Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: Beakster on June 05, 2003, 12:14:59 AM
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Yo,
Sorry if this seems a stupid question but I seem to have lost track of Amiga Inc.
Are they still owned by Gateway 2000?
What is this talk of trademarks and auctions?
Is OS4 still on the way? Release date?
What hardware is coming after the AmigaOne?
What OS is coming after OS4?
How are they planning to market the new machines? in High Street Shops?
Who is incharge of Amiga Inc?
Where are their offices?
Where do they get money from?
What is happening with AmigaAnywhere?
Is there a Future for this Company & will/are they making a profit?
Sorry for being a spaz, but there must be other people out there who have also lost track.
Cheers
-Beak
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I would like to have most of those questions answered too, but for the reason that I am an Amiga "Beginner".
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Some very good questions there mate! :-)
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Amiga Inc now own Amiga, although the owner of the trademark name has been idle since January 3rd this year and could be about to change hands completely.
OS4 is still on the way - they're on tour with it now (or will be very soon). After that it'll be progressing towards a PDA (AmigaAnywhere?) mergence with the Amiga computer platform.
I'm probably wrong with some of that, but someone else here will be able to answer better.
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I wouldn't worry, it's just the soap opera plot deepening (sp?) :-).
/me order a truckload of popcorn.
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I gave up on AInc a while ago. I got tired of their delaying tactics and bought an Amiga-compatible system from a company that actually do something.
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Amino bought, and became Amiga, formed of former Gateway employees. The sale was a private sale.
Amiga Inc, the afore mentioned Amino, ran into financial difficulties after the dot com bust.
Amiga, wisely, put the development of the desktop OS in the hands of another, Hyperion. They did, however, get a late start. OS4 is being developed for different platforms one at a time ( Cyberstorm, AmigaOnE, maybe Blizzards), with the cyberstorm version coming first.
AmigaOS now has serious competition in an OS called MorphOS. A long story revolves around all of this, but basically... MorphOS is a MUI based PPC Amiga-Compatable OS on the Pegasos motherboard. Reports have it that some resellers still have the combo's available. The motherboards had to be redesigned, due to yet even more soap opera reasons.
The bottom line, the community wins because there is a choice... Or, there will be a choice... My God, this is all so confusing.. :-) Read the threads...
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A truckload of popcorn is needed!
meanwhile, I'll be playing pong! :-D
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AmigaOS now has serious competition in an OS called MorphOS
Perhaps this would be a good time to mention that you are, IIRC, an employee of said competition :)
Nothing against MorphOS, but OSNews didn't seem too impressed with it compared to Linux (not that I'm expecting AmigaOS to be a Linux-killer anytime soon either.)
Zoltan
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Perhaps this would be a good time to mention that you are, IIRC, an employee of said competition :)
Might also be a nice time to mention that you have staked development elsewhere, Zoltan. And so what? ; } - people tend to get involved with the efforts they think are superior or have a better chance : }
Nothing against MorphOS, but OSNews didn't seem too impressed with it compared to Linux (not that I'm expecting AmigaOS to be a Linux-killer anytime soon either.)
I'd say regardless of faults and teething pains, that a title like "Pegasos: An Interesting & Sexy New Platform" is of such lukewarm reception that everybody involved should get jobs selling used office furnishings instead... Add here that there is a lot of interest in a lot of sectors and a lot of OSes being ported to the hardware and projects are already in planning around them, while the cheaper, higher-powered PegasosII is progressing very well.
So in these eyes it's only going to get better, even if a few teensy lumps do get taken along the way : }}
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OSNews aren't really impressed with anything, to be honest. We all have our niches. I'm very unimpressed with Linux in general, and I guess it would take an Amigan to be impressed by MOS.
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OSNews aren't really impressed with anything, to be honest.
Can you blame them? I despise Windows and have been looking for an alternative platform since I stopped using my Amiga as a primary system in 1995. So far, I haven't found anything that I like. I use Windows because I hate everything else I've seen even more.
I've tried about 20 different OS's. I worked on two versions of UNIX, as well as VMS as a computer science student (and hated every second of it). I've tried 8 distributions of Linux, as well as QNX, and they did nothing for me. They just feel like UNIX clones, and I'd rather not dig through web pages for 5 hours just to find out what a simple error message like "Signal 11" means. A good interface explains things like that. I've tried a few oddball OS's here an there, and they are all kernel experiments with no serious interfaces in development. I despise OS9 Macs because they crash too much, are slow as dirt, don't multitask, and have no shell. Mac hardware has always been a total ripoff, so MacOS X is not an option. Besides, I'm well aware of the way Apple does business. I'm currently learning OS/2 so I can keep the cash register at work running properly. Naturally, I also used AmigaOS since version 1.2, and every version of Windows since Win95 and NT4. Almost every machine I use at work runs NT4, and I must have re-installed Win95 about 50 times, so I'm quite familiar with that system.
Of all of these, OS/2 and AmigaOS were the only ones I actually liked, and I still have issues with OS/2. AmigaOS was just such a great system at the time, if only as a single-user machine. It was one of the few OS's that didn't treat people as either idiots or technical majors. It was just clean and logical. A GUI-driven system with a respectable shell. The design of the OS had some faults, but nothing that couldn't be corrected and improved. It was just well thought out, from the user's perspective. Hell, Windows still doesn't allow a method for defining paths properly, a feat easily achieved with the Amiga "Assign" command. The Windows "Subst" command doesn't cut it, and makes lots of apps freak out.
I hate to say it, but sometimes I think Microsoft is the only current software developer that really knows what they are doing. Most of the really talented OS interface designers are either working for MS, or they died when Commodore went belly up. Linux developers have NO originality at all, and as much as they hate Microsoft, they seem to be doing a good job of copying whatever MS does. They fix only what interests them, personally (working for free tends to lead to that). Besides, I'd rather pay for software that's developed properly, rather than run to forums every time I run into a stupid problem with free software.
Too bad Microsoft is just loading up all their systems with spam, scams, and backdoors these days. They have too much incentive to add new features that appeal to market slime, so even putting a pop-up blocker in IE is too much to ask. The future of Windows may be dim, but don't think for a second that MS doesn't have a "new" system based on .NET and XML in the near future. Heaven help us.
Less innovation, more intuition, please. Linux just doesn't cut it, and I have no faith in Amiga, anymore. I'd like to work on an OS project, developing GUI's and writing documentation, but I don't have the technical skills for that just yet. Looks like I'm stuck with Windows until I get my programming skills up to snuff.
To answer the topic question of "What's Happening with Amiga", well... nothing at the moment, as usual. AmigaOS4 is really designed to the small number of existing Amiga users. With such a limited hardware base, there won't be any new software for it. Don't hold your breath.
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Naturally, I also used AmigaOS since version 1.2, and every version of Windows since Win95 and NT4.
Would that include MS Windows Server 2003?
I don’t think any of the Amiga based OS can deliver the solution that Windows Server 2003 delivers.
I've tried about 20 different OS's. I worked on two versions of UNIX, as well as VMS as a computer science student (and hated every second of it).
Same thing while at Uni, but VMS is not that bad. VMS is not targeted for desktop OS market. The cost of corresponding hardware (Alpha AXP box) will indicate that.
Mac hardware has always been a total ripoff, so MacOS X is not an option.
Note that MacOS X’s core is extremely Unix based. No different to other Unix clones in the market. Its WIMP component is the one that sets this OS from other Unix clones in the market.
I have use MacOS X and loved it. Two bad it’s not running on a cheap X86 box. The price of Apple’s hardware would be the stumbling block. IF you factor in the weaker Australian dollar (compared to the US dollar) the problem is magnified. Count yourself lucky, at least you live within the mighty US dollar.
Almost every machine I use at work runs NT4, and I must have re-installed Win95 about 50 times, so I'm quite familiar with that system.
In terms stability and the number of available services, Win95 is a long way from Win2k/WinXP/Win2003. Note that, to address some issues of Windows 95, a Windows 2K style system protection was included within Windows ME.
Why harking back to Win95/WinNT4 days?
Hell, Windows still doesn't allow a method for defining paths properly, a feat easily achieved with the Amiga "Assign" command.
On the same token there are many things that AmigaOS can't do compared Windows 2K/XP/2003.
The designers of Windows (David Cutler and co) may not see that (i.e. AmigaOS's 'assign' method) as a need. Careful with feature vs feature point scoring, as such it’s open to counter arguments.
The Windows "Subst" command doesn't cut it, and makes lots of apps freak out.
Why would you do that within Windows XP/2003?
Of all of these, OS/2 and AmigaOS were the only ones I actually liked, and I still have issues with OS/2.
Note that Windows NT was a half brother** of OS/2(they have a common origin). Initially OS/2 was co-develop by Microsoft and IBM.
Too bad Microsoft is just loading up all their systems with spam, scams, and backdoors these days.
With Windows 2003, the security has been beefed up (e.g. deactivation web based scripts). It can reactivate its web-based scripts by user’s selected websites. For example; I permitted Win2003's IE to run all the web based scripts just for *.amiga.org.
Note that, WinXP’s SP2 is currently in beta testing.
They have too much incentive to add new features that appeal to market slime, so even putting a pop-up blocker in IE is too much to ask.
Have you tried Windows 2003's IE 6.0.3790?
The future of Windows may be dim,
The Window way is fine due to Linux's WINE/WINEX.
Linux itself only has ~5 percent of the desktop market.
but don't think for a second that MS doesn't have a "new" system based on .NET and XML in the near future. Heaven help us.
What's wrong with dotNET and XML?
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@Pegasos users
Ok, setting the petty bickering about A1 and Pegasos aside... It's my understanding that Pegasos/Morphos exists and is working... Yes?
So, how well does it work? I mean can I slap Deluxe Galaga AGA, or OctaMED on it and have it run well? Can I slap a CatWeasel MK3 on it and read Amiga disks?
Forgive my ignorance, but isn't this a currently running/working platform? If it does what it's supposed to, sweet! Score one for all Amigans!
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Beakster wrote:
Yo,
Sorry if this seems a stupid question but I seem to have lost track of Amiga Inc.
Are they still owned by Gateway 2000?
No..... and Yes.
What is this talk of trademarks and auctions?
Baloney. There are active Amiga trademarks out there ( held in company history but unclear if ownership transfers automatically ) and unfortunately also active trademarks held in the name Pegasos but not by Genesi which is why they are probably considering a rename. Bill Buck, for a laugh, has applied for the name AMIGA in a trademark. The way some tell it would make you think he already got it.
Is OS4 still on the way? Release date?
Yes. When its done.
What hardware is coming after the AmigaOne?
SharkPPC then who knows. If I had crystal balls theyd clank when I walked.
What OS is coming after OS4?
OS4.1.
How are they planning to market the new machines? in High Street Shops?
Online adverts while the market is so small and Word Of Mouth (TM). This is a tiny outfit remember.
Who is incharge of Amiga Inc?
Bill McEwen presently.
Where are their offices?
They telework.
Where do they get money from?
Venture capital financing, sales of AmigaAnywhere game packs. Club membership "scams", AmigaDE, thin air, cleaning cars. Who knows, is it important?
What is happening with AmigaAnywhere?
Its being sold through MicroSoft in retail stores and online. Technically I don't know.
Is there a Future for this Company & will/are they making a profit?
Clank, clank, clank.
Sorry for being a spaz, but there must be other people out there who have also lost track.
Or like spamming online forums, or being downright lazy ;-)
Cheers
-Beak
Thats OK, Ive noticed you around for long enough that you would know what is going on, unless of course you have the attention span JoannaK estimated.
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@Dr_Righteous
>Ok, setting the petty bickering about A1 and Pegasos aside... It's my understanding that Pegasos/Morphos exists and is working... Yes?
Yes. Pegasos is working like a dream, great piece of hardware. MorphOS is good enough to be used as a main OS (since 1.6 I haven't turned on my PCs anymore, one acts as a server and I control it from Peg using VNC).
It still is in beta so it has bugs, in overall it's about 23.7 times more stable than my A1200ppc/96mb/PicassoIV.
>So, how well does it work? I mean can I slap Deluxe Galaga AGA, or OctaMED on it and have it run well?
OctaMED, no. It lacks AHI (damn it!!!)
DeLuxe Galaga, no. It's AGA only (damn it!!!)
>Can I slap a CatWeasel MK3 on it and read Amiga disks?
Yes you can.
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Hoya!
@KennyR
You heretic... ;-P
Be funky
M A D
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@Hooligan_DCS
Ok... But, any Amiga software that supports RTG, and doesn't require sound will work, right?
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Sorry if this seems a stupid question but I seem to have lost track of Amiga Inc.
Easily done.
Are they still owned by Gateway 2000?
Much of the Amiga IP was/is still owned by Gateway yes. Amino acquired the rights to use the Amiga name among other things.
What is this talk of trademarks and auctions?
AInc didn't pay the maintenance fees so their trademark on "Amiga" lapsed in January. Bill Buck of Genesi subsequently filed an application for it. He will donate it to Amiga.org if his application is successful.
The auctions are because Amiga Inc owed their landlord a lot of money (among many other people) and so their landlord locked them out of their offices some time ago and is auctioning off the contents to try and get back some of the money owed to him.
Is OS4 still on the way? Release date?
Probably.
When? depends which version. For the CSPPC version I'd guess end of this year/early next year. A1 version maybe middle of next year.
What hardware is coming after the AmigaOne?
Ask Mai. Eyetech don't make any hardware themselves - they're just a shop. Neither do Amiga Inc.
What OS is coming after OS4?
Depends on how well OS4 sells whether anything will come after OS4.
How are they planning to market the new
machines? in High Street Shops?
No. They sell the boards through Amiga retailers and web sites.
Who is incharge of Amiga Inc?
Who knows. Bill McEwen swore under oath recently that he was no longer CEO of Amiga Inc. There was a guy called Garry Hare handing out Amiga Inc CEO business cards a couple of months ago. then theres the Dutch Venture Capitalists, who really call the shots.
Where are their offices?
They don't have any. they couldnt afford to pay the rent so were evicted.
Where do they get money from?
Their main tactic is to sucker people into paying $50 to recieve a spam email once a month telling you how great there are. I believe there's also some shareware-quality games that they brought out for PDA's but few people ever bought them.
What is happening with AmigaAnywhere?
Nothing. It was doomed from the beginning.
Is there a Future for this Company
LOL
& will/are they making a profit?
ROFLMAO
Sorry for being a spaz, but there must be other people out there who have also lost track.
Cheers
-Beak
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Dr_Righteous wrote:
@Hooligan_DCS
Ok... But, any Amiga software that supports RTG, and doesn't require sound will work, right?
As a rule of thumb if it is RTG and has AHI support for sound, it works. That includes 68k software, WarpUp and PowerUp.
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He will donate it to Amiga.org if his application is successful.
Oi!!! He offered it to aROS first... though I'm sure we can share it :-)
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well 1.3 has just been released, and there are rumors of KS 2!!!
and i now have this 4M thingy on the left hand side
soon to get a winchester too! (i sure hope i can boot from it)
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Might also be a nice time to mention that you have staked development elsewhere, Zoltan.
Good point, nothing wrong with writing software for the Amiga around here is there? :) Actually I write web software too, so you're right, I'm not 100% involved in Amiga business. Hopefully one day if comes back.
Actually I've mentioned it a bunch of time, usually when I'm explainig why a lot of these "alternative" platforms barely qualify as alternatives to the alternatives.
You're right though, for a number of reasons I personally don't think it will go too far. Sorry.
Zoltan
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Wait a minute Lando. AInc has been locked out of its own offices for failing to pay the rent, and all its stuff has been seized?
Cripes, when did this happen? I haven't been away from here that long.
Bill McEwen is denying he is CEO of AInc?
This sounds like a freaking disaster.
I guess we can take it that AInc is finished then. What about OS4? Hyperion were developing it, are they going to finish it?
Who is maintaining the Amiga com site? Last time I went there none of these nasties were mentioned.
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@uboat
uboat wrote:
Wait a minute Lando. AInc has been locked out of its own offices for failing to pay the rent, and all its stuff has been seized?
Yup
Cripes, when did this happen? I haven't been away from here that long.
last year
Bill McEwen is denying he is CEO of AInc?
and to add to it, a media executive named Garry Hare has passed out business cards stating that he is CEO of AInc
This sounds like a freaking disaster.
sounds like a great paper for my MBA
I guess we can take it that AInc is finished then. What about OS4? Hyperion were developing it, are they going to finish it?
unknown. But a public demonstration of the AOS4 alpha is supposed to be occuring *checks calender* in a few hours, so let's see how things go.
Who is maintaining the Amiga com site? Last time I went there none of these nasties were mentioned.
Ray Akey is the Amiga.com webmaster, so I'd ask him.
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I pop into amiga.org/com every couple of weeks, I completely missed the story about the auction.
I found an interview with Fleecy on amiga.com where the question is put to him. He claims that Amiga is still operative and working on product, in spite of losing their offices.
Clearly though, if they can't pay their rent they are in severe financial straits.
Seems like AOS4 is going ahead though. LOL. Who was it who said the ongoing Amiga saga is a soap opera? Kind of like that isn't it? Once I would have been devastated by this news, now it only makes me laugh!
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A bitter sort of laugh, that is...
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>Are they still owned by Gateway 2000?
No.
>What is this talk of trademarks and auctions?
Forget them and wait & see.
>Is OS4 still on the way? Release date?
Yes. CSPPC version should be released pretty soon and
A1 version later, perhaps during this year, though.
>What hardware is coming after the AmigaOne?
AmigaOneSE-Lite and AmigaOneMicroATXServerWhatever.
They should start to appear late this year or in the next.
More info might be availble via A1 mailing list....
>What OS is coming after OS4?
AOS4.1 and AOS4.2. (by Hyperion)
There has also been some talk and roadmap about AOS4.5 & AOS5...
>How are they planning to market the new machines? in High Street Shops?
See the "Ask Fleecy" section of www.amigaworld.net .
Initially they are sold via existing channels.
A lot needs to happen before they attempt to push to "high Street Shops".
>Who is incharge of Amiga Inc?
McEven
>Where are their offices?
At their homes... or in the internet.
>Where do they get money from?
Financiers, game packs .... who knows.
>What is happening with AmigaAnywhere?
It is being developed very slowly / standing still and waiting for the obsolesence...
>Is there a Future for this Company & will/are they making a profit?
The future is not very bright, they struggle.
(that's why their office stuff was sold by their landlord)
>Sorry for being a spaz, but there must be other people out there who have also lost track.
A lot. And Amiga Inc guys need to blame themself about it...
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What do you mean by donating the Amiga name / IP to Amiga.org ? What's the plan ?
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(not that I'm expecting AmigaOS to be a Linux-killer anytime soon either.)
Zoltan
Youre kidding right? :-D
It will be far much easier to use if its the AmigaOS I know