17/06/1999
17/06/1999
Petro & Jim, Largin' it in London.
Name:
Petro Taras Tyschtschenko
Age:
56 years
Occupation:
Managing Director Amiga Internatioanl, Inc. Langen Germany
Favourite food:
Seafood international
Favourite Movie:
High Noon
Favourite TV show:
None....no time for watching the TV....always working for my beloved AMIGA
Favourite drink:
Beer and Wine
Family?
Yes, since 29 years married...two kids....my son is 25 years old my daughter is 27 years old
Petro, thanks for connecting with Clubbed. What have you been up to today?
Up to day: The WOA is the current project to organise.... We will have a video wall 4x4 Animation and video films.... Jim, Tom and Rick will come from the USA. Nicole, Axel and myself from Germany....
Many people have trouble with your surname. How exactly do you pronounce it, and what are it`s origins?
My family name is UKRAINIAN from the Black sea..... But Petro is not too complicated ?
What do you think were the failings of Commodore...useless marketing, `not quite there` products, too much interest in building pc`s, or a combination?
PCs were the biggest mistake, and on the AMIGA side the A600, which created a lot of costs and trouble....CDTV - good hardware no software !!!!
If you had been the head of Commodore at around the time they were designing the CD32 (1991?), what do you think you could have done to save the situation?
I would have organised software first....support the developers.....talk with companies to provide movies on mpeg standard....Invest money in advertisement to show the people how good the CD32 was.
Do you think that Sony were inspired by the CD32, and designed the Playstation (which was originally a collaberation between Sony and Nintendo) as a massive improvement?
Of course. CD32 was at this time the best machine....the first 32 bit machine. Sony have done a lot of advertising and Commodore just went out of business after half a year after the product launch ....investment was not possible...no funds anymore....
The last few years have been hell for Amiga developers, retailers and users. What have you been doing to try and stem the tide of Amiga defectors?
The last two years were very hard for me....no support from the US mother....no sight for new products....so I tried to keep the spirit alive with user support, merchandise products and looking after new markets like embedded systems, to survive until the next miracle happens....and the miracle came with Jim Collas....who is the right man to drive AMIGA in the right directions, with a lot of US influence....thank God we have another chance. I am quite sure that we will have a bright future.
Why do you think there are so many Amiga users who still stick with the `classic` Amiga? Why does this particular collection of pcb and solder engender such patriotism?
The current AMIGA technology is sooo great and simple....It is fun to use an AMIGA. It is not fun to have to work with a PC, especially a Wintel....
You don`t use an Amiga at the office. Why not? It`s more capable than a pc for e-mail.
Unfortuneately I not only have to do my email...I have electronic banking and I have to report to my PC-Gateway mother, where nobody can read and understand AMIGA...so I am forced to use a PC...a Gateway one of course. This could of course change in the near future.....but my philosophy is to use every tool, even a PC, to make my beloved AMIGA stronger .....
os3.5 was great news for the Amiga community. How is it coming along, and when do you think it will be released?
We are quite in time.....The official launch will be in Australia in Canberra 21 and 22 August. Beta version will be distributed to developers which applied, this week and next week. (WW 23)
We`ll be getting a preview at WoA `99 though, won`t we?
Yes of course. Haage & Partner will show the preview at WOA on our video wall..
What other stuff will be shown at WoA `99?
As I mentioned already....Jim Collas, Rick LeFaivre and Tom Schmidt will come to London.....and for sure they will bring some news with them.....I can not tell you too much today.....should be a great surprise...
Have you seen the next-gen designs and plans yet?
Of course. We are working as ateam...a great team by the way. I am regularly in the US and I am informed in detail....
If so, what do you think?
It is great......as Jim Collas always states: A REVOLUTION.......
What could be improved in the next-gen Amiga range?
I really do not know, what I should answer here at this stage.....the next-gen is perfect so far....
How do you think the next-gen Amiga will be marketed?
Through our existing distributor network....of course the high-street market, mail-order housing and computer shops will also be interested in our product if the margin is right and the product is interesting for them. We will not let down our loyal dealers and distributors of course
Which markets are the next-gen Amiga products going to target?
We will come out with details in London....
What is the Amiga competition?
Amiga never had competition...Amiga is unique.....
The boing ball....going to stay as the Amiga logo?
Of course.. I am proud that I have reborn this logo....
Any idea what advertising budget the next-gen Amiga range will have, and where you`re likely to use it? The Commodore `marketing` team used to advertise Amiga`s in Amiga magazines, and...well that`s it really.
It is a little to early for exact dates..but you can be sure there will be a budget, we have to launch the new generation very professionally and we would mobilise also AMIGA freaks, which are using today unfortunately the PC platform....
When will the Amiga plans start being `above the radar`. When can we expect to know concrete details about things, and start promoting them to the rest of the world?
Jim Collas will telling some more details on the WOA....
Realistically...how much of an impact on the world computing market do you think the next-gen Amiga`s will make?
It will as I mentioned already, be a real revolution...
Will user groups be able to get os3,5 and the 3.1 ROM chips at a special discount?
Unfortunately we are not doing any money on our OS 3.5.....the price is very attractive.....end user price is scheduled in Germany for 99.50 DM
What role can user-groups play in the resurrection of Amiga credibility?
They should keep on doing what they have done always....making propaganda for our AMIGA...
If you were stranded on a desert island, and could only have three things with you...what would they be?
What a question....I need only two things....An AMIGA and an internet line....
what do you like to use your computer for, Petro?
Amiga for relaxing.....PC for working
Would Amiga `Chameleon` be a good name-brand for the next-gen Amiga range? :)
Chameleon....? Should be more dynamic....."SPRITER" or "REVOLUZZER".
Thanks Petro :)
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