SlimJim's Not-so-short First-Impressions Review of AmigaOS4(Pre)

[SlimJim]

@WilleKe

I have had no harddrive-related freeze-up problems whatsoever with AOS4 so far... I'm not moving about enormous files on a regular basis, though. :-)
 
Didn't check transfer rate under Linux either, sorry.
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SlimJim

[WilleKe]

@SlimJim

Okay, thanks all the same I think the Linux/IDE thing is a known problem - I found people mentioning a problem that required them to disable DMA if the machine was to be vaguely stable.

I take it the UBoot firmware isn't finalized yet, either - it still seems a bit buggy... When you issue a reboot command from Linux, it tends to "forget" the environment variables unless you actually switch the machine off and on again. And then, apparently my onboard MAC address has changed of its own accord...

Since you mention it - dual boot is a bit awkward - you can have it boot into OS4 *or* Linux by default, but you have to halt it and issue a few commands (change the env variables etc.) at the prompt if you want to switch to the other OS.

[Tomas]

I enjoyed reading this review! Nice to see a non biased review, which tells about both the cons/pros.  :-)

[cecilia]

dual boot is a bit awkward - you can have it boot into OS4 *or* Linux by default, but you have to halt it and issue a few commands (change the env variables etc.) at the prompt if you want to switch to the other OS.

i hope i don't get this wrong - as i said i just watched for the 1st time OS4 yesterday - but i believe i was told that if you "delete" the default (remove having a default), the multiboot screen comes up with your available OS's numbered. simply press the number ("1", "2", etc) listed next to the OS, and Voila!
I have also been told that eventually a nice GUI will exist for this. probably like the linux grub or lilo versions.

[WilleKe]

@cecilia

I had heard something similar, but couldn't find any details off-hand. I've posted my experience of installing OS4 and Debian on [click click click, apparently some browsers mess up if you put in URLs - not Opera though ], for what it's worth. I'll see whether I can find any information on the "selection process" you mention :-)

[kefas]

@SlimJim

Thanks for the review! I'm still waiting for my copy of AOS4pre, which will hopefully arrive in a few hours..  :-)

About the hotkey for the update menu item thing... I think it may be a matter of what's specified in the locale catalog used. The english locale doesn't seem to have any letter assigned for this menu. However, I promise the swedish catalog file will...  :-D

/Member of the swedish translator team

[Rogue]

i hope i don't get this wrong - as i said i just watched for the 1st time OS4 yesterday - but i believe i was told that if you "delete" the default (remove having a default), the multiboot screen comes up with your available OS's numbered. simply press the number ("1", "2", etc) listed next to the OS, and Voila!
I have also been told that eventually a nice GUI will exist for this. probably like the linux grub or lilo versions.

The multibooting is a recent addition to the second level boot loader that hasn't made it to the prerelease CD.

SLB can now boot Linux from a plain ext2 partition as well as booting AmigaOS. You are presented with a (timeout-ed) menu offering to boot the default choice (that can even be Linux, although... well :-) ) or select a different one with the cursor or number keys.

[SlimJim]

About the hotkey for the update menu item thing... I think it may be a matter of what's specified in the locale catalog used. The english locale doesn't seem to have any letter assigned for this menu. However, I promise the swedish catalog file will...

/Member of the swedish translator team

Sounds great! :-D

... But alas, I always only use English Locales! :-)
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SlimJim

[cecilia]

The multibooting is a recent addition to the second level boot loader that hasn't made it to the prerelease CD.

ah, yes. the person doing the installing had extra files (being a beta tester or some such thing like that).

anyway, after the install, they connected to the internet and using the IBrowse demo came to Amiga org first  :-D  seemed nice and fast - of course!

plus, the box that this amigaOne is in can detect the tempurature in the tower. it was 29 to 30 Celsius. (84.20°F - 86.00°F)

[Rogue]

anyway, after the install, they connected to the internet and using the IBrowse demo came to Amiga org first  seemed nice and fast - of course!

Of course :-) Honestly, though, a beta tester might already have had the PPC native MUI. That already makes a difference, even if the using program is still 68k.

the box that this amigaOne is in can detect the tempurature in the tower. it was 29 to 30 Celsius. (84.20°F - 86.00°F)

Was that using the thermal element of the CPU? I hear these things are rather shaky

[bhoggett]

@WilleKe

Might I respectfully suggest you edit your link to your multiboot experiences so that it does not show the full URL string in the actual post?

It plays merry heck with the formatting and makes the thread a nightmare to read, specially with the "reply" options being at the right side of the page.

Note to admin: Can a note regarding long URL strings be included in the posting guidelines? I hate having to scroll horizontally just so I can read posts.