What is MorphOS - a brief introduction for users familiar with C= Amiga

[zylesea]

Since I discovered there are still ppl who don't know what MorphOS actually is, I wrote a brieft introduction (it's just a 5 minute read) for those already familiar with Amiga to get a first idea about it. Some screen shots provide additional information.
Find it here: http://via.i-networx.de/wim.htm

[zylesea]

I thought I'd help out with a screenshot showing MorphOS running on my new 396Mhz Efika, it's so fast and responsive:

IIRC it actually is 400MHz precisely. But the Openfirmware miscalculates the value slightly and hence is reporting the 396 MHz. But it is a nice maschine anyway, I like mine.

[zylesea]

@ Cammy

While that's a nice screenshot, to be honest it just looks like the kind of thing I see on my Mac running OSX, you're good a making videos about the Amiga is there any chance please that you could make a short video of MorphOS running actual Amiga progs...

Thank to zylesea and his MorphOS guide for numpties like me I now have quite a good understanding of just what MorphOS actually is and is capable of, a nice wee video of MorphOS actually running some Amiga apps would top this off for folk like me who don't really know much about MorphOS...

Cheers

Franko

I was considering setting up an acont on youtube. Maybe I'll do and add a video, too. Anyway, have you seen the wordprocessor screenshot alreay I just added: Wordworth, Amiga Writer and google docs - all on one screen:

[zylesea]

Nice introduction.  What is the bundled browser - OWB?  

I see ebay currently have mac mini g4's (~£120) and dual CPU power mac's (~£80) - so might be worth investigating!

The browser is OWB by Fab. Current relase is 1.11, it is based on webkit and shares more or less only the name with other OWB incarnations. Very useful. Youtube works well, as do many google services (unfortunately streetview doesn't work).

[zylesea]

So googledocs works fine then?

I havent put off the idea, but if I am going to shell out for a "new" amiga system, it must have compatibility with modern office formats to some extent, so that'd be nice.

Any way to create PDF files? (does google docs do this?)

Google doc provides export to pdf, .doc., .odt, .rtf, .html. All in all it works rather well.

PowerPC macs dont seem super cheap atm on craigs list. WHats the specs people would recommend for Morph OS? I see powermacs are supported and most of those are in the 500 ghz range it seems, whereas the mac minis seem a lot beefier.

I think 1Ghz is enough for most things. But there are a few hings where even mor cpu power is required (720p video). I think 720p requires 1.42 GHz at least.

How much fuss is installation?

I assume full support for USB 2, gamepads etc ?

installation takes a few minutes only. The installation is hassleless requires no extra booting in between.
usb 2.0 is supported, but no isochronous mode though (e.g.usb sound cards).

For apps that can install and run natively, does this work from adf or can I copy an installation from a real amiga or?

Examples of popular applications that will work? (final writer 97, Dpaint etc)

multiple screens / screen dragging?

.info files?

Dumb question maybe but wireless support?

.adfs are used for uae only, you better install straightly from cd, usb, network or an attached hdd.
DPaint V is said to work, DPIV not. Finalwriter works, TV-Paint works, Photogenics works.
Multiple screens work as well, screen dragging is not supported (though there is a 3rd party tool, but it is rather of little benefit).
icons are stored as .info files. sysem is compatible to original icons, new icons, glow icons. MorphOS preferred icons are png icons though.
WLAN is not really supported, best work around is a eth/WLAN adapter.

[zylesea]

Uhm.. what would you run on Efika, if not MorphOS?

QUOTE]

For some reason I was thinking efika was like sam and ran os4.1 or linux but haven't really read much about it in a long time. Wonder why samiga can't run morphos?

Most Efika 5200B will probably be used as headless devices that run some Linux. If you are interested in MorphOS an Efika is only a suggestion if the benefit of Efika (very small and *very* low energy) is really a matter. It is a maschine for tinkering not so much for easy and intensive usage.
I have an Efika and a Mac mini G4 (and a Peg) - while I like my Efika and use it quite a lot there are *worlds* between them.
Efika is good for a lot of stuff, but the 128 MB RAM *are* an issue.
I think Efika is a great product, really. But rather good for special things like my eframe: http://via.i-networx.de/eframe/eframe.htm. For the similar money you'll get an eMac G4 or Powermac G4.
In short: For tinkering - Efika, for just using - some G4 Mac.

[zylesea]

Looks like Mac and Vista had sex.... :roflmao:

Can I make it look like KS/WB 1.3? If I can then I might try it.

Yes you can. While I don't have a link at hand, there is a 1.3 skin somewhere ravialbale. It can really look as you want, it is full skinable.