Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: motorollin on December 08, 2006, 05:28:26 PM
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I don't normally involve myself with these discussions because they normally escalate in to flame wars. But after the recent posts about "OS4 should be ported to " which have resulted in discussions of the various Amiga and Amiga-like Operating Systems, I have felt compelled to express my opinion.
The first thing to note is that no matter what we all might like to think, there is no space in the desktop market for AmigaOS, no matter what hardware it runs on. This is because no matter what you tell people you can do with an Amiga, they will respond that they can do it faster, better and cheaper with an alternative platform. I'm not saying that they are necessarily correct, just that this is what they think. For this reason the vast majority of non-Amiga users will not seriously consider Amiga as an alternative OS, even if it runs on their existing hardware. Ergo porting the OS is futile if your intention is to recruit new end-users.
So Amiga software and hardware developers have to look to other markets. The corporate market is saturated with Windows, and it will stay that way. Accept it, deal with it, move on. Sorry but even Linux is not a contender in the corporate market with the possible exception of servers. Even in those environments, practically all workstations sitting on desks in companies are running a Microsoft Operating System.
What does this leave, when you consider that even video editing and music have been taken over by MS workstations? Multimedia Presentations. I strongly believe that the Amiga's software is an advantage here. A small OS which boots quickly, doesn't need to be "shut down" at the end of the day, and is easy to maintain, with MM software like Scala and Hollywood all mean that the Amiga is ideally suited to Multimedia Presentation booths and interactive displays (think Science Museum).
Of course cost is an issue. Nobody is going to spend hundreds on Classic hardware which is old and relatively hard to maintain, just to put it inside a cabinet and display a Hollywood presentation. Likewise nobody will shell out for a Pegasos, EFIKA or AmigaOne for similar reasons. The mass-production of x86 boards means this equipment is affordable, and well-supported. So x86 is the only option if Amiga (or whoever) want to get their OS out there. So there are 3 options:
1. Port MOS/OS4 to x86
2. Use OS3.x under emulation
3. Use AROS
Since 1. is never going to happen, 2. and 3. are the only options. And what's more - they're both available! so here's how I see the future of Amiga:
1. Amiga Inc put together packages of cheap x86 systems running AmigaForever KXLight or AROS, with Hollywood or Scala and touch-screen and TV/VGA support built in.
2. These packages are marketed to manufacturers of multimedia display booths and interactive displays.
3. Amiga get a name for themselves as providers of such equipment, without huge investment costs in developing hardware for OS4 or porting it to x86.
4. Once Amiga is once again a known and respected brand which can be taken seriously, AInc can reconsider their position in the market and possibly reinvest some of the money they have made in a desktop product.
Flame me!!!!! :flame: :lol:
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moto
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Motorollin
I think in the clear and concise, what you have said is prolly the best option.
My cheesy research into alternative's to Windows has turned up all kinds of OS platforms. They all suffer from the same eventual fate: Most of the end user class is stuck on x86 and Windows enviroments. Anything else is alien and foreign to them and they will not touch. Microsoft has a stranglehold on the end user class. I was in this frame of mind til I began reading on Vista. The thought of Linux anything scared me to death.
So there you go. Microsoft has effectively won the war of the OSes and platforms to run on.
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Good sum up thread but just an FYI:
This:
-- 2. Use OS3.x under emulation --
and this:
-- 1. Amiga Inc put together packages of cheap x86 systems running AmigaForever --
Contradicts this:
-- A small OS which boots quickly, doesn't need to be "shut down" at the end of the day, and is easy to maintain, with MM software like Scala and Hollywood all mean that the Amiga is ideally suited to Multimedia Presentation booths and interactive displays (think Science Museum). --
Not trying to be pedantic or anything.
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When I said "3.x under emulation" and "running AmigaForever" I was referring specifcally to KXLight, which doesn't require Windows to be running. Can you just power off KXLight, or do you have to shut it down?
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moto
-EDITED
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As far as I'm aware Knoppix always needs to go through the shut-down process because it releases the CD properly for you at the end of it all.
Though in theory I don't really see why you couldn't just turn-off a LiveDVD run of an OS, unless it damages the RAM or something. All speculation, I really don't know I'm certainly no technical expert.
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It won't damage the RAM. The only reason to shut down a Linux distro on a read-write filesystem is to make sure the filesystem is unmounted. On a read-only filesystem this doesn't matter.
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moto
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motorollin wrote:
It won't damage the RAM. The only reason to shut down a Linux distro on a read-write filesystem is to make sure the filesystem is unmounted. On a read-only filesystem this doesn't matter.
Thought as much about the RAM. :)
Hmmz, okay I'm going to say something here I'm not 100% sure about, but the Knoppix run of AmigaOS isn't strictly read-only is it? It can write to certain types of formatted partitions? Doesn't it mount these on startup?
It's been awhile since I loaded up either Knoppix or AmigaForever!
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philipj wrote:
Hmmz, okay I'm going to say something here I'm not 100% sure about, but the Knoppix run of AmigaOS isn't strictly read-only is it?
It boots from a CD, so it is read-only. Therefore powering off without shutting it down will not damage the filesystem. Even if you install it to hard drive, you can still specify that the filesystem should be mounted read-only. Of course this means you can't save anything, but in a kiosk this is not a problem, as the same software will run all the time. If somebody messes with the kiosk, you just reboot it and it will be back how it was before. And at the end of the day you just turn it off. Also, this leaves the potential for ongoing consultancy in building the read-only system if the customer requires changes to the content.
philipj wrote:
It can write to certain types of formatted partitions? Doesn't it mount these on startup?
It can, but this is not not necessary for it to function. If you did mount anything RW, you would have to shut down cleanly.
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moto
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Ah right thanks for clearing that up!
So could this mean Cloanto are the future then? 8-)
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I'm sure buying licenses for AmigaForever would be a cheaper option than porting OS4. Once AInc have made some money selling products based on an emulation, they can invest this money in (a) porting their next-gen OS to x86 so they can continue to supply cheap hardware with their software, or (b) in developing hardware to run OS4 and supply that instead of the x86 system.
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moto
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who the hell is going to buy a x86 machine from Amiga inc just to get it bundled with Amiga Forever? I certainly will not. It will probably be overpriced junk, similiar to their previous offers. I'm not going to contribute my money to a company thats lied and produced vapourware for the previous x years since acquiring the "amiga" name.
To be honest, I want Amiga Inc to die and go away along with their owners. They've done nothing to help over the years. I do admit, I love reading Fleecy/Mcewenen (or whoever the PR/talking head is nowadays) Q/A sessions because it gives me something to laugh at when the deadline isnt met. (just like redrumola's auction of a PR pamphlet showing what goals werent met.)
Friedens, I hope they move on to greener pastures with a good motherboard that way OS4 doesnt die.
-Alex
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TheMagicM wrote:
who the hell is going to buy a x86 machine from Amiga inc just to get it bundled with Amiga Forever?
My point that was that it would be a whole package: hardware, OS (emulated, but still AmigaOS), drivers for touch screen etc, and the presentation software (Scala/Hollywood.....).
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moto
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ic ic...
but the point is.. what would that offer to someone who can just buy Amiga Forever themselves and install it. Its simple to do.. it wouldnt be worth the extra couple hundred dollars just to buy a PC from AI.
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It's simple if you know how to do it. A bit like building a server. But most companies don't do that do they. They buy the product in from a supplier. See my point now? :-)
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moto
--EDIT
I should add that this is particularly true of AmigaOS which is not well known. I doubt most people running a kiosk in B&Q would know how to install Workbench, find, download and install Hollywood etc etc.
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I meant installing Amiga Forever is simple. Anyone who knows how to click "Setup" and click on Next Next etc can do it. If not they'll ask Cloanto or whichever internet forum.
It would be cheaper to buy a Dell PC then order Amiga Forever from Cloanto than it would be to get it as a package from AI.
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But most companies would never think to use AmigaOS! If it's marketed as a fantastic multimedia platform listing all the features then they might use it even though they had never thought of it themselves.
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moto
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motorollin wrote:
1. Amiga Inc put together packages of cheap x86 systems running AmigaForever KXLight or AROS, with Hollywood or Scala and touch-screen and TV/VGA support built in.
2. These packages are marketed to manufacturers of multimedia display booths and interactive displays.
Well, i see another way, very similar to create cheap x86 systems running AmigaForever, why don't use the new Minimig, and AClone? It can have two markets, an Amiga TV joystick, and a small multimedia machine for museums, and you can share the costs of Minimig/AClone boards...
I had another idea, add genlock functions, and something like mandala board of vivid group and you will have a small eyetoy machine (or better, with chroma), and you will have a cheap and small machine for interactive multimedia presentations...
I'm working on a similar system (software based) for x86 systems with windows and a webcam, you can see something on my web...
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Let's assume for a moment that Amiga Inc does not exist.
If you have, say Amiga OS4, have it so it works on x86 platforms, then you can do 2 things.
1. Offer the OS with or without a bundle of programs for a reasonable price.
2. Get with a company such as Acer that produces reasonably priced desktops and off the AmigaOS with or without bundle.
This could be done with AROS as well in my book. It would allow for ease of getting people to learn and see and keep the x86 hardware they have. Marketing of course would be a key.
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--EDIT
I should add that this is particularly true of AmigaOS which is not well known. I doubt most people running a kiosk in B&Q would know how to install Workbench, find, download and install Hollywood etc etc.
Your heart is in the right place but.... Thats just the thing..nobody is going to care to install a *emulator package* to run a presentation in a public area.
Microsoft has you beat to the punch. Hell.. LINUX has you beat.
People nowadays are brainwashed with Microsoft. Thats all they know. Getting people to turn away is a tough battle. Linux is going at it but in the business world...hittin the server side and its working. There are more Linux apache servers then Windows IIS servers.
The only way to make it work is to try it out yourself and maybe you'll have something *you* can market. I did that. I setup a few webservers..Windows shops.. but I setup a linux server..they freaked out but were open to the suggestion.. been happy ever since.
-Alex
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Let's assume for a moment that Amiga Inc does not exist.
If you have, say Amiga OS4, have it so it works on x86 platforms, then you can do 2 things.
1. Offer the OS with or without a bundle of programs for a reasonable price.
2. Get with a company such as Acer that produces reasonably priced desktops and off the AmigaOS with or without bundle.
This could be done with AROS as well in my book. It would allow for ease of getting people to learn and see and keep the x86 hardware they have. Marketing of course would be a key.
Then you need to have companies developing software for OS4..now that the OS and hardware is out we'll need software. So how to convince big companies to develop something for your operating system? I dont think it will happen. Linux kicks AOS4/MOS butt and they are just starting to get mainstream apps but most is from the community. People porting software to Linux.. thats the way it will be for OS4/MOS for quite some time.
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Then you need to have companies developing software for OS4..now that the OS and hardware is out we'll need software. So how to convince big companies to develop something for your operating system? I dont think it will happen. Linux kicks AOS4/MOS butt and they are just starting to get mainstream apps but most is from the community. People porting software to Linux.. thats the way it will be for OS4/MOS for quite some time.[/quote]
You are right. It would take companies or a community to develop. There is prolly a senario where both could work together. I know it would not be easy. but if there was only a way.
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It could happen... I think OS4 or MOS should be released to the public.. open sourced. Take the approach Sun did with Solaris and Linus did w/Linux. You'll end up getting more developers (assuming the interest is there) which will in turn enable you to get fresh ideas/get more work done.
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Starrunner wrote:
2. Get with a company such as Acer that produces reasonably priced desktops and off the AmigaOS with or without bundle.
Why would Acer want to do that? What would be the advantage for them?
TheMagicM wrote:
nobody is going to care to install a *emulator package* to run a presentation in a public area
They wouldn't know it was an emulator. As far as they are concerned the OS runs natively. At the end of the day, the customer doesn't car how the software runs, as long as it provides the services they are paying for.
TheMagicM wrote:
People nowadays are brainwashed with Microsoft. Thats all they know.
End users and corporates maybe, because they need to conform with what have become standards. But for a box which sits in the corner displaying a MM presentation or has a touch screen interface for people to make selections, and never interfaces with the outside world, the OS doesn't matter - it's the software that counts. And Amiga has excellent software in this field. And a cheap pre-configured box would be marketable to companies who can't/don't want to set it up themselves.
TheMagicM wrote:
The only way to make it work is to try it out yourself
Hmmmmm.... ;-)
TheMagicM wrote:
Then you need to have companies developing software for OS4..now that the OS and hardware is out we'll need software
That's the beauty of my idea - the software already exists (and is good).
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moto
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I was using Acer as an example only. i had not thought through the idea fully as of yet. First thing that came to mind.
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They wouldn't know it was an emulator. As far as they are concerned the OS runs natively. At the end of the day, the customer doesn't car how the software runs, as long as it provides the services they are paying for.
Dont base your company ideas on a lie, that was the mistake AI made (lies, plural actually). They will know because they will ask.
If someone wants a multimedia box sittin out at the mall then they will ask, what if I want to run/display this certain file..and the Amiga OS doesnt play it. "Isnt that Windows", "it works on my PC at home".
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I think that there would never be a succesfull new amiga now or in the future...
why? lack of hardware and all great hardware nowdays is for pc's... who will design let's say a better gpu than nvidia/ati? noone can , money is the main reason... so you make an amiga mobo coupled with the latest nvidia/ati chip, the latest sound chip etc... so? another computer can have that and propably use it better because of the greater user base...
even apple abandonned their "close" architecture... there was no point to it when the x86 hardware is now way better...
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TheMagicM wrote:
Dont base your company ideas on a lie, that was the mistake AI made (lies, plural actually). They will know because they will ask.
Not a lie. The features and limitations of the OS would be made available to the customer. The only thing they wouldn't need to know (and probably wouldn't care about) is that it's sitting on top of an emulation layer.
TheMagicM wrote:
If someone wants a multimedia box sittin out at the mall then they will ask, what if I want to run/display this certain file..and the Amiga OS doesnt play it. "Isnt that Windows", "it works on my PC at home".
Can you give me an example of a filetype which might be required in a MM box which the Amiga couldn't handle?
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moto
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I dunno.. I dont use my amiga for video playback or anything of that nature.
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The option "emulation" is not the best for multimedia presentation purposes I presume. Only if you're willing to forget about smooth animation, but thinking twice, I guess the "common" users are already used to this, after of several years of MS washing their mind with crap presentation packages and game gfx performance hiccups, just because their great OS need (even) more memory and goes for hard disk swapping.
Like someone also said here, I'm surprised with the unexplainable attraction "users" have with the bloated Vista! Man, if MS tells them to jump from a bridge, will they also do that ?!
Have MS now the power of inciting a global suicide ?
Just exagerating a bit, but you see my point (I hope)
What's the reason to go for Vista?!
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The problem is that kiosks with 24/7/365 uptime demand... well, 24/7/365 uptime, which ideally means some way to detect memory leaks and watchdog the thing.
If you're cutting the power every night, you can use anything ROM-based, really. Or anything that can keep its filesystem writes synchronous/atomic.
Everyone loves the fast boot time and the low resource footprint... but how often does anyone boot anymore, rather than taking a machine out of suspend? (Admittedly, Vista will probably take five minutes to come out of hibernation even though it's now the default...)
I think this means the real niche is down in the fabled embedded space, namely ubiquitous, practically disposable devices -- pull out something the size of a pack of cards with your presentation preloaded, plug it in, and...
I've just described the iPod. F***.
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ptek wrote:
The option "emulation" is not the best for multimedia presentation purposes I presume. Only if you're willing to forget about smooth animation,
Have you used UAE on a fast machine recently? :-) AROS would probably give much smoother results, but I'm not sure what kind of video/audio/picture filetype support it has.
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moto
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hello moto,
what if the booth runs on a network and needs to access data like web pages from intranets or access data from sql servers (or other kinds of dataserver), maybe retrieving files and others.
Or on another point of view. Are Hollywood and Scala killer apps in their fields, are they equal to counterparts on other platforms or they are old and obsolete?
Why would I choose Amiga against any other system?
Keeping in mind that networking will be a key factor in the next year. Many more services and machines will be networked and remotely controlled. How can I control an emulated app?
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You forgot the hobbyist market. I don't think there is a chance in heck of *any* alternative machine making any sort of move onto the desktop these days. But there might be a big enough market in the "true believers" and retro fans. Ainc could pay the $$ needed to convert something like the minimig or clone-A to ASIC, and sell it to hobbyists & gamers. Heck, it might make a good little kiosk board itself.
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JimS wrote:
You forgot the hobbyist market. I don't think there is a chance in heck of *any* alternative machine making any sort of move onto the desktop these days. But there might be a big enough market in the "true believers" and retro fans. Ainc could pay the $$ needed to convert something like the minimig or clone-A to ASIC, and sell it to hobbyists & gamers. Heck, it might make a good little kiosk board itself.
One thing I thought AI could have done was to work with companies like Elbox and Jens to try and come up with a few products to satisfy us classic fans!
I mean, AI have hardly done very well with the likes of AmigaDE to try and bring Amiga into the future have they? So why focus on that market.
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This may have been one idea 5-10 years ago. Today, the Amiga (in all its flavours) is bluntly, irrelevant.
People want a familiar, proven and yes, "boring" system when it comes to computer tech'. They want it to be simple to set up and easy (and cheap) to maintain.
While the x86 part of your arguement fits this, the Amiga part doesnt. Which modern company is going to invest money on an unproven, outdated and obscure platform?
If you want to build a MM kiosk, use any one of the existing imbedded systems on offer, not some Ainc cheapo sourced "Yum-Cha" x86 board running a confusing and overcomplicated combination of Linux and AOS3.x.
In any case, Ainc dont have it in them to make this work. Just imagine the technical support their clients would receive, the Amiga name would go from being obscure and unknown to derission and disdain.
The only future for the Amiga is to capitalise on the people that use/remember it, though every year that market shrinks further, it's probably way past too late?
ie:
-Branded MP3 players and other cheap electronic gadgets and online retro Amiga store.
-A500 in a joystick, hackable like C64DTV, (though the retro kick may be just about over, too late!)
-Amiga classics CDs (done, but piss-poor!)
-Amiga sponsorship deals with lowkey (ie affordable) sporting events, try kiteboarding or wakeboarding ect.
-OS4 ported to x86 as a free distro, with purchaseable apps.
-OS4 could work as a gateway to an online community site (like Xbox-live) with a richer featureset than non-OS4 access.
-Official Ainc endorsed OS4/WinUAE package, with online pay-per-game/app ADF library.
CBF giving away any more free ideas.
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You want to know what the future of the amiga is?
Let's take a trip!
(deep breath and keep reading)
The reason the Amiga was cool to begin with was becasue somebody WANTED to make a bad ass computer. Jay Miner and Team had a VISION. Not only did they have this bad ass "vision" thing going on, they had the skill and BALLS to pull it off! Remember the "lorian" was under way before commodore entered the picture. It was passion NOT money that go the ball rolling.
"Ohh the times the are a changing"
Multimedia is no longer new. The "Brain trust" has moved on. The tool is now functional. The quantum leap happend right before out eyes! We now take computers for granted. If course we use them....
Checking out he Amiga in '85/86 was like the first time you heard the beatles, it was a HEAVY TRIP!!
"YEAH MAN! THAT'S MUSIC, I LOVE IT!!!" (actual quote, your uncle bob)
Looking at the Amiga then we stared dreaming. Wow I could make 3d ray traced images! and music! and STUFF, the STUFF was SOOOO COOOL! And honestly it was unlikly that we could ever become as advanced as we are now.... only in a dream...
"Ohh the times the are a changing"
(1997)
The guys who made/make morphOS, reversed engenired(sp?) amigaOS (it can be done!), not because there is or WAS a market, but because they wanted to and they COULD (very skilled dudes!). They where the same guys who had fallen in love with the Amiga to start with, guys like me(maybe you) who grew up with this awsome box! (man! we are lucky!)
"Ohh the times the are a changing"
Commodore, Gateway, amiga inc. Those where just the labes, not the beates, they where produces and money people, real as hell, but they suck the life out of you don't they?
Atlanic records still put out records, they are just not as good as when "Aretha Franklin" does it. Amiga.inc can (most say won't) produce OS 5, but "Elvis" has left the building! It will be like "oasis" or "madonna", o.k. but not the beatles.....
What's left? US! If you want the Amiga to evolve, take back the power, do like amithon, AROS, UAE and others and don't make the mistake of depending on Amiga Inc, hyperion or your mom! remember tha Amiga could have easly been an atari or a sun, so the next amiga does not have to come form amiga.inc. It may be the nintendo Wii! \
I suggest we go open source! Power to the people.
I hope to god the Amiga is never reduced to a Cell phone, but would not expect it to beat linux either. Still I think WE can have a blast with it! But practicly ther are better solutions...
BTW, Linux is still alive in the MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY: DISNEY, SONY, PDI, PIXAR ILM and DIGIAL DOMAIN, are all serious LINUX users and will be for a while. When if comes to dishing out $$$ for your windows license big/smart companies think twice, all they need are viable options! Becasue LINUX IS better than windows it may survive, and it proves that open source DOES Work, it's a FACT.
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@chsedge
How can I control an emulated app?
the same way you would if it wher not emulated.
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@guru-666
1.with control I meant some sort of interaction with the emulated app over a network. I'd like to know if there are limitations with uae and an internet connection running in it and talking over the network (nfs,netbios,servers of various kind, ftp). Thanks,Marco.
2.well opensource needs money too remember...
linux is there because some big companies invested a big amount of money in it. The story that opensource/gnu/linux comes out without money from the passion of a big group of developers is false.
unless you want to get an unreliable os
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@chsedge
so nothing can be done.... you might just be right...
now I'm off to use my flyer.... don't realy need a new os do I?
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Now that I've gone through this entire thread, I've come away with this impression... You're all saying AROS on x86 and/or EFIKA is the future of Amiga.
Gee, I think I've said this a few times already.
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@guru-666:
maybe nothing can be done, maybe not. I don't know, everything is possible, but today we have few chances. I'm not so negative about amiga but one thing is true the hw is less important. so let's stop doing these custom motherboards and start to concentrate on the os itself.
as mr. gates once said: "We're only at the beginning of what we have to do here."
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uhh yeah, I have alwasy felt that anything NOT x86 is a was of time..... Glad to see most people have finaly reached that sanity level. :horse:
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ptek wrote:
Like someone also said here, I'm surprised with the unexplainable attraction "users" have with the bloated Vista! Man, if MS tells them to jump from a bridge, will they also do that ?!
What's the reason to go for Vista?!
Hi ptek,
Are people really attracted to Vista? That's not the feeling in my neck of the woods. We don't care really. Windows XP at work is good enough. Nobody here talks about Vista.
Fester
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philipj wrote:
One thing I thought AI could have done was to work with companies like Elbox and Jens to try and come up with a few products to satisfy us classic fans!
That would have been a good plan, to bring in a bit of cash at least to carry on the future directions they have in mind. On the other hand, most of those products probably don't even need Amiga's help to bring to market. AI doesn't appear to have the financial resources, and do they have any tech people with a clue about the classics?
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JimS,
Your quote caught my attention: "The dog at my Gerber files".
I saw a machine once at my friend's house that was about 2 feet wide and stood something like 5 to six feet tall. It had "Gerber" as a label and I always wondered if it was a computer. My friend told me it was a Gerber computer, but that's as far as it went. He had it in his basement and it didn't work. It was just a dusty old hunk of metal. Was there ever a Gerber computer?
Couldn't find that machine pictured anywhere...
Fester
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Fester,
That tagline is just my little dig at all the excuses for the delays showing prototype boards at the various recent Amiga events. Gerber files are what gets sent to the PCB maker after you design a board layout on your computer.
According to Wikipedia, Gerber was a pioneer in the photoplotter industry. Your friend's relic might be one of those machines.
-Jim
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Thanks for the info JimS.
That's interesting. At least I know now you weren't referring to the nutrition information on baby food bottles. :-)
Fester
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JimS wrote:
You forgot the hobbyist market. I don't think there is a chance in heck of *any* alternative machine making any sort of move onto the desktop these days. But there might be a big enough market in the "true believers" and retro fans. Ainc could pay the $$ needed to convert something like the minimig or clone-A to ASIC, and sell it to hobbyists & gamers. Heck, it might make a good little kiosk board itself.
Two problems I see with this;
1. Amiga Inc. is broke
2. Amiga Inc. shouldn't be allowed anywhere near something as great as the minimig, they will only f*** it up like everything else they've touched.
@thread
Amiga Inc. should just give up, hand the source code over to the community and let us get on with the task of getting OS4 ported and running on an availiable hardware platform. Statistically, we stand a good chance of being able to compete with Linux on the desktop front at least ;-)
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JimS wrote:
That would have been a good plan, to bring in a bit of cash at least to carry on the future directions they have in mind. On the other hand, most of those products probably don't even need Amiga's help to bring to market. AI doesn't appear to have the financial resources, and do they have any tech people with a clue about the classics?
Like someone said, AI having anything to do with the classic market is worrying at best, but I was thinking at least license to the Amiga name and possible marketing of the product (as a true Amiga product) could have its value and worth to all beneficiaries involved.
I believe AI did want to get their hands on the minimig (Dennis didn't let them :-) ). I do have no idea though what they would have done with it in the long term.
adz
Amiga Inc. should just give up, hand the source code over to the community and let us get on with the task of getting OS4 ported and running on an availiable hardware platform. Statistically, we stand a good chance of being able to compete with Linux on the desktop front at least
I agree, sadly. Open source is the only way forward if Amiga is to stand a chance at surviving in the future.
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philipj wrote:
I agree, sadly. Open source is the only way forward if Amiga is to stand a chance at surviving in the future.
Why sadly??? Do you think Linux would have been as successful had it been closed source and limited to some obscure overpriced piece of hardware? I guarantee there isn't a developer in this forum who wouldn't jump at the chance to build on Amiga OS under an open source model.
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I am not every person on this forum. I also didn't say I wanted it limited to overpriced hardware.
That's a big reaction for one word - I'll keep my mouth shut next time.
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Fester wrote:
Thanks for the info JimS.
No problem, eh?
At least I know now you weren't referring to the nutrition information on baby food bottles. :-)
..... although one could speculate that some of our fellow Amigans are still eating from those bottles. :-) <--- ;-)
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@phillipj
Well, I guess it's true that AI has little credibility in the Amiga user community But they are the folk with the name recognition in the business world. (Such as it is) I was thinking they could raise the venture capital needed to make an Amiga-in-a-stick out of the minimig or clone-a. Assuming either of those guys would allow it. ;-)
As for Ainc folding it's tent and releasing the OS to open source.... well, that sounds good, but which source would that be? 3.1? 3.9? I'd be worried about the OS fracturing into various incompatible flavors without someone to hold it together.
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philipj wrote:
I am not every person on this forum. I also didn't say I wanted it limited to overpriced hardware.
That's a big reaction for one word - I'll keep my mouth shut next time.
Big reaction??? Hmmmm.......