A-EON Technology Acquires Amiga.org

[Niding]

Considering the relativly large Classic Hardware inventory Amigakit got in their shop I would find it very unlikely that that aspect of the community will be "disciminated".
Considering the content of Trevors blog and Amigakits wide array of goods Id say they are quite balanced in their intrest of Classic+NG.

Im puzzled by these imaginary "lines in the sand" between the "camps" that the community insist are drawn up.

Or maybe Im more like Epsilon; glass half full kinda type.

[Niding]

Here in Germany you can reduce profit (and thus taxes) when you buy something company-related (f.e. a new computer, software, something for the office, new machines), the only question is if you can do it immediately the full sum or parts of the sum in a couple of years). I assume that it is the same where you live and I also assume that a-eon is a company.

Out of curiosity;

Is that the sum of the purchase of this site, or does it also include the running cost of the site?

If its "just the purchase" that is covered in the tax return, then the donations can be attributed to the "running cost"?

Either way; donations is a voulenteery thing, but transparency on the issue will obviously ease minds.

Overall comments; Trevors Blog about what Aeon, Amigakit and their associates are doing, planning and dreaming about has been from my point of view been quite refreshing.
Even small comments about development status is very good to see. Update(s) about hardware/software that might have been expected to be finished by X date, but due to "complexity" or whatever reason is delayed is helpful.
Ofcourse there is a limit to how often and much a few people can keep the info flow going when they have their hands full with developing a buissniss.

The point is; keep doing what you have been done so far. Keep the info flow coming, be it thru the blog or assosiated forum(s).

[Niding]

User orientated Tutorials might have a chance, there are many good programs with no informations left. Regarding programming tutorials I fear there are not enough people starting to learn programming. Those who are still left are experienced and do not need such informations. At best they have specific questions, like specific problems with MUI/Zune/Reaction or a problem with certain libraries.

In my own distribution I have f.e. Wildfire, Real3D, Ignition, SoundFX and so on. If you look for user orientated tutorials in the web nothing.

I suspect that a fair share of the new breed of programmers go directly into the "app" aspect of it?

When it comes to detailed tutorials they have been hard to find until very lately.

In my opinion Photons Amiga Hardware Programming series on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p83QUZ1-P10

Is the perfect example about how to do that aspect of tutorials. Is extremely detailed and easy to grasp, plus you can go back and rewatch it over and over. Simply amazing piece of work.
He also got a hopepage; http://coppershade.org/

When it comes to Hardware/Software reviews; Epsilons take on it is as amazing as Photons coding tutorials. Detailed, step by step and basically spoonfeeding "amiga dummies" like me.

http://classicamiga.blogspot.com.au/
http://amigax1000.blogspot.com.au/

Thats the standard Aeon/Amigakit should aim for imho, but obviously it takes an incredible amount of work to pull it off.

[Niding]

@OlafS3

Its the tone of the post(s) tho. Its quite negativly loaded.

I personally have issues with the cost vs performance ratio myself (performance includes drivers, software in general etc), but Im not going to jump up and down calling it a failure.
And with regards to utilizing the hardware, you can always go the Linux route (yes there are cheaper hardware options if thats the case)

Trevor and Matthew are doing what most of us dont;
They have a vision and the energy and will to follow thru. Its easy to sit back and do nothing (beyond post negativly).
For x amount of years there was very little hardware development, and people where griping over that fact.
Then someone dares to step forward and follow their vision of what OS4 and the associated hardware should be, and we do our best to discourage them. Great!

We might or might not share the vision they have, but I for one are impressed with their determination and will to see their project(s) thru.

OS4 NG and Classic Amiga need more people like them!

Edit; Amigakit; I just read your last post and will bow out of this thread now

[Niding]

Im not going to speak on behalf of Amigakit and what they think of competition, cause I have no idea in that regard.

But;
Yes there is a relativly limited customerbase, so being very active on the market is a good way to conduct buissniss.
As a enduser I for the most part have a few requirements to a vedor/shop;

1) Ease of use/web front
Amigakits shop/inventory list could use some tidying up. Its not very easy to find stuff, but more often than not using their search function fixes the issue. If everything fails, search for the product and add the shopname in a searchengine. But there are room for improvements.

2) Reliable delivery
After 1 or 2 orders you get a clear impression wether or not you can trust the vendor.
So far they have not dissapointed me, so I have had little reason to look elsewhere.
Customers are often quite loyal once they find a vendor they feel comfortable with, as long as the pricing isnt far off competition.

3) Being able to get in touch with vendor
So far Ive gotten replies from Amigakit within relativly short time when Ive queried.

Ive known of Amigakit for a long time because Matthew is relativly active on the forum. Visibility is important in buissniss.
The company got a good name. Its easy to find by a quick search. So that was a smart move.

I find it hard to fault a  company for wanting to maximise their turnover/buissniss thru good customer service.
I do see your point it might create a monopoly situation, but I find the streamlining of service Amigakit is developing as a needed level of professionalism that this platform desperatly need (be it NG or Classic).

Obviously I hope other vendors manage to create enough buissniss to justify their efforts on the Amiga platform.

[Niding]

I hope, and expect that too OlafS3.

Personally Im quite conservative when it comes to what vendor I use.

For example, there are certain airlines I WILL not fly with out of principle because of their trackrecord with regards to how they treat their employees (I work in the industry, so I get some inside info etc).
And, within reason, I try my hardest to use local stores around where I live to atleast do my part in keeping them alive.

Same will apply to amiga.org and Amigakit. If I sense that alternative platforms are being systematically shut out, I will start to look for alternative vendors.

Leffmans point about amiga.org being the main port for returning and new users is very much true tho.
Funnily enough I do find English Amiga Board to be the most alive, informative and mature.
I guess people that have been on the "amigascene" for a while gravitate towards that forum as they become aware of it because of the friendly and helpful tone.