@kolla
Well, this has been discussed a great deal over at MZ.org ever since the policy was revealed two years(!) ago. And for the record, before reading any further, you should know that I haven't been the greatest supporter of the policy myself...
But there is a flip side to every coin. Like this:
Hyperion is worrying to death that their OS4 for a certain platform will be pirated. They worry to *such a degree*, that they lock in the OS into some combo with obscure hardware so that nobody can get a hold it without buying the HW at the same time. The downside of this is that the only OS4 available HW is obscure, rare, untried (compared to *mainstream* Mac HW), and most of all *extremely expensive* for the performance it offers.
And this is the main reason to why OS4 isn't available for cheap, powerful, well-tried and proved Mac PPC HW. Because of their chosen licensing scheme! There was some "Moana" project going (I have the files here, like so many others), it was very promising (as proven today by MorphOS), but they never went ahead with it. "It would only get pirated..."
The MorphOS team however, offers free download of the *full* OS. Heck, they would probably *be glad* if someone would bother to make a .torrent out of it, since that would offload their servers/bandwith a bit. Spread it freely! Try it out for free! On *any* PPC Mac Hardware (soon)! PPC Mac HW is available everywhere! And it's a *full* version of the OS, you can use it without *any other* limitation than it slows down to an un-usable level after about 30 minutes. To prevent this single one limitation,
you purchase a license for your machine of choice!While I recognize the same down sides as you do kolla, I must say that the MorphOS way (with Mac HW support and free download) beats the OS4 way
by a magnitude.My biggest objection to the MorphOS licensing scheme is that there aren't any discounts for multiple licenses. I have 4 machines that are perfectly able to run MorphOS 2.5. And there is a reason to why I have only one keyfile for one of my Pegasos2's. I will get one for my Mac Mini though. That's for sure!
As if that is any of their business.
It will be "their business" if you want to take advantage of the "warranty" built into the licensing scheme. If your HW breaks down, you discuss this with the MorphOS team, and you will get a new key file for your new HW.
This hardware locking is pure nonsense and number one reason to not register.
Well, it's the way they have chosen to build their system. I'm not going to argue with you about it; take it or leave it (and it's the same for myself and everyone else). The reason to why I took it (for my only registered machine so far) is because:
MorphOS is the fastest NG OS.
MorphOS is the most Amiga compatible NG OS.
MorphOS has the best NG features and functionality of the NG OS's; it's the most competent OS, period!
MorphOS currently runs on the fastest PPC hardware that any Amiga Program has come in contact with. *Mainstream* and readily available hardware!
MorphOS runs on the *best priced* hardware, and definitely with the best bang-for-the-buck ratio! This will be true even if some undefined "X1000" hardware would materialize.
Simply put: "MorphOS is Amiga
done right! "
And you can try it for free!