Hamlet wrote:
1). An explaination of the PPC systems availible (Morphos, Warpos, etc). For example, I've got a CSPPC; is there a way to utilize the PPC with OS 3.9?
The BlizzardPPC/CyberstormPPC cards are dual CPU cards. The whole OS runs on the 68k CPU, while the PowerPC acts as a sort of co-prcessor - it's only used by software that was specially adapted to make use of the PPC CPU.
As AmigaOS 3.x does not know about the PowerPC, there needs to be a kernal running on the PPC CPU, managing its ressources and communicating with the OS. There are two solutions available: ppc.library (usually referred to as "PowerUp", written by the manufacturer of the hardware) and powerpc.library (usually referred to as "WarpUp" or "WarpOS", written by a third party).
Both solutions are incompatible - you can only run one of them at the same time and programms written for WarpOS will not work under PowerUp (and vice versa, of course).
I suggest you use WarpOS, because there's more software available for it, and there is a PowerUp emulation available for it (which enables you to run many PowerUp programms under WarpOS). WarpOS is part of the OS 3.9 distribution (IIRC the installer contains an "install PPC support software" option).
As for software that makes use of the PPC: First install the brilliant "Warp" datatypes by Oliver Roberts (they're shareware now). There are mp3 players (
AmigaAmp) and encoders, movie players (Frogger) anf games (usually commercial or open source ports of 3D Windows titles). Most of the bigger Audio- and GFX application software supports the PPC too.
MorphOS and AmigaOS are completely PPC native operating systems. Both will run AmigaOS 3.x software (as long as it is RTG/RTA compatible), WarpOS software and their own native titles. MorphOS also runs PowerUp software.
2). OS3.9 appearance. How can I make it look better? (Iconpacks, programs, etc). Got a P4 fitted, but there's been some change in this area aswell and magicwb somehow doesn't have the same appeal nowdays =). Don't wanna spend all my free time hunting for Icons, etc. so are there any "out of the box" solutions like mWB once was?
Check Visualprefs and Birdie (these allow some "skinning" of GUI elements), Magic Menu lets you do lots of fancy stuff with your intuition menus.
Nowee usually has some nice "Themes" available, though the site seems to be down right now.
AmiChameleon is a real "Themes manager" (usually you have to adopt myriads of settings yourselfes, AmiChameleon lets you (de-)install complete themes with a simple mouse click). There are themes available from the website.
I'm afraid you're on your own as far as icon packs are concerned: Have fun browsing Aminet's
pix/gicon directory ;-) Additionally, there was a "Glow icons collection" CD available from dealers (at least over here), which had lots of custom glow icons available.
