Cyhist Jul 19 1996 E

Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 19:43:58 -0700
Reply-To: cpsr-history@Sunnyside.COM
Originator: cpsr-history@cpsr.org
Sender: listserv-reply-errors@Sunnyside.COM
Precedence: bulk
From: "David S. Bennahum" To: "Multiple recipients of list cpsr-history@cpsr.org" Subject: CM> Origins of word "vaporware."
X-Listprocessor-Version: 9.1 -- List Server by Sunnyside Computing, Inc.
X-Comment: Discussion of history of computing
X-Info: For listserv info write to listserv@cpsr.org with message HELP
X-Message-Id: <427347491637.LTK.013@cpsr.org>
X-UIDL: 837876888.043
X-Status:
Status: RO

Sender: Brad Thompson Subject: RE: CM> Origins of word "vaporware."

Oh yes, Vaporware is not limited to the Software world. When the
Commodore Amiga (or was that the Atari ST? I can never remember) was
first demonstrated at a trade show, it was running an amazing set of
software. The products looked like Microsoft Word, and other such
products. The demonstrators didn't want you to get to close, though,
because if you did, you would have found out that it was an IBM PC
stuffed into an Amiga case!

Needless to say, when it shipped, everyone wanted to know how to get a
hold of the programs that had been demonstrated at the trade fairs, and
they weren't available.

Note, I really believe that there are a LOT of cases of Vaporware that
are never noticed because the companies go belly up and no one mentions
the Vaporware that never was. Can you name 10 products that NEVER made
it to market because the company went belly up? If these products
weren't vaporware, then why didn't the company sell the products?

Brad Thompson.
______________________________________________________________________