Without a doubt, the news story concerning the Amiga in everybody's mind in the moment is the recently announced buyout of Amiga Technologies by none other than PC clone giant, Gateway 2000.
This will no doubt come as a surprise to anyone following the buyout saga in recent months, the previous favourite for new owner being American companies Viscorp and Quikpak, who announced their intentions only a couple of months ago. News of Gateway's acquisition certainly seems to have taken everyone by surprise, and although we knew there were bids from many large companies around the world, few people could have suspected Gateway's interest. The PC community seem to have sat up and taken notice of our favourite computer, news of the buyout spread quickly over the web, and the purchase was featured recently on satellite 's CNBC weekend morning computer show. A five minute discussion thrown in with a talk about Apple it might have been, but it's definitely the first time I've even heard it mentioned on TV for a while, especially on a large show such as this. The financial security of the Amiga now seems safe, something new for Amiga fans after the Commodore and Escom disasters. So, it would seem that the Amiga will now be financed by money from PC clones.


Gateway is company founded by Ted Waitts, now CEO of the company, in his family barn. He comes from a family of cattlemen, hence the famous cow connection in Gateway's products. In its first year of operation in 1985 with two employees, Gateway's sales came to about $100,000. Ten years later, its annual sales were over $3.6 billion. Last year, this figure increased $1.4 billion, and profits came to $250,000,000. While many Amiga owners might have previously been unaware of the company, Irish Amiga owners are probably more familiar with Gateway. Gateway's European headquarters are situated just outside Dublin, in Coolock - the familiar logo is clearly visible while driving by. Here, PCs for Europe are manufactured and sold and who knows, maybe the next Amiga will be made right here in Ireland, less than 30 kilometres from this school.


What does the future hold for the Amiga? So far, Gateway have been quiet as to their intentions, the only word being from Rick Snyder, president,
"This acquisition is good news for Gateway and customers of Amiga Technologies. It will strengthen our intellectual property position abd invigorate a comoany that has been a pioneer in multimedia soultions and operating systems technology."

Amiga Technologies, to be renamed Amiga International, remaining president, Petro Tyschtschenko, has said that,
"Gateway 2000 will give us a new life and energy for the future."


The sale of Amiga Technologies to Gateway 2000 has been agreed to by Escom liquidators.
Amiga Technologies will be renamed Amiga International, and Petro Tyschtschenko will remain as president.
New products have been promised by the end of the year.
Perhaps Eric Schwartz's cartoons are having an effect.


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