X5000 systems

[Arnuph1s]

I also checked out the X5000 at Amiwest and it's a pretty decent system. Still priced a little too rich for my tastes based on it's specs but I take my hat off to A-EON for getting these machines produced and long may that continue.

I agree that it is the software that needs work and glad to hear that is underway. Will make it feel less like a hobby machine and more like a viable everyday solution (to me at least).  Once the OS catches up a bit I will consider it a viable purchase.

 I may get flamed for this but I would love to see either AmigaOS or MorphOS make it onto an ARM platform. With the millions of Raspberry Pi users, that kind of exposure would bring more attention to the Amiga scene. I mean even RiscOS is making a comeback thanks to the Pi. That could only be a good thing, right?

[Arnuph1s]

It’s obvious that there are two entrenched points of view in this thread. I don’t think either are wrong as it’s all about personal perspective and the place the system has in your life.

My take on this is as follows. We all love the Amiga (hopefully) but the fact of the matter is that the original hardware is getting older and older and we have pretty much wrung everything out of it that is technically possible. Commodore is gone and we have no other companies of that size producing new machines. So unless we just want to be a nostalgic bunch standing over our old classic machines as they slowly die and remembering the glory days then there needs to be something new to pour our energies into. This is where the NG machines and the new OS come in.

Are they behind the PC/Mac Platforms of today? Sure. Are they priced too high based on their actual specs? Possibly. Is the OS still a work in progress? I’d say yes but then isn’t any OS? OSX and Windows have regular updates after all. The only reason OS4 doesn’t is probably down to resources. As for the pricing, well A-EON has to pay the production costs and have some financial reward for all their hard work. Love of the platform can only get you so far.

I personally see the X5000 as a hobby machine as it stands. It could never replace my PC or Mac in its current state but I still think it’s pretty cool. Some people spend a fortune on their hobbies so if I had the disposable income I would probably get one and not regret it since it is fun to play around with and try to get things working.

I currently cannot take it seriously as a replacement for my every day machine though. But then that’s because I need access to Windows for gaming and Office for work. It would be too underpowered for my video/music network steaming needs.  I also need Logic Studio so it couldn’t replace my Mac either. I can’t watch Bluray movies or probably use Netflix on it. Yes I could run Linux on it but then I can run Linux on my laptop and that would run it faster. So for me, it’s a luxury item. However that’s just me. Other people have different computing needs and for them, this machine will do everything they need and more power to them.

At the end of the day let’s salute the hard work and determination of everyone behind the hardware and software of the NG platform. It may not be everything to everyone but it’s certainly better than nothing. It’s also entirely possible that in 12 months time I may be posting from the perspective of an X5000 user .