Why not AmigaOS4 for x86 Platforms?

[mdwh2]

Karlos wrote:
Well, this is my point. This quest for faster and faster is driven mostly by a few types of application (eg games, or to be fair, raytracers etc) whilst the vast majority of software barely makes use of a fraction of the available power.

Which is why I find it amusing that people are complaining about amiga systems running on PPC's that are literally hundreds of times faster than their 680x0 predecessors and are still complaining that they aren't as fast as the latest x86 / x64.

I agree in some sense; I'm more bothered about other things that pure CPU speed. But price is also an important factor, and x86 wins out there too (at least, in terms of PC versus proprietary box; I don't know how CPU prices compare). Paying loads extra for a G5 which is possibly faster than any x86 might attract some people, but few want to pay loads extra for something much slower. Also, having faster models available (be it G5 or x64) has the effect of making the older slower models come down in price.

And whilst "most people" might not be interested in things like 3D programs, video encoding, compiling and so on, we're not really talking about most people - the typical user who only uses the web and email is sadly unlikely to get a non-mainstream OS anytime soon.

Bodie wrote:

bloodline wrote:
a few years ago, I needed a studio full of hundreds of 1000s of pounds worth of equipment to do what can be done on a Laptop now! :-D

With all that horsepower at your lap, just make sure you wear some milspec protection around the jewels :-P .

How about a milspec ceramic coated sock? ;-)

[DavidF215]

leirbag28 wrote:
@aardvark
@DavidF215

Lets get together and form and Amiga based company shall we? :-D

Hey, don't tempt me.  :-)  I have a few ideas that are viable. Just need: (1) a salesman who can sell anything to anybody, (2) a biz manager that can raise funds easily, (3) a good programmer or two. I can manage the rest.

I believe I've posted this before on an Amiga forum, but for Amiga to re-emerge, I think that it needs to be sold as a solution package. For example, IBM sold OS/2 as a business solution; and often, IBM would provide ongoing maintenance on the System. IBM provided both the product and a related service for their product. The Amiga can be sold in a similar manner. Give me a production line of A1200 desktops (with a 68020/030 or G3/G4 processor), and I could still market it. About a year before Commodore went bankrupt, I had signed up to be an Amiga distributor. I was working on some of my business ideas when the news of Commodore troubles began to escalate; and when Commodore went bust, I was not happy.

[mikeymike]

DavidF215 wrote:
Hey, don't tempt me.  :-)  I have a few ideas that are viable. Just need: (1) a salesman who can sell anything to anybody, (2) a biz manager that can raise funds easily, (3) a good programmer or two. I can manage the rest.

"or two"?  In which decade were you thinking about releasing the x86 port?

[Hammer]

mdwh2 wrote:

Karlos wrote:

Hammer wrote:

All this willy waving is well and good, but is there an existing amiga application, or any in development that can even tax the existing G4 sytems?

Any 3D rendering applications would tax any MPUs e.g. AOS's Cinema 4D R4.2.

Raytracers are not typical applications.

So what's a "typical" Windows application that taxes the latest CPUs? I guess there's games, but I can't really think of applications (at least, ones that couldn't be similarly discounted as "not typical").

Note that, the "typical" Windows applications will be moving to Avalon.

[Waccoon]

I agree in some sense; I'm more bothered about other things that pure CPU speed.

Why is everyone getting excited about the Mac Mini, then?

Perceived speed is more important than actual speed.  To me, Windows "feels" lots faster than MacOS X, no matter how much better OSX may run under the hood.  Well, OK, I use Windows 2000.  That's about the fastest OS Microsoft ever made.  XP still feels faster than OSX, though.

Unfortunately, very few people know how to program in a way that increases perceived speed.  I doubt people ever will learn how to do it.  Even if the OS vendors do, the application programmers will not.

So what's a "typical" Windows application that taxes the latest CPUs?

Encoders and decoders, for some.  Wanna convert a whole ton of music to MP3's?  Video editing and photo manipulation is also becomming a killer app for many computers.  That needs number crunching.  Not everyone is going to run word processors.  The software market is evolving, too.

Most of the time the CPU sits around doing nothing, but home computers are still focused around bursts of peak performance.

[mdwh2]

Waccoon wrote:

I agree in some sense; I'm more bothered about other things that pure CPU speed.

Why is everyone getting excited about the Mac Mini, then?

Presumably either its low cost or small size. I didn't think anyone was excited because it's the fastest computer in existance.

So what's a "typical" Windows application that taxes the latest CPUs?

Encoders and decoders, for some.  Wanna convert a whole ton of music to MP3's?  Video editing and photo manipulation is also becomming a killer app for many computers.

And aren't mp3 encoders/decoders etc available for AmigaOS too? That's my point.

[Waccoon]

Presumably either its low cost or small size. I didn't think anyone was excited because it's the fastest computer in existance.

In the threads about AmigaOne vs Mac Mini, speed seems to be the dominant issue.  People are willing to pay a lot for a new platform, but not at the performance the AmigaOne delivers.

And aren't mp3 encoders/decoders etc available for AmigaOS too? That's my point.

Aren't they for 486's and SPARC and Alpha, too?  What's your point?

[leirbag28]

@DavidF215

David, I think that would work, I have a friend who sells Video Toasters for their solutions.and there definitely is still a market for A1200. Just dont sell them as PC replacements but as dedicated machines for a certain task.................as a Character generator for instance.or as you very well said.

But if I ever get into the Amiga business it is with the Sole goal of removing PC's off the face of the earth........I'm not kidding...................I have a plan that I really believe will work if God permits.

This plan will free people from the Bondage of having to be concerned that they need to buy a new computer again because theirs is too slow............not only that but they will freely choose AmigaOS.

I wont mention the details but.............

[Karlos]

@leirbag

I'd like to wish you the best of luck with that buisness plan.


However, as a responsible adult, I feel I should instead warn you (as I believe Bloodline already has), to keep a safe distance from the microwave whilst it is operational.

[odin]

I think it was more than just a microwave, probably something like the reactor chamber of Chernobyl....

[leirbag28]

@Karlos

"However, as a responsible adult, I feel I should instead warn you (as I believe Bloodline already has), to keep a safe distance from the microwave whilst it is operational."
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Actually thats how I got some of my Ideas..........I remember it Vividly.............I was Microwaving some Cambell's Soup and while waiting I sat close to the Microwave......then I had a Vision!  (My head was tingling at the time....dont know why)
 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Karlos]

:lol:

I never tried their "Cream of Magic Mushroom" variety before. What's it like?

[leirbag28]

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Waccoon]

I have a plan that I really believe will work if God permits.

Given the number of bugs on Earth, I'd say God uses Windows.

[bloodline]

Waccoon wrote:

I have a plan that I really believe will work if God permits.

Given the number of bugs on Earth, I'd say God uses Windows.

:lol: