OS4 moves to x86. What happens next?

[WolfToTheMoon]

I don't see the average x86 user wanting to pay for AmigaOS unless it's much superior to others.  What will AmigaOS get people on x86 that they cannot get for free with other OS?  So it's really "just" the current Amiga users that will find the easier route (x86) to using OS4?  Is that the main point here?

Well, the same could be said about MorphOS... why would you run it next to Mac OS which is a superior OS in every way.

Listening to Hyperion guys at Amiwest today I think they're firmly set to remain a hobbyist market with the AmigaOS and AmigaONE brands. They do not even want to market outside of the community(by their own words, if I haven't got something wrong, the stream was a little laggy at first). So, there's really no point in asking about average x86 users... better ask yourself why would a average AmigaOS user want with a x86 hardware? The answers are... it's cheap, fast and it's plentiful.
How bout a x86 AmigaONE X1000 for 1000$ instead of 3000$+ offering the same speed and functionality...

But, I think it's too late for that. AROS is too strong today and I think Hyperion would find it hard to justify paying for x86 OS4 next to AROS today. Had it been done 2-3 years ago it would have been possible.

[WolfToTheMoon]

This isn't the first time I've read this, recently in fact I've seen it repeated. I don't know if it is true.

Well, compared to MorphOS or AOS4 it is still probably "crude" in some areas, but then again, in some it is ahead. But with a new GUI(planned) and some serious beta testing to iron out some bugs, I think few would opt to pay for a very similar OS just for the sake of The Name.

[WolfToTheMoon]

Out of curiosity if the x1000 used x86 instead of PPC then how much could we expect to pay for it? How much money would i expect to save? This is theoretical and not taking into consideration hyperion or amigainc licenses or whatever...

If we take XMOS out of the picture and compare performancePPC vs performancex86, I'd say you would pay 4-5 times less(if X1000 price is somewhere around 2000 euros, which is likely) for hardware + AOS4 license. With XMOS included, I'd say half as much, but that's probably guessing wildly.

[WolfToTheMoon]

I'd say the first estimate is accurate. A full sized ATX motherboard with two PCIe X16 slots (to match the X1000) would raise the price slightly so 500 EUR is reasonable.

But the second estimates a little high. XMOS processors are a low cost item. If you have to have it on board, then yes its going to cost more because you're going to have to produce a custom motherboard. But what's wrong with an X?MOS plug in expansion card (then you only need the card).

Still better yet, stick with the first solution because XMOS is only really suited to hacking.

Actually, I overestimated PA6T performance... An even lower price may be possible, but let's stick to 500 euros for the entire system without the monitor. That's, I think, very realistic.

[WolfToTheMoon]

and then *if* they decide to do a switch, do it down the line if they have something that might actually compete with other x86 OS's for non-Amiga users.

Down the line? IMHO, X1000 will probably be the last OS4 PPC AmigaOne... if it ever happens, that is. And Sam460 is unlikely to keep the fan base going, especially priced the way it is. The only way forward might be the Classics market(with PPC acc cards), which is both bigger and more stable. And surprise, surprise... OS 4.1 is coming for the Classics. Curious timing, would you say? Especially in the light of previous discussions that there will not be a OS 4.1 for 68k systems...

But it would be hard to blame Hyperion for this. The death warrant for the amigaOS and PPC configuration was signed a long way ago.