Amiga Computing - Commodore Is Awesome

trall5 of deTtruutioIi
star
etter
It seems to me that most investigations
of computer misuse revolve round
pornography. Well. I have come across
a disc that might change that. I haven't
tested any of the things that are men-
tioned within this disc - how to create a bomb and how
to make your own LSD - but the tact that this sort of
information is available to the younger members of the
computing fraternity is a concerning and worrying
thought.
As to what should be done, I will leave that up to you,
but I do urge you to inform other magazines of the availability
ol this information and to see what can be done.
S Madetey, Cheshire
Unfortunately. while there is a huge problem with
Elven the run around
It takes me a long time to get mad about
things, but as I write this letter I am well
mad!
Recently I decided to sell my existing system
and upgrade, and after a great deal of
thought went for an A4000.
The shop ordered it and phoned to say it
had been delivered, so off I went to pick up
my new speed machine. In the shop he set
it up to try it out, it was great, well for five
minutes that is until it died.
So off it went and a new one arrived in
two days, and it worked line. I took it home
and for one whole week fine, but then it also
died. I phoned the shop who told me they
could get another but did not know when as
everybody was out of stock.
However, as it had NEXT DAY on-site
warranty why not phone Wang. So I did and
they phoned back to ask the problem, said
they were out of parts and it would be a
couple of days before they could get back to
me.
One week later (hvo weeks old) I phoned
them back to see where they were, they
said they were still waiting for the parts from
Commodore and gave me the phone num-
What's all this I hear about Commodore Australia
and Commodore America having both gone bust? If
these two companies have folded will it only be a
measure of time before the one in the UK meets a
similar fate? Okay, so a couple of Amiga mags
have tried to reassure their readers that these problems
will be sorted out in the near future, but will the
company still be run along the same guidelines
When (u11) it is sorted?
1 r the worst in that Commodore are doomed to go
1 under and if this happens then there will be nobody
1 to continue producing this machine, leading to
I developers and software companies leaving it alone
L
to dieo
a Do you honestly believe that Commodore can
m
c
o
n
s
illegal or irresponsible material surfacing on computer
screens across the planet, there is actually
very little that anyone can do about it.
The information you draw our attention to has
already appeared on a PC CD-ROM via a magazine
which also included pornography as well.
As the information super highway and other
forms of communication grow at an alarming rate, it
will unfortunately become more and more difficult to
monitor what is going on in the telephone lines and
BBS' round the world.
It may sound depressing but at present, with the
methods of detection available, we will just have to
put up with it while keeping a watch on any material
that may come our way. Spot anything dodgy and
report it to the crime unit at ELSPA on 0386 830642.
ber When I phoned them they said they
would phone Wang and sort it out, and then
phone me back.
One week later (three weeks old) I
phoned Commodore who said they had
phoned Wang who were out of parts and
had not phoned me back because there
was no point.
Four days Later I took it back to the shop
who said they would sort it out They
phoned Wang. Commodore, their suppliers
and got the same run around as I did.
Alter one week (five weeks old) of constant
badgering and hours on the phone
there was a new machine on its way But
after yel another week (six weeks old) they
phoned me back to say there wasn't one on
its way. They then gave me my money back
Gone under,
down under?
right themselves again? Your assurances (if genuine)
would be most grateful.
Dowd O'Cortner, Dinnington, S.Yorks
Obviously with the demise of the parent
company, not to mention a major subsidiary,
it's pretty tough talking about a silver lining
and still keeping a straight lace.
However, unbelievable as II may seem there's
a glimmer of hope. Even though the CBM US
have successfully turned a silk purse into a
sows ear both the English and German divisions
are still very much going concerns.
But perhaps more importantly they remain
attractive buys for would
-you're
no doubt aware, a whole host of big
be i n v •••••• e s t o r s .
A s
Amiga Computing
OCTOBER 1994
LETTERS
with the message that after I had spent
E1000 on a computer, every one concerned
did not care that it didn't work and couldn't
give a damn.
So now I am left with a Multisync monitor,
extra drives, a small fortune in software, a
whopper phone bill, lost wages from the
time of wod< and no computer.
I am feeling very bitter towards: Not
Wang who cannot repair without parts from
Commodore; not the suppliers who cannot
supply without the machines from
Commodore; but COMMODORE who could
not care less about their customers once
they have sold them a computer.
The thing that gets me is that the Amiga
is a great computer and it's what I want. I
don't want a PC, MAC, ACORN or an ST. I
wanted an Amiga but am left with no faith in
Commodore_
J McKenny, Bradford
Unfortunately this is an all too familiar
story. It's not that the A4000 is particularly
prone to failure, it's simply another
example of why Commodore went under.
In fact the story stands as a testament
to the demise of CBM. Although the
demand for machines has always been
high, Commodore's inability to deliver is
exactly why they went into liquidation,
Basically it's a classic tale of over
expansion and a subsequent cash-flow
names have been involved in negotiations. but
at present Samsung still appear to be the hot
favourites - see this month's news for more
details. However there's yet another twist in the
tale, with Commodore's European management
team also entering the arena.
Obviously this doesn't exactly inspire confidence
given their past record, but It must be
stressed that in the past big decisions came
from across the pond.
If Commodore do buy themselves out I'm
sure they'll be a lot more astute. Basically, my
advice is to sit back for a few months and let
the dust settle. The technology is still strong,
the demand is there, all that's required is an
Injection acumen.