Open source PPC laptop bounty

[nicholas]

Given that this is supposed to be an "open source" laptop how did you manage to get licenses to use Radeon and PPC/Altivec ? Last time i checked these were proprietary. If the only open source component is Linux , whats the point ? might as well stick with Intel , which also runs Linux ? This sounds like making a rod for your own back.

Since when has anyone needed a "licence" to buy an IC and use it?

[nicholas]

I think you are missing the point . The architecture of the chips is not open. Can you supply complete schematics for the GPU and CPU? I think not.

Why do they need to?

Schematics and everything you need to make your own laptop will be open, there are no laptops with Intel chips that are open that I know of.

https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2016/10/about-open-source-hardware/

If you want an CPU with open schematics then start a bounty for a RISC-V laptop.

[nicholas]

You must first build the computer and test it working with software in order to release the full design as Open Source...

At this moment the team almost decided the hardware components they want to use, ACube helped them to find the correct chip parts.

Now it is the moment to realize the first circuitry design and then assemble it for real in a PCB mainboard prototype.

You need weeks of hard job at Electronic CAD designing, and then hard work at manufacturing. This all requires money to repay the efforts. Or you believe a computer builds it all by itself?


If you want to help donating you are welcome.

If you think it is a fraud then stay on your own.


In the worst scenario that this project will remain just a Linux project, at least ACube will acquire the necessary know-how to realize a LapTop.

In the best scenario the Linux Laptop will be built and then Amiga Software Houses (Hyperion already announced they follow with interest this laptop project) will be free to decide to port their Operating System on it, and we will obtain brand new hardware up-to-date with modern specifications.

It is up to you decide.

If you want you may just donate only a single dollar.

I think you should have enough money to risk just a single dollar.

Much as I'm looking forward to running OS4 on my PowerBook a modern higher specced laptop for OS4 and/or MorphOS would be even better.

[nicholas]

From what you say, it is clear that you never used a computer running AOS4.1  natively. I am using both extensively and, even if I appreciate the possibility to run (but not to enjoy) AOS4.1 on WinUAE on my laptop, I would NEVER put the two options on the same level from the user experience point-of-view.
The biggest difference is made by 2D compositing, 3D OpenGL ES, and Warp3D Nova (and old Warp3D is coming too), all hardware accelerated by out-of-the-shelf modern Radeon GPUs, a quantum leap forward in the right direction.

It's only a matter of time before UAE pass through drivers are made for those things.

Old hat Radeon vs 1080i. Which will perform better?

[nicholas]

Really looking forward to it!

However, I must admit I don't see it coming anytime soon, at least what, 5 to 10 years? Will it have the same performance as a native solution, I very much doubt it.

Personally, I am sick of waiting, and by supporting this PPC notebook project is the only thing I can do to (finger crossed) obtain a notebook that can give me the same user experience I have when I use my AOS4.1 machine, with all the doubts that comes with it (e.g. will it be AOS4.1 be ported to it, well, most probably yes).

This notebook is cool because it's different and I might get one myself because I like new toys but I wonder how much itb would cost to pay someone to write a pass through driver for UAE?

I'd wager it'd be much less than what's needed to fund a whole computer to be designed and manufactured. On the latest generation nvidia or radeon hardware it'd be faster than a native driver for an old RadeonHD too I reckon.