortunately failed. There is a small chance that a big success will turn this around but the developement community seems to be leaving or gone and the user community has dried up.

Very very sad for what is an excellent technology.

Now I want to see Amigas content brokering architecture ported onto AOS4.x and up ;-)