Commodore Exec Outlines Plans to Sell More Amigas
 
Copyright (c) 1989, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
BOSTON (Microbytes Daily News Service) --- Hot on the heels of
launching a $15 million national advertising campaign for the
Amiga, Commodore Business Machine president Harold Copperman said
his goal is to move the company into the same league as IBM and
Apple. Speaking to a group of Commodore users here last night,
Copperman admitted the company has to overcome several obstacles
in order to get the Amiga into the computer mainstream of
business and government markets.
 
Copperman, 42, and most recently vice president and general
manager of Apple's eastern operations, told the group his plans
are not "just rhetoric." One of Copperman's goals is to enhance
the image of Commodore, which they hope to do with new tv and
print ads that feature such famous names as rock 'n' roll pioneer
Little Richard, astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Scott Carpenter, and
Gordon Cooper, baseball manager Tommy Lasorda, and former House
Speaker Tip O' Neill. Copperman's other objectives include better
distribution channels, going after new markets, and focusing on
customer satisfaction. Copperman said he's already started
strengthening distribution channels and is working toward
eliminating mail-order Amigas.
 
But he acknowledged there's still much work ahead, especially in
the area of supporting software developers, improving the Amiga's
video, and improving software quality. "We've got some really
good code, but we have to make it safer," he said. When selling
to the federal government and big business, "Guru meditation
doesn't cut it at General Motors." Commodore is currently
establishing a developer's advisory board and may release
developer's tools to help them comply with Amiga standards, he
said.
 
Commodore will use the Amiga as a wedge to open the door of
business and government by focusing on the Amiga's strengths:
interactive training and desktop video. Declining to comment on
upcoming products (Commodore is said to be working on an Amiga
3000 and has discussed a Unix machine), Copperman did say the
company will put in more color capability, enhance the speed, and
increase the resolution of the Amiga.
 
"I know there have been lots of people [past presidents] on
stage telling you how good it's going to be," Copperman said,
acknowledging that his predecessors had declared similar goals.
He ended with a story of a zoo that put a lion and a lamb in the
same cage. An incredulous visitor asked the zookeeper how it's
possible to keep a lion and a lamb in the same cage. "It's easy,"
the zookeeper said. "You just replace the lamb every day."
 
On BIX, see the 'amiga,' amiga.com,' 'amiga.dev,' and
'amiga.user' conferences.
                              --- David Andrews
 
 
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