Floid wrote:
Still, with the PowerPC version wrapped up and running, I imagine it'd be cheaper and more profitable to go out and design some PPC hardware and sell it 'immediately' than to shelf everything and declare x86 the new standard just in time to delay things even longer.
That makes no sense!! you basicly just said it's easier to fix something in hardware than it is in software!
Which do you think is easier and cheaper?
1) Get a standard PC, any PC, no special requirements... just get the cheapest POS from Dell. Write a new HAL, just use parts of AROS, change a compiler option... hit enter. Spend a couple of weeks getting AOS4 to compile.. sell.
2) Choose a memory controller chip that is compatible with one of the current PPC compatible chips... the 7447 looks like a good option. Design a Motherboard around this memory controller, run out a detailed spec of the components you want to use,do some prototyping. Spend the next few weeks reworking and making a few more prototypes. Once that works, get an FCC licence... go back to the design rework it to meet the FCC... run a few more prototypes, and work out a few more bugs, ensure that the suppliers can meet the quantities you need at the specification for all the components you use. If not, go back to the design stage and rework it... more prototypes... once that's done. Find a manufacturer that will be able to meet your order within a resonable timeframe, at a price which you can still sell and make a profit... rewrite the AOS4 HAL to usethe new memory controller... spend a week or so getting it to work... sell.
