Thoughts on the A1Lite and mainstream markets

[dammy]

by Prmetime on 2003/11/17 9:14:10

Getting back to the original question of this thread, yes I do think the A1 lite will be commercially viable.

Unless they can make it cost competive  with the other mini-itx mobos, it's DOA.  OS4's market is way too tiny to support it and A1.  Yes, it could be sold to Linux/BSD guys, but those folks will go the cheapest route.

On top of that, it is a very viable set up for anyone wanting to do a kiosk type setup. It should also be very stable and inexpensive to run in the long term. So yes, I think the A1 Lite is a viable machine for the market.

Cutting OS4's cost out of the mini-A1, for Kiosk, does it still be competitive with VIA's
MiniITX? I don't think so with the latter running all sorts of *nix and AROS.

Dammy

[dammy]

by Karlos on 2003/11/18 21:13:37

Yes, but it doesnt matter a rats bumhole if x86 cant run OS4 / MOS, does it?

Not but it runs AROS just fine.

Dammy

[dammy]

by Karlos on 2003/11/19 0:00:41

@Dammy

Which, IIRC is only at best sourcecode level compatible with 3.x for now

-edit-

OS4 and MOS will evlove their own way as will AROS, do doubt. I dont really forsee compatibility improving over time.

MOS and AROS share a fair amount of code so developement between the two should be fairly easy to do.  Any which way you slice it, AROS will continue to run on x86 or x86-64.  So there is indeed a x86 option for Amiga fans.

Dammy

[dammy]

by Wolfe on 2003/11/19 1:44:40

nitially it will not be as cheap - no way, but that doesn't mean it will be DOA.

So outside of a thousand or so Amiga Inc fans, who is going to buy it?  It's a luxiary item in a time when IT folks are not comfortable spending that type of money on a novelity.

he C3 chip is a wimp in comparison to any G4. Those who want small and performance are not even looking at Via's board. And the P4 on the MicroATX still sucks more power and generates a lot of "HEAT". The Linux/BSD guys will go the route that best supports their goals.

True, C3 isn't that great horsepower wise, M-Pentium is and as is Transmeta.  Yeah, you can go G4, but that puppy needs either a fan or heatpipe just like the AMD or Intel dekstop CPUs.  It really depends on what your planning to use it for.  Run AROS, the sub $100 VIA C3 mobos should be more then powerful enough.  Run a firewall, not a problem for sub $100 mobo to do.  Run Apache on Linux, shouldn't be much of a problem.  As I've said previously, the *nix guys wil go for something cheap and make it work nicely.

Dammy

[dammy]

by Wolfe on 2003/11/19 6:32:34

I think there is a market for the A1Lite with or without Amiga OS4. Small, powerfull and capable of being a full desktop computer solution in a tiny package. Something a C3 is not really suited for. Plus an upgradeable CPU.

But can it compete with these ?  That's the big question, if you want a real desktop in a small package.

Aros - Not ready for prime time -Yet !

Atleast it's out now for enjoyment, unlike OS4.

Yes, but the above is a limited use system. Try playing a cool game on one!

Soon.  :-D

Dammy

[dammy]

by Wolfe on 2003/11/19 14:17:55

I want an alternative to the "PC" offerings. Just because it's cheaper doesn't mean its the better way to go. If I have to pay a little more initially to get a new direction for idea's not swallowed up by M$ going, I will do it. Provided their is some bang for my buck.

Just because it's different and more expensive doesn't mean it's going to be better either.  As far as M$, I fail to understand this phobia tied into x86 when M$ was for a reasonable period tied to PPC and M$ appears to be porting W2K/XBoX to PPC as well.  Shouldn't you also be running and screaming away from PPC as well if your going to be consistant?  

Dammy