Are we going to get 20 questions ever again with Amiga.com?

[humppa]

Ok Hans, let me answer your questions.

- When will Amiga OS4 and new hardware to run it on be available?

We want to see OS 4 ship, but by the time we get everything worked out you may be running version 5. I should mention that while we have only talked about it once, OS 5 has been in development in Amiga by Amiga engineers and staff for over two years. We have made some amazing progress and we are pleased with the results to date.

- What hardware will be available for Amiga OS4?

We are in current discussions with three companies, and I believe that two of them have product and offerings that offer a competitive opportunity for the Amiga community. We are striving to get these deals complete, and until they are signed I am not at liberty to discuss them. I will say that Troika is not one of them, contrary to what is rumbling out there. Currently today there is only one company with a contract that can ship AmigaOS 4 with their hardware, and that is Eyetech. It is my goal to have at least one (maybe two) vendors who can supply the needs of the Amiga community and help it grow -- it has been far too long.
There must be a clear understanding however that we are looking for people and businesses that currently have revenues that can support this business. We request a business plan, budget and current revenue figures that are at least $ 500,000.00 per year in revenue.

[humppa]

@Hans

Nice cut and paste job from his last response to 20 questions.

Damn, you noticed...  :-P

However, an answer like that just isn't going to cut it this time. We need more concrete answers.

I found some parts in his last answers very concrete and to the point, e.g. "We request a business plan, budget and current revenue figures that are at least $500,000.00 per year in revenue" or the part that explicitly mentioned Troika as not being a party they are discussing/negotiating with. Another thing was him mentioning the legal dispute with Hyperion, that "is now in the hands of lawyers". He didn't _need_ to mention it (cause nobody knew or asked for it), but he still chose to do so, very much to our surprise as nobody heard of that before.
In hindsight, this explained at least some of the things that have _not_ been happening re: hardware.
This is information you usually wouldn't expect a CEO to disclose.

[humppa]

I'd like to know if they've noticed DiscreetFX's interest to purchase Amiga, and if they have any comment on that.

I guess it gave them a few giggles, that's all.

Or if nothing else, if they'd consider selling their stake in OS4 so they can concentrate on their Anywhere games without any further distractions from us.

That would be great, but it requires McEwen convincing Amiga Inc's investors. Good luck.

[humppa]

If there's no viable market for it then they're not going to make money off that IP unless they find some "sucker" willing to buy it off them.

I think this is a very central point. My assumption: Their investors think/know there isn't much money to gain from the IP.
They still keep it (frozen) for two reasons: a) some deluded "sucker" willing to buy it b) making money from lawsuits against parties that might infringe their IP/patents. Not saying that this is a central part of their corporate objective. But keeping it doesn't harm them.

The rest of the company might be used for other "purposes", but I don't really care too much about the AmigaAnywhere/cell phone games part.

[humppa]

the problem is he own the company, if he are removed there is no amiga inc. so how will that help?

McEwen is "only" the CEO, but there are investors, venture capitalists and other financial backers who own the majority of shares in Amiga Inc. Pentti Kouri/Invisible hand, Netventures, Prokom, etc.
So there will still be an Amiga Inc. if they would kick him.

If they would have the objective to actually make some money with Amiga Inc, they would have already fired him years ago.

[humppa]

On the Netventures site it sounds as if they actually wanted Amiga to develop, albeit with a different order of steps / with a different set of priorities from the current user base..

That's what venture capitalists do. Remember that also VCs have investors. VCs naturally want to make their portfolio look as valuable as possible to get a good "exit" out of them (e.g. selling the shares for a higher price after they have pumped a lot of hot air into the corporate shell).
Of course they would never state something like "Amiga is only used to park the IP and some patents."  :lol:

[humppa]

@Ferry

ACK worked for MAI in developing the A1

Should read "ACK worked for MAI in trying to fix the Terons".

[humppa]

@Plaz

The poll was terminated earlier than originally planned I think, maybe because of Amiga Inc. announcement.
I wonder if we can already proceed with the questions now...

[humppa]

So has the Q&A officially been canceled now?

[humppa]

So why did we have this poll anyway (majority voted in favour of the Q&A)?

[humppa]

there you go, no reason to bore us with your 20 questions.

Uh yeah, must be really hard not to click on the link, right? Why don't _you_ just ignore them?

Anyway, it's not just _my_ 20 questions, but also the majority of those who voted. I don't see your frigging problem.