Amigaphile Inside and Out
AMIGAphile Volume 1 Number 1 (JUNE 1992)
Who is behind Amigaphile?
I am proud to stand up and introduce myself. My name is Dan Abend. I was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA and moved, with my parents, to Wooster, Ohio when I was 2. Then I moved to Columbus, Ohio when I started attending college.
In Wooster, we got our first computer. It was a good old Apple ][+. This was around the time the Apple ][e was introduced but who knew. I taught myself to program the Apple and eventually learned how to repair it. Now, it's home is the closet but it still works, I'm sure of it. Our second computer was a Tandy 1000 which lead me into the IBM world. I continued teaching myself BASIC and started to program in the IBM environment or at least as close to it as you can come on a Tandy. I wrote my own bulletin board software and began running a BBS while I was in High School. In the mean time, I got a Commodore 64. After I discovered BASIC wasn't an ideal language to write BBS software in, I ran it on the C=64 using commercial software. The board was a success for about 2 years in which time, I met many new people and was introduced to the Amiga 1000. I took a liking to it right away and within the next year, I purchased an Amiga 500. Since then, I have moved up to a 2500/030 but the A500 still chugs along, running WB 1.2. I have had to nurse it along, repairing it's power supply, and replacing a CIA chip along the way. I have convinced many of my friends to purchase Amigas and we're all just one big happy family.
Back with the acquisition of the Tandy 1000, I started to work on commercial software and I successfully sold a few programs which gave me enough money to purchase my Amiga. Ironic, isn't it. Last summer, I worked for a local shop repairing and assembling IBM's and compatibles. Along the way, I acquired a 286 and have continued my programming. I have also learned Pascal, Modula-2, C, Assembler, and some LISP. It's amazing the things you pick up being a Computer Science major.
Currently, I am a Senior at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. I have another year or so before I graduate. I'm just a down to earth kind of guy and I hope to make a difference because I feel that as Amiga users, we have gotten the short end of the stick.
What or who is an Amigaphile?
If you are the proud owner of an Amiga, you are an Amigaphile. It's just that simple. What Amigaphile is has yet to be rigidly defined. The best I can hope to convey is my ideas about what Amigaphile should be.
I envision Amigaphile as a central source of support for the Amiga computer. I'd like to tie together the existing Amiga support structure consisting of User's Groups, Bulletin Board Systems, and local dealers. I'd like to offer a cost effective newsletter which contains truly useful information and not a bunch of fluff and advertising. Something with a little bit of information for everyone. In the near future, I would like to start an integrated information service by providing an Amiga BBS software package that would allow Amiga BBSs to have their own network.
None of these ideas are carved on stone and I'm sure they will change over time. I'd like to see more Amiga tradeshows with vendors and User's Groups meeting to exchange ideas and information. Until things get off the ground, the future is unclear. I will continue to produce this newsletter until all hopes are lost. This could be tomorrow or it could be far in the future. It really depends on you.
Where is Amigaphile?
Amigaphile is everywhere. I am located in Columbus, Ohio, USA but anywhere two or more people discuss the Amiga, that is part of Amigaphile. Anywhere someone does something to promote the Amiga, that's where Amigaphile is. It's not concrete, it's a thought, an idea, the spirit behind the machine.
When is Amigaphile?
Amigaphile is right now. It is going on all around you and you never stopped to look. Right now is one of the most exciting times in home computing and you are here to experience it. I'm just here to help make your experience as pleasant as possible.
Why is Amigaphile?
It is obvious that more Amiga support is needed. Many companies which have tried to survive in the Amiga market are gone. This includes hardware and software manufacturers as well as Amiga related publications. It's just not profitable enough for the little guy to survive in this profit driven business.
How is Amigaphile going to happen?
I am asking for your help. I can't do this on my own. It takes time and money to produce this newsletter. If every reader tries to lend a helping hand, I will tie it all together. Did you attend a User's Group meeting? Tell us what happened. Did you get a new piece of software or hardware? Tell us about it. Did you hear a rumor? Share it with us. I hope that you will take some time to write me. Do you know C programming on the Amiga? Help everybody else out by sharing what you know. I admit that this may be too much to ask. Most magazines pay for articles. Well, most magazines cost a lot of money and rely on their advertisers. Amigaphile doesn't. This first issue was produced out of my pocket.
I'd like to throw out some suggestions and hear your thoughts.
- Users helping users. This is the idea that everybody should offer what they can to help make this a success. I am looking for someone to write articles about C and Assembly language programming. I need reviews on software and hardware. I want to know what goes on at your User's Group meetings. I want to know what's new in Public Domain and Shareware. I think you want to know all of this too. The more information I receive, the more often you will receive an issue of Amigaphile. The less information I have, the less often you will have a chance to read Amigaphile.
- What do we do about the cost. I'd would like to suggest that Amigaphile be available on a subscription basis. Actually, this would be more of a membership fee and with the membership, you would receive the newsletter. I have figured how much it costs to print and mail the newsletter per issue and that is all I'd ever ask you to pay. I wish there were some other way but I'm not independently wealthy. I will send you the next issue at no cost. All I ask is that you help me find a solution to the above question. Eventually, I'd like to be able to offer some reimbursement for submitted articles but for now, all I can offer the author is a free issue containing your article. Does this sound reasonable or am I dreaming?
I think that if we all band together, we would make a formidable force to be reckoned with. Perhaps the word "Amigaphile" will strike fear into the hearts of IBM and Mac users worldwide. This works along the same lines as Smokey the bear's "Only you can prevent forest fires." because only you can make Amigaphile work.
So, I leave it in your hands. If you help me, everything will workout to everyone's advantage. Granted, I will be a little busier than I am now but that doesn't bother me. I'm willing to make the sacrifice to help a cause I believe in. Are you?
