It's been a long time

[Thelgord]

Hello all. I'll be honest, I haven't touched an Amiga since the 90's. When the name went down, I figured it was done for and switched to Mac. I am very glad to see I was wrong. I didn't even know you could get a new Amiga until a few weeks ago.

A little about me. I actually use windows machines at the office, I am an instructor for the U. S. Army, so my personal computing needs are fairly modest. I am also thinking of getting an Amiga, I really do miss my A500. I am also a writer. So my needs are:

1) Working with documents. I am not expecting Adobe Pro or anything, but a PDF viewer would be nice. Also word processor software that is at least mostly comparable with modern documents. Maybe google docs or Libre Office or even Pages via iCloud web site. I am just not sure what is out there, but I am try to find out.

2) Network access. I need to be able to access share drives. Cloud drives would be great but not necessary. Also network printers would be a plus, but I understand there is going to be driver limitations.

3) Any other advice would be most appreciated.

Basically I am looking to setup a writing work station/office that is as distraction free as I can make it. If I can find software that is compatible with even just RTF files I can use my iOS devices to convert the final versions. I think going back to an Amiga will go a long way toward that. Thanks again for any advice.

[Thelgord]

Thanks for all of the info, I know have a lot of reading to do before I jump in. Budget is of course important, but I am setting aside money for the buy in. That of course assumes I can buy in.

If I do this, I will be all retro Amiga. I love the newer machines, but the cost is just far too high. I can get a new iMac for around the same price and I am not looking to spend a lot of money. Certainly not that much anyway.

So I have been reading, and reading, and reading. Then I read some more. I think I have settled on Word Perfect 4.1 for the software needs. I can save in WP format, then use Libre Office on my Mac to change the document format for submission requirements. Or I could use this site: http://www.zamzar.com/convert/wpd-to-doc/ (Not really sure how well it works as I have never used it)

For printing, I have decided that the few times I do need to print I will transfer the document to my Mac then print from there. Assuming of course I can open the file correctly.

Since I am looking to setup a writing station, I don't need a lot, but would like a machine with a HD (or a flash drive as this seems to be a popular mod, and floppies go bad). I would really like a full keyboard, so I am thinking A500, A2000, A3000 or A1200. Though I think the A1200 may be a bit hard to find in good shape.

I need a recommendation for a machine, a classic machine. As in, I am not sure about the difference in the WorkBench version numbers. I had an A1000, then an A500 so I am not familiar with anything beyond that. WB 2.1 (I think) was the last one I worked with. WB 2 seems to be widely supported, WB3 I am not so sure about, and from I can gather, a lot software for WB4 is either stalled, incomplete, or abandonware even if it is more "modern".

Just so you guys get where I am coming from, let me explain my "writing style". I have a room, well, large hallway closet actually, that I do all of my writing work in. When I am "in the zone" I don't want distractions. I just don't. Not even from my wife. Well, unless the house is on fire, maybe ...

I normally use my Mac Laptop that is basically set in airplane mode. No Wifi, Ethernet, or BlueTooth turned on. Which works ... most of the time anyway. Until I need to access a shared folder or something else that is not locally stored on the laptop. I try to plan for everything I think I might need, but there is always that one thing. Anyway, once I connect to the network, I am connected. All of my notifications from twitter and FaceBook start going off, my iMessage lights up like a christmas tree, emails start to come in, it's a mess. I am just OCD enough that work basically stops until all of notifications are cleared out, email cleaned up, etc. I'm crazy I know, but it is just how I am.

I have tried a DOS machine, which was horrible really, but the concept was good. The great thing about the Amiga is it just good enough to get online, or at least the local network, but just "not mac enough" to hammer me with sending me a bunch of notifications. If I could access my local share drive, which it looks like I will be able to, I would be in heaven.

Honestly, I would love to have another A500 (it really was a great little machine for its day). Would that be enough to run Wordperfect? Or even let me tryout some other software packages for writing? Or should I get something with WB3?

Ok, that turned out way longer than I had anticipated. Sorry about that, there is just so much I either don't know or have forgotten.

[Thelgord]

Thanks for the info on Cinnamon Writer. Unfortunately it requires OS4, and I just can't justify the cost (nearly a grand) to get a machine that can run it. Maybe in the future, but not at this point. If I wanted to make it easy I would get a linux machine and be done with it, but honestly, I really don't like the look and feel of Linux. Personal preference I guess you could say.

I am honestly looking to spend around $200 (maybe more, but not much more) on this ... I guess I will call it a project. In total. For $1000 I could look into a lot of other options. The PDF viewer, or lack of one, isn't a deal breaker, just a nice to have. I don't really need a web browser. Again, nice to have, but not needed.

[Thelgord]

However, $200 will probably end up being too low. Still, I would like to keep the cost down as much as I can.

[Thelgord]

I know nothing of MorphOS. More reading to do! LOL! There is so much to read ...

[Thelgord]

So I have been reading, a lot ...

There are so many options. MorphOS, AmigaOS4, AROS, classic hardware, powermacs, emulators (I even found a distro for Rasberi Pi) , FGPA boards, AmigaOne (really expensive) ...

This is going to take time to sort out as I would really like to do this once, rather than going through 40 options that just don't quite work.

I really appreciate all the input. You have given me a lot read, and a lot to think about.

[Thelgord]

Wow. I didn't expect this thread to blow up like this. To clarify a few things:

The $200 is a target budget. I have no problems paying for tech toys, I buy a lot of Apple products. Not bragging, just my choice over windows.

I am looking to create a distraction free work space, and not use my Mac's (I have a few of them) as they are already used for other things, to include regular daily use and one is a local server.

Once I found out Amiga was still kicking, I got very excited. Even with as old as it is, you can't get a smaller OS that can do what Amiga OS can. Sure you can strip down a linux system to fit on a floppy, but what do you really get? I love the Amiga, and it will always have a place in my heart.

Having sad that, it has been a very long time since I have played around with an Amiga. At this point I am not prepared to drop $1k+ on a system unless I know it will fit the bill. If I can get something setup, learn the new software, and integrate it into the way I like to work, great!

If it doesn't work out, I don't want to have spent $1k+ on a machine that will be relegated playing 20 year old games and then sit in a closet if I get bored with it.

If I can work an Amiga into my setup, then I will see about upgrading to a shiny new one. To give you guys/gals an idea of how busy my life can get, I have been typing this out for nearly an hour now as my phone won't stop blowing up because of work, which requires me to look at emails, which then require responses, then there is a BBQ next weekend at my house, so people are texting for that, my son is visiting from the west coast (and is apparently out of work),  the list just goes on. It's gets very frustrating.

When I write, I want complete solitude. Just me, a set of head phones, and a beer. It is my escape from my normal life. It is why I setup my writing station in a large closet instead of the spare bedroom turned office.

It was mentioned in this thread about setting up a second user account on my Mac, which is a good idea. However, the temptation to "connect" is still there. The great thing about Apple products is they are all connected together. The horrible thing about Apple products is they are all connected together. Creating a new account still requires you to sign in with an AppleID, and a guest account is so limited that no real work can done without a great deal of frustration. I have been down that road, which is why the idea of the Amiga appeals to me.

Sure I can get a linux system up running for less than $100, I could probably even get an older windows XP machine for around the same price. The problem is, I like the Amiga, and I am trying to find a way to make it work. Yes, it's a bit more of a headache, yes it's an old OS, and yes there are cheaper ways to do what I am trying to do.

So, in effort to keep at least initial cost down, I have decided for my first foray into the Amiga in around 20 years, that I will go the emulation route on a Raspberry Pi and see if I get OS 4.1 to work with it. This has a number advantages, besides keeping cost low. It will also allow me to use Cinnamon Writer so I can have modern document compatibility, it has a PDF viewer (though I don't know yet how good it is yet), and a functional web browser. The pdf viewer and web browser I can use for research. Even if it runs slow(ish) that will be fine until I can get the kinks of working with AmigaOS worked out. If I like the workflow well enough, then in a few months (maybe a year) I can plop down the money for a X5000 or whatever is on the horizon.

If I can't get 4.1 to work with the Raspberry Pi, I know I can get 3.1 to work with it, and I will need to workout different issues such as document file types and the like. Either way, I can still play a number of games that are just a lot of fun when I want to be distracted.

I do appreciate everyone's help and advice, and I thank you all. It's good to know that there are still people out there to keep this alive, even when people like myself gave up on it more than a decade ago. I'm glad to be back.

[Thelgord]

History is written by the winner.

:laughing:

[Thelgord]

Emulation would be the ideal way for you to get back into it (although emulation of OS4 is kind of limited and a bit painful).

That is what I was thinking. Honestly, I think I will be fine, at least for now, with 3.1. While I do intend to try to make this work as viable solution for real work, I have no delusions about the limitations of a 16bit OS in a 64 bit world.

[Thelgord]

If a user isn't going to try AROS because it's "Always in BETA" or a research OS then there's a good chance they would never try it to begin with.   As for some people using the BETA term to try to discredit the achievements of the developers.   I guess that comes down to how petty that person is in the first place.

In the end who cares.

I can sum up this thread like this.

AmigaONE is the only NEW Amiga.  (MorphOS and AROS are fakes and should be disposed of)

MorphOS developers can walk on water!!!!

Well AROS is the cheapest!

AmigaOS4 is the pure descendant of the code! :angel:

Classic hardware is all dying!

FPGA isn't real!

Emulation is evil.

Just like every other thread in the last 17 years.

Now that's funny

[Thelgord]

It's also the reason I barely post anymore.   Typically I will only post now and then about the development status of Final Writer.

Are you the developer then?

[Thelgord]

Thanks! Off to bed now, get my 5 hours of sleep before hitting my "day" again.

[Thelgord]

You know that you can pretty much emulate anything these days. Some you can even run from a browser. I have a simple view about emulation [ my view ]... it's like food without taste. I've always held a personal opinion [ my opinion ] that you should participate and not emulate. Some say that the only way the OS can survive is through emulation. I guess that is the issue... whether you are supporting the OS or the Amiga... The 'heart' or the 'machine'. For me its about the machine.

For those seriously keen then simply run a watch on Ebay. Just get the emails on kit and check each day. Put in a nominal bid and expect to fail. But you never know you may be lucky. Get something broken and mend it. Again have it as work in progress and maybe spend like forever fixing it. If you seriously love the Amiga then it really is a rewarding challenge. If however you are simply trying to feed the desire to relive your past becasue of an age issue then yeh... get an emulator. That way you can pretend your using and Amiga, or an Acorn, or a C64.

Today I switched on my Amiga. Not just one but quite a few. I really enjoy my Amigas, always have. And if the house burnt down tomorrow I would not rest until I had replaced them all. You either use an Amiga or you think you do. I have never been confused on that matter.

To quote .... ' A thing of beauty is a joy forever '.

And here comes the purists.

In the end who cares.

I can sum up this thread like this.

AmigaONE is the only NEW Amiga. (MorphOS and AROS are fakes and should be disposed of)

MorphOS developers can walk on water!!!!

Well AROS is the cheapest!

AmigaOS4 is the pure descendant of the code!

Classic hardware is all dying!

FPGA isn't real!

Emulation is evil.

Just like every other thread in the last 17 years.

Also well said...