Ouch! The Truth!! et tu Brute? I guess we should expect nothing less from the webmaster.
{rant warning! :-)}
I never expected that my words would be taken too correctly. I'm not trying to slam the Amiga, classic or otherwise. I just don't personally see any real use for them, because aside from AO and SpookyChick.com, I work on with a computer. I don't really game on my computer (now that I have an X-Box).
I need a computer that's able to do everything possible, without a need for a master's degree to run it.
For me, I have a lot of experience with Windows (all models to date). I am, in fact -- thanks to one of my former employers -- highly trained in Windows and the Intel hardware platform, up to and including XP. For me, XP works and works well. Come to think of it, I now have about as much life experience with the PC as I do with the Amiga.
Never got into Linux, because until recently, they pretty much DID need a master's degree to run it and let's face it. Once I passed 21 years old, my desire to tinker with, futz with, and learn operating systems has vastly diminished.
There's a reason I LOVE my Tivo, and no, it's not just because it's a pain in the ass to program the VCR.
Now, getting back to the Amiga. I'm sorry. It's not my intent to insult anyone or dissuade you from following your hobby. Let's be honest here folks. It's a hobby. Nothing more.
I have been writing an in-depth article with a friend of mine examining the future of the AmigaOne platform, but let's just sum up that I believe there are now simply too many "catch-22's" for it to succeed. This also applies equally to the Pegasos.
- needs buyers to be cheaper
- needs developers to write software to attract buyers
- can't attract developers without giving away hardware
- can't give away hardware because of lack of budget
- can't get a budget because it has limited buyers.
The list goes on, but the trap here is that the Pegasos and AmigaOne have pretty much already sold to as many Amiga users as there are out there. From the company's perspective they pretend that they have sold these systems (or given them away) to "2,000 developers", but we all know the truth.
So in the end, again in my opinion, both the AmigaOne and Pegasos are simply ways to speed up the Classic Amiga. Really nothing wrong with that at all, if that's what you want, but it'll never be successful on the business desktop which is where the money is. The only possible exception is in the guise of embedded devices (such as Tivos and home networking devices).
AmigaOne people are quick to point out "but AmigaOS runs OS4 applications!!!!". The problem is -- and it goes right back to the circle of catch-22's -- there really aren't any AmigaOS4 applications yet.
More power to everyone. Really. I just wish they'd get done already..
Wayne