Shark boards

[X-ray]

I have posted this question here and not in the hardware section because the hardware doesn't yet exist...

My question: does anybody here have any proof that these Shark boards have been developed (preferably somebody other than an Elbox spokesman, maybe a third party tester?)

I was looking on the Elbox website and the specs seem to be good to me, but I don't know a hell of a lot about PPCs.

http://www.buy.elbox.com/cgibin/shop?info=330SP1G

Assuming the boards come out with the physical specs as stated on their website, will they really be the fastest PPCs available for classic Miggies? (lets say, my A4kT with the Mediator board).

What I'm saying is, is it worth waiting for or should I chase down a second-hand Cyberstorm PPC?

[redrumloa]

The SharkPPC is pure vapor. I am willing to lay out a cash bet, of any size, that says it will never arrive. The Sonnet card, which it is, has been out of production for years.

[odin]

As much vapour as the boxer, all of merlancia's stuff, iWin, the original A1 etc etc etc etc was.

[Cyberus]

:lol:

The Ol' SharkPPC joke

I was sucked in by that for a while. Thought to myself, 'If I get myself a mediator.....'

I was suckered for a bit, PT Barnum style.
I'd even go so far as to say that getting people's hopes like that is f'ing disgusting. Its a wonder EVERYONE hasn't deserted the platform with the way they are treated. Scammers, licensed overpriced next gen hardware, endless vapourware getting everyone's hopes up, ebay sellers that sell broken hardware to enthusiasts who get caught up in the heat of the moment and buy stuff that maybe never arrives, takes ages (as happened to me) or is broken.

Elbox disgust me with this SharkPPC business.

[X-ray]

@ all the people

 :-o

Well it is a cruel joke they are playing on us at best (if no Shark exists) and a serious false advertising issue at worst. Surely they have profited on Mediator boards by falsely implying that it is a stepping-stone to a non-existing benefit if no Shark exists?

Has anybody challenged Elbox about it? If so, what did they say?

[Lemmink]

Has anybody challenged Elbox about it? If so, what did they say?

They are in the "When it`s done" business too. They claimed that the SharkPPC will run OS4 out of the box without Hyperion heveing to make any modifikations or what so ever at all and the card will be released as the final of OS4 will be out. Even someone who has no clue about hardware or software and how they get together can see that this is pure nonsense and they are just playing for time.
As the final of OS4 isn`t that far off anymore it`s pants down for Elbox soon.

[Cyberus]

Lemmink wrote:
As the final of OS4 isn`t that far off anymore it`s pants down for Elbox soon.

Eloquently put, Lemmink

[amigamad]

Even if it did exist or was coming out how many people would buy one i doubt there would be a big enough market to justify releasing it .

its one of the items that will never be seen, the amiga market is quite small nowdays . :-)  :-?

[adolescent]

@Lemmink

I don't think it's totally unbelievable.  It would be possible for a MAI Terron CX/PX spec board to be built that could be hardware compatible with AOS4.  However unlikely, the standard argument of "Hyperion doesn't have a board, therefore it won't run on it, therefore it must not exist." isn't valid.  I highly doubt that ANY of the past OSs were programmed and tested on every available piece of hardware.  And, since AOS4 is still (after all these years) not released, we'll all have to wait and see.  

[Holley]

One presumes after that there will be alot of pointing and giggling :-D

[Acill]

I asked Elbox more about it back a few months ago. Its not Sonnet based any longer, but rather based on the Mai Micro Server. These are rel and several other companies make the same type of PPC PCI boards. Now that doesnt say Elbox actualy has a license for one of these or ever will. I bet they havent even started on driver development for one. For the price to get one and the mediator you would be better off just getting a Pegasos II or an A1 any how.

[Cyberus]

Oh, I'd quite happily eat my words, in a second. I'd put up with being proved wrong :-) Please Elbox, please do prove me wrong. I want to see the SharkPPC. I don't care if I'm right or wrong, I'd rather have the Shark, but over time I've come to believe that it is just vapourware.

Hmm, where's tjaoz when you need him?

[Diezman]

I think Acill is on to something.  There are some PCI G3/G4 solutions
out there already.  So, could it be said that putting a G3 or G4 on a
Mediator card is a matter of writing drivers now?

--Aaron

[mindprober]

Just a thought-- how can Elbox be trusted with anything given the apparent vapor-ware status of the Shark? I mean, should I really give them my money for a mediator and tower if I decide to one day?

[adolescent]

I wouldn't mistrust them just because of vapor-ware.  However, I wouldn't buy a Mediator hoping for the SharkPPC.  

Even upstanding hardware developers like Individual Computers are guilty of continued hyping of vapor-ware products.