Genesi: Update regarding the change to the Pegasos-II

[downix]

@Herewegoagain

Um... Be changed directions, hence why they had so many problems.  Genesi already makes embedded internet-ready devices.  So making an STB is a logical bridge between their ComCam, Cashboy and Pegasos product lineups.

A good business decision, especially since the risk is not on Genesi's head as they are doing it under contract.

[downix]

I don't suppose you can substantiate this claim?

I offered to Mike Bouma on the other thread to have a 3rd party pul some benchmarks, provided someone is willing to lend their A1 to the cause... and have had no takers so far.  Got plenty of Pegasos owners willing to run the benchmarks so far tho.

[downix]

MorphOS is illegal.

I'm sick of this statement...

If you've got evidence, show it.  Otherwise shut up already.  

This whole "MorphOS is illegal" crap started because of a non-programmer stating that he did not know how someone could clone an OS without having the original source.  Well, hate to break it to you, but more than one project has done just this.  

So, put up or shut up.  This song is loosing it's tune.

[downix]

Either MorphOS is illegal with Amiga code, or MorphOS is an Amiga emulator.

How about c)  None of the abova.

MorphOS is a clone, like AROS is.  AROS is hardly an emulator, I can assure you.  Neither is OpenBeOS an emulator of BeOS.  Neither is Linux an emulator of UNIX System 5 Release 4.

These OS's are CLONES.  They duplicate a systems API's in order to allow them to run the applications either natively or recompiled.  Cloning is common, cloning is good.  Even AmigaOS built on TripOS, an old UNIX clone.  So you're claiming that AmigaOS is illegal and had to be using AT&T UNIX source code just to exist now, by that arguement.

[downix]

And how would you duplicate code that you've never looked at?

You couldn't.  Fortunately, nobody ever claimed they duplicated code, they duplicated the API.

And guess what, they *have* seen the API?  Wanna know where?  Huh?  Huh?

How about the Autodocs?  The RKM's?  Books published either by Commodore or with Commodores permission.

So yes, they saw the API's, and duplicated them that way.   I don't see any source involved here.  Only books, tons of books.

[downix]

@JoannaK

Very cool.  I've always wanted to meet Mr. Stallman, but never had the opportunity.  My friend YG (from the Freedom CPU org) met him some years back.  
(see some pictures from his trip to boston here:  http://www.mime.univ-paris8.fr/~whygee/f-cpu.html#boston and yes, that is my car sorry to say)

[downix]

@everyone

Before you consider "ready for IBM" good news, please read the legal definition of what the Ready for IBM ceritifcation is.

I might point out choice segments, such as:

The material presented here is based on information obtained from the software provider. No effort has been made to independently verify the accuracy of the information, including any information relating to the functions, quality, and performance of the provider's products or services as well as the availability date.

To repeat NO EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION.  Mai submitted a spec sheet on the Articia, and it fit the definition by the IBM rulebook.  

So please, don't show this IBM "Ceritifcation" again, as it's not a ceritification at all, but just a product listing in a catelog stating that according to the whitepapers, it will work with a singular specific IBM microprocessor, the 750FX.  In short, it says to the effect of buyer beware.

[downix]

btw. Now it's a perfect chance for Genesi to include a rom socket for AOS4 enabler/dongle in the peg2. And perhaps a ROM switcher in the BIOS/bootROM.

What BIOS?  The BootROM you're talking about is the very thing you're talking about changing.  The Teron and Pegasos use two different BootROM mechanisms.  Teron's use Hyperions new PPCBoot system while Pegasos uses the industry standard OpenFirmware approach.  To allow the Pegasos to use the A1 dongle you'd break the design, resulting in the cards you've carefully elected to install no longer operating in their prescribed manner.

You see, OpenFirmware is a similar concept to AutoConfig, with an OS-neutral basic configuration driver incorporated into the ROM on both the motherboard and the peripheral cards.  This provides a near complete HAL to allow the Operating Systems using it to streamline the hardware validation process and thereby improve system performance.  The OF tackles all of this, including a much improved plug n play system on par with that of the original Amiga.

PPCBoot, from what I've read, appears to utilize the x86 boot ROM's on most cards to provide a crude portmap of the card.  The OS still must take care of the I/O arbitration, which cards get what resources, mapping out the system call layout, etc.  While on the surface, being able to utilize the x86 card ROM's is good in that you don't require an OF compatable card, the end result is more overhead for any operating systems utilizing it.

Of course, you already knew this, right?