Alan Redhouse comments on the A1-Lite

[Kronos]

@Alex

A few words about licencing.

The problem is that the "AmigaOne"-stamp on the board adds cost (1),
without adding any value (2). So what would be needed for "non-BAF"(3)-
costumers would be a TeronTX (4) with the capabilty to run OS4.


Such a combo would need to compete with similar x86-boards (or costum-
designs) running QNX or similar, and even as little as 10$ can make all the
difference needed here. (5)


Costum chips are realistic unless somebody plans to sell in 7 digits.
And even than the bring in the risk of developers bypassing APIs, which
ain't a problem in a console,but is still one of the major drawbacks
in Amiga-land,some 10 years after GFX-cards were introduced.

I wouldn't call the 970 a costum chip, just because Apple are the only
ones who have any need for such a beast (6).



(1) Noone knows how much that is,but looking at the prices of current A1s,
and the fact that these fees are pretty much all AInc has/will have to honour
all the coupons, makes it quite obvious that it is more than a few pennies.

(2) "Amiga" just isn't worth a dime in a kiosk-system or similar.  

(3) Try to take it with a bit of humour  ;-)

(4) Just as good as any other name,as long as it doesn't mean extra $$.

(5) I don't think Eyetech will be able to offer direct support for any big
company (buying more than 100 units),and any middleman will look
at such options. And these often tend to go the prooven path which
would be QNX in a 10:1 margin over any kind of "Amiga"-OS.

(6) Genesi/MAI(Eyetech) are still atleast1 yearaway from being able to
produce boards capable of using a 970. IBM uses Power4 and similar
for their servers, which just leaves Apple atm.

[Kronos]

@Chris

A) dig yourself through ann.lu (around March/April 02) and you will find
Ben H. stating that the OS4-licence and the A1-the-name-licence are
2 seperate things. The OS4-one  was even said to be free.
(wether one believes that is another matter).

Thats what I referred to by TeronTX+OS4.

B) We are not talking about the geek-market here, but about potential
embeeded uses,and in those areas "Amiga" hasn't any reputation
(atleast no good one), so it is just as good as ATARI, Pumuckl-PC.
Put an IBM or Dell-sticker on it,and we might have something to talk.

@anarchic_teapot (edited by Argo: personal attack)
Why am I not suprised that you didn't even tried to understand what I wrote ??

A) See my reply to Chris.
B) Because he allready "bought" that name ~3 years ago ?
Because A isn't really the fullthruth
Because that is the only weapon Alan has/had against the competition ?
Because it does matter to those that are the only target-market atm ?

C) Who said that QNXhad to offer direct support ??
1. We aretalking about a few 100 boards -> Alan shouldjust forget
ever making any profit.

2. We aretalking about >1000 boards (for kioskand such) -> Eyetech
can't offer the kind of support such costumer wouldask for.
A middleman needs to bve introduced. That middleman will look at
all possibilties, which includes getting QNX-licences and writing SW for it.

Just imagine Walmart would decide to introduce info-kiosks to all
their shops.

This is what they would demand:
24h support, silent, reliable,easy to use for both costumers and the
ones filling in the info.

Kiosk-Inc now wants to make an offer, and they have to decide if they
base it on x86-QNX,  PPC-OS4 or something different.

Price will be part of that descion,but not a name like "Amiga".