Would AmigaOS 4.1 theoretically run on this?

[mykeled123]

no

There however is quite large base of fairly* standardized systems: PPC Macs.

*) If you rule out the exotic older systems the rest are using standard components, USB for keyboard/mouse etc.

Thanks for the info. I'm sort of referring to things like x86's way of abstracting usb AND ps/2 keyboards into it's 0x60 port. You use 0x60 and you know you have keyboard support (though basic) if one's plugged in somewhere. Also, 0x0000b6 (I think) is a default location in memory where you can directly alter the graphics bitmap.

Is that way of using generic drivers possible on PPC? that's what I'm trying to get at. Does PPC have hardware "givens"?

[Matt_H]

Thanks for the info. I'm sort of referring to things like x86's way of abstracting usb AND ps/2 keyboards into it's 0x60 port. You use 0x60 and you know you have keyboard support (though basic) if one's plugged in somewhere. Also, 0x0000b6 (I think) is a default location in memory where you can directly alter the graphics bitmap.

Is that way of using generic drivers possible on PPC? that's what I'm trying to get at. Does PPC have hardware "givens"?

I'm not sure. Correct me if I'm wrong, but recall that the standard for x86 machines isn't the x86 itself, it's the fact that they're all technically derived from the standard architecture of the 1981 IBM PC. PPC architecture never really had a standard reference model like that (at least, not with the dissemination and manufacturer buy-in of the PC). As Piru says, Macs are the closest thing.

[commodorejohn]

So, is that to say, unlike the x86(-64) architecture, there is no native hardware ports on PowerPC? O_O If so, that would definitely rank side-by-side with the stupid x86 Real/Protected/Virtual 8086 mode system. xD

I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you referring to "ports" as in the x86 I/O bus? PowerPC doesn't have that, no, but that's because it uses memory-mapped I/O like the 68000 does. Just two different solutions for the same task, really.

Or if you mean that there's no common hardware standard like the IBM PC-compatible platform, yeah, that's more or less true, but that's not a design decision, it's just a case a of a bunch of people using PPC CPUs in their many different projects (SAM boards, the Pegasos, the Efika, Power Macs, etc.) And anyway even a fixed hardware standard only gets you so far - even a PC is stuck with VGA, no sound, and limited CD access without appropriate drivers.

[Piru]

have fancy cases that are horrible to open and void your warranty if you were to try.

Where did you get that idea from? You certainly won't void your warranty. Apple even has great documentation how to say for example upgrade the memory: https://support.apple.com/kb/ht1270

Even the manual that comes with Apple computers tells you how to open the machine up and replace the memory or HDD. For example for MacBook Pro 13": http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/macbook_pro_13inch_early2011.pdf (Chapter 3)

[_ThEcRoW]

Seems that he never opened one. A mac pro tower is easy to open and upgrade. Even g4s.

[mykeled123]

Where did you get that idea from? You certainly won't void your warranty. Apple even has great documentation how to say for example upgrade the memory: https://support.apple.com/kb/ht1270

Even the manual that comes with Apple computers tells you how to open the machine up and replace the memory or HDD. For example for MacBook Pro 13": http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/macbook_pro_13inch_early2011.pdf (Chapter 3)

hmm, I stand corrected, then. My mistake. I still don't like Apple's marketing tactics. They're just not right, especially now that it's cheap Intel hardware.

Overall, I just hope AmigaOS 4.1 will come to support the main architectures like Windows. I'm hearing though that AmigaOS is not expected to become a rival? O_o

What's everyone's take on this? Will AmigaOS ever support x86, x86-64, ARM, etc?

[commodorejohn]

OS4 probably won't. If they couldn't even be bothered to support PPC Macs I seriously doubt they'd put the effort in to port it to a whole other architecture. MorphOS probably won't either, as their primary goal seems to be taking advantage of all the hardware OS4 doesn't. AROS already does.

[stefcep2]

I'm not sure. Correct me if I'm wrong, but recall that the standard for x86 machines isn't the x86 itself, it's the fact that they're all technically derived from the standard architecture of the 1981 IBM PC. PPC architecture never really had a standard reference model like that (at least, not with the dissemination and manufacturer buy-in of the PC). As Piru says, Macs are the closest thing.

Common Hardware Reference Platform CHRP was an attempt until........Jobs came back.

[Templario]

I was looking at this board and was curious about it. By the way, dumb question... does AmigaOS 4.1 run on PowerPC systems in general, or only Sam4x0 and Nemo. I understand that there is a lack of hardware drivers for the OS, but would it be able to run on nearly any PowerPC system?

That board: http://www.mpl.ch/t2750.html


     - Mykel

No, it isn't a board for make a computer.

[redfox]

@mykeled123

I am responding to your first post in this thread.  OS4 currently runs on several PPC flavours.
AmigaOne SE, AmigaOne XE, MicroA1-C, Pegasos 2, SAM440, SAM440 Flex and SAM460.

Forgot these ones ... (PPC 603 and PPC 604)
 A1200 computer with Blizzard PPC accelerator card
 A3000(T) computer with Cyberstorm PPC accelerator card
 A4000(T) computer with Cyberstorm PPC accelerator card

I am not a hardware guru, but I think some of the AmigaOne's, MicroA1 and Pegs have G3 or G4 CPUs depending on which CPU chip is currently installed.

My MicroA1, for example, has a IBM PPC 750GX CPU, which I believe is a G3.

Not sure how the SAM chips fit into the G3/G4 categories.

Only certain PPC systems and CPUs are currently supported moment by Hyperion.  I'm sure that they intend to support some newer ones, but we will have to wait and see.

---
redfox

[commodorejohn]

Common Hardware Reference Platform CHRP was an attempt until........Jobs came back.

As I recall it was that and that everybody else failed to bite for one reason or another...according to Wikipedia the only actual CHRP hardware produced is some of IBM's RS/6000 series.

[nicholas]

Common Hardware Reference Platform CHRP was an attempt until........Jobs came back.

Before CHRP there was the PReP standard. Since 2006 both have been superseded by PAPR.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Architecture_Platform_Reference

[Piru]

Not sure how the SAM chips fit into the G3/G4 categories.

They're G3.