Lets talk about A1222 - Tabor

[kolla]

Your wish is my command.

Oooh...!

Is it better?

Yes, much better, thanks!

[kreciu]

Oooh...!



Yes, much better, thanks!

You are welcome!

[trekiej]

I think that at this point it is better to ask this: Is Tabor possible?

Why is it not possible?

[dirkzwager]

Why is it not possible?

Yes, why not? We waiting for so long, when it is not possible they never start with the a1222 or the project whose cancel a long time ago.
I think ...

[trekiej]

If it works well with Linux then sell it.
edit:
Does it need a special version of OS4.1?

[BozzerBigD]

Yes, why not? We waiting for so long, when it is not possible they never start with the a1222 or the project whose cancel a long time ago.
I think ...

One word explains the delay, DRIVERS! Most AmigaOne machines have historically been released with incomplete driver software for onboard networking chips and even sound chips! This time there is no space for a networking board to be added so the onboard chip HAS TO be supported from day one! This is not something anyone in the Amiga community can deliver quickly. The Prisma Megamix was delayed for months if not years due to drivers and that was just an add on board!

[AdvancedFollower]

One word explains the delay, DRIVERS! Most AmigaOne machines have historically been released with incomplete driver software for onboard networking chips and even sound chips! This time there is no space for a networking board to be added so the onboard chip HAS TO be supported from day one! This is not something anyone in the Amiga community can deliver quickly. The Prisma Megamix was delayed for months if not years due to drivers and that was just an add on board!

So what about the supposed cost savings from going with a small board without add-on card slots? Sure, this makes the board cheaper to produce, but driver development isn't free either.

[BozzerBigD]

All AmigaOne machines have had the outlay of developers working on the  onboard chips the only difference this time is that the board can't ship  until the network chip code is complete. This shouldn't affect the cost of  the Tabor. The driver work is normally paid up front as detailed in the  link below:

http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=42440&forum=32

AmigaKit Quote from 1st March 2018

A-EON Technology Ltd contracted Costel Mincea of Hyperion Entertainment  CVBA to create the SANA network driver for X5000 and A1222 and  additionally complete the X1000 driver project.  The contract was signed  at the Amiga 30th event in Peterborough, UK in August 2015.  Payment  was made for the contract in full within the following month and as I  understand work has been ongoing steadfastly since on all three projects  with breaks in the development for the various X5000/A1222 ISO  preparation work and Kernel debugging/testing.  With respect to Cyrus  and Tabor, a few complications on converting the large complex/bloated  Linux driver code to a suitable Amiga SANA driver format were cited as  the initial roadblocks if I recall correctly.

[kreciu]

So what about the supposed cost savings from going with a small board without add-on card slots? Sure, this makes the board cheaper to produce, but driver development isn't free either.

That is exactly what I was thinking. TWO years (2.5) of waiting for Tabor. There is plenty of LAN/sound cards that could be used. It almost looks like Tabor is dead , but I still hope it will be out.

In some way I like idea of small computers, but Tabor looks like to me, more and more underpowered etc. even for Amiga use.

I wish Tabor had some nice Radeon on-board. THEN that would be a nice, tiny Amiga for years to come.

[yssing]

Yes this constant waiting is getting a bit old..

[kreciu]

Yes this constant waiting is getting a bit old..

I know, but I waited for my BlizzardPPC 15 years so, 2.5 years is nothing .

[Iggy]

I know, but I waited for my BlizzardPPC 15 years so, 2.5 years is nothing .

Yes, and how long did it take OS4 to be considered out of beta?

Look guys, blame Mincea, he signed the contract to develop the drivers AND claimed to be responsible for the poorly functioning beta driver the developers have for the X1000.
Tabor HAS to ship with a network driver.
You might be able to resort to a USB doggle, but that is far from ideal.

Right now we need functioning network drivers for the X5000 and Tabor for both Linux and OS4.

[kreciu]

Yes, and how long did it take OS4 to be considered out of beta?

Depend who you ask. For me AOS4.1 Final Update 1 is still BETA. Considering this, I wish there still would be some development of AOS4.1 for classics. I'm serious, it is not like we are going to stop using them even if Tabor will be released. There is still PLENTY of work that could be done . Especially when I hear about updates for OS3.1! IMO AmigaOS4.1 Final will be final, IF/when it will support 99% classic hardware . THIS IS FINAL (including both CPUs on BPPC - why not?)

Look guys, blame Mincea, he signed the contract to develop the drivers AND claimed to be responsible for the poorly functioning beta driver the developers have for the X1000.
Tabor HAS to ship with a network driver.
You might be able to resort to a USB doggle, but that is far from ideal.

Right now we need functioning network drivers for the X5000 and Tabor for both Linux and OS4.

Is this about money or lack of time or both? Last few months there is only... SILENCE about Tabor.

[Iggy]

...Is this about money or lack of time or both? Last few months there is only... SILENCE about Tabor.

Well, they were paid in full according to Aeon, so its not about money.
And porting to a e500v2 cored cpu can't be that different than porting to an e5500 cored cpu.

So...my guess is it really is the network driver that is stumping them.

[AdvancedFollower]

That is exactly what I was thinking. TWO years (2.5) of waiting for Tabor. There is plenty of LAN/sound cards that could be used. It almost looks like Tabor is dead , but I still hope it will be out.

In some way I like idea of small computers, but Tabor looks like to me, more and more underpowered etc. even for Amiga use.

I wish Tabor had some nice Radeon on-board. THEN that would be a nice, tiny Amiga for years to come.

The contract was signed at the Amiga 30th event in Peterborough, UK in August 2015.

Honestly, 2.5 years is way too long to wait for a NIC driver. The actual amount of code that has to be written isn't that great, and open source Linux drivers could probably be used for reference.

I work at a company that does software development (though I'm not directly involved with development myself), and they regularly complete major development projects in a few hundred to a thousand hours, which when split between a few people means a few months max. If we spent years on a single development project, we'd be out of business.
Either the person responsible isn't dedicating enough time to development (less than a few hours per week), or simply doesn't have the skills and experience necessary for driver development.

[number6]

Honestly, 2.5 years is way too long to wait for a NIC driver. The actual amount of code that has to be written isn't that great, and open source Linux drivers could probably be used for reference.

I work at a company that does software development (though I'm not directly involved with development myself), and they regularly complete major development projects in a few hundred to a thousand hours, which when split between a few people means a few months max. If we spent years on a single development project, we'd be out of business.
Either the person responsible isn't dedicating enough time to development (less than a few hours per week), or simply doesn't have the skills and experience necessary for driver development.

For what it's worth, this is the explanation from a dev point of view, in case you did not read the entire original thread:
Jamie Krueger

#6