Another argument is not being able to develop AmigaOS for all those differen macs/PPC boards and support users due to lack of resources.. I'd love to see OS4/MOS on every type of PPC board out there (not that many yet tho) but who is going to fund it..
Actually, I've only seen that argument being used "unofficially", like in forum posts. The illogical "anti-piracy" nonsense I was referring to is defacing a corporate website.
But of course you don't need to require that hardware vendors get themselves and their stuff licensed and start to sell AmigaOS-bundles, and that AmigaOS users should only be allowed to buy their hardware from such dealers, to accomplish what any normal Hardware Compatibility List does: Saying that "
This operating system runs on hardware X, Y, and Z."
Let's just say, even if Amiga Inc drops the lisence it still won't happen unlees somebody is going to put up the cash.. Or do you have the money to do it ?
Sure, to sell a Product (AmigaOS running on Hardware X) you first need to
make that Product. Currently, "Hardware X" only equals the Teron line of motherboards and only when sold by Eyetech (actually, so far it's equalled whatever the heck Eyetech happens to find, contrary to the touted "certifications" for "compatibility", "quality", "guaranteed supply" et c).
Running on better/cheaper/more commonly available hardware is essential, it means a better chance for return on the investment (the making of the Product). The licensing requirement is a hindrance to ever seeing that happen in the first place,
regardless of whether it (=the investment/production) would be financially viable for KMOS/Hyperion.
Note that if AmigaOS was available for sale separate from hardware, it wouldn't even have to be Hyperion who made it run on and officially support that hardware. You could buy (or download from Aminet, depending on the altruism of the programmers
) for example a "Pegasos Software-kit" from a third party, and buy AmigaOS from KMOS/Hyperion. How much hardware would people be using with their Amigas today, if they only had hardware with officially released drivers from Commodore (or Escom/Gateway/AInc)? No PPC. No graphics cards. No PCI expansions ...
But where does this "every type of PPC board out there" stuff come from, and what does technical compatibility/feasibility issues have to do with this? No licensee = no OS. Without someone buying a license, it's pointless to even discuss what particular hardware that would make sensible targets. It doesn't matter if all that needs to be changed is one single byte, or if the hardware is alien technology from the planet Wo87yh87hswgre4xz. Again, No licensee = No OS. And even if someone would get a licence (yeah, right) for selling e.g. a PowerBook G4, then AmigaOS users would only be allowed to buy their PowerBook G4s from that licensee, even though the licensed and the "normal" hardware is
identical just like with what's available today. All this must change, IMO.
Genesi said a few months back they would look into developing an MOS version for Macs (A kind of Knoppix idea I believe) and restated those intentions not that long ago, but I believe it when I see it..
Me too. Genesi make a living on their own hardware. It might make more sense some day depending on how MOS and the Pegasoses evolve.
Not meaning I don't think they are just saying it, I'm just saying they might not be able to do it, resource wise.
If anything, I think it's more likely to be the other way round. Resource-wise it shouldn't be too difficult a task to make MOS run on a Mac or two.
