🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <379@bdt.UUCP> david@bdt.UUCP (David Beckemeyer) writes:
>In article <8809061721.AA27884@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> <Micheal Eibl> writes:

[Dying computer remarks from Germany deleted]

>
>I've been hearing this "dying computer" attitude from dealers, distributors,
>and even some magazine publishers (always the last to go) for several months,
>but I've been reluctant to say anything because I feared it would be construed
>as nothing more than an attempted stab at Atari.   It isn't.   It truly
>appears that Atari has played out their last hand.  According to reports
>from dealers and distributors sales have fallen dramatically.  Personally
>BDT sales of Atari products have dropped to 1/5 the size of 18 months ago
>(this is partially attributed to a major de-emphasis of the Atari product
>line by the company) and today Atari product sales represent less than 20%
>of BDT revenues.
>
	Sorry that sales have been bad David, but what's the point?
	Atari has never really pushed the ST line, and they don't
	advertise, so what's changed (are your products dropping in
	sales for some other reason?) If your sales from Atari Prods are
	20% of revenue now, and they are 1/5 the size of 18 months
	prior, does that mean 18 months ago they were 100% of your
	revenue?? ISN'T THAT GOOD?? This means you're selling MORE
	than Atari Products, and becoming a MORE DIVERSE, BETTER
	COMPANY!!!

	YES the lack of exciting PR news from Atari causes the market
	to become depressed, but that's MUCH better than Atari just
	talking and not releasing.  In fact, hasn't Roy Good been
	hinting about something new (Razzle Dazzle) on the
	horizon? Something that you'd like to "Stay Tuned" for?

>BDT revenues from other areas are now financing Atari customer support.  We
>will continue to support our Atari customers. But how many other companies
>have alternate sources of revenue upon which to fund Atari support?  I
>bet not very many.   So what's going to happen? What about the end-user?
>I think the consumer who paid hard-earned money in hopes of obtaining
>a useful computer system is the big loser here, especially those that
>have invested lots of hardware, money, and time on the ST.
>
	The "consumer who paid hard-earned money" for his Atari system
	is NOT a loser, he (or she) gets an excellent piece of hardware that
	has a huge base of software (PD & commercial), and DOESN'T depend on
	Atari for day-to-day support anyway -- just because Atari doesn't
	advertise, and isn't pushing the ST line DOESN'T mean that the ST
	suddenly becomes a changed machine.

	Personally, I think the user who pays too much and uses his
	machine for too little is a big loser, and I certainly can't
	say that for ANY Atari owners I know.

>I guess in all this rambling one thing I'm trying to say is that all
>of us invested in Atari.  Now what are they going to do for us?  A
>long slow death is the worst for everyone, including the stock-holders.
>
	"What are they going to do for us?" That's a terrible attitude!
	Don't you think that YOU make a contribution to the welfare
	of Atari also, and that by posting disparaging remarks just
	ADDS to the DECLINE in your sales???

>It seems to me that this should be a lot more troubesome to all of us
>than whether or not they have fixed the Malloc bug.
>-- 
	Fine, but why gripe when you can be holding constructive,
	educational conversations (ex: learning about animation
	techniques, and working with the system in new, neat ways).
	
	Many ideas for new products, and implementations of many
	good concepts have been given life through the net, don't
	abuse it by bitching.

--Kenneth Soohoo	(soohoo@cory.Berkeley.Edu)
  Atari 400/800/600xl/800xl/1200/130xe/65xe, 1040ST hacker
  Sometime Berkeley Student, othertimes...
  My opinions are my OWN, not necessarily Atari's