CommodoreUSA CEO Interview Answers

[psxphill]

Linux should make computers cheaper for Windows tax, not more expensive.

You'd be suprised at how little you pay for a Windows license in bulk. The cost is also reduced by things like free trials of antivirus etc. Everything about Linux is expected to be free, so this doesn't happen.
 
Linux is always going to be niche on the desktop. It only makes sense in embedded or server products.

[psxphill]

First day CUSA admits some mistakes and call them not trivial.
 
.....
 
And software support is updates and drivers. Without Linux mint team and with millions of possible driver combinations ...

He admits to making mistakes in his answers. Trivialising and overblowing are subjective, he hasn't killer or injured anyone that I know of so anything he has done sounds pretty trivial to me.
 
It seems you want CUSA to be able to offer the same support as Microsoft. Even Apple and Linux don't have very good driver support in comparison.

[psxphill]

It is C=USA's job to design the product outline, if C=USA don't tell us specifics as to their abilities, contractual restrictions of OS and CPU architecture or their total engineering R&D resource then the discussion is closed. I explained the problem in detail already...

It's not a scam, it's a way of ending the discussion.
 
If I had people constantly asking me to make something that I didn't think I was going to make money at then I'd ask them to put their money where their mouth was.
The money was basically a pre-order, if CUSA failed to ship the product then I'd expect the money to be refunded. Of course you should make sure the contract was drawn up correctly to avoid any future disappointment
 
There is nothing to stop anyone from producing a PPC motherboard that fits one of CUSA's cases. An overpriced motherboard in an overpriced case is a perfect match.

[psxphill]

After reading 30 pages of lies and half assed explanations in Barry's Q & A session, Dammy - why would ANYONE in the community want to have anything to do with C-USA? A company that has done nothing for us? Eh, let me correct myself - they were kind enough to send me veiled death threats via PM one time when I voiced polite opinions.

Companies only do things to make you want to spend money. If you expect anyone to do more than that they you'll always be disappointed.
 
If you bought a product from them and it was faulty then you should contact them privately first and then follow up through the proper channels if that doesn't work out. At the point you make a complaint on a public forum then you have removed any good will and reduce your chance of a satisfactory outcome. If you didn't buy anything and were merely getting stuck in because you thought they needed sorting out then you're out of order.
 
I'm not sure what you count as a veiled death threat, but you should have gone through the proper channels with that as well.
 
I'm not affiliated with CUSA & have never bought any of their products & most likely never will. However they have as much right as anyone else to try in business, even if they don't seem to be very good at it. I'm sick of every CUSA thread being turned into a he said/she said playtime argument. Get over it.
 
commodore sold c64's that caught fire the day you first used them, they knew they were faulty when they left the factory (although not necessarily that they would catch fire) and shipped them to meet christmas demand. Whether you're that bothered about it will depend on whether it was your christmas that was ruined when the house burnt down.

[psxphill]

Once a link between you and C-USA can be proven then YOU are the one who could face legal action by anyone who invested (or invests) money in C-USA based on your statements.

Unlikely, as an investor should perform due diligence.
 
Even if dammy was directly employed by CUSA he never claimed to represent it.
 
Marketing material is almost always faked (although they like to call it artistic impression) but it's not generally illegal.
 
If an advertisment produced by CUSA for a product made misleading claims then you could have a point. However even showing the wrong factory in an advert would not be illegal, because it has no impact on the functionalilty of the product.
 
I don't know if I believe that it was the marketing companies fault, but it's definately possible. Bill Hicks had his own opinions on marketing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDW_Hj2K0wo

[psxphill]

In short, we can’t trust a word these guys say and the big question is, why are they lying? Are they doing it to look stupid or are they doing it for potential financial gain?

I'm willing to accept it's incompetence.
 
I don't recall them claiming that every motherboard in the picture was for a c64x, just that it was the factory that was assembling them. If did then yes they were lying but it was probably just to make themselves look better, which is basically marketing. If so then it backfired and continuing to worry about it is not healthy.
 
Why do you care so much? Every single piece of marketing is just as unreliable. Anyone who invested money in them would easily have invested in some other get rich quick scheme, so the outcome would be the same. A fool and their money are easily parted.
 

If you don't like me trying to stop some clueless scum trying to rape one of my childhood brands today then just skip this thread. I'm morally on the high ground here vs C=USA sorry.



We are debating every aspect of this lamentable situation here!

Until C=USA make an effort it is my duty to tell people the TRUTH!

Boring. It's business, morals have no place.

[psxphill]

It's his money, I wish him well and hope his idea takes off for him. Again, I'm not going to buy into it, but doesn't mean I want him to crash and burn.

Yeah, I agree with you. I don't get why some people aren't happy with hating CUSA themselves, they want to make sure that everyone hates them.
 

True, but even in bussiness there are even strict conduct of behaviour,
that punishes you heavily if you disrispect the customers.

C=USA just ain`t a good bussiness model.

In business you have to worry about consumer law & contract law. If they break a contract or one of their obligations to consumers then they can be punished, disrespecting your customers has no direct consequence. You just might find it harder to find new customers.
 
If you stopped using companies that didn't treat you with respect then you'd be sitting in the dark, cold & starving. All you can hope for is that they lie and say they respect you.
 
I buy what I want at the price I want to pay & have no brand loyalty (*), it's all about the product.
 
(*) I have brand laziness for recurring revenue, constantly switching suppliers cost me time. However I do try to keep on top of it.

[psxphill]

It`s just isn`t a role model, think would you drive business same way if you were in charge. Even its retro time and globalization, as well as crisis. With Amiga its just different it`s not "just" retro, there is some community and it had some development, "a life after death", so C=USA isn`t a real comeback.

CUSA are following in the Commodore tradition of taking a good idea and completely screwing it up.
 
They are under no obligation to treat the Amiga name with the sanctity that you desire. You're better off just ignoring them.