[Leica] Re: M9

[msadat at gmail.com (mehrdad)]

yes, z80, cp/m and wordstar!!

On 8/31/07, Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin@optonline.net> wrote:
>
> On Aug 31, 2007, at 6:20 PM, Henning wrote:
>
> > Gee, will there ever be a Nikon D4? Might there possibly be a Canon
> > 50D? What a stretch for someone in those companys to admit to
> > something like that. And of course, since there will be a D4, there's
> > absolutely no point in buying a D3 when it becomes available in
> > December.
> >
> >
> > Maybe there'll be a Toyota Camry in 2012 that will be better than the
> > current one. Maybe if a Toyota spokesman admitted as much sales of
> > the current model might drop to zero.
>
> Henning,
>
> You are probably too young to remember the history of the Osborne 1
> portable computer.  The 1981 Osborne was the first "laptop" computer.
> It was about the size of a portable typewriter, weighed 20 pounds,
> with a screen the size of a playing card, and a handle to carry it
> around. But, if you remembered to bring your battery pack with you,
> it was the first computer you could use without plugging in. It sold
> like hotcakes. Businessmen bought Osbornes because they could take
> them home or to a hotel room. It was an excellent computer, on a par
> with the best contemporary desktop computers. But, there were a lot
> of complaints. Too heavy, too big, unreliable, the screen was too
> small to read easily, the screen aspect ratio was wrong, etc. Osborne
> thought he could quiet the complaints by announcing that the soon to
> be introduced Osborne 2 would be smaller, lighter, have a bigger
> screen, and would be better in every way. Sales of the Osborne 1
> stopped immediately. Who would spend big bucks, $2000 in 1981 - about
> equivalent to $5000 today, for a computer that would be obsolete in a
> very short time. For most people a computer is not an absolute
> necessity. The purchase can be deferred if a better option will be
> available soon. Osborne Computer, a company about the size of Leica,
> couldn't handle the dry up of cash flow and went under. The company
> stayed afloat for a few years as a publisher of computer oriented
> technical books but made no more computers.
>
> Most of today's high tech companies hold news of future product
> introductions top secret. Apple even sues rumor mongers and has won
> injunctions against web sites and bloggers who claim to have advance
> news. It learned the Osborne lesson well. Auto companies do give
> advanced information about upcoming models but they simultaneously
> offer dramatic price reductions on older models to clear showrooms of
> stock before the new cars arrive. Sure there will be a better Toyota
> in 2012 but you will have to wait five years to get it. If you need
> transportation, either drive your old car, buy a new car and trade it
> in for a 2012 Toyota, or take a lot of cabs.
>
> The Leica analogy is similar, but not identical, to the Osborne case.
> We have a small company producing a specialized camera for a limited
> market. According to the reports of actual users, the M8 has
> unsurpassed image quality but fails to fully satisfy the original
> expectations of the Leica faithful. It is a bit too large, a bit
> unreliable, doesn't have a full frame sensor, requires filters on
> lenses, needs lens coding for best results, and simply sounds wrong.
> Now suppose that a Leica spokesman makes a cryptic statement that
> another Leica, say the M9, may or may not be in the works. But if it
> is in the works it may (or may not) satisfy the demand for a full
> frame sensor and have 20% more pixels to boot. What do you think will
> happen to marginal sales of the original camera? Sure, Leica using
> professionals may still buy the M8. They will probably get full use
> out of the camera and can amotize their investment over thousands of
> pictures. But the average Leica using photographer, semi pro or
> advanced amateur, could easily wait a few months for the new model.
> The M8 has been on the market for about a year. In the electronics
> industry a change is about due. Remember Leica does not make most of
> the camera's electronic bits. They buy them from outside suppliers.
> The photoelectronic industry moves at a rapid rate and Leica's
> technology may be yesterday's news. In all liklihood a M9 is indeed
> in the works and the Leica spokesman may have been floating a trial
> balloon. A "new and better" M9 might free Leica of the M8 albatross.
> I just hope the announcement doesn't kill the company. Leica made a
> profit last year roughly equivalent to that of a medium sized pub.
> They need that cash to keep coming. Oh well, they can always license
> the name to Panasonic and concentrate on 4/3s cameras.
>
> And Henning, I never implied the M8 early adopters were misguided
> zealots. I admire the hope and courage of all of you. And frankly I
> also admire the images you have posted on the LUG. But most Luggers
> who bought the M8 were already superb photographers. In the hands of
> a duffer like myself it may be worth giving up a little image quality
> for ease of use and convenience as well as the ability to get full
> frame images from my existing lenses. That way I don't have to buy
> new optics to shoot wide angle photos. Hell, even the familiar Leica
> M body shape isn't important. I really love my CL. Now if the
> hypothetical M9 were a full frame camera the size of the CL (but with
> a longer rangefinder base) I would buy it in an instant.
>
> Leica - are you ready to take my order? And have a Happy LABOUR Day!
>
> Larry Z
>
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>


-- 
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  regards, mehrdad