I want a new Amiga. Should I buy a 4.1?

[Papiss]

Hi, everyone.
I've been an Amiga user since 1988.
Had to move over to other systems for my 3D work (Maya doesn't work that well on an '060...), but kept checking on the Amiga all this time.
Now, quite fed up of waiting, I'd like to know if there is any reason to buy this new SAM system - if at all I can, since I don't seem to find a place to buy an AmigaOne, for instance.
So, if anyone of you has one of these new systems, please tell us how good (or bad) they are.
I know, of course, that there's no way I could use it for 3D or editting, but what about 2D? Or as a Browser/Office PC?
Do old SW, like DPaint, REALLY work on the OS 4?
And can I, for example, read the OLD Amiga 1200 HDs?

I would really apreciate this kind of information, since I really want a working Amiga, but I don't know if it's worth the effort...

ThanX.

[downix]

Alternatively you can also buy an EFiKA and MorphOS 2.1 to run your classic Amiga software, and cost less.

[TheMagicM]

On 4.1 and the SAM board... it is VERY expensive.  The OS is worth the $100 they are asking but the board isnt worth the price.  I dont know what 2d/3d software 4.1 can run without UAE so I cant answer there.


As far as the EFIKA and MorphOS..  The EFIKA is cheap, price wise.  The OS is expensive but you're paying for software that has been developed and is still being developed without interference from 3rd parties (Amiga Inc), and yes, that is a HUGE deal breaker.  You'd have to understand all the drama and its just too boring to go over again.  Too many unknowns as to what will happen with OS4.

The EFIKA board is good for NATIVE software but not for UAE type emulation.  There is 2D/3D software that runs under MorphOS natively just fine, see here:

http://tinyurl.com/54ywfo

[spihunter]

Isnt there a Blender port for MorphOS?

Wonder how that would run on a Efika?

[jorkany]

Now, quite fed up of waiting, I'd like to know if there is any reason to buy this new SAM system

If you want to run Amiga software you're better of with UAE or a real Amiga.

If you think you might be interested in OS4 software, just go look at os4depot.net, that site hosts most of the OS4 software out there. First thing you need to realize is most "OS4" software is just ports from other OSes. There are a handful of commercial packages for OS4, the most notable being Hollywood, the rest isn't anything special.

It might also be worth reviewing the history of the past few years of OS4 developments, just to get some idea of how likely (or not) the kind of software you want is going to become available. Since you mention 3D work, you should be aware that DiscreetFX bought up Aladdin 4D a couple years ago and claims they'll be making an OS4 version. Also there is a version of Blender kicking around (unfinished I think), but then you can run that on anything.

[Hans_]

Amiga OS 4.1 is a nice system which I personally think is worth getting (I know, because I have it). The SAM440 is on the expensive side, but if you want to play around with a modern Amiga, it's worth it.

Old software should work fine so long as it doesn't bang the hardware directly. For browsing, OWB is a CSS capable browser that will allow you to view most sites on the web (no Flash yet, so Flash based sites won't work). There are some office programs available, particularly via Cygnix (an X11 port). If you need Open-Office/MS-Office, however, you'll have to stick with your PC. Yes, it can read old A1200 hard-drives.

If you want to play with an Amiga again, and want one that has more modern features, I'd say go out and get it. We're continually working on bringing more software to the platform so the mode users/developers that come on board, the better. If you know someone with Amiga OS 4.1, or can make it to one of the shows (e.g., Pianeta Amiga), you'll be able to check it out before buying.

Hans

P.S. yes, a Blender port is in the works, but it's not quite done yet.

[redfox]

@Papiss

Not sure if I can answer your questions to your satisfaction, because I don't have a SAM.

I own a Micro AmigaOne (aka µA1-C), which I purchased over 3 1/2 years ago.  Since then, I have been running various versions of OS 4.0 as they became available.

On September 15, 2008, I installed AmigaOS 4.1 and have been adding software over the last few days.

I don't have DPaint, so can't advise.

IBrowse, OWB and YAM are included with AmigaOS 4.1.
Final Writer 97 is working on my system on OS4.1.
AmigaAMP is also working fine.

The following software worked fine on OS 4.0 but I haven't added them to my OS 4.1 system yet ...
Personal Paint 7
TVPaint
Real3D
SimpleMail
AWebPPC (aka AWeb APL Lite)
WookieChat

There are other programs as well.

---
redfox
MicroA1-C (IBM PPC 750 GX) 256 MB RAM
AmigaOS 4.1

Update ...
The following work fine on AmigaOS 4.1
Personal Paint 7
TVPaint
Real3D

[Papiss]

@ Everyone:

First - thanks for the time and effort you took to give me all this info.
It's amazing - I've posted, went for a workout, came back - and all of you already answerred.
Being a former active Amiga Forums member, I should have not been surprised  :-)

Now, I am aware of the turmoil that surrounds the Amiga- the companies, the law suits...
But I still want an Amiga, and not a clone. Perhaps it's psichological, but I want an "A" ingraved on the keyboard (do they still do that?..).

I do not intend to use Amiga for 3D, since I an a Maya animator, and AFAIK there is no intended Maya port.
I also have a few dedicated PCs for that, which I'm afraid current Amiga HW can't match...

@ Hans:

About the old drives - I want to be sure I understood you correctly: I can connect an old A1200 HD, and OS4.1 will simply read it?
If so, it's great, and it is a major consideration for me.

Again, I wish to thank everyone, you certainly have given me some food for thought.

And please, anyone reading this and has something to add, I would welcome any input, as would many others who are not yet sure what they should do, but are still interested in the Amiga.

[Hans_]

About the old drives - I want to be sure I understood you correctly: I can connect an old A1200 HD, and OS4.1 will simply read it?
If so, it's great, and it is a major consideration for me.

Ok, you will need a 2.5" IDE to SATA adaptor since an A1200 drive is a 2.5" IDE hard-disk and the SAM board has SATA. However, once it's connected, Amiga OS 4.x should have no trouble reading the drive (the RDB format is the same, and old FFS partitions can be read). There are people with A1200s + PowerPC accelerators that dual-boot both OS 4.0 and OS 3.9.

Hans

[Papiss]

ThanX, Hans.
That's a very good reson for me to buy a SAM.

[TheMagicM]

Now, I am aware of the turmoil that surrounds the Amiga- the companies, the law suits... But I still want an Amiga, and not a clone. Perhaps it's psichological, but I want an "A" ingraved on the keyboard (do they still do that?..).

Papiss:

there is no such thing as a new Amiga.  They are all clones other than the classic Amiga line.  Enjoy 4.1, hopefully it is supported for years to come.


-Alex

[DavidF215]

@Papiss

If you want a new Amiga, then IMO the Sams with AOS4.1 is the new Amiga because it has the newest version of AmigaOS running natively.

@TheMagicM

Uh, whatever. As I said, the Sams with AOS4.1 is the new Amiga. How well is OS4.1 software going to run on other "clones?" Probably not well if at all.

@Hans_

What C++ compiler are you using for AOS4.1?

[DavidF215]

TheMagicM wrote:
>Too many unknowns as to what will happen with OS4.

There is nothing bad going to happen to OS4. It's going to succeed. And here's my thoughts on why in regards to the battle between Hyperion and Amiga, Inc.

It could be that they have reached a settlement and Hyperion has received the okay to proceed with porting to another PPC system. If not, then Hyperion could be forcing Amiga, Inc to grant the license anyways. If Amiga does not grant the license, then Amiga would be forced to sue Hyperion in a German Court to prevent them from selling OS4.1 on new hardware in Germany. Although I do not live in Germany, I do not see a German court siding with an American company especially as small as Amiga, Inc. I see the German Court favoring their own company, Hyperion, instead; plus, Amiga probably doesn't have the money to fund the logistics of such a lawsuit. Hyperion could possibly even appeal to the EU, and Amiga surely wouldn't go that route.

So I don't think Hyperion has too much to worry about in regards to the legal issues they will face with OS4.1. IMO, it is in Amiga, Inc's best interest to grant a license to Hyperion and collect royalties, which I don't understand why they don't do anyways. I also think that if Amiga doesn't grant a license, it's going to lose lots of money from royalties lost due to Amiga clones.

The Amiga system is now at the same juncture that the IBM PC and Mac clones have been in the past. What happens with the battle between Hyperion and Amiga, Inc now, IMO, will determine who makes the most money and how the clone wars progress. Will Amiga, Inc. collect royalties on clone companies, or throw it all away like IBM did with the PC. This time around Amiga, Inc is IBM, Hyperion is CBM/Microsoft and ACube is Compaq. Whatever the outcome, I'm favoring Hyperion and ACube because they have the original OS and the new hardware of the next generation Amiga just as Microsoft and Compaq did in the early years of the new IBM-PC clones; except this time the Operating System is better.

*Edit* So in the future the German Chancellor may be using AmigaOS owned by a half-German company. After all, it's good politics to buy from your own.

[xeron]

Hyperion is Belgian, and ACube are italian ;-)

[xeron]

@Papiss

I've had an AmigaOne XE-G4 for years, and it took over from my A4000 as my main Amiga. It felt like a great upgrade, and runs lots of my Amiga software, and i'm sure the SAM would do the same for you.