Consoles have never been designed to beat PCs in performance.
Consoles are designed to create a Vendor-Lock-In and to create a fixed predictable platform to create software for so that development can be rapid and cheap.
It's at the cost of the consumers choice in software titles (PC vs [Nintendo|Sony|Sega|MS XBOX]) and performance/$. Also price per software title.
But we seem to accept the higher $$ for both hardware and software because like Apple products, it just simply works. This is due to the lack of variation in the hardware base.
So it's obvious that any console, now and in the future will loose any $$$ and performance comparison VS any open computing platform like the x86 platform. Except perhaps at the very day of launch. But it fast falls behind as the lauch cycle for AMD, NVidia and Intel is almost down to 6 months now.
What it will win in is hassle free end user experience, and when it's mature (like PS2 and older generation consoles) in developer friendliness(resources, time spent, hw-mutations).
So the question is, will an operation system benefit from a locked in platform.
Yes, Apple and Amiga are examples of that. The small variations in the hardware platform gave these platforms the stability they are so well known for, this compared to the the bluescreens and crashes on Windows.
Also, will developers appreciate a locked in platform?
Most likely yes. Less varations to account for = simpler code and faster development shorter testing. Also, like consoles games can "bang the hardware", because it's always there.
Is this lock-in and it's benefits worth the higher cost that the monopoly situation that arises?
Most likely not. I won't discuss why Commodore failed. But one can certainly say that the industry have benefitted from an open common platform that is the x86 platform. On the other hand, moderating this is Apple with it's iPods and OSX intel computers. So perhaps there is business to be made still.
Also, is the PS3 the correct platform to lock AmigaOS4.x to?
Most likely not. Yes, it is the highest performance PPC solution still for sale and under production. Yes, there are Mac solutions still available second hand. But they are not under warranty anymore, and will run out before the PS3. And Hyperion is not a likely partner for Sony, and also sony is already developing the PS4, what happens if the next console doesn't use a PPC compatible CPU? Then Hyperion is left without a hardware vendor.
The PS3 is too locked in too, but are the locked options good ones for the Amigans? It has a case that doesn't please everyone, some love it, some hate it. It can't be changed, that's for sure. It's noisier than it has to be, and it has a fixed amount of RAM. Two other seriously negative points for most users. Also, atm there is no accellerated graphics, only framebuffer for any "game os".
So if PS3 isn't the locked in hardwareplatform for the Amigians, then what is?
Natami? Efika? SAM440?
Well, what do you want? A powerfull strong niche computer, or a cheaper all-rounder? Both?
It's certainly going to be a niche computer at any rate for the forseable future unless Hyperion pulls one more rabbit out of the hat like it did with the SAM440ep
So how about the three contenders?
The Natami developer boards should have been out now. I haven't looked up a recent status, but I expect them to be late. It's an ambitious project, and as a voulentary project it would have been nothing short of stunning if they delivered on time, seeing as the proffessional industry at large (70%) always is very late. So the Natami is very "amiga like", "super custom". But it's not here now.
Then the Efika. I'll be short on this one. This is a OS4.x thread. Efika isn't OS4.x, it's MOS. However, the Efika is cheap, but it's not super cheap compared to cpu/$$ vs the last candidate.
The SAM440ep is. Thus it's the strongest contender to be the Amiga vendor locked in platform.
So why aren't we hearing a roaring unison happy rejoycing cry from the community?
It's expensive it's said. Well, objectively yes. But I'm sure that if we're talking net profit for ACube it's not expensive. All the arguments have been made, low volumes, high development costs etc.
I'm sure that Acube and Hyperion aren't out to fleece us. And I'm equally sure that they are now planning new hardware, and that the SAM440ep and flex must be considered "stop gaps" until a new propper platform can be established.
But if the PS3 and MacMini is as far as they look, I'll be very worried. Because they are not hardware platforms with more than at tops 5 years life ahead of them. I think it's very unlikely that Acube and Hyperion wants to push Macs and PS3s at us. Even more than us, I'm sure they want to know that there is also business to be done tomorrow, not only today.
The Hyperion-Acube partnershipgives good reason to believe that it's ACube who'll be designing and building any new amiga OS4.x hardware. And I think it's a good thing, sure it's not Acer, DELL etc. But they are dedicated, and they seem to be capable to deliver on promises. So for it to be a perfect union, it only remains to see if they are listening to the community and making a more powerfull solution.
So if we see OS4 on the Mac it's a sad day no matter how much we would like it. It would be a sad day, because then they have spent their time porting the operating system to a dying system rather than improving on the OS for the hardware, software and users that it has - and might have.
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Now there are two last issues I haven't addressed. The lawsuit and OS4.x on x86.
The lawsuit is a entity no one here is competent or capable to forsee, so any effort spent on that is either just for fun in a "what if way", or just plain and simple in vain. Atm I'm focusing on other issues, so I deem it to be in vain.
The x86 issue... Apple did it, Aros did it... Well, I really don't care is my answer.
For me, Amiga isn't PPC or x86. It's this: Does it work, and can it run
?
Now the last one is a trap, and probably why Hyperion have their hands full working on the OS 
