Unless AOS and MorphOS finds a way to keep their operating systems up to date by making it possible to use brand new hardware with them, I seriously doubt that they will have a future. But right now something is finally happening in my point of view. That's why I'm planning to buy a Amigaone after all these years without any Amiga.
Our small community have 3 currently developing operating systems that keeps each other on edge. There are new hardware being produced (unlike the last time I looked when there was things "coming out soon", (which was the normal state for very long)). Even though we lag behind on both hard- and software there are at least reasons now to have a little hope. If AOS and Morphos fails we will have AROS, which seems to be getting somewhere as of now.
Either AOS and MorphOS will find a way into the existing computer market, or they will create their own powerful platforms for a reasonable price. Both I think can save them. And I think they know this. So I don't think they plan to linger on with outdated hardware until it's so rare and expensive that giving up is the only option.
When Amiga 1000 came in 1985, the home computers, just like the A1000, had a lot of limitations. 256 colors, 8 bit sound, floppy disks and extremely small and expensive hard drives. It was still cutting edge of course, but the limitations was nevertheless there and every upgrade did cost a small fortune for the consumer. When the A1200 and A4000 came it wasn't cutting edge anymore. It was barely keeping up with the PC market. Good computers, but not at all as impressive as when the A1000 and later the much cheaper A500 got released.
Today seeing all of the color spectrum is standard. Sound cards that does all frequencies too. Big screens, fast, cheap and huge hard drives and other cool stuff makes the difference between a computer manufactured in 2008 and 2012 relatively small for the non-hardcore gaming and non-3D-creating consumer.
All those microchips that made the Amiga 1000 and beyond cool and powerful are today obsolete. Not just the chips, but the whole need for specialized chips. Sure, specialized chips can do cool stuff, but they are simply not needed in order to get a fast and well working computer.
My point is that it doesn't matter much right now that the computers are a little behind since there is a lot of catching up to do software wise. First we have to get software that can do all the everyday things that normal consumers would ask for (web surfing, text editing, picture editing etc (and for my part I want Japanese to be supported)). Then we should find either a good but not pricey platform or strive to be platform independent. If these two steps are made in that order, I think all our 3 OS:es will have some kind of future, maybe even a bright one.
