@Wayne,
First up, I'd like to apologise to you for the tone of my previous posts. While I still stand by the content of my posts, I am not proud of some of the ways I presented that content in a less than respectable manner, and thus ask forgiveness for the ungraceful manner of those comments. I also note that you have replied a bit more graciously to me, and thank you for your conciliatory manner.
I'd like to make a few comments on your last post to me, still. Hopefully I'll do it a bit nicer this time
Therein lies the basic difference. You "trust" them as you personally have no reason to think otherwise (yet). Those of us who do not "trust" him or "Fleecy", have in most cases very much earned our position of now-complete distrust.
Yes, I trust them. I've had an ongoing relationship with Amiga for close to 3 years now, since I bought the original Linux SDK. I've released one product through the Amiga web shop, I've got a rewrite of that product nearly ready to go, and another game nearly ready to go too. I've worked on one short contract for Amiga Inc last year. I've had extensive contact with Fleecy via email, and other Amiga Inc employees too via email and IRC (Hi Jonas! and the rest of the gang on #developer!). They have always been courteous and polite with me, given me most of the info that I've asked for (there have been exceptions, and I understand those exceptions). I've had way more support in terms of developing for the DE than I would have expected.
Yes, it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing. Sales of DE related products has quite obviously not been what was initially expected, but there are quite sound and logical reasons for that. The loss of the Sharp Zaurus deal, the loss of the Nokia Media Terminal deal, the loss of the Sendo deal, had nothing to do with Amiga in any of those cases, and everything to do with forces outside of Amiga's control. That's just the way things work. Disappointing? You betcha. Lies from Fleecy and co? No.
Yeah, in the beginning it was a picture of rosy optimism, etc, from Fleecy and the whole gang at Amiga. They had every reason to be optimistic. Yes, they made mistakes here and there, too. Who doesn't? Fact is, things didn't work out the way it was planned initially. Stuff happens. That's life.
The interesting thing, though, and this is what all who'd like to see Amiga Inc go down have to deal with, is that Amiga Inc is still in existence. And they've managed to deliver on some of their projects (e.g. the deal with Microsoft), despite the huge constraints they've been working under. Doesn't that say something to you?
Yes, bad things have happened, but the bad things I've seen have not in any way reflected badly (in my opinion) on the character of people like Fleecy, Ray, Bill McEwen, Gary Peake. They are flawed human beings, just like you and I, but all these guys have *earned* my trust by their actions and dealings with me.
-- They aren't paying their employees, Ray and "Fleecy" have constantly twisted that fact.
I have not read every posting these guys have made, but my impression is that their answers have been along the lines of "that's none of your business" in regards to questions like that. I agree with them. You may not, but that's ok.
-- They terminated the medical insurance of employees without even telling them about it.
I take it you are referring to Bolton's case? I'm not convinced that all the facts on this issue are out yet, but that's just one thing we'll have to wait and see about. To me, this is a minor issue compared ot other issues I am aware of, so it doesn't factor in to my "trust factor".
-- They intentionally petitioned to abandon the trademark (the abandonment paperwork was physically filed by their lawyer). Presumably, they did this to keep it from being seized by the courts as an asset.
We don't know *why* the trademark was abandoned. Your speculation is only one interpretation, and not a necessary conclusion from the evidence at hand.
-- They were evicted almost A YEAR AGO and continually lied about it. They continue to twist the undeniable facts even today.
Again, there is more to the story, and because Amiga has chosen not to reveal that side of the story, what little they have said has been very easy to take out of context and assume it is their entire "defence" regarding the issue.
-- Their credit rating is far less than even my personal limit, and my personal limit isn't perfect. This means that no real company would invest money in Amiga Inc unless they buy something (not license it).
I don't know about the credit rating, but I strongly beg to differ regarding your conclusion. However, the proof is in the pudding, and I think that it's pretty clear that unless things turn around financially, it would be extremely difficult (or impossible) for Amiga to survive. Everyone will just have to wait and see on this one, I'm afraid. But again, I am quite confident here, and I believe I have good reason to be (no, sorry, before you ask, I can't share with you why I believe I have good reason, just take it as my opinion and put what little value on it you wish).
-- All of their hardware assets have been seized by the landlord for over a year aside from the "laptops" they apparently took home with them. No real work has been done (at least demonstrably) on anything.
The people working for amiga still have hardware, or whatever is necessary to keep things going. After all, what are the Amiga Inc employees (like the ami2d team, for example) developing on? How is it that Amiga still has a corporate website? How is it that they've managed to release 2 pocket paks recently through Microsoft? How is it that we (on the SDA list, yeah, I know, that "private" list, so there's no proof...) have received several updates to various Amiga APIs? How is it that a company like ZeoNeo can continue to produce the quality stuff they are working on?
-- Their "CTO" doesn't even know enough to answer simple, straight-forward answers regarding their license of the trademarks and patents.
Or, he has chosen not to comment on legal-related issues, because that is not his domain?
-- Amiga Inc has completely changed directions at least three times in three years.
Not from where I've been sitting, they haven't. Changed direction only once that I can see - when they decided to reverse their decision to abandon the AmigaOS and further develop it after all. This was also in the context of a changing role for the DE. I haven't seen any other major change of direction. Care to elaborate on what the other two complete changes are?
-- Almost every single partner they've announced has either denounced Amiga Inc later, or abandoned their efforts in AI's direction. This says something major.
What is says is that Amiga has had a run of extremely bad luck. I think that history *clearly* shows that the various deals (and I'm sure you are referring to the Zaurus, Nokia Media Terminal and Sendo Smartphone, or are you referring to other partners?) fell apart *not* to do with Amiga but with other issues. Change of management/direction within Sharp for the Zaurus. Cancellation of the Media Terminal project. Sendo having a falling-out with Microsoft. Surely you can't blame any of those on Amiga?
-- They based their entire business plan on USING the then-existing base of Amiga developers to develop software for TAO's Intent. Their entire existence before the most recent complete direction change was to be a middle man shareware distributor.
Yes, of course they depended on a large developer community (obviously to be drawn from teh existing Amiga developer community mostly) to produce software for their new platform, otherwise the DE would definitely fail if there was no software for it. As to "middle man shareware distributor", their distribution of software is only a part of their business. They are behind the scenes of AOS4 (and will have a much more active role in future versions of the OS). They have also done quite a lot of work (considering the circumstances) on the DE.
-- Bill McEwen stood on the Podium at Saint Louis in 2000 and declared both the "Amiga as a desktop platform and as an OS is dead". It is only the fact that they are broke now that they have reversed that decision. Luckily Amiga Inc has nothing to do with either OS4 or the AmigaOne outside of "the name".
Yep, that's the change of direction mentioned earlier. As to when they "reversed" direction, it was a long time ago, as public records clearly attest, and it was clearly announced. And, Amiga Inc has more to do with OS4 than I think you realise.
-- Absolutely nothing has been officially heard from Amiga Inc (Bill "benevolent dictator" McEwen) in almost a whole year.
True, Bill has been very quiet (publically), but I don't see that as a great problem, really. He's learned his lesson of announcing stuff to early, now he seems to be only discussion stuff when he has something concrete to discuss. I think that is a good strategy for him to take.
Should I go on?
No, you don't need to. It is clear that we have different interpretations of what's been going on. I don't think either of us will easily persuade the other.
How much more will it take to convince some of you that Amiga Inc *IS* the problem
Hmm.. not sure, really, but I'll let you know if I change my mind about all this. Right now, I don't see that happening, though.
I am convinced that the only way the official Amiga platform will survive is to stay as far away as possible from the likes of McEwen and "Fleecy".
I'm convinced of the opposite. From bits I've picked up from public postings, from private conversations I've had with Amiga Inc people, I'm quite happy with the direction they wish to take the official Amiga platform, and I am still very excited about the potential of the DE.
That's my take on things. It's just how I see things right now. As always, I reserve the right to alter my opinions at any time and without notice :-D
