Conference hydra::amiga_v1

544.0. "CBM at COMDEX" by BAGELS::BRANNON (Dave Brannon) Wed Jun 10 1987 19:21

    Interesting article below, Gould seems to have the right idea, not
    so sure about McIntyre...
    
    -dave
    
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     Computer&Software News, June 8, 1987, pg 27
    
    Commodore introduces Amiga 500,2000 at COMDEX
    
    ATLANTA - Commodore introduced its Amiga 500 and Amiga 2000 at COMDEX,
    saying it was poised to become a major player in the North American
    market.
    
      The introductions came as Commodore executives laid down the broad
    contours of a stratey to turn the company into a major supplier
    of pc products to the business and education markets.
    
      However, at presstime Commodore had not disclosed details of its
    marketing and dealer programs other than to announce a promotional
    campaign to be rolled out by the Griffen-Bacal advertising agency.
    
      Officials indicated specifics would be forthcoming by the end
    of the month.
    
      Commodore had recently undergone a management reorganization ordered
    by chairman Irving Gould.  As part of that, Thomas Rattigan, president
    and ceo, tendered his "involuntary resignation" and later filed
    a $9 million breach of contract lawsuit against Commodore in the
    U.S. District Court in Manhattan.
    
      "There has been a surge of recent articles on Commodore accusing
    me of being an impatient man," said Gould, who assumed the ceo post.
    "I plead guilty to that charge."
    
      Gould said he intended to take an active role in daily operations.
    
      Rattigan had been widely credited by analysts for Commodore's
    return to profitability after the company suffered a series of
    quarterly losses in 1986 that put it into technical default on some
    of its bank loans.
    
      "The changes were made because that was something that had to
    be done to improve the job we were doing in the U.S.A.," said Gould.
    
      Commodore, like several other computer manufactures, has benefited
    from the upsurge in demand for computers in the last six months.
    But despite Commodore's apparent recovery, Gould said the firm had
    not aggressively attacked the North American market.
    
      "The management of Commodore will not simply be satisfied to ride
    out that recovery.  We intend to lead it," he said.
    
      Gould said the firm's financial position was substantially
    strengthened and also noted the recent signing of a $60 million
    private placement with Prudential Insurance.
    
      Commodore's booth here was the scene of a constant buzz of activity
    as dealers flocked to see the new products.
    
      About 500 software packages are now available for the Amiga 2000,
    including an Amiga version of WordPerfect.  This is the machine
    Commodore plans to sell into the education and business markets.
    Shipments are scheduled to begin next month.
    
      Rich McIntyre, Commodore senior vp of sales and marketing, said
    distribution of the Amiga 2000 would be limited to selected dealerships
    and VARs.  "We don't want 3,000 locations out there selling machines,"
    he said.
    

    one other interesting news item:
    
    David Morse, former Amiga ceo and co-founder, was recently appointed
    chairman and ceo of Epyx.
    
    Morse declined to elaborate on his plans in his new post other than
    to say his company wants to diversify into "consumer electronics
    and video innovations."
    
    (Computer&Software News, June 1, pg 46)