Open source PPC laptop bounty

[klx300r]

@ utri007

this looks like a great project by one of our respected hardware suppliers so I'll be donating for sure:hammer:

[Iggy]

I think you are missing the point . The architecture of the chips is not open. Can you supply complete schematics for the GPU and CPU? I think not.

Actually, schematics are not a problem.
The proposal calls for the use of a standard MXM video card, and Acube has offered to prepare the initial motherboard schematics (that would be the first funded step).

The list of components that has been posted elsewhere is reasonably accurate, but I wanted to clarify what was meant when "Radeon HD graphics" were mentioned. As this can be changed or upgraded.

There's no IP issues that I am aware of that would prevent moving forward.

[nicholas]

I think you are missing the point . The architecture of the chips is not open. Can you supply complete schematics for the GPU and CPU? I think not.

Why do they need to?

Schematics and everything you need to make your own laptop will be open, there are no laptops with Intel chips that are open that I know of.

https://www.powerpc-notebook.org/2016/10/about-open-source-hardware/

If you want an CPU with open schematics then start a bounty for a RISC-V laptop.

[bloodline]

Only Linux PPC is promised, but it is produced By aCube. So if it materializes there is a good change it will have OS4 or any other amigsh OS.

Just so we are clear, this is a bounty for an as yet unbuilt low power Linux box... I already have of of those (several in fact), it's called a Raspberry Pi. What does this bring to the table?

[Pentad]

Just so we are clear, this is a bounty for an as yet unbuilt low power Linux box... I already have of of those (several in fact), it's called a Raspberry Pi. What does this bring to the table?

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe I'm missing something but why do we want a Opensource PPC laptop? How is this an OpenSource PPC Laptop? Just because it runs Linux doesn't make it an OpenSource laptop in the way you are using the term.

This seems fraught with issues.

[billt]

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe I'm missing something but why do we want a Opensource PPC laptop? How is this an OpenSource PPC Laptop? Just because it runs Linux doesn't make it an OpenSource laptop in the way you are using the term.

This seems fraught with issues.

From our point of view, a lot of us probably dont care if the laptop is open source or not. Thats not the detail I am interested in. It would be neat to have schematics and layout files for it, but not my primary interest. That is one of their goals, which makes their usage of the term appropriate. Hopefully they can achieve that goal part of their goal, but if something they really cant do without sticks them with an NDA, and breaks their open design files plan, then that doesnt ruin my day so much...

What some of us here would be interested in is a PowerPC laptop that OS4 could be ported to run on. Thats my only interest.

[billt]

Just so we are clear, this is a bounty for an as yet unbuilt low power Linux box... I already have of of those (several in fact), it's called a Raspberry Pi. What does this bring to the table?

I have 2 or 3 pi's ad well. They are not laptops, and they do not run OS4. And there woukd be a lot more to do to fix either of those two weaknesses than with this poc laptop project. Sorry, but I dont even understand the comparison on context of potential laptip for Amigaos...

[Raffaele]

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe I'm missing something but why do we want a Opensource PPC laptop? How is this an OpenSource PPC Laptop? Just because it runs Linux doesn't make it an OpenSource laptop in the way you are using the term.

This seems fraught with issues.

You must first build the computer and test it working with software in order to release the full design as Open Source...

At this moment the team almost decided the hardware components they want to use, ACube helped them to find the correct chip parts.

Now it is the moment to realize the first circuitry design and then assemble it for real in a PCB mainboard prototype.

You need weeks of hard job at Electronic CAD designing, and then hard work at manufacturing. This all requires money to repay the efforts. Or you believe a computer builds it all by itself?


If you want to help donating you are welcome.

If you think it is a fraud then stay on your own.


In the worst scenario that this project will remain just a Linux project, at least ACube will acquire the necessary know-how to realize a LapTop.

In the best scenario the Linux Laptop will be built and then Amiga Software Houses (Hyperion already announced they follow with interest this laptop project) will be free to decide to port their Operating System on it, and we will obtain brand new hardware up-to-date with modern specifications.

It is up to you decide.

If you want you may just donate only a single dollar.

I think you should have enough money to risk just a single dollar.

[nicholas]

You must first build the computer and test it working with software in order to release the full design as Open Source...

At this moment the team almost decided the hardware components they want to use, ACube helped them to find the correct chip parts.

Now it is the moment to realize the first circuitry design and then assemble it for real in a PCB mainboard prototype.

You need weeks of hard job at Electronic CAD designing, and then hard work at manufacturing. This all requires money to repay the efforts. Or you believe a computer builds it all by itself?


If you want to help donating you are welcome.

If you think it is a fraud then stay on your own.


In the worst scenario that this project will remain just a Linux project, at least ACube will acquire the necessary know-how to realize a LapTop.

In the best scenario the Linux Laptop will be built and then Amiga Software Houses (Hyperion already announced they follow with interest this laptop project) will be free to decide to port their Operating System on it, and we will obtain brand new hardware up-to-date with modern specifications.

It is up to you decide.

If you want you may just donate only a single dollar.

I think you should have enough money to risk just a single dollar.

Much as I'm looking forward to running OS4 on my PowerBook a modern higher specced laptop for OS4 and/or MorphOS would be even better.

[bloodline]

I have 2 or 3 pi's ad well. They are not laptops, and they do not run OS4.

There are plenty of laptop/mobile computing projects for the Raspberry Pi, and as for running AOS4, this project doesn't do that either. It may never do that.

If you want to run AOS4, then you would be better served by getting a cheap pc laptop and running the latest WinUAE. That is perfect for emulting a PPC Amiga, and excitingly/upsetingly (depending upon your position), it runs faster than my actual BlizzPPC.

And there woukd be a lot more to do to fix either of those two weaknesses than with this poc laptop project. Sorry, but I dont even understand the comparison on context of potential laptip for Amigaos...

This project is for a low power Linux Box, the Raspberry Pi already does that for £30.

[Iggy]

...If you want to run AOS4, then you would be better served by getting a cheap pc laptop and running the latest WinUAE. That is perfect for emulting a PPC Amiga, and excitingly/upsetingly (depending upon your position), it runs faster than my actual BlizzPPC....

Yes, but not as well as a recent AmigaOne, and with the limitations inherent with emulating older hardware.

And as to expense, I could get a 14" 64bit ARM laptop for a fraction of the cost, but it won't run PPC software.

But you ARE right, the only operating systems that will initially work with this are Linux based.

No one said we were practical people. :hammer:

[virgolamobile]

If you want to run AOS4, then you would be better served by getting a cheap pc laptop and running the latest WinUAE. That is perfect for emulting a PPC Amiga, and excitingly/upsetingly (depending upon your position), it runs faster than my actual BlizzPPC.

From what you say, it is clear that you never used a computer running AOS4.1  natively. I am using both extensively and, even if I appreciate the possibility to run (but not to enjoy) AOS4.1 on WinUAE on my laptop, I would NEVER put the two options on the same level from the user experience point-of-view.
The biggest difference is made by 2D compositing, 3D OpenGL ES, and Warp3D Nova (and old Warp3D is coming too), all hardware accelerated by out-of-the-shelf modern Radeon GPUs, a quantum leap forward in the right direction.

[bloodline]

Yes, but not as well as a recent AmigaOne, and with the limitations inherent with emulating older hardware.

I'm sorry, I am unaware of any "limitations inherent with emulating older hardware"?

WinUAE, is far more compatible with my Amiga software than any single real Amiga, and I have great difficulty finding a TV which will even accept a 15Khz RGB signal anymore... not to mention the nightmare that is 27 year old floppy disks.

[nicholas]

From what you say, it is clear that you never used a computer running AOS4.1  natively. I am using both extensively and, even if I appreciate the possibility to run (but not to enjoy) AOS4.1 on WinUAE on my laptop, I would NEVER put the two options on the same level from the user experience point-of-view.
The biggest difference is made by 2D compositing, 3D OpenGL ES, and Warp3D Nova (and old Warp3D is coming too), all hardware accelerated by out-of-the-shelf modern Radeon GPUs, a quantum leap forward in the right direction.

It's only a matter of time before UAE pass through drivers are made for those things.

Old hat Radeon vs 1080i. Which will perform better?

[virgolamobile]

It's only a matter of time before UAE pass through drivers are made for those things

Really looking forward to it!

However, I must admit I don't see it coming anytime soon, at least what, 5 to 10 years? Will it have the same performance as a native solution? I very much doubt it.

Personally, I am sick of waiting, and by supporting this PPC notebook project is the only thing I can do to (finger crossed) obtain a notebook that can give me the same user experience I have when I use my AOS4.1 machine, with all the doubts that comes with it (e.g. will it be AOS4.1 be ported to it, well, most probably yes).

[wawrzon]

The biggest difference is made by 2D compositing, 3D OpenGL ES, and Warp3D Nova (and old Warp3D is coming too), all hardware accelerated by out-of-the-shelf modern Radeon GPUs, a quantum leap forward in the right direction.

but precisely, except 2d compositing, all these are features delivered by rather recent third party extensions to the os, provided by third party. so strictly speaking os4 under winuae must be delivering exatly the essential experience of the os as such.