AmigaOS 4.1 Classic Available To Buy

[amigadave]

I agree, there should be more PCI cards supported under Classic OS4.1, but Hyperion won't allow the Mediator DMA system to work under OS4.x, as they don't like the way it works, if I understand the few words I've had cast my way by Hans and Thomas Joerg-Frieden. (Spelling almost correct I think)

I believe they could allow/support it to work, but they just won't !!



Why they can't work out a way to implement a PCI USB card/device driver system of their own, to plug into the Mediator, with the help of Elbox I just don't understand.

Why isn't there an upgrade option for people who bought Classic OS4.0, seeing as it's only a further development of the Classic OS4.x which was the worst Workbench release ever in my opinion.

Until Hyperion released Classic OS4.0, I had never regretted buying an Amiga OS, but they never improved on its initial release by very much, and then they abandoned those who bought it, to suffer with it without any real comeback.

I've hardly ever used Classic OS4.0, as it is such a poor Workbench release, and you can't use much of the hardware that you can use on OS3.9 on Classic OS4.x.

As yet, I don't see much improvement in OS4.1 that would encourage me to pay the best part of £100 to see a more recent Workbench screen, nicer font system, etc, but not allow me to use the majority of the software/hardware I use uner OS3.9.

When Microsoft update Windows they usually leave most of the features of the last OS available as a compatability option for people who upgrade, but much of that is lost if you opt for Classic OS4.1, as far as I see it.

Hyperion just seem to be on the 'gravy train' at the moment, and once they have enough 'gravy' (money) from the Classic users they may well dump us yet again.

They (Hyperion) offer very little support, and the same goes for ACube, no FAQ either, and where there was mention of SATA PCI cards on the Hyperion BLOG no sign of it in the final Classic OS4.1 release.

I'll stick with my OS3.9 installation at the moment, rather than waste £100 on Classic OS4.1. If reports of it usability change in the future I may reconsider my position but at present that's my decision.

Interesting post above.  I was just inches away from ordering AmigaOS4.1 for Classic last night, while I was ordering my A604 memory expansion from AmigaKit, even though I am a die hard MorphOS2.x user.  MorphOS no longer supports the Phase5 PowerUP boards, as the Development Team has shut down the keyfile registration server long ago and no new work after version 1.4.5 of MorphOS for PowerUP is likely to ever happen, so I thought maybe I would give AmigaOS4.1 for Classic a try.  I strongly disagree with many of Hyperion's past business practices and current policies, but I thought I would put my personal feelings aside and spend the money to finally run AmigaOS4.1 on that expensive Phase5 hardware that I bought so many years ago.

Just before committing to click on the buy button, I came to my senses and stopped myself.  After all, Hyperion had not even provided a clear list of features for AmigaOS4.1 for Classic and I had not yet seen any reviews about its performance.  Then the thoughts about Hyperion and how they operate came back and convinced me that I had made the right choice to NOT purchase AmigaOS4.1 for Classic (at least until I have more time to find out more about it).

So, for all of you who have purchased it, I hope you will use this thread, or any other thread, to give people sitting on the fence the information needed to make a decision.

[amigadave]

Glad you found my comments about Classic OS4.1 noteworthy.

I really don't like to have a go at Hyperion or Classic OS4.1, as I have done, but their actions, or lack of action, and ethics concern me, and not in a good way.

I've tried to keep my OS3.9 Amiga system running on as daily a basis as possible, within the constraints of the hardware, and software's capabilities, but OS4.x so far offers me very very little benefit, and so very many drawbacks that the choice is simple - spend my money on something else for my 68k/PPC Amiga that is actually useful.

I did find your comments interesting, but made my decision not to purchase AmigaOS4.1 prior to reading your post.  I share your concerns about Hyperion's ethical behavior.

I hate to say this, but I think the Amiga community would be better off if everyone involved with AmigaOS lost interest and went away, leaving it to the community to pick up the pieces and merge together all the best parts of AmigaOS3.x, AmigaOS4.x, AROS and MorphOS2.x, into one combined effort, without the ego's and disagreements and past hard feelings and mostly without the greed associated with a few people trying to squeeze a measly few remaining dollars/pounds/euros out of the last few hundred Amiga users on the planet.

AmigaOS will never be a viable commercial product again.  Although I do not agree with people disregarding the rights of others, I do agree with their reasons for thinking that the people/companies still holding on to those intellectual rights, or claiming to own those rights, should let them expire and become public domain.

The Amiga community could hardly do worse than any of the "Real" IP owners have done since the demise of Commodore (or probably even better than Commodore did in its last years.  The only group I really have respect for were working directly for and with Jay Miner).

[amigadave]

@Takemehomegrandma,

I agree with most of your assessment, but would add that many Amiga users are excited about the Natami project precisely for the reasons you stated that they are disappointed with all of the NG Amiga-Like systems.  They see the Natami as a chance for getting an evolved Amiga system, instead of, as you put it, an Orange with a bit, or a lot of Apple flavoring added. ( Edit: #2, In re-reading your post I think this is in line with what you were saying, as I somehow completely missed your inclusion of the Natami project in my first reading of your post, so I think we are on the same page.)

Now, it is yet to be seen if the Natami team will be successful in creating a system and OS improvements that will be generally accepted as an evolved Amiga system, but they appear to have a good chance of succeeding in that regard, if/when they can finally get their ambitious project completed.

Edit:  I would also disagree that "Apple", the company, actually evolved their OS.  They just did a more thorough and complete job of adding the Apple flavor to their Orange when they moved from MacOS9 to MacOSX.