Well as I sit and write this, Just a few days from Christmas and obviously just over a week of this year remaining, Perhaps its a good time to glance over our shoulder and see what has transpired over the past 12 months.
Certainly the year 2001 has not been good for the Average Amiga user. Two body blows hits us (1) The Announcement that the AmigaOne was not be released this year (2) The announcement that the Amiga Active Magazine would be renamed as "Digital" and would not cover the Classic Amiga Computer.
So! as we face the Year Ahead ... We have no recognised Amiga Print Magazine, and only the Promise of a New Machine ..Sadly one that we have not yet seen working. The Releases of Software for the Classic range of Amiga Computers has virtually dried up. Even if someone decided to write a "Blockbuster" of a game ...The lack of a Printed Magazine means little or no advertising, No advertising means no sales .. And so we join the Merry-go-round of certain and sure demise of the Platform.
Each day on the Amiga Mailing lists, More and More people are reporting they are moving on to buy a PC, Yes we still have the Diehards the Fanatics but for the General Computer user, Sadly the Amiga as we know it is going under for the Third time.
Perhaps the coming 12 months WILL provide us with a new machine, But is it to late ...Sadly I fear so ... Those that have spent out £1000 on a PC will not readily sell up and buy a new Amiga. The remainder of the User base must now be so small that even if we all bought an AmigaOne ...We would still be a drop in the Ocean of Computer Users ... NOT the Ideal situation to attract developers and Programmers to the Platform.
If the Amiga cannot attract New and "Kick Arse" Software, Then the future is Surely demise.
I Myself have taken the decision that many have! .. Yes I will keep my A1200 .. Yes I will continue using it .. No! ..I will not spend any more money upgrading it. When the day comes that my machine breaks down .. Sadly that is it .. Any good bits will be sold off and bad bits destined for the bin.
I really do hope that in the coming months, Amiga prove me wrong, and should the AmigaOne be something very special .. Then I will happily order one .. However Computers are moving forward at a tremendous rate of development ...We are so far behind that playing catch up is nigh impossible.
We at RIYAN Productions .. Will continue to try to support the Classic Amiga ..However with so little to actually write about .. We to have to start to include more regarding other platforms.
Let us hope! that in 12 months time, My editorial will be all about the Success of the New Amiga ... About all the New software that is due for release.