Hi,
> I think you're barking up the wrong tree here. The Amiga market is
> still active ( ooopps, no pun intended ;-) but it is VERY VERY small.
No, you just misunderstood me.. :)
By 'dead' I meant purchasing-wise. For instance, a *lot* of people *are*
waiting for the NG Amiga, as it's due in 6 months (or thereabouts), so it
makes sense.
The other problem with the Amiga market is that just about everything is 'on
it's way' but virtually nothing is actually 'available', so the market is in
a collective 'sit back and wait' situation :(
ie. G3 cards, Boxer, A5000/6000, AMozillaX (LOL, it won't come out, but it
was announced ;), V�/IB 2, NG Amiga etc etc
> Plus alot of people are awaiting things like OS 3.5, the Boxer
> ( still ), and even NetConnect v3 - so they could be just saving their
> money for one of those fairly significant releases - I know I am.
Correct.
As a user I am quite eager and somewhat excited by the prospect of a NG
Amiga, especially if it is anything like what Amiga have been saying in
private (ie. beyond most peoples expectations). I am as eager as anyone else
to hear/see what is said at WOA.
As a dealer I am not so eager (right now). WOA is probably a turning point
for the market, IMHO. ie. if they do, as they say they will, announce the
specs, hardware/technical partners and more...not forgetting the fact that
the first machine is due 1999, this will cause a lot of people to think
'hm..I'll wait' :)
At WOA users might actually see and/or hear concrete *news* and not just 'we
are planning' announcements, from Amiga. This will be the first proper news
for ages. You'll be able to see OS 3.5, see demos of OS 5 and they are
talking about a mockup(s) of the new Amiga - probably based on those concept
images Amiga Format will show in their next issue.
They are also trying to arrange for some of their hardware/technical
partners to be present at the show - at least for the press conference (like
Dan Dodge was at the Cologne QNX announcement).
At the very least, expect information about the wireless technology (check
http://www.bluetooth.com for further information about this) support,
further hardware specifications and more.
> Why not expand your product range ? How about selling "Net-Ready"
> A1200 packs and advertising the bollocks of your company to anybody
> who will listen ( that means ANYBODY not just "Amigans" ?
It's very difficult, it all requires money. ie. I bought about a few
thousand pounds worth of DOpus Magellan II stock (100 copies), but have only
sold 35% of them so far, so I still have a few thousand pounds worth of
stock on the shelves, not forgetting the serial cards and the modems - just
stocking 10 Solo modems is a lot of cash ;)
I was going to do a Weird Science and stock a range of software titles, but
there are few titles I can think of that would guarantee sales :-/
> How easy is it to purchase your products around the world, in Europe
> and America particularly ?
There is a nice https, 'basket' order system on www.active-net.co.uk, with
*free* worldwide postage for software items and immediate postage, can't get
easier than that :)
Anyone can take advantage of this. The reason I agreed to free postage for
software titles, was that I wanted as many people to (pre)order NC 3 and
STFax 4 as possible, directly (when they are available).
Besides, the products are available via most main stores. When NC 3 is out
I'll increase this even more, probably selling direct to more (smaller)
stores in different countries.
> product as NetConnect. OK so there are bugs, but I can accept that, I
> don't think I've ever used a software package on any platform that
> hasn't got bugs.
The other 'problem' with NC is that it is 10 commercial programs, not one.
So it is a major amount of work. ie. when you release something like Art
Effect, it is one program by one programmer - much easier to manage, control
and bug-fix.
There aren't that many bugs in NC though - MD-2 is probably the main
'unfinished' program, but NC 2 users will still get upgrades for this, even
after NC 3 is released.
The reason MD-2 development has slowed in the last few months is due to
heavy work on V�, which is the main priority for release.
This, AmIRC 3 and mFTP II are some of the planned highlights for NC 3 :)
We aren't dropping the Amiga, don't worry. NC 3 will be out in the near
future and STFax 4 is in development as well (both will be released CD-only
btw).
I think I'll create a NC 3 and STFax 4 specification sheet within the next
two weeks, and even allow online pre-ordering via the web site...at an even
better discounted price ;)
Chris.
Active Technologies - Chris Wiles [Managing Director]
http://www.active-net.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1325 460116 [9-6 Mon-Fri, 10-5 Sat]
Fax: +44 (0)1325 460117
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