#Titel Aktuell / Commodore / Statement von Jim Drew
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      Statement von Jim Drew
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Attention Amiga developers and interested parties...

After speaking with Mike Levin (CSM hall of fame) tonight on CIS (and via
the phone), we have come to several conclusions about possible solutions to
a panic'd public and potential loss of the most powerful home computer made
to date (that's the Amiga folks).  He suggested that I lead the attempt to
purchase the rights to the Amiga hardware.  Rights that would be purchased
by all parties and made available to all parties.

I would like to hear from developers who would be interested in still
developing for the Amiga, or anyone who would like to support this effort
in general.

People can think what they want of me, my statements, my comments... to me,
that's been very good to see... my corporation, my products, and myself
have been changed a lot from the responses I have seen here, GEnie, and on
CompuServe.  My persistance has paid off.  Because of EMPLANT's success, I
will never have to work another day in my life.

I am willing to put everything on the line.  I believe in this machine, the
platform, and the people (even though we bicker like a bunch of old hens
sometimes).  On behalf of the Amiga's continued existance, I am asking for
you support.  Let's all make some noise about the Amiga. Commodore kept it
the best computing secret of all time, I think it's time to let the cat of
the bag.

I will be in contact with ALL of the major 3rd party Amiga peripheral
corporations tomorrow, also asking for their support.  If we can somehow
form a public corporation and obtain the rights to the Amiga hardware, we
can make the Amiga work.

My goals for this project are...

Obtain information concerning current ownership rights of the Amiga
hardware design, and other important peripherals.  From what information I
have heard (and have had gathered by nosey attorneys), the rights were
transferred to 'trustees' for holding.  If this is true, there very well
may be some interesting legal problems involved here, since the technology
behind the Amiga is the only real asset that Commodore Intl had left...that
would leave an empty shell for the creditors to pick through.

Purchase the rights from current ownership, or work with another
corporation to see that continued development and *gasp* advertising is
done.

Contact major MAC and PC developers (Adobe, Aldus, etc.) and once again
offer to port their products to the Amiga at little or no cost.  Once
people see *us* running the big boys software more efficiently than other
platforms can, they will think hard before buying that next MAC or PC
system.

Continued developer support.  I plan to have CATS revived, and I hope that
Carolyn and the rest of the original team will be interested in doing this.

Continued devlopment of new machines.  One thing I have learned in
producing hardware is how to cut costs.  EMPLANT is cheap to make... and it
is *still* made in the US (this is important to me).  Another thing I
learned is that the short time I spent talking with Dave Haynie, he is
alright in my book.  We chatted for about 30 minutes at one of the WOC
shows, and he is as sincere about the continued development as I am.  I
definately want Dave and the original crew back working together.  I would
hate to see a bunch of new comers (I am not oppose to new ideas brought out
by new people), but right now we need a dedicated team going to get things
done in a flash.  New people come with success.

Remove the poor publicity.  The only advertising Commodore got was bad.
Dealers wanted to kill them... developers wanted to kill them.. all due to
the poor management.  The only way to do this is to rid the Commodore name.

So you're asking "what's in it for Jim?".  Gratification.  As I stated
before, I could wash my hands clean of this situation and walk.  I don't
want to.  There is a pile of money to be made for everyone, and more
importantly a computer to be saved from extinction.  I know a lot of Amiga
developers have made themselves rich with the Amiga, and some would like to
forget it... I think that is selfish.  I for one, am willing to give back
to what made me where I am today.

So, in closing, I would like to thank those people who have sent me
incouragement letters, and even hate mail.  :-)  I am stubborn (I think
you'll *all* agree on this one... perhaps a usenet first?) and I can use
this to our advantage, obtain the rights to the machine, make these rights
publically available (anyone could produce the machine ala PC clones), and
see this thing through... or I'll end up on the street trying...

If you are a developer, no matter how small and you have an interest in
supporting the Amiga, please FAX my office (602) 453-6407  (we have boxes
of fax paper).  If we do not succeed in obtaining the rights to the Amiga,
and someone else does... a huge list of developers wanting to support the
platform would be a big incentive to keep the product alive. I really don't
care who makes the machine, as long as it is made (and promoted this time
around).

Thanks for your attention,

Sincerely,

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Jim Drew - Utilities Unlimited International, Inc.
           jdrew@cryo.cryogenic.com
           72662,14 - CIS
           j.drew2 - GEnie