Commodore USA's Final Challenge to the Community

[drwho]

It sounds like what would be more useful than having CUSA make anything would just be for a bunch of Amiga users to pool some cash together, come up with some case designs and hire a company that does injection mold stuff to make some cases.

There would be a few technical issues in the final construction with keyboards and power supplies, but, overall, this would get people exactly what they want, I would think.

Maybe I am over simplifying, I don't think so though.

[golem]

Just give me something that runs OctaMED and Bars and Pipes like a real Amiga and I would buy it.

[commodorejohn]

It sounds like what would be more useful than having CUSA make anything would just be for a bunch of Amiga users to pool some cash together, come up with some case designs and hire a company that does injection mold stuff to make some cases.

There would be a few technical issues in the final construction with keyboards and power supplies, but, overall, this would get people exactly what they want, I would think.

Maybe I am over simplifying, I don't think so though.

That's what I'm wondering. I'm no expert on the subject of electronics manufacturing, but I can't imagine that a company whose sole experience with it consists of "get a custom case made and pay a third party to put standard PC boards in it" has all that much to offer in the way of industry connections that a group of ordinary Amigans pooling their resources wouldn't.

[dammy]

Dammy, your really saying they sold tens of thousands of c64x's just in pre-orders?

Come on dude, If that were even close to true....

Whatever you think.

Even at really ****ty margins, they would have made a good deal of money on that,and have the money to make whatever product they wanted to make without begging for pre-orders and expecting 500 people to pay for a product that dosn't exist.

Begging? :rofl: Barry is offering, if the online Amiga Community can't handle it, too bad for the online Amiga Community.  500 units to spread the development and manufacturing costs is a reasonable number for most possible projects.

30 million dollar advertising budget? Total bull****.

Selling hundreds of thousands of c64x's to big box retail stores? - Total bull****.

I never said that but that some how doesn't stop the C=USA haters from repeating it over and over again.  It was a 20K and a 5K (online retail) sale that did not go through.  Had the terms been more to Barry's liking, a C64X would have been in a store near you (or via online retailer).   Still may see it in 2012, that's Barry's call.

Heavily funding AROS's development? - Total bull****.

After Ben threatened AI over it, I don't see a huge reason at this point in time for C=USA to spend money on a OS they can't use.

Factory in china? - Total bull****.

Then who's furniture facility is it in the pictures with Barry's vanities rolling off the production line?  

This latest stunt - MORE TOTAL BULL****.

Then what do you care?  Other then to continue to spew hate, of course.

[dammy]

It sounds like what would be more useful than having CUSA make anything would just be for a bunch of Amiga users to pool some cash together, come up with some case designs and hire a company that does injection mold stuff to make some cases.

There would be a few technical issues in the final construction with keyboards and power supplies, but, overall, this would get people exactly what they want, I would think.

Maybe I am over simplifying, I don't think so though.

So why hasn't it been done already?

[Duce]

It hasn't been done already because what people want varies massively.

10 guys might want replacement A1000 mobos, 5 others A4000 replacement motherboards, 20 guys want Natami and 20 guys want FPGA Arcade, another 20 might want more affordable OS4 solutions, so on and so forth.  Simply can't make them all, and you'll hit this problem even if C-USA (or anyone else) was a trustworthy company that people would pony up money to in advance, lol.

I wonder how things worked out for this guy:

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/kvku9/commodore_usa_has_my_money_i_have_no_computer/

[TheDaddy]

So why hasn't it been done already?

I know what people want...shall I tell you?

[ChuckT]

It sounds like what would be more useful than having CUSA make anything would just be for a bunch of Amiga users to pool some cash together, come up with some case designs and hire a company that does injection mold stuff to make some cases.

There would be a few technical issues in the final construction with keyboards and power supplies, but, overall, this would get people exactly what they want, I would think.

Maybe I am over simplifying, I don't think so though.

It means CUSA gives you an ultimatum to hand over Amiga technology to them so that they will be a major player and you don't get to negotiate with them in the future.  It means any future deals they will lump to you in the way they want because you levered power to come to their favor.  There is no talk or discussion about future relationships but only quest for this technology which they don't posess.

The second thing is that you don't know who they are working with.  You don't know if they are working with friends of Bill Gates or Microsoft whom they could later sell the technology to for a small price.  We don't know because there is no transparency.

[ChuckT]

Because a wise businessman doesn't invest money until he's sure he's got a pretty good ROI? If they can get 500 interested Amigan, they can be more confident of that investment...

There is no reason why we can't put $100 down and pay the rest later.  The fact is that I don't even know what I'm paying.  How do you buy a computer you've never seen and how do you set the price for a computer you've never seen?

[ChuckT]

Normal preorders can be cancelled anytime and aren´t taken until there is an actual product. It is unusual to take the money, before production is ready to start.

I had a car salesman charge me $50 for finding me a car that he said that was there and which wasn't.  I had to go find him to get my money back.  The accountant at work called him a chisler because it is improper to accept work before it is started.

Does HP accept pre-orders?  Apple?  When is this practice normal?  Commodore did this in the early days and it was because they didn't have the money so that tells me something about whom we're dealing with.

When would CUSA be accepted to do business with Best Buy?  I can guarantee you that Best Buy wouldn't pre-order.  They would buy on credit and pay in 30 days.

[ChuckT]

Why does a company with a "projected $30 million marketing budget" need anyone to prepay for their computers?

Because they don't have the money?

[Plaz]

come up with some case designs and hire a company that does injection mold stuff to make some cases.

Maybe I am over simplifying, I don't think so though.

Mold making is the part that cost $$$$$. But even getting a case design done to the point it's ready to hand over to a mold maker/Injection operation takes takes certain crafts few around here would be well versed at.

I for one could put you out a nice custom case in 3D cad exported to an STL file ready to go to a mold maker. (not that I plan to), then all you need is the $20k-$100K it would take to start "printing" cases. Concept is simple, execution... not so much.

Plaz

[EDanaII]

There is no reason why we can't put $100 down and pay the rest later.  The fact is that I don't even know what I'm paying.  How do you buy a computer you've never seen and how do you set the price for a computer you've never seen?

They're not offering anything yet, Chuck. They've simply laid out a contract stating "decide what you want, we'll do the project plan, tell you how much and how long it will take... if you want it, pay the cost up front and when we're done, we'll collect your payment." This is a perfectly valid arrangement.

[ChuckT]

You are confusing the online Amiga Community with their entire market which is beyond the online Amiga Community.  





Depends on the hardware that is requested and the six months is when people can honorably with drawl from the third party escrow account.



What credit is the Amiga Community loaning them?  All money is kept in a third party escrow account.  C=USA fails to ship, they get nothing and people get their money back.  What is so dangerious with that?


But I have met face to face with Barry couple of times at his home and at C=USA HQ.  

I am not really confusing their product line with Amiga and it encompasses the rest of their business dealings.

I worked with a guy that was putting rocks in boxes for his record label and covered the tops with LPs.  Once they ship, it doesn't matter what they put in the case.  Who is in charge of quality control?  Is the person a dedicated Amiga user or a Mac user?  Do you now see that it matters who is in charge and you don't know their preferences.


I meet with people all the time and some of them make bad decisions but it doesn't mean that I have to accept their decisions

[ChuckT]

Ed, it is a take it or leave it ultimatum.-Chuck

[EDanaII]

Look, I ain't exactly a CUSA fan either. I've even gone so far as to insult Barry over on the Commodore Amiga forum, but this quote from the first post in this thread:

7. Commodore USA is ONLY paid on completion of the work to the satisfaction of the 500+ first batch customers, when the final product is ready to ship.
8. On project commencement, Commodore USA will provide monthly project updates until completion.
9. If Commodore USA does not perform the required work in 6 months of the project commencement date, then the 500+ customers have the option to withdraw immediately for a full refund of their prepayment.

is not a take it or leave it proposition... no, wait, it is: you can take your money back if you don't like it or you can leave your money with them if you wanna keep their product.

Poor CUSA, they can do no right...