Upgrade to 3.1 - is there a good enough reason?

[gurthuk]

I'm wondering whether to upgrade my Kickstart ROMs and Workbench to 3.1 or above but...

I don't need access to a CD drive as nothing comes on CD-ROM these days, I don't even use the drive in my Macbook.

I don't need a browser on my Amiga as I have Internet & web access elsewhere.

I'm going to be using a CF / IDE adapter in my A1200 instead of true hard drive, I don't need a file system to support 40 Gigs - 2 Gig will be plenty.

Am I missing anything important which could a good enough reason to upgrade?

[itix]

CDs and Internet work just fine with Kickstart 3.0. That is, download CD-ROM drivers and networking software from Aminet or buy it separately. It is just that with OS 3.9 you have everything on one CD but other than that OS 3.9 is pretty much useless to you.

CD-ROM (and CDs in general) is pretty much dead these days, indeed.

[TjLaZer]

There is always a good reason to update software/drivers to the latest version.  3.1 is worth it.  This way you are OS 3.9 ready as well.

[Golem!dk]

Some prefer not to mess with things that already work fine.

[meega]

Oh noes! It's not broke... Must fix it! :hammer:

[Ruud]

Doesn't sound like you need 3.1 to me.  OS3.9 is ok, but for an A1200 without an accelerator and graphics card I'd rather use the shell and a decent file manager like DOpus  :lol:

[Nostalgiac]

at the time I was softkicking 3.0 on my A2000 but I only ever considered it a stopgap for 3.1.

I have to admit I didn't have a specific reason to move to 3.1. To me it just felt like 3.0 was some sort of beta while 3.1 was the finished product.

With an 020 or 030, 3.1 is the end of the road - 3.5/9 should only be considered when using an 040 or better 060.

Hope this helps
Tom UK

[motrucker]

Actually 3.0 IS broke - so the upgrade to 3.1 makes all the sense in the world.
But having said that, if you're not really doing anything - but playing games, 3.0 might get you thru....

[Ruud]

motrucker wrote:
Actually 3.0 IS broke - so the upgrade to 3.1 makes all the sense in the world.
But having said that, if you're not really doing anything - but playing games, 3.0 might get you thru....

I often hear that 3.0 is buggy but never really encountered them in all the years I used it.  What are the known bugs?

[SamuraiCrow]

For one thing, the AGA chipset only uses the fastest memory fetching on the highest resolutions.  On 3.1 it uses the fastest memory fetching whenever it can thus making the chips run faster.  If you're playing games you'll get better performance much of the time with Kickstart 3.1 .

For another thing the sprite handling is broken for using AGA enhanced sprites on Kickstart 3.0 .

That's just 2 bugs in graphics.library alone that make the Kickstart upgrade worthwhile.

[Piru]

@SamuraiCrow

For one thing, the AGA chipset only uses the fastest memory fetching on the highest resolutions. On 3.1 it uses the fastest memory fetching whenever it can thus making the chips run faster. If you're playing games you'll get better performance much of the time with Kickstart 3.1.

99% of the games bypass the OS completely and thus this is hardly ever true.

[r0jaws]

As I understand it the games may bypass workbench but would still be accessing files from the kickstart in order to run.
Therefore the most efficiently and least buggy ROM would be better surely.
Or have I missed something?

[Piru]

@r0jaws

As I understand it the games may bypass workbench but would still be accessing files from the kickstart in order to run.
Therefore the most efficiently and least buggy ROM would be better surely.
Or have I missed something?

Kickstart doesn't have files.

Pretty much none of the fixes in 3.1 have effect on game performance or functionality. KS 3.0 and 3.1 have zero speed difference from HW hitting game perspective.

[leirbag28]

@gurthuk

You only live once! and If you want to enjoy your Amiga to the max. Get Kickstart 3.1 and Workbench 3.1. In my opinion and experience....the Best Amiga OS ever made.


Also get a 68030 @50mhz

This is the best Amiga Config.

I learned something a few years ago.......That there will be one day where I will leave the Amiga.  And I want to know I did everything I could with it.  You will never have that chance again as parts get older.


I have some of the rarest software and hardware for the Amiga on the Planet.

Just recently aquired a Copy of the Elusive  Music Mouse. So Glad I finally got it.  Also have the Rare MindEYE with MindLIGHT7/Visual Aurals.  So Happy about that.

I also Have MediaPoint with Manual and CD.  I payed Very high prices for some of these.  But I got them when I wanted them. As opposed to things I searched for years and finally found...but the prices I thought were too high.........well now I see clearly that TIME is MONEY.......I wish I could buy back my time and own those things even if I had to pay high Prices.

The Amiga is a Wonderful Machine, and I will abandon Any machine over it no matter how much the other machine costs.......at least until I abandon the Amiga permanently.


I loved my time with the Amiga.

Dont waste anymore time.....get KS 3.1 and WB 3.1  heck even get OS3.9.

Totallly worth it.  WHo or what else will support your machine if you yourself dont even accept and buy the software thats amazingly available for it?

We are lucky to have OS3.9! and MSN messenger and WookieChat, and Indivision, Subway USB! wow.

Dont waste your Amiga time letting your Amiga just sit there with the same specs..........thats ike a person going through his life and never growing....staying in the same Rut and mud all his life.

Give your Amiga Life!

[gurthuk]

I'll stick with 3.0 as that is how I remembered it as a kid. I'm certainly not buying an accelerator either as they're very expensive with no obvious gain.