What do you need on your desktop?

In regards to the future of the PPC Desktop, regardless of whether you want an AmigaOne or Pegasos, what do you think your desktop OS of the future needs?

I need, in no particular order;

1) Wholly Integrated network stack.  
I should not have to learn how to install the Internet just to use it.

2) A 100% fully compliant browser which handles every new standard out there including CSS, Javascript, XML, and XHTML.

3) Games.  Lots of cool, NOT PORTED games to keep me occupied.

These three things I feel would drive development, much more than a word processor or even desktop video application.  What do you think?

[mikeymike]

Stuff that needs/wants to be ported (typically from other platforms), IMO:

apps: Mozilla, OpenOffice
games: Quake 3, Worms 2
services: Apache, mysql, PHP

'Classic' Amiga software that should be ported, IMO:

IBrowse (well, we're going to get that anyway :-)), YAM, WordWorth, Final Writer, SnoopDOS.

I would suggest old Amiga games but that'd make this thread fly way out of control :-)

[Vincent]

I'd like to see something similar to DiskSalv and QuarterBack Tools make it to OS4 and beyond.

They've both saved my HD's life before :-D

[Madgun68]

My needs aren't that great. Heck, most everything I do these days can be done with an Amiga.

@Wayne

I think the only problem you'll see is with number 3.

[Ilwrath]

1) Wholly Integrated network stack.
I should not have to learn how to install the Internet just to use it.

2) A 100% fully compliant browser which handles every new standard out there including CSS, Javascript, XML, and XHTML.

3) Games. Lots of cool, NOT PORTED games to keep me occupied.

These three things I feel would drive development, much more than a word processor or even desktop video application. What do you think?

I have to agree, for the most part...  Though I think #3 is the weakest of these, and the least necessary....  At least early on.    #1 and #2 are game-enders.  If it's a pain to install/configure TCP/IP and a GOOD (Opera, Moz, Konq level -- no offence to the iBrowse team, but it doesn't cut it!) browser, it's a dead computer.  It's that easy.  

I'd have to value an Open Office type app package above the games, though.  This is for two reasons.  One is that it lets the computer become somewhat usable as a day-to-day machine, rather than just a toy.  Second, it will show some of the machine's ability, and that porting larger apps makes sense.

As for the games, let's face it... No new machine is going to get commercial support early.  And, as much as I hate to say it, almost every worthwhile game I've ever played originated in the commercial realm.   Therefore, I'd say you're dreaming if you expect to see any worthwhile game for the new Amigas.  Your best bet would be to have ports of MAME, Frodo, UAE, and other emulators.  At least this will give access to some (albeit dated) quality works.

As for desktop video, I agree that it's probably a moot point, by now.  High end went to Avid, low end went to Macintosh.  Nothing left.  Why bother?

[downix]

To name off specific apps is being a short-sighted fool.  The best idea, as Wayne has done, is name off needs rather than tools.  You never know where the next Quicken or Lotus 123 will appear.

So how about we keep this focused on needs.

What I need is:

1) A fully object-oriented desktop experience

2) Integrated networking stack

3) Integrated preferences system

4) Web browser that can fully support XHTML 1.1

5) XML support is a must

6) IPC system

7) fully documented

Games, need original game ideas.  Don't need the next Quake3 here, but need originality.  Sometimes the best games can come from the most unexpected areas.

1) A fully object-oriented desktop experience

As "OO" is vastly over used and overrated, care to elaborate on what you mean?

[peroxidechicken]

Less clutter, more beer, bigger monitor, smaller price, open secretary and no boss.  

[mikeymike]

@ downix

To name off specific apps is being a short-sighted fool

Thank you for calling me a fool!  Any more insults you'd like to throw into the conversation, or will that do for now?

Did you consider that I named specific apps because I happen to like/prefer those specific apps?

If you say you want 'an office package' running on OS4, would you settle for any old one, or one that you know has features that work the way you want to use them for?

[mikeymike]

As "OO" is vastly over used and overrated, care to elaborate on what you mean?

@ downix

Hey! My bedroom is object-orientated... there's the desk, the bed, the wardrobe.... :-)

... I really want to know what a  "fully object orientated desktop experience" is, considering the only place I've heard the term OO used is to describe Java, and I know why it's referred to as that, but a 'desktop experience'?

[Paul_Gadd]

Working Web browser
Proper usenet downloader tool
Software for movie files and coverter Divx/Xvid (mp3,ac3,ogg) vcd, svcd, dvd, rm, wmv, asf,
More powerful cd burning program (inc dvd)
Loads of p2p programs
Office suite
Games (not 90s ports)
Emulators
Multimedia player
Codecs for everything with sound and/or video

[Hardboy]

A complete GCC, which should be installed as default with the OS!

[carls]

The TCP/IP stack should be a part of the "kernel" much like it is on Linux. Starting a specific program just to get online is SO 20th century :-)

A text editor that does exactly what it should.

A good scripting language.

A 2D pixel painter. More like Personal Paint or TVPaint than Photoshop.

Mozilla or Netscape 7.

A good movie player, that handles both DivX movies and DVDs.

Improved shell  and commands. Real pipeing (unix-style), extended pattern matching etc.

[Argo]

1. Neural Interface
2.. Holographic Data Storage
3. Quantum CPU

oh, okay, seriously...
1. TCP/IP stack integrated
2. networking suite (Basic telnet, ftp, web, email clients)
3. system/drive recovery tools
4. file management tools (ala SID, Opus)
5. a few other things that others have mentioned.

[downix]

As "OO" is vastly over used and overrated, care to elaborate on what you mean?

I mean OO in a similar manner to how OS/2 had an OO desktop:  Each program was built-up from other components, and when a new program added new capabilities, those same capabilities were availible to other programs to utilize.  

Say someone makes a viewer for their newest wiz-bang compression alg for video.  In an OO system, this viewer is able to be embedded into a higher-end editor without requiring the compiling of modules to that editor, just need to be able to decode from the viewer to raw pixel data, which can then be manipulated.

In addition, this means that the ability to set preferences is built into the desktop rather than into the specific app.