It appears that quite a few people are paying large sums of money to get their hands on the early X1000s even though (as far as I know) it only runs on a single core, the XMOS interface to AOS has not been released, available AOS software is extremely limited etc etc....

Being a long time Amiga user, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of this newest Amiga. I would very much like to take the plunge as well but I am hestitant about making such a large investment without seeing the gameplan (that also includes a timeline). Other than rumours and speculation in forums such as this, there does does not seem to be much information in this area. Not really much on the A-Eon site either.

Going back to 2003/2004, there was this same excitement when the A1s were being produced by Eyetech. I jumped on the band wagon at that time and purchased a micro A1. Overall, I have been disappointed with the micro A1. With the early AOS 4, I put up with more crashes and lock-ups than I would like to admit and as a result most of the time it gathered dust while I eagerly waited for a software update that may or may not finally give me something usable. Its almost there but it has taken 8 years. I don't want to fall into that trap again. I don't 'need' a new Amiga. I have 4 of them and I'm extremely apprehensive about spending $3,000 (or more?) on an unfinished machine with an uncertain path forward that can't do more than the ones that I already have.

I would like to hear from the newest X1000 owners to get their perspective on their purchase and from others like me who are sitting on the fence.

@Sandpiper

I think this is a totally fair question and should be addressed if more people are to join in. Although I have already got my X1000, I would like to know the plans so that I could get involved in maybe doing some development for example for XMOS.

Whilst I know the development team for OS4 is small, I think that a timeline even estimated showing a commitment to the areas of development would be perfectly reasonable to give confidence in such a large financial commitment.

Perhaps Hyperion could put together a road map for development, not necessarily with time scales but definitely showing what is important to them so others can choose to join in.

_________________
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@Sandpiper
I would like to hear from the newest X1000 owners to get their perspective on their purchase and from others like me who are sitting on the fence.

I'm on the external side of the fence and using MorphOS. In my opinion much better Amiga experience at 1/10 of X1000 price.

Warning, this post is completely OFF TOPIC and deliberately crafted to derail this thread! Please refrain from this type of behavior in the future. -- Moxee

Last edited by Moxee on 05-Feb-2012 at 09:19 PM.

_________________
RastPort

@Sandpiper

X1000 is the opportunity for AmigaOS4.2 to go dual core, and lots of work on new 3d system, this are things that are not support right now, so you might think of the X1000 as development platform.

But as end customer you can now play 720p videos on one core whit out a video decoding chip, right now it is the fastest AmigaOS4.x hardware, it can use PCI Express graphic cards.

If the X1000 is too expensive there is always the Sam460/AmigaOne500, it does offer access to PCI Express graphic cards, but Sam460 is a slower computer but yet big upgrade from the buggy and outdated MicroAmigaONE's.

Last edited by NutsAboutAmiga on 05-Feb-2012 at 06:57 PM.
Last edited by NutsAboutAmiga on 05-Feb-2012 at 06:56 PM.

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@g_kraszewski

Quote:

I'm on the external side of the fence and using MorphOS. In my opinion much better Amiga experience at 1/10 of X1000 price.

I think it is rather 1/20...

Why stay behind the fence, when you can enter? The entrance fee isn´t that high.


I hope A-eon will not sell all X1000s before Christmas, I would like to buy one as nice present for Saturnalia.

@Sandpiper

Quote:

I would like to hear from the newest X1000 owners to get their perspective on their purchase and from others like me who are sitting on the fence.

I am going to be totally honest as I believe that is best for everyone. I, like you, was concerned that the system might be unstable, experimental even and that the software support just wouldn't be there. Happily this is not the case. The OS is stable and the supporting software - while still nowhere near Windows levels - is enough to be worth your while to invest. But should you jump to the £2000 approx for an X1000?

The way I see it there are 3 reasons to own an X1000 over an AmigaOne 500:

1. Speed of CPU although I wouldn't have thought the 460 to be slow.
2. To see how the Xena chip will be used.
3. To be at the cutting edge.

I am sure the 460 does 90% of what most people want out of an NG Amiga but you have to decide if having the Xena is worth a doubling in the price along with an increase in CPU speed. To be perfectly honest most people will be quite happy with the 460 but that third reason isn't as meaningless and silly as it sounds - it feels good to have the fastest Amiga in the world again. If you are worried that the X1000 isn't useable - don't be. With the right web browser (OWB MUI) and other software it is a snappy stable system. It does still lock up though. If you are expecting no lock ups then you will still be dissappointed.

In Windows 7 when a task crashes I can just end the process and carry on - I cannot remember the last time I had a full lock up - but on the Amiga that can happen. It's not the end of the world - you just need to learn what you did wrong - the support on the forums at Hyperion is excellent and I have had every question I have had so far answered - perfectly. I do believe that these people genuinely care that you enjoy your new Amiga.

In short the X1000 is a lovely system to use. It's OS4 - it's fabulous coming back to the Amiga again and I am amazed as to just how usable the whole system is and how competitive it is against Windows and OSX - but you need to expect the odd lock up here and there bvecause it will happen. One of my fears was that there wasn't enough software to warrant the purchase - but there is enough - just. OS4 depot is a godsend. Downloading and running programs reminds me of my Aminet days - and the enjoyment is just as good as it was. Aminet of course still exists as well.

The X1000 is a fantastic machine but I have a sneaking suspicion that most people will get just as much fun from the 460 and save a great deal of money. The one thing that either option will bring you though is 4.1 which is one of the finest operating systems in the world and on a high res monitor is a beautiful, fluid OS to use just like Workbench always was.

I will see if I can get a review up shortly with much more detail. I hope this little snippet helps.

_________________
Sam

@clusteruk

We don't have road map, but we know what is coming,

1. Radeon HD graphic card support.
2. New 3D graphic system.(coming in a update for OS4.1 or AmigaOS4.2)
3. dual core support. (for a long time it has been promised in AmigaOS4.2)

There has not really bean any talks about going 64bit for time being, but there is a opportunity is her.

Last edited by NutsAboutAmiga on 05-Feb-2012 at 07:10 PM.

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I did a risc and jumped the X1000 wagon. For me it was just something that i felt can replace my old and good friend a1g4xe. More horsepower, more memory, more modern hardware. I dont know how many years i had my A1, probably at least 7 years.

Surfing is faster now, hd-rec benchmark gave good results as im into musicmaking. Also this gives me the joy back for everyday use like i used to with my x1000 some years ago. Its just a hobby, expensive one but as said it was ages ago i bought my last amigaone.

So my roadplan is to try out what works, what not, inform 3rd party app developers if something dont work etc. Wait for the OS4.2 to try out what it has to offer. Hopefully new gfx system. Then wait if 2core support comes, if it brings 64bit support etc. Ok that is far away but really just use it like all other systems i had before. And when some update appears fine :)

Ofcourse i hope we will get more interested folks, not only x1000, but for sam460, new laptop when arrives etc. Whatever that gives us continue of new systems and ofcourse 3rd party apps.

I was an hardcore amigan until 2 summers ago when i bought my first x64 machine. An Asus laptop with windows7 and i use it for everything amiga cant like flash and other. And as mediacenter as its under my tv. But now with x1000 i feel i will sit more infront it. Hopefully make more music then i made last 2years which is zero :)

Also i been using arteffect some more this time, but only to fix up images i took with camera/mobile phone. My wishes are more 3rd party apps and that more coders will join.

When folks asks me about amiga i always tell them its no use for them as i know what they want, games, flash, VST/i, photoshop etc. So i recommend them to update their win/mac hardware to get more speed :) Its like it is. We dont have a magic wand and say oh this is the plan. Many plans changes. Just see all the previous roadmaps, many stuff moved for later versions.

To be a success we need more users, more buyers. Who else to develop for. Who will pay the coders work. To be even more success we need joined mos/os4/aros etc but that will not happen. At least 3rd some 3rd party devs are helping each other which is a good thing. For example one person here works on digibooster3 for mos/os4/68k etc ;)

EDIT:

Im happy with my purchase, it feels like a faster machine and as said with updates it will be better. Wonder how many years i will keep it :)

Not to forget, theres also MOS that you can search for much cheaper used machines. Their system has better emulating of 68k and many things that already had for ages like usb2 and other stuff.

AROS is probably the cheapest of them all as many already have pc systems at home. WinUAE too.

As im an OS4 fanboy i choose x1000 ;)

Last edited by Kicko on 05-Feb-2012 at 07:46 PM.
Last edited by Kicko on 05-Feb-2012 at 07:35 PM.

@g_kraszewski

Quote:

I'm on the external side of the fence and using MorphOS. In my opinion much better Amiga experience at 1/10 of X1000 price

This thread wasn't intended to be a comparison of one platform against another. Otherwise the discussion will digress very quickly.

@NutsAboutAmiga

Quote:

We don't have road map, but we know what is coming, 1. Radeon HD graphic card support. 2. New 3D graphic system.(coming in a update for OS4.1 or AmigaOS4.2) 3. dual core support. (for a long time it has been promised in AmigaOS4.2)

How long will we have to wait? Will this time be measured in months or years? Is it wishful thinking that it these features will come or is it a fact? As we all know you have to be patient to be an Amiga enthusiast.

@g_kraszewski

Quote:

I'm on the external side of the fence and using MorphOS. In my opinion much better Amiga experience at 1/10 of X1000 price.

Running off topic at 3. post, congrats.

_________________
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@Sandpiper

Surely, experience with early AmigaOne was disappointing. My advice for you is to buy AmigaOS 4.1, update it to the max and enjoy everything you can get from OS4 depot. Then you will get current OS 4.1 experience for about hundred euros and will be able to decide will you invest more. G4 is good enough for OS, and its quite mature since you have used it. Or wait for OS 4.2 to be out and then decide either to buy it for A1 Micro or to buy SAM 460 or X1000.

Major difference is exactly that there are no more big plans presented: only what can be done within year or two framework. Maybe that sound less promising but has been much more stable and less disappointing. Situation with hardware avail of SAMs has stablized and X1000 is on offer. Surely, OS 4.1 has to be developed to fully support X1000 features, but exactly that will be the major force pushing ahead.

_________________
OS 3.x AROS and MOS supporter, fi di good, nothing fi di unprofessionalism. Learn it harder way!
SinclairQL and WII U lover :D
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@Sandpiper

Just see history and you'll see why its hard to give a roadmap. Saying it will come for summer can end in next summer or 2 next summers etc. Some stuff even never come.

@-Sam

Sam - having Xena onboard is a little bit different from being able to use it. That is where I am coming from. The X1000 has the potential for home automation with the XMOS interface (in my opinion). How long to wait until this is usable?

Sounds like you have written at part of the review people have been asking you for.

@Kicko, @-Sam

Nice to see that there are some satisfied buyers. That certainly is a positive sign.

@g_kraszewski

Quote:

I'm on the external side of the fence and using MorphOS. In my opinion much better Amiga experience at 1/10 of X1000 price.

Surely, MorphOS is great but its dead is exactly no new system. If MOS doesn`t come out of that loop, one day there will be no PPC Macs on ebay. Planned x86/ARM transition is great if PPC version is not left out completely and if it can be done in reasonable time, but same as with situation presented here: there is no framework people can stick to.

Sadly, no MorphOS for SAMs and X1000 is planned so we will be deprived of the experience unless we buy PPC MacMini, eMac or Mac laptop.

_________________
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@Sandpiper

The only reason way the XMOS chip is there is because varisys wonted it there, there are XMOS developers out there that need a workstation, we know it can be used for real time signal processing and that it can be used a sort of FPGA, you can look it up youtube and you find a lot audio related project, but also used to emulate things like SNES.

Last edited by NutsAboutAmiga on 05-Feb-2012 at 08:16 PM.

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@clusteruk

+1

Roadmap would be nice, even without deadlines.
And perhaps they could put up polls to help to prioritize what the community wants to see next on their system.

I see no big risk in being transparent with AOS4 plans. (this is not multibilliondollar business after all)

@g_kraszewski

Only the users of both systems can deside which one is nicer as "Amiga".
But let's not go offtopic.

Last edited by KimmoK on 05-Feb-2012 at 08:25 PM.
Last edited by KimmoK on 05-Feb-2012 at 08:23 PM.

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// For freedom, for honor, for AMIGA
//
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@Sandpiper

Quote:

The X1000 has the potential for home automation with the XMOS interface (in my opinion). How long to wait until this is usable?

I don't know - is the short answer. It could be a few months - it could be longer - right now the only thing that seems fairly certain is that 4.2 is very close and will hopefully bring with it some key features. Wait until it is released then decide. You will have to wait a while if you want an X1000 anyway.

Last edited by -Sam- on 05-Feb-2012 at 09:52 PM.
Last edited by -Sam- on 05-Feb-2012 at 09:51 PM.

_________________
Sam

@NutsAboutAmiga

Quote:

The only reason way the XMOS chip is there is because varisys wonted it there, there are XMOS developers out there that need a workstation, we know it can be used for real time signal processing and that it can be used a sort of FPGA, you can look it up youtube and you find a lot audio related project, but also used to emulate things like SNES.

Understood. But will you be able to access the XMOS chip from AOS? There are several examples of Amiga motherboards that were released with 'features' whose end use did not (or have not yet) materialized from AOS. The PCI slot in the micro is a good example (Gfx cards do not work - and most likely never will) and the FPGA slot in SAM 440/460 boards. I would like to know the path forward for the use of the XMOS chip through AOS.

@vox

Quote:

Surely, experience with early AmigaOne was disappointing. My advice for you is to buy AmigaOS 4.1, update it to the max and enjoy everything you can get from OS4 depot.

I have purchased AOS 4.1. I have no complaints. The team has done a nice job so far and I like it. I have expanded my micro A1 just about as far as it can go (SATA/USB combo with 60GB SSD and 512 MB memory upgrade). Of course I am still limited by the onboard 32MB Radeon 7000 and USB 2.0 does not work.

I will stay the course with this machine until I feel that the features available on the X1000 justify it's purchase. Rumors, speculation and wishful thinking regarding upcoming features are not sufficient for me. If I am going to pay that kind of money it should work as advertised either right out of the box or at least a commitment from the vendor of when I can expect unimplemented features to be rolled out/activated etc. The SAMs, although nice machines, do not provide enough incremental performance boost in my opinion when compared to my micro.