It´s a couple of things that make me feel that the future is brighter for alternative desktops.
1. First of all there is the rise of linux, linux will run just as well on PPC (We got IBM on our side here, and "the greates" distro, Debian, is allready running
.
2. Then there is the DRM issue, Intel and microsoft will implement features on motherboards and in software that take controll over your computer. Not total control, just to check if you got copied software, music or movies and stuff. And maybe to check if you overclocked your cpu? This will really scare linux/bsd people (and a lot of other geeks) away from x86 and over to other platforms.
3. Have you ever bought a copy of Windows? Or at least taken a look at the pricetag? Or noticed how much more each new edition costs? (in norway prices almost doubles for each new windows release).
4. "the second computer" it´s a market where you see machines like Via C3 mini-itx and maybe Amiga/Pegasos in near future. They don´t have to be faster than light to play divX or mp3, surf the web or write a mail. It´s for your mom or dad if you are tired of being their windows support guy.
5. And last but not least. Have u seen the lastest stuff from AInc. and Genesis? It´s just as cool looking as BeOS and MacOS. And looks matter. I know a couple of mac converters, not powerusers. They did it ´cous of the looks and feel of the MacOS and machines.
And now some more babbel...
I have given the genesis/Ainc situation a really good thought. And I am not sure whats best for the community and the amiga market. Ainc. alone? Or Ainc and Genesis together. They fight over a small market, but a monopoly drives the prices up.
I have no conclution other than that I like innovation. AmigaOs is about innovation, MorphOS is still playing catch up (never invented a feature thats not allready in another OS as far as I know). For the "alternative OS scene" a new addition (morphOS) is allways welcome. If AmigaOS was dead i´d love MorphOS and propably be a blind follower.
