A bright future for Amiga?

[Brianew]

1. The rise of Linux?   I can see how running Linux may be desireable and may sell more AmigaOne motherboards but I don't see how it'll sell more AmigaOS 4.  Can you expand a bit on how you see Linux promoting OS4?

2.DRM issue?  So, Micro$oft implements DRM.  Why would you not run another OS instead of OS4?  I'll give you that OS4 w/o DRM is a good thing but I think there will be many other alternative OSes out that that would be good choices too.

3. Windows pricetag becoming more expensive.  That I cannot agree with you on.  AmigaOne +OS4 are $800-$900 (US$).  When you can get a Athlon 64 3200+ + Motherboard + Windows XP Pro for $700.  So at least performance to $ ratio building the Amiga appears to be overpriced.  The only benefit you may gain is if you purchase lots of Software for the Amiga vs lots of Software for the PC the PC software is often more expensive.  However, the entry price of Windows performace/price ratio slaps the AmigaOne solution around the room.

4. I agree the 2nd computer is where you'll be seeing the Amiga market.

5. Look feel is important and once AOS4 is released we'll see how it looks and how user modifable it is. That's one of my favorite Amiga underpinnings, that I can make it look anyway I want.

I don't see AmigaOS4 as innovation but rather evolution.  It's a conversion of OS3 to PPC.  AmigaOS5 may be innovative.  Maybe you can expand on how they're being innovative.

Supporting Amiga Inc right now is hard.  They have an expensive LinuxPPC motherboard.  They claim to be shipping AOS4 someday.  They need a product.  I want an Amiga as much as the next guy.  But, I'm not going to MorphOS, I want an Amiga! If I wanted a platform to run Amiga binaries the WinXP w/ AmigaForever or UAE offers more bang for the buck then MorphOS and I need Windows to support most of the stuff I do at work so it has to be in my home.  So if Amiga Inc. doesn't succeed with OS4 there's always Amiga emulation that's more cost/price effective then MorphOS especially seeing as then I'll have 1 system instead of 2.  I'm hoping for OS4 and a price reduction.

[Brianew]

"With a tv/radio tuner card I personally will no longer have any need for my seperat DVD, tv, stereo, surround sound video recorder.My PC will fullfill all thos functions, and as it is networked, can supply those needs to any portion of my home."

Unfortuantely, a PC falls greatly short of replacing my stereo.   For the average user a PC may be able to replace some of those lower end Sony, JVC, Pioneer, etc. type of systems.  The PC has a LONG way to go to replace the higher end Marantz, McIntosh, Sunfire, Pioneer Elite, etc. market.    The rule of thumb is 2x the price is when you see performance gains within today's A/V equipment.    

Last year I replaced a JVC 8020 receiver with a Marantz SR7300ose.  The sound difference was like night and day.   This year I added a Windows Media Center edition to the mix.   The sound from MP3's isn't close to the sound from CD's or SACD's.   Unfortunately, the market has traded ease of use for reduction in quality.

As the AmigaOne system uses PCI cards same as the Windows PC.  I'm sure you'll be seeing similar sound quality issues.    I'm hoping Amiga will update the AOS4 so it can handle the latest video and audio cards on the market, which will further help OS4 catch up to the sound quality of the PC.   But, a computer based home theatre architecture has NOT come close to being able to replace my Marantz system. Someday?  Probably.  Today?  No.

[Brianew]

NicoPPC wrote:

You said you want an Amiga. but what is an Amiga for you, something with the Amiga logo or something which make you feel like on an amiga when using it ?

MorphOS is the logical next step on the AmigaOS:
- PPC
- prepare for the future
- made by Amiga fan.
- Running on a PPC computer design by ex Phase5.

It's true than an high-end PC will make AmigaOS 68k running faster than on the Pegasos I, but native PPC software are really fast.
The Pegasos is that you seen to be looking: rather cheap with MorphOS to make you AmigaOS apps running.

PS: not trolling, but just talking.
Bye

Nico,
     Once AmigaOS4 PPC software comes out will MorphOS be able to run them?  I'm doubtful that this will be the case.   I'd be interested in a lower cost PPC hardware, perhaps Pegasos-II, running AOS4.
 
   But, if I want the look and feel of an Amiga, but can't have an Amiga, why would I choose MorphOS over AmigaForever?   Especially if AmigaForever runs the same software and faster?  Sure it's not PPC but I don't care I get more performance and a much greater performance/$ so what's the overriding factor to choose MorphOS?

    I have 1 need and 1 want.  The need is a Win XP machine, I'm a systems engineer and work on 80% Windows and 20% Solaris.  The want is an Amiga, because that's the OS I like the best.

   Considering your definitions:
MorphOS PPC -- So is AOS4.
MorphOS preparing for the future --- questionable if it'll be able to run OS4.x PPC software any better then OS4 will.
MorphOS made by an Amiga fan -- great they felt left out by Amiga and did it their way.  Good for them.
MorphOS PPC design by exPhase5 -- fine it doesn't matter to me if the hardware is exPhase5 or some other company.  

   So if I limit myself to the two options you provided:
Amiga Logo OR Look feel via MorphOS.   I'd have to pick the Amiga Logo.    I already have look feel it's AmigaForever running software quicker then MorphOS.

[Brianew]

dammy wrote:
by Brianew on 2003/10/26 10:49:44

I have 1 need and 1 want. The need is a Win XP machine, I'm a systems engineer and work on 80% Windows and 20% Solaris. The want is an Amiga, because that's the OS I like the best.

Would the ability to dual/tri boot your x86 with AROS change your mind?

Dammy

Dual boot or Tri boot?  I might do it.  I tried it for a while with Amithlon and Win2k and once I built the current hardware I settled to just a single boot WinXP with AmigaForever.  

AmigaForever proved to be a better solution for me.  Here's a couple of examples. At the time I was upgrading hardware Amithlon didn't have a Nforce2 chipset version so I wouldn't be able to run Amithlon on the motherboard.  At the time I was upgrading Amithlon didn't have drivers for the Nvidia Geforce4TI 4200.  So, while I wanted a newer video card Amithlon wouldn't be able to use the extra video performance.  AmigaForever made it such that the issues weren't a worry.

I haven't been following AROS much.  But, if I can freely replace x86 hardware without long periods of waiting for drivers to be updated or worse no driver updates, such as the Geforce4, it might be an option.