What's the Deal With CommodoreUSA?

[MiAmigo]

The raspberry pi's success shows that a small, low resource computer with different architecture than the mainstream can be very profitable.

The problem is, designing, prototyping and manufacturing costs a great deal, in
both time and resources. CUSA isn't going to actually invest a great deal of
time or resources into such a venture.

Dumping linux on a standard pc with CUSA wallpapers is alot easier. But go
try and source parts to build 100's of pcs the same way. Even that is not easy.

I...wouldn't call it a success just yet, more time is needed. They had some serious launch problems, and shipping was nightmarish. If these types of trends continue, they could go the way of the do-do bird...or Commodore.

And, again, its just a PC, a really small PC.

[MiAmigo]

No it isn't. It's an ARM SoC-based system, look it up. It is running Linux, but there is at least a RISC OS port underway, efforts to get AROS running are in progress (though last I checked it's still running it from a Linux base,) and who knows what else will happen in the future...

I actually have a couple sitting underneath my 'Next Project' pile. I was one of the first to sign up for pre-shipping at the beginning of the year. Who knows? If I ever get done repairing and tweaking my various PCs, notebooks, A2000s, A500s and 64s, I may even get to it. :hammer:

ON THE OTHER HAND, I still think that its possible to do a completely new roll-out of an alternative system, based on new hardware and software. Its going to happen, whether its an Amiga reboot, or not.

For every 10 people who say 'It can't be done', there are always a few who somehow make the impossible possible and they make it work. Most successful companies start out that way - by creating their own niche and then creating the demand.

[MiAmigo]

I'm not arguing that - I'm just saying that calling the Pi a "small PC" is doing a disservice to the scope, direction, and goals of the whole project.

Point taken.

[MiAmigo]

There are a number of chip manufactuers.  All you really need to design a chip is some cad software.  Parallax uses a program called Laker and the license for it is something like $45K or so but the program has its limits and needs to be upgraded.

Here are a list of chip makers:

http://www.edn-europe.com/microdirectory.asp

Western Design Center is still in business but Amiga users can't really prove they're interested because you don't have dedicated users towards building a new machine, you don't have a forum or forum resources devoted to building a new machine, etc.

There are a lot of foundries overseas where companies like Microchip and Ti make their chips.  You all just don't know off the top of your heads because you haven't spent enough time looking for them.  Cars have 23 computers in them or more so someone overseas is making them and if you found out who they are, they could make your chips for you.

Any mods want to have a discussion?

That's very interesting! I've often wanted to design my own chips - in software of course - and run simulations of executions. I've also toyed with the idea of designing my own motherboards in the same fashion. I even came up with what I thought was a viable dual-motherboard system. I'd like to know more about this software, for sure!

[MiAmigo]

I'm all for new custom chips and boards, and technologies. Opens up an entire new world of capabilities.

On another note: Didn't know that GVP was still around! Glad to hear it! I wonder what other third-party hardware providers for the Amiga are still kicking? I know Newtek is still in existence, but who else?

And what of the Amiga's original developers and system programmers?