New Protracker - your input is welcome

[Kay]

:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D

Yay!!! Thank you for doing this. This is just what the new Amigas need: classic software freshened up. Imagine an old ex-user, thinking that the platform is completely dead, and then he sees PROTRACKER, in a new version running on a high resoltion screen. Okay, not a killer app on its own maybe, but it should send out a really positive message, and Protracker is a very recognizeable piece of software. I think it will be very good for the Amiga's "product identity".

Anyway, this is great news. I made a few modules in the old days. They were kind of crap, but it was great fun. Stuff I want the most in the new version:
*OS friendliness, in particular, OS4+AmigaOne friendliness.
*MIDI support. I wanna use my keyboard!!!
*Sorry if I am clueless, but: One of the things that annoyed me a bit when working with samples was that their length was altered when played at different frequencies (ie different tones). If there is any way of altering the frequency without altering the length, I want it implemented! :-)

Good luck! I really hope you succeed! :-D

Kay

[Kay]

> But why do people always only mention AOS 4 ?
> MOS is as amiga-ish as OS 4 and at least as

Damn, you just had to ask, didnt you? ;-) Well, okay, I'll answer why I didn't mention MOS: While it might be almost as "Amiga-ish" as AmigaOS, it is significantly less "Amiga" than AmigaOS. I might have had an interest in it because of its compatibility with old Amiga software, if it wasn't for the fact that there is a real continuation of AmigaOS in the pipeline. As things stand today, however, it is more or less irrelevant to me. Thus I don't advocate it any more than I advocate Linux, Windows, QNX, BeOS, MacOS, or any other OS. I leave that to the people who care about it (like you).

Kay

[Kay]

> However, I really think it's more a "name" issue.

To some extent, that is correct. I believe that having the trademark will give AmigaOS an advantage in terms of expanding the market. "MorphOS" means nothing to people outside the current community, whilst "AmigaOS" does. So while the products may have similar features, I believe AmigaOS to have more potential. Since they are to some extent competing for the same market, supporting the one with the greatest chance of survival makes sense (to me, at least). Other advantages in this respect is the fact that AInc has more than one leg to stand on. AFAIK, BPlan has the Pegasos and MOS. Their survival will most likely depend on these two (closely related) products. AInc has the DE, and has recently landed a deal with MS. Additionally, even if AInc should go out of business, Hyperion would be able to develop AmigaOS4.x.

Another reason why I support AmigaOS4, is that I have considerable faith and sympathy for the people behind it. Hyperion has delivered top-notch products in recent years (thus the faith), and has done so while subsidising their Amiga development with earnings made in other markets (thus the sympathy). Additionally, there are AFAICR a lot of other well-respected Amiga developers contributing.

> because it's not Amiga(c) OS, you wouldn't consider
> it as a new amiga OS ?

Not as long as there is an official effort which I have faith in, no.

Anyway, I wish MOS all the best for the future. If I have judged wrong and MOS turns out to be a resounding success while AmigaOS flops completely, I might very well come over. But as of now, I don't think that is the more likely course of events.

Hope I haven't offended anyone too much...;-)

Kay

[Kay]

> Kay, I understand you. It's nice to see open
> minded people and to be up to discuss things
> in a polite manner.

I'll second that sentiment. Somehow, I had expected this to have turned into a full-scale flamewar by now. :-)

> When there's an amiga expo, thendic now brings
> 50 pegasos, with high quality flat screens, superb
> towers etc, pay the tickets for everyone etc.
> Thendic also have other security related activites.
> I really think they have money. And they have long
> term projects.

Ah, good point. Yes, their show presence has been impressive. And now that you mention it, I think I heard something about them having something to do with security. Well, I guess that gives both companies a good chance of survival then. I'm still not "switching sides", though, but this gives me greater confidence in MOS' future than I had before.

Anyway, as you've pointed out, we're off-topic. Sorry Ruben!

Kay