Mr Bean, You wrote: <Is there not a devoted group of Wordperfect users that would pay good money to stay devoted?>
Precisely the problem. Does management really believe this? With this ignorant mindset no wonder WordPerfect is not selling. No wonder management changes focus from one direction to another, almost overnight. This flawed mentality is why the stock closed under US $4 yesterday. BEAN, THIS PSYCHE IS THE ESSENCE OF COREL's PROBLEMS. And its a shame. The proof of the truth of my response is in the numbers. Compared to the user base, hardly anyone is upgrading. Just look at the sales figures, and Management's gloomy forecast for Q4.
The past installed user base of some 26 Million is why WordPerfect became a household name. But that's the past. Alan Ashton and the old WordPerfect Coporation created that user base, not Novell, and certainly not Corel. If Management is waiting for the entire installed user base to remain loyal, you've got more surprises waiting. As I quoted Honest Abe earlier. "The dogma's of the past are inadequate for the present." To rely on the loyalty of an old user base is tantamount to suicide in the market place. Its time for Management to "think anew, and act anew." Right now all consumers are thinking anew, and that's Microsoft.
Just thumb through all the ads in PC Magazine. How many companies are tying themselves to Windows, Microsoft, and particular the NT server. This exercise says it all.
A very serious Up, Up, & Away to you!
Scott |
