Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!cmcl2!rutgers!sunybcs!boulder!hao!noao!arizona!malibo
From: malibo@arizona.edu (Rob McConeghy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Mandala System, VERY VIVID, Macro Pappa Read This.
Message-ID: <3198@megaron.arizona.edu>
Date: 15 Dec 87 00:58:16 GMT
References: <8712132054.AA04823@jade.berkeley.edu>
Organization: U of Arizona CS Dept, Tucson
Lines: 34
Summary: rip-off pricing policies

In article <8712132054.AA04823@jade.berkeley.edu>, MOLNARRM@UREGINA1.BITNET (Dennis Robert Gorrie) writes:
> icons.  I know a custom digitizer would be expensive, but not that much, as
> well I did not believe that the software should be that sophisticated.  So, I
> asked them why they were asking $35,000 (U.S. Funds) for the system.  They said
> their target was professional type entertainment, performers, and rock groups.
> For these groups, money was no consideration, and $35,000 was a drop in the
> bucket....

   Talk about run-away capitalism! Why dont they just lease the system for
   10% of the gate at any rock concert it is used at.
   For use in a professional video, I would suggest a one time fee of
   50,000 plus 5% of the royalties, if any.

> The developers of the system did say they were considering a cheaper consumer
> version.
> 
> Whatever the components or cost of the Mandala system may be, the
> demonstration they performed, called VERY VIVID, was exactly that.  It sticks
> in my mind as the most amazing, profound, and enjoyable demostration of the
> Amiga's sound and graphics power, that I have EVER seen.  

    I do agree that Mandala is pretty neat as toys go. It was shown at
    The Ami-Expo in New York in October and was very popular. I expect
    that they'll be at the Ami-Expo in Los Angeles and Chicago too.
    So all you folks who can't shake $35,000 out of the old piggy bank
    to have one of your own might try catching it there.

    Any rock-group stupid enough to fork over that kind of money for
    something that Leo could probably hack together in a weekend and
    distribute for free (software only of course, you will need a
    little extra hardware but nothing that isn't already available for
    a lot less than $2000) deserves to end its days in the 1/2 price bin
    at K-Mart or as a special offer from K-Tel Records. Come to think of
    it most rock groups will end up there anyway.