AMIGA OS 4 hardware?

[divined]

Hello everybody

I`ve only used the WinUAE emulator lately. With the advent of Amiga OS 4, I`m thinking of trying to use the real thing (I`ve got an old AMIGA 500 OCS from my youth). What sort of hardware do I need to get it running? Where can I purchase such hardware and where can I purchase the OS from?

Best regards

George Papadopoulos

[orange]

you need PowerPC Amiga (PPC),on ebay

[Xamiche]

divined wrote:
Hello everybody

I`ve only used the WinUAE emulator lately. With the advent of Amiga OS 4, I`m thinking of trying to use the real thing (I`ve got an old AMIGA 500 OCS from my youth). What sort of hardware do I need to get it running? Where can I purchase such hardware and where can I purchase the OS from?

Best regards

George Papadopoulos

As much as I dearly love Amiga, what it's going to cost you to get an Amiga set up capable of running OS4 well, is just short of a small fortune. Never mind an arm or a leg, you're going to have to sell an internal organ. :-(
Of course affordability is a subjective thing. Maybe you're wealthy and can afford such things.

[divined]

  I believe there exist some specialized ATX boards that support the PowerPC. Isn`t a 68060 marginally capable of running AMIGA OS 4?
  Is there some sort of review for the new OS somewhere?

[divined]

  So if it is that expensive, what is all the fuss about? I`d like to try this new system, but if it is to completely instabilise my budget, then thanks I`d rather stick with WINUAE.
  I think it is about time, thinking of porting the OS to more generic hardware. Don`t burn me as a heretic people. But, if AMIGA OS 4, is to catch on, it needs to be a bit more pervasive and requiring specialized hardware of the cost of thousands of dollors, isn`y gonna make it.

[Amigaz]

 :horse:

[Xamiche]

AMIGAZ wrote:
 :horse:

How quaint.

So if it is that expensive, what is all the fuss about? I`d like to try this new system, but if it is to completely instabilise my budget, then thanks I`d rather stick with WINUAE.

It really comes down to what you value. If I were to suddenly come into a large disposable income I'd probably buy the necessary hardware x 10. Some people are so enthusiastic about Amiga that they can internally justify spending so much on an Amiga capable of running OS4, even though their budget can't really cope with such extravagant spending. Some are of the view that while it would be nice to have such a machine, the money would be better spent elsewhere. Some are well off enough to simply be able to afford it. It's really a personal thing. You might find yourself spending the equivalent of a new mid to top end PC on an Amiga that can run OS4. If you think that's worth it, go for it. You might get lucky though. You might find a bargain PPC card or board somewhere, or an Amiga 4000 in someones curb side collection about to became landfills next victim. Who knows. Stranger things happen at sea, as they say.  :-D

[Xamiche]

Hope you have a spare kidney. :lol:

Cyberstorm PPC

[HopperJF]

divined wrote:
  I believe there exist some specialized ATX boards that support the PowerPC. Isn`t a 68060 marginally capable of running AMIGA OS 4?
  Is there some sort of review for the new OS somewhere?

Search slashdot for a review, and as for the 68060 or any 68k processor running OS4, I'm afraid there is zero chance of that happening, OS4 is for PPC only so unless there is a PPC card attached to your 68k processor then it will not run

[jorkany]

I`ve only used the WinUAE emulator lately. With the advent of Amiga OS 4, I`m thinking of trying to use the real thing (I`ve got an old AMIGA 500 OCS from my youth).

First you need to decide if you want to "use the real thing" or if you want to use OS4.

What sort of hardware do I need to get it running? Where can I purchase such hardware and where can I purchase the OS from?

To run OS4 you need either an AmigaOne, or some of the old PPC expansion equipment made back in the 90's listed on this page:
http://www.acube-systems.biz/compatibility/

You can also purchase OS4 from that same site for the expansion cards. If you decide to go AmigaOne route then you'll need to hope it comes with a copy of OS4. Since neither type of equipment is made anymore your best bet is an auction site like Ebay.

I recommend researching the possible hardware related issues you're likely to encounter, many of them are documented on forums at places like amigaworld.net and amigans.net.

You should also decide if making the hardware investment necessary to run OS4 is something you really want to do, as it will very likely be over $1000 USD. OS4 will run most 68K applications through the use of an emulator, but there are a few native applications which you can review here:

http://os4depot.net/

I think it is about time, thinking of porting the OS to more generic hardware.

http://aros.sourceforge.net/

[redfox]

@divined

I saw this thread a few days ago, but did not reply at the time.

Just wanted to say that I have been running Amiga OS 4 for over three years.  My system is a MicroA1 (aka µA1-C), and it has been running quite well since day one.  I use it every day and am posting from it now.

The AmigaOne and MicroA1 motherboards are no longer manufactured and any motherboards that would be available on e-bay or other places are at least three years old.

I do not recommend purchasing used AmigaOne or MicroA1 motherboards because some other people have had serious problems with their systems.  These problems are documented on amigaworld.net and amigans.net.  We all know that people who have problems will be more vocal than people who don't have problems, so it is difficult to judge percentages of good experiences vs bad experiences.  Hopefully noone is dumping faulty systems onto e-bay.  But you never know.  Bottom line ... be very careful and do your homework before you purchase.

My advice .... if you are happy with WinUAE, stick with it until new hardware becomes available.

---
redfox

(I've made a few edits since original post.)