Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    I talked to a dealer friend of mine recently who talks to some VP
    at Commodore about once a month. During their last conversation
    he found out that Commodore had completely sold out of their initial
    stockpile of A500's. He said the rate of sales of the 500 is roughly
    twice what Commodore expected it to be.
    
    This is certainly excellent news except it means there will be spot
    shortages of A500's at the dealers with the lowest prices.

    I don't know what the sales figures in the US are yet, but as a
    rough indicator, the A500 has a shelf life of a few hours.  General
    Computer in Framingham has been pleading for more, as has the Software
    Shop in Worcester.
    
    Can you imagine what would happen if Commodore began a serious ad
    campaign explaining multitasking, (and how IBM and Apple may have
    the problem sorted out in a few years)  with spot shots of some of
    the more spectacular graphics and sound demos?
    
    In fact, some Canadian Plinkers claim to have seen some 'previews'
    of future Amiga TV ads.  They are rumored to be pretty impressive
    (done with VideoScape_3D).  At the end of the spot, the message
    "Only AMiga makes it possible" hovers on the screen.
    

Re: .2

>    In fact, some Canadian Plinkers claim to have seen some 'previews'
>    of future Amiga TV ads.  They are rumored to be pretty impressive
>    (done with VideoScape_3D).  At the end of the spot, the message
>    "Only AMiga makes it possible" hovers on the screen.

I just hope that somewhere they mention that the Amiga is a computer.
I have been seeing a lot of television ads lately that are very stylish
and fun to watch, but in many cases, I can't figure out what the product
is.  (Maybe they are secret condom ads.)

    That reminds me of some Very Trendy ads Data General ran when I
    worked there a few years ago.  They had an elaborate set with hundreds
    of extras, and re-enacted a great civil war battle.  The two sides
    were squaring off, when suddenly, one side produced the world's
    first tank, and scattered the enemy like bowling pins.  The point
    was that DG's advanced technology would allow you to decimate your
    business competition.
    
    Some friends saw the commercial and thought for sure that 'Gone With
    the Wind' was going to be on the eight o'clock movie.
                        
    How many people remember the first Amiga ads?  I thought I was seeing
    a pitch for '2001 - A Space Oddessy'
                                                    
    Maybe they should get William Shatner back to do some Amiga ads...
    

    re .2 (I think): I don't know any official (or inofficial) figures
    for Europe, but the 500's exist in piles at all dealers - have
    done so since they were introduced. So at least they seem to have
    produced enough of them...
    

    Maybe Europe got the bulk of the first run... they have a lot of
    catching up to do there.
    
    BTW, I was in the previously mentioned dealers on Saturday; they
    too had a few A500's on the shelves.  
    
    Like anything new, there will be a buying splurge at first as the
    impulsive ones come out, then things will slow down.  Also, summer
    is typically the slowest time of the year for computer sales.

    I think initial sales are a good sign. It is the summer and the
    local dealer has had no problem selling them. Much to thier amazement.
    Alot of people are buying. Lets get a little more depth to our ranks
    and maybe we will be using the computer for "the rest of us".
    
    <jim

    Dave Haynie of CBM comented on Usenet that the total worldwide
    installed Amiga base was now something like 350,000 to 450,000.
    Dave is not in marketing, so these figures seem pretty 'round'.
    
    If true, it means that 100,000 to 200,000 A500s and A2000s have
    been sold.  This assumes that the 250,000 run of A1000s have all
    been sold.  If availability of A1000s is any indication, the latter
    is true.
    
    I could believe that 100K A500s have been sold.  They certainly
    seem to be selling well in these parts.  Every time I've been in
    the Software Shop, several have gone out the door.  My friend now
    works there part time, and says they sell about 6 per day, mostly
    mail order.  He also says that about 1/3 have power supply problems.
    Reminds me of the old C'64 and 520 ST brick-type supply.  The foolish
    things can't dissipate any heat.