My Review of AmigaKit's Sam460ex Complete System

[tasmanian guy]

Great review.  It has certainly turned me off from buying a Sam460 or any other OS4.0 system.  Talk about over expensive crap!  I'm sorry but others are right, this is not a user friendly system, but a system that is like beta.
 
I'll still with my Amiga 1200 rack (with 68040 now) and for when I need the extra speed, WINUAE.
 
I still have a Macmini for Morphos but can't get an answer on a software compatibilty list for it!
 
Hopefully though prices will come down and the system will improve over time, as I always wanted Amiga to continue in some form or another!

[hooligan]

@Kesa

I must say I also thought you were trolling when I read your post. You may have been sarcastic but it reads exactly the same as many MOS evangelists' serious posts!

My first impression was.. oh no, Eva is back

@mpiva

Thanks for your review, it was a nice reading while zipping morningcoffee. What strikes me as a surprise is that you seem to have pretty much the same things bothering in OS4 as bothered me too.. but that was YEARS ago on a friends AmigaOne. Seems lots of things haven't moved much since then.

[SACC-guy]

@mpiva

Thanks for taking the time and effort on a great point of view review.
IMO your entire review and conclusion was very good.

My one suggestion is for AmigaKit...
Set up and sell the sam460 in a true kit form. Include everything needed to be compatible and easy, but no case.  It would save on shipping.

A complete kit would keep the "it's not compatible" problems out. And upgraded cards could be an option for those with more cash.

Make sure that items that can be "amiga" branded are branded. (extra points)

[mpiva]

I'm sorry but you have misinterpreted what i was trying to say so i will try again

Third, when i said "almighty Morphos" i meant it as sarcasm. I feel in general people consider it a more polished product than AOS4.x so when i said "almighty" it was meant as sarcasm.

Sorry about the accusation. That's the problem with text, sarcasm doesn't come through very well.  Anyway, when MorphOS comes out for PowerBooks I'll probably look into getting one and use that as my portable system. Then I'll be able to compare the two OS's better.

[_ThEcRoW]

@tasmanian_guy
What kind of compatibility problem do you have with your mini?

[runequester]

I must admit the "no sound" part is rather much a surprise. You'd think that shipping an unsupported card wouldn't be a good decision ?

[smerf]

Hi,

@mpiva,

This is exactly what I meant in several of my posts, that you can buy an OS but what good is it if you have no programs i.e. software to support that OS.

Sure these companies can build an OS and put it out to the public to buy, but look at the way Commodore did it, they came out with the magazine called Ahoy!, they developed a software branch that made programs to support their new OS's and then they went to software developers to sell the idea that they need to get on the bandwagon to support their new product line.

I have found all this out with the use of my A1200, I spent $700 for the Blizzard PPC card with the idea to purchase OS 4.0, at that time everyone was talking it up big, well Blizzard has my $700 and Hyperion has quit supporting the A1200. Today I can not find anywhere in the world a OS 4.0 that I can purchase with all the books that tells how to install it, etc. I have 2 games that work with the PPC card, Doom and Quake.   WHOOPIE!

I have tried to warn other people on this site about these facts, but the Amiga fanboys and fanatics said I was a bad influence on support for the Amiga. To all these people I say Money talks, BS walks and that is what I see in a lot of these so called Amiga Developers today BS and I will keep walking away from them until I see support.

Now for your question "What do I do next?" take it from experience,

1  Scan the boards and Aminet daily, looking for software that you can use.
2  See if you can pick up a C compiler, and try to write your own programs. This can be really entertaining.
3. IGNORE all things said on the Amiga.org website by these religious fanatics so that you don't get caught up in their BS excitement, after all they are just looking for someone to buy one of these new systems, so they can see how it is. If anyone pressures you "Ask them what system they have, and are they thinking of buying one"


Enjoy your new system, I have a couple at my house that I am playing with, (Won't say which ones, since some of them where BS Amiga Vapor hardware brought about by various companies" Yes I made some of the same mistakes. Am I sorry "NO" I enjoy using them everyday, I turn them on look at the OS, click on some of the icons and then turn them off. Once in the while I get excitement by finding a program on Aminet, hope this doesn't turn out like that, hopefully Hyperion will bring out some stuff to support their OS and who knows, maybe it will be the new Amiga standard. \

smerf

[smerf]

Haywire

you are going a bit haywire my friend  I agree with you about the os4 development progress over the years for sure. However, talking about the price being high, I dont agree. Yes its extremely high when comparing it to typical marketplace computers. These kind of boards like the Sam, X1000, A1, Peg, etc are exotic hardware. The total cost of ownership is a lot higher for the company. The market is so small that high prices are necessary.
 OS 4 needed a mid high range system and now it has one! I dig the X1000 project but man talk about price. But then again the same principles I wrote above apply so... I guess the price is justified??

@magnetic,

Exotic hardware, software or vaporware, does not really matter. You sound like a person that would buy a automobile with square tires just because I put the name exotic on it. The cost for an ultimate gaming system today is just about in the $3000 to $5000 range, these are the best for rich kids only systems. The systems you and I could afford are in the $500 to $1500 or at a high point $2000 range. (I am assuming that you aren't one of those spoiled filthy rich @holes that can buy things like a Rolls Royce, Maz, etc.) So most people would find it difficult to buy a $1500 machine exotic or not.

Once again it is cheering fanboys that don't look at all the facts, and probably wait for someone else to buy one.

So if the price is justified, why don't you own one, or if you do, why aren't you saying something about your purchase?

For an example: What type and make of computer do you own and use everyday for your computing needs?

If it is an Amiga, do tell please,  how do you use it on the internet?

I only want facts, not theories, not exotic put on the shelf and collect dust products, facts, what can make this purchase useful in my life?

There is an old saying in Pennsyltucky, if someone brings out a car with square tires, but nobody makes square tires, What good is the car?

Please debate my saying

smerf

[mpiva]

I must admit the "no sound" part is rather much a surprise. You'd think that shipping an unsupported card wouldn't be a good decision ?

Really? It shouldn't have been a surprise as it's pretty clearly stated on AmigaKit's product description. Also, I'm not sure where you got the idea that they shipped an unsupported card. All the cards that came with the system are supported. The lack of sound is because of a lack of drivers for the INTEGRATED sound. Even still, those drivers just aren't out YET. I'm sure they'll come, it's just a matter of time.

[runequester]

Really? It shouldn't have been a surprise as it's pretty clearly stated on AmigaKit's product description. Also, I'm not sure where you got the idea that they shipped an unsupported card. All the cards that came with the system are supported. The lack of sound is because of a lack of drivers for the INTEGRATED sound. Even still, those drivers just aren't out YET. I'm sure they'll come, it's just a matter of time.

ah okay, I misunderstood. Thanks

[klx300r]

@ mpiva

I personally enjoy setting up the hardware and workbench the way I like it  and had a great time a few years back with my Samflex when i first got a OS4.x machine.  Saying that I can see how a total new user to OS in general would deem the system as 'non user friendly'.

I see ACube just released a UBoot update for the 460....enjoy:) & please post a follow up review once you've had a chance to settle into it