I was curious so I downloaded AROS from the official web site. I ended up with a huge .iso file. It could be the files are a fixed size, since I think one side of a DVD holds about 1.5 GBs. This is similar to other disk image files like Amiga floppy .adf files, which are a fixed size. Since I don't have a DVD burner, I took it to FEDEX/Kinko's in downtown Salt Lake City near where I live. Only one person there knew what a disk image is, but at least somebody did. It simplified things. It cost me around $15 for the associate to initiate the transfer process and then work on other things. Considering the labor and materials involved, the price was way too high. Anyway I ended up with a bootable DVD.

I decided to install it on a spare, and very old, Pentium II machine I use to network with my Amiga's. I was surprised that the ancient BIOS handled the DVD drive with no trouble. My test system is limited by the slow speed of the computer and a small LCD monitor. Also none of the recomended video cards is installed. It took a very long time to copy all the files. This was understandable because there were lots of files. The overall slowness of the system was also a factor.

At first I was confused by the partitioning. I decided to partition the 6-GB hard drive into two parts before installing. I discovered this was unnecessary, because the installation program partitions and formats the drive before installing. I created one partition and thought I would create the second later. I'm not sure this is possible. The included HDToolbox utility doesn't seem to do anything. I'll deal with that later.

After installation, I used it for a while to get a feel for it. I discovered some curious inconsistencies. There are some obvious differences with AmigaOS 4. It has a Windows-like taskbar / docky at the bottom. Since I am admittedly a Windows user; and like it, this is a good feature. There is even a Start menu. Also the AROS windows have Windows-like features like a back-button for navigating between folders. In all, it has a Windows-like feel which to me is a positive thing. In spite of what die-hard Amigafans say, the Windows interface has been improved for decades by teams of programmers and tons of money and is pretty good.

I don't get the whole floppy drive thing. Although there seems to be an auto-detect feature and the busy light on the floppy drive is on all the time, inserting a disk in the drive doesn't cause an icon to appear on the desktop. Doing a screen update does accomplish this. It won't read native amiga disks or native Windows disks. I can't see what the floppy is good for because you can't use a floppy disk to transfer files from either an Amiga system or a Windows system. And I don't know what it does to the drive itself. It seems like this is a definitely a work-in-process.

There's lots more that I haven't had time to investigate. There is network file-sharing and email. There are text editors. AROS won't run Amiga programs directly. To do that the programs have to be converted to x86-compatible code. Lots of converted programs are included in the installation package. One item I'm interested in and haven't had time to try is a version of the UAE Amiga emulator.

AROS is definitely interesting. But there still seems to be lots of work left to do. It is also not difficult to get the operating system and try it and doesn't require any special equipment, except for a DVD drive with burning capabilites.

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X5000 / microA1(OS4.1 FE U2) / CodeBench / Imagine / Blender
Lightwave 2019 / Microsoft Visual C++

@thinkchip

I agree AROS is interesting but when you dig deeper it's lacking compared to OS4 and MorphOS.

Hopefully development will accelerate.

But I am still amazed how far it has come. Good work to the AROS guys :)

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AmigaOS 4.x Beta Tester - Classic Amiga enthusiast - http://www.hd-zone.com is my Amiga Blog, check it out!

I am still waiting until AROS boots/installs on my HP 530. That's my only PC and has a 256 MB graphics Intel SoC shared with RAM so too nasty configuration for AROS.

But still, it makes AROS unusable to me, until I get another PC (and I ain't plan to).

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Amiga 1200 + WARP 1260 + AmigaOS 3.2

@DiskDoctor

One could equally say the following:

"I am still waiting until MorphOS boots/installs on my G5 iMac. That's my only Mac and has insert random technical detail here so too nasty configuration for MorphOS.

"But still, it makes MorphOS unusable to me, until I get another (second hand) Mac (and I don't plan to)."

Last edited by ncafferkey on 25-Dec-2009 at 03:15 AM.

@DiskDoctor

Device drivers are the toughest part when making a free operating system. You get no respect by the for-profit hardware manufacturers. Especially Intel. Intel sucks for graphics chips. I bought AMD for my laptop and am not disappointed.

@DiskDoctor

Quote:

DiskDoctor wrote: I am still waiting until AROS boots/installs on my HP 530. That's my only PC and has a 256 MB graphics Intel SoC shared with RAM so too nasty configuration for AROS. But still, it makes AROS unusable to me, until I get another PC (and I ain't plan to).

You can still run AROS within VirtualBox.

_________________
Amiga 1200 (rev 1D1, KS 3.2, PiStorm32/RPi CM4/Emu68)
Amiga 500 (rev 6A, ECS, KS 3.2, PiStorm/RPi 4B/Emu68)
Ryzen 9 7950X, DDR5-6000 64 GB RAM, GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB

@ncafferkey

Quote:

ncafferkey wrote: @DiskDoctor One could equally say the following: "I am still waiting until MorphOS boots/installs on my G5 iMac. That's my only Mac and has insert random technical detail here so too nasty configuration for MorphOS. "But still, it makes MorphOS unusable to me, until I get another (second hand) Mac (and I don't plan to)."

Correct. Having the mini made me a MorphOS user - same story.

But pardon me - I would rather collect for Sam to run AmigaOS, then for a PC to launch AROS on it.

@Hammer

It's not the same. I ran AROS on QEMU or VMWare already. But that's not the same experience. I wanna have it installed on my HD.

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Amiga 1200 + WARP 1260 + AmigaOS 3.2

Doesn't capture my imagination sorry.

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4000T/BFG9060
CD32/Elsat ProModule, TF360
CD32/ Edu's CD32 <> A1200 Adapter, Vampire V2
CD32/ FMV Module

@thinkchip

You should have tried the distro, "Icaros", instead of the default AROS ISO.

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Dammy

@Akiko

OK, no problem maybe it will later on as it continues to improve and progress.

So much is coming next year for Aros that you may find it suits what you want. Looking at your signature, you have an A4000, well so do I but I find my software runs faster on my Aros box than my 040 based A4000 and that is on 1.6ghz iMica.

Catch you later

Of course we can give you an Amiga netbook today now.

Last edited by clusteruk on 25-Dec-2009 at 01:50 PM.

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Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

@clusteruk

Quote:

Looking at your signature, you have an A4000,

You most have overlooked the AmigaONE-XE in his signature

_________________
http://lifeofliveforit.blogspot.no/
Facebook::LiveForIt Software for AmigaOS

@NutsAboutAmiga

I did not miss, the A4000 is a machine we have in common.

Funny thing is that it is rare to see somebody with the true Amiga in their signature like I have, the Amiga 1000. The greatest machine ever made, period, even if it only ranks actually number 7 by a poll in the past.

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Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

@clusteruk

Can't agree on you with that one sorry. Never tried the a1000,but have had several a4k. And one a1200. Original a4k has to be some of the sexiest made.

_________________
I'm an antique. Don't light my fuse

@clusteruk

I killed my A500, got to annoyed whit slow 7Mhz speed.

_________________
http://lifeofliveforit.blogspot.no/
Facebook::LiveForIt Software for AmigaOS

@DiskDoctor

One day Aros will be ready for most Amigans but for now we just pick new Amigans up as we go along. What does it matter as long as you enjoy whatever Amigas you have.

_________________
Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

@all

If you was not around when A1000 was launched and out of your reach due to money you would understand.

Even now it does things that others would struggle with, ie. some very cool and smooth demos. Hardware see.

Last edited by clusteruk on 25-Dec-2009 at 02:41 PM.
Last edited by clusteruk on 25-Dec-2009 at 02:41 PM.

_________________
Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

@clusteruk

Cannot wait. I wish I could have it installed - thus I'd be a MorphOS and AROS user now.

x86 target gives it much much more penetration anyway.

_________________
Amiga 1200 + WARP 1260 + AmigaOS 3.2

@Antique

most original Amigans will Admit that A4k was a cost reduced failure of an Amiga. I saw the true A3000 with AAA and it would have put the A4k to shame.

Commodore cost cutting reduced the 4000 to just that a cost reduced Amiga with 2 extra bitplanes and a faster processor. Sorry but there you are. Still a reasonable machine but could have been as ground breaking as A1000 but commodore wimped out.

_________________
Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/

@DiskDoctor

Quote:

x86 target gives it much much more penetration anyway.

If you can keep up whit hardware manufactures.
(That goes for AmigaOS, MorphOS, AROS, BeOS, Linux, BSD and MacOSX.)

_________________
http://lifeofliveforit.blogspot.no/
Facebook::LiveForIt Software for AmigaOS

@DiskDoctor

Trust me, we will get you on board soon. Lots happening.

_________________
Amiga 1000, 3000D Toaster, Checkmate A1500 Plus
http://www.checkmate1500plus.com/