A suggestion to keep the Amiga spirit alive...

[alef]

First I must say I have been a humble supporter of the
Amiga community since I bought my first Amiga model way
back in 1987, and I have also been working as an editor
of a national Norwegian Amiga fanzine since 1992 and also
been in the leadership of a national Norwegian user group union.

First of all I wish to say that I am proud of the Amiga community! I am proud for the way we stick together, I am proud for the way that we all help eachother when it comes to fix problems.

OK, the community has got some people making a little noise, but hey: We surely could not live without that extra excitement, I guess...

Second, I want to present a recent idea I just got, kicking
this ball into a hopefullly fruitful discussion in the Amiga community, and also maybe starting a kick-off for the Amiga name that we may all be proud of, and what may be heard of in the world of computing as the way that got the Amiga rise again. (Hopefully that is...)

Ok, now I got excited. Sorry Let's get on to hard facts and the basics of this idea.

I want to distribute my idea down into these following points:

1) The Amiga name has always been known for its widely spread piracy
2) The Amiga community is a community of pride
3) Even if one does not consider religious beliefs, the statement "Thou shall not steal" still is a part of most countries laws
4) The computing world of today surely could need some honesty in certain ways of acting

Ok, above are the basic facts for my idea - let us call it the "Amiga idea", or even "The Amiga license"...

What is left of Amiga today, I keep asking myself. 10 year old classic machines based on slow, but still ok CPUs. A ton (more or less) of old software. An already existing modern, PPC based, expensive main board. And last, but not least, an upcoming modern AmigaOS4.0 which comes with integrated classic Amiga emulation.

Critics of computer audience says those PPC boards are way to expensive. Critics of coders says Amiga has failed because of piracy.

My suggestion is: Let us now make one right out of two wrongs!

This way surely the sentence "Amiga - Computing Pride" would make sense...read on!

My idea is as follows:
When mass production of AmigaOne main boards makes cost more efficient, one would expect prices to drop. My idea is: Let us keep prices, but let Amiga Inc. (or whoever) gather licenses from every single classic software licensee for a
fixed price and then sell a BIG package of classic software (and now I mean as much classic software as possible) for free, but included in a license that comes with the buying of the AmigaOne main board.

Get it?

This way every computer user would get tons of software, not only included, but legally included with a licence, together with the main board. This way one can have pretty much the same price for the AmigaOne main board.

Classic Amigas would keep their prices, because they would represent a way to run classic software without expensive hardware with a license.

Even better, one could associate the software package with the Amiga name, that is: one could say "whoever who has got an Amiga computer, has got an Amiga license..."

Some of this sum should be spent on those licensees from classic software, some of it on ppc native productions (a fund?)....either way no problem to spend those money in a reasonable way...

Hmmm....ok....maybe I am darned wrong about this idea....

Ok....maybe this is a bad idea....

But after have spent some time thinking about this I found
it worth posting this in an open letter to the Amiga community.

Hopefully I will get some sort of reaction on my idea...

Amiga - Pride of Computing

[iamaboringperson]

Amiga - Computing Pride

eww... SOMEBODY PASS ME THE BUCKET!...

When mass production of AmigaOne main boards makes cost more efficient, one would expect prices to drop.

Somehow I doubt it.

I think those machines will be fixed at that price for some time to come IMHO.

[Coder]

@iamaboringperson

eww... SOMEBODY PASS ME THE BUCKET!...

Yeah right!

Coder

[gizz72]

Hello,
  I was hoping someone like alef would post an idea. I, for one, posted my idea earlier the weekend how a new game console would hopefully make the resurgence of the Amiga name once again.
  IMHO there should be a hardware support for this could ever happen, one good example is the A1 or Peg2's. They all provide basic alternative solutions to all Amiga/MOS users alternative hardwares, not to mention UAE, just as I speak/type, is still being updated.
  Piracy is a big issue and a hard pill to swallow. The PeeCee windows are plague with software piracy, but they're still dominating almost all the planet(mars. Joking!). It's only the reality that piracy is one of the factors that cause our Amiga Legacy to go down in the first place.
  Anyway, The Amiga community are few in numbers but, in my little way I will do what they can to support it.

Good day to all Amigans! :-D

[Dalamar]

Personally, having only just returned to my Commodore roots in computing, I don't have many of the biased views that seem to come with those that have lived through all the disappointments.  I don't think that any idea to promote the platform is a bad one, but I see two major issues right off:

1) Amiga Inc, or Hyperion don't have the war chest of cash to buy that many licenses, and I also can't think of how you would decide on those licenses.  From what I can see, Amiga Inc doesn't even care about this as a platform anymore since they went and sold it off.  I guess I was wrong, I do have a bias.   :-D

2) I think that it will be some time before costs on the mainboards drop.  They are in their infancy technology wise, and need to grow up a bit before they become more widespread.  AOS4 needs some basic "modern" software apps as well (web browser like Mozilla and Office apps for a start) before they will appeal to a broad audience.  This is a hobby platform for me and I use it for as much as possibly can, but until it catches up it wont catch on.

I find many closet Amigan's in my profession that have moved to Linux/Windows but do miss the Amiga.  If what is left of the core base of users, like all of us, create a basic demand and supply of software, some of the former Amigans may return.  At this point, it's all up to us.

Amiga Forever :-)

[Coder]

@alef

Good software is indeed needed. But good software often gets killed before it get's a break. With Amithlon for example. Leaving the feelings of if you like emulation or not aside it surely was a great product with great intensions. But Amiga Inc. failed to do what they should and said (remember Bill?) they would.

Don't expect hardware prices to drop anytime soon.

Last point from me. If you want get moving things got to change. We have to get rid of some people. And I want to see more info coming. But when you have a new bunch of people I am sure they screw it up again. And KMOS, why not share some more info with us. I don't like a single bit about this "we are quiet" policy.

People that have a peek after being gone from some years are always saying, oh cool it's still here. When I left management was such a screw up. Good thing it has changed now. And then we have to set things straight. Tis tis.

I said it before. Amiga is being seen as Eyetech and Hyperion these days. Nobody counts on Amiga Inc. anymore. Or KMOS.

Coder

[Coder]

@gizz72

It's only the reality that piracy is one of the factors that cause our Amiga Legacy to go down in the first place.

Also boosted up Amiga 500 sales.

Coder

[gizz72]

@coder

Also boosted up Amiga 500 sales.

True. There were ups and down. :-D


Anyway, since the Amiga was labeled 'Games Machine' in the past, why not give it a try again as a marketing scheme to attract. Redesigned AmigaCD32-ish sytle. Improve on design and the works. A new market opens up(i'm assuming a company with a good marketing strategy and INVESTMENTS is there, though). neat, in a good sense?
That's where the doe comes in. Not to mention new software, games, users! The works. In due time. I hope that's feasible though. In the end, we'll be winners. ;-)

[alef]

@ Dalamar

Thank you very much for a good, polite, and well-biased answer. I am hoping for a discussion of my (silly+?) suggestion.

1) Amiga Inc, or Hyperion don't have the war chest of cash to buy that many licenses

I really think any copyright holder would sign a deal which had some expected income in near future. That is: I guess Amiga Inc. (or whoever) would get licenses for free... Anyway, this would be necessary..

1) Amiga Inc, or Hyperion don't have the war chest of cash to buy that many licenses

I sure hope you are wrong about this... :-(

About your other opinions, I think you are right...

..., some of the former Amigans may return. At this point, it's all up to us.

I could not put it better.
Anyway, I still find my idea worth while discussing further...

[alef]

@ Coder

I said it before. Amiga is being seen as Eyetech and Hyperion these days. Nobody counts on Amiga Inc. anymore. Or KMOS.

As far as I can tell: ....not even you is counting on Amiga...

Then again, I may be wrong... You tell me...

[alef]

eww... SOMEBODY PASS ME THE BUCKET!...

Is this your way of telling how you generally feel on a Monday morning after a normal weekend of yours?

I can hardly imagine how your statement possibly could relate to my suggestion anyhow...

But then again, I may be stupid...

[mikrucio]

The Reamurgence of the amiga as a game console is probably
THE best idea to revive the poor baby.

regards to all.

PS EDGUY Concert is on in Brisbane australia
on the 25th, drop me a line and ill meet you there!!

[gizz72]

@mikrucio

The Reamurgence of the amiga as a game console is probably
THE best idea to revive the poor baby.

Thanks you see it that way. I just could not sleep just thninking about it. Endless possibilities!!  :-o
I'm just wondering, since the community is VERY talented ppl, maybe someone or more could help design a mobo for it.  Another would write firmware, software for it. Maybe, who knows. If only I were an expert on designing on things like that, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Unless otherwise I'm wrong.  :-)
"Repulican AMIGA!" :lol:
Good day to all Amigans! :-D

[itix]

Since when were PPC boards expensive? :-?

[Coder]

@alef

As far as I can tell: ....not even you is counting on Amiga...

Only Amiga Inc, only Amiga Inc. I do believe in the community and every attempt to make more out of it. But like it was said, Amiga Inc. is only working on AmigaDE. Maybe it's a good thing anyway. The CAM Magazine is still on delay. It would be no surprise if it will not return anymore. What eats me is that you have this loyal group of people taking it everytime. How can you treat them like that? Without them there is no market so consider to be a bit more open for once and don't act so stupid.

Alan, from Eyetech, (which I swear saw playing in The Beast part 2) is doing a lot to promote the hardware. Mostly China comes up but the thruth is that if you gain some attention there is might grow out into something big. Maybe they could do a small game device with OS4 as the "game-os".

Is there anyone that has more info on KMOS? I have heard nothing about them or their plans. I am sure they have not said anything about OS4 etc. I know there was this interview but that gave us just about nothing.

I am sure I am stepping on some peoples toes with my remarks but I am just stating facts. With some personal feelings. But even the bucket does not believe in Amiga Inc. anymore. And then you know it's really bad.

Coder