Amiga OS should be sold separately. Who cares if it runs on machines some other company is saying is 'Amiga compatible'? That translates into Amiga OS boxes--UNITS--being sold.
Of course, Amiga should cover themselves, insofar as warranties go with the software. If the hardware that is 'Amiga compatible' runs the Amiga OS but the hardware vendor doesn't have the stickers and license...say, 'powered by Amiga' logo, then Amiga isn't obligated to make sure the OS runs on that hardware and the hardware vendor is responsible... Amiga can't mother every piece of hardware out there; but they can examine and approve and ordain with licenses those hardware vendors which approach them and want the OS to run on their machine--and thereby provide a better sense of stability and assurances.
I don't see benefit of Amiga being against Amiga clones (on PPC or x86); but I have said before they should have a focal Flagship. They can set the minimum specs (as I thought the Zico specs were), and greater support/warranties/distribution could be given to those who obtain licenses and so forth from Amiga.
The Amiga OS box should list minimum required hardware--it's no longer a case of someone buying the Amiga OS and thinking it is only going to go on an 'Amiga'.
I just have this idea of being able to buy Amiga OS (thinking 5.0 here, so don't have a cow) and it says on the box 'installable on PPC, x86.." etc. and proceeds to list minimum specs. It says it includes an embedded AmigaAnywhere module (which will already exist on other platforms and such as an interesting 'lure' and 'programming target' that will bring back other software), and says about an emulation module that it 'can run almost all previous Classic Amiga programs' and recognize Amiga floppies on a regular PC disk drive (or be able to use real Amiga floppies with optional PCI card or something)... :-)
Anyway, I think that would be the ballpark.
If someone wanted to make a deal with Abit for a batch of KR7A-133 motherboards, and build an 'Amiga' by adding a Matrox G550 video card, Creative SoundBlaster Audigy Platinum sound card, and a few other things...and call it 'Amiga compatible' in advertising, there shouldn't be anything wrong with that (if the new Amiga OS will run on that hardware)... but if they're selling the Amiga OS with it, surely they'd have have a license, unless they just happened to be carrying the OS as part of their stock. But if they're pushing an 'Amiga clone', I'd think they'd need a license from Amiga to be a vendor, etc.
I don't think I'll sign the petition. I do agree with somee things in it, though--Amiga shouldn't close itself off to some things that will get it more sales where there is no harm to it.
I thought Merlancia were producing systems that could run Amiga OS, BeOS, Linux, QNX, etc. Sort of OS-agnostic systems.
Amiga OS is supposed to be CPU-agnostic...at least in its eventual incarnation.
--EyeAm
"Sir, I beg you...don't do this. The catapult didn't work and, well, you've got your arm in a sling and your head is all in bandages. This rocket is simply out of the question. Surely, there are better ways to obtain our goal of getting the secret Amiga plans."
"Soldier, I've come too far to let technicalities get in the way. Any and all means necessary will be employed to stop those Amigans from producing. Now stand back..."
{{{click}}} [hummm] {{{click}}}}...
WHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHHHHHH!!!
{{{BOOM!}}}
"Ooo, pretty... It's a shame he didnt' wait til 4th of July. Greater shame he forgot this parachute."
