This week 11 years ago the hardware market was dominated by two formats: the Atari ST and the Commodore Amiga. Although their machines were similar, being 16bit 'home' computers with a single internal disk drive, the two firms gave the impression of having vastly different cultures. To their dealers, Atari were a formal, distant, almost aloof company who manufactured their products and then put them out into the marketplace with a 'this is what we do - take it or leave it' stance. There was very little contact at all with the company or its staff.

Commodore, on the other hand, were the opposite. Every year they would organise holidays - sorry, make that conferences - for their successful dealers who sold a certain amount of product. Senior management would accompany the dealers to exotic locations such as Rio, Arizona and Hong Kong, where, after a very brief sales presentation (required, otherwise the trip couldn't be called a business conference and would therefore be taxable), everyone would enjoy themselves and drink.

As enjoyable as these jollies were, they also served a useful purpose. During many a drinking-till-6am bonding session, the Commodore folk and their dealers would discuss the market in a way that would never have been possible otherwise. Several initiatives launched by Commodore during the early '90s, it is said, came from this channel. As well as bouncing ideas around, the dealers also had the opportunity to complain too, and one of the biggest complaints was the practice of bundling software. The dealers would argue that anyone buying a hi-fi wouldn't be given 10 top-selling CDs, so why did computer manufacturers take away software sales from the dealers by, quite literally, giving the game away? Not only that, but if the customer had a pile of software for 'free', wouldn't he then blanch at paying £25 for a title afterwards?