Opinions / Info - AmigaOS 4.x Systems

[vox]

@takemehomegrandma
Yes, you are of course correct, the main drivers need to be ready before consumer release.  That is why we are in the process of working with developers for the provision of Cyrus' SATA, USB, Ethernet at the moment.  Although this is one for the long term.  Our priorities at the moment are the provision of more software for customers who have X1000s out there currently.

Since SAM 440 no board has came with complete drivers, including NEMO. If this is true, this would be great lesson learned that unfinished products (from software side) should not be shipped, since it causes quite a lot headache to end users. And support too.

Even its a bit shameful that X5000 will come with OS 4.1.7 again, which means OS 4.2 has become kind of OS 5.0 mythical. As TW 22. Investment in software on any base is as important, if not even more, then new hardware development.

While I am happy Cyrus will provide more horsepower, it doesn`t accelerate AmigaOS development in any way.

[amigakit]

While I am happy Cyrus will provide more horsepower, it doesn`t accelerate AmigaOS development in any way.

You will be very surprised at how it pushes the emphasis on key AmigaOS developments in specific fields.  Having both the X1000 and X5000 means that AmigaOS is headed in a new direction away from low memory, low powered hardware to a new generation of hardware and software needing the power of the X1000 and X5000.

[klx300r]

well I stand corrected cause it looks like the Samflex boards can in fact run some HD cards with a certain PCI to PCIe adapter, check here:http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=36053&forum=14

[amigakit]

Yes you are correct, confirmed on A-EON website: http://www.a-eon.com/?page=radeonhd

[takemehomegrandma]

You will be very surprised at how it pushes the emphasis on key AmigaOS developments in specific fields.  Having both the X1000 and X5000 means that AmigaOS is headed in a new direction away from low memory, low powered hardware to a new generation of hardware and software needing the power of the X1000 and X5000.

But if OS4 is heading *away* from the Amiga/AmigaOS way of things, why is the focus still on low volume, extreme cost custom PPC HW, that will never be able to compete with real 2014 desktop computers? I mean, if the cord to the Amiga legacy is cut once and for all (which is necessary for things like SMP, >31 bit/2GB limit, etc) why persist with PPC when all obstacles (Amiga legacy compatibility) from going x86/ARM is already removed anyway?

[takemehomegrandma]

well I stand corrected cause it looks like the Samflex boards can in fact run some HD cards with a certain PCI to PCIe adapter

Define "run"?

[Kernel]

Wow, good thread so far... seems like wide ranging opinions.

On the one hand, I want to update to an OS4 machine, but on the other I don't want to get a machine just to get one.

I would definitely want something where the hardware is not too low end that web browsing and video watching causes it to shudder.  That being the case, it sounds like I should hold off and save for an X-1000 rather than settle for a Sam based system...

[Themamboman]

I would have suggested ACube's website for SAM systems, but I just checked and all motherboards and complete systems appear to be sold out completely!  I do hope they get more in soon.   Shows that there is still demand around.

Two other systems not mentioned are from Eyetech:  AmigaOne XE (full sized MB) and the mini-ITX version: Micro-A1C.  I happen to have both and have been happy with them. I would have preferred a G4 CPU, but the 800Mhz G3 on both seem quite sufficient.

Best places to look for any NG machines:

Amibay, Marketplace here and on eab.abime.net.   Occasionally, you'll see an advert at amigaworld.net and amigans.net too.

[Kernel]

I would have suggested ACube's website for SAM systems, but I just checked and all motherboards and complete systems appear to be sold out completely!  I do hope they get more in soon.   Shows that there is still demand around.

So them being out may simply be temporary?  I was thinking that they dried up due to the X-1000 release... perhaps I should ask them if they plan on getting any back in.

[danbeaver]

Gosh, it seems developing new hardware from scratch using modern components that then implements a radically new OS (but remarkable backward compatible with an older one) seems expensive.  What happened to the old days when I could just hook my slide rule to my dot-matrix printer and play retro games from the 1980's?

But Golly, although Trevor met recently with Acube at the end of last year, Acube has not had any motherboards for sale for a long while nor loudly declared their Future Directions; A-Eon seems to be sole gun slinger on the street with active development and shipping product(s).  While others say this-n-that about random OS's emulating the Amiga OS, OS4.1 feels and works just like the original (minus the patchwork of, well hell, "patches" that makes up OS3.9).  I'm no judge having only used the AOS since 1986 with vastly updated V1.1, but OS4.1, well it just "feels" that way, and all my old IconX scripts work as well or better on OS4.1.  IMHO, OS4.1 is solid, fast, cohesive, and beautiful; adding in Python, Ghostscript, backward compatibility, and a responsive development team.

As Adrian Monk says, "I could be wrong now."  Or was that Randy Newman?

[Duce]

Keep an eye on Amibay for a 440 board, Kernel.  They used to come up for sale occasionally there for a fair price.

The 460 is a great machine, but not a terribly cost effective way to dip a toe into the OS4 scene, unfortunately.

[Kernel]

Keep an eye on Amibay for a 440 board, Kernel.  They used to come up for sale occasionally there for a fair price.

The 460 is a great machine, but not a terribly cost effective way to dip a toe into the OS4 scene, unfortunately.

So what would be a fair price for a used 440?

[giZmo350]

So what would be a fair price for a used 440?

This sale will give you an idea of going price....
 http://www.ebay.com/itm/161245447618?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
 
 I would love to buy this but a bit too rich for me... wonder how high it will go!

[som99]

So what would be a fair price for a used 440?

I payed around 400ish USD for my 440ep-flex with ram and a 9250 gfx card, so between 400-550 i would say they go for, depending on what configuration it is, ive also got tons of PCI-E radeon cards working on mine but 2D drivers so im still using the 9250.

[utri007]

So what would be a fair price for a used 440?

Do not buy mini-itx version, it must be Flex version. So that you are not tied to build in graphics of mini-itx version.

Compared to AmigaOne SE, Sam 440ep Flex is much faster prety much in every aspect. Even sam's PCI slot is faster than SE's AGP slot.

[spirantho]

I think a 440ep (not flex) is fine for most things... it's only 3D games that would struggle. The onboard graphics on it are much better than the 460's chip... I have no troubles with mine at all.