Hi there!

I've recently fired up my old A1200 after nearly 10 years in a cardboard box (that's the A1200, not me!), and it's inspired me to get back into the Amiga scene.

I first got my A1200 for Christmas in 1993, added various upgrades through the '90s (nternal HD, Apollo 1240, flickerfixer, Squirrel SCSI bus with external HD and CDROM, modem etc). Got a bit disillusioned and bought a PC in 2002, and the Amiga got boxed up in 2003. But now it's back! Currently looking to replace the capacitors and sort the Apollo battery out (just started fizzing, so caught it just in time!)

I've been reading a bit on the internet about what's been happening over the last 10 years or so - sounds like a lot has happened! Anyone care to give me a quick update! As I say, I've read a bit, so maybe I'm interested in more of a personal take than the cold hard facts...

What went on with the Amiga Inc / Hyperion lawsuit - can't really get my head around it!

Anyway that's my intro, nice to meet you!

@DBSausage
First welcome to Amiga scene again.
And the second uptade you is very long but basicly we have new hardware to run the Amiga OS4 and if you don't want spend much money buying new hardware you have two alternatives use AROS runs on x86 machines or MorphOS on Mac PPCs, and there are the eternal return the classic hardware in several proyects to update this machines the current and real that you can buy is the MiniMig that is an Amiga 500 with modern FPG chips and the future 1200 on other thats now I don't remember, and thats is all in a little resume.

@DBSausage

Quote:

What went on with the Amiga Inc / Hyperion lawsuit - can't really get my head around it!

They reached settlement in 2009, granting all rights to AmigaOS to Hyperion.


and of course...

Welcome!

@DBSausage

In general, IMHO, Amiga community's situation is slightly better now.
We have higher quality NG HW than before.
AOS4, MOS and AROS all get updates pretty often.
Also 68k there seems to be new SW and OS patches every now and then.

For a user:
-MOS might be the most stable now
-AOS4 is little bit behind MOS (in general)
-AROS is behind those others, but it seems developing pretty fast.

All have some features that other variants do not yet have.
Third party developers seem to be supporting all variants more than before.
AOS4 is heading towards SMP on x1000 HW.
MOS is useing Apple PPC HW, but is also planned to do architecture change to go elsewhere.
AROS is best supported with x86 (but it has also other CPU versions).

etc... etc...

I'm mainly with AOS4. It's not yet on the level where my 3.x systems were, but pretty usable. SAM 667Mhz seems a little slow for modern apps. etc. but usable.

Oh, and the most amazing thing for me is that there is nnew HW released also for 68k. IMO now more often than 10 years ago. I guess it's because developers have learned to master FPGA programming.

Last edited by KimmoK on 22-Apr-2012 at 10:13 AM.

_________________
- KimmoK
// For freedom, for honor, for AMIGA
//
// Thing that I should find more time for: CC64 - 64bit Community Computer?

Next to Morphos and Aros, there is the availability of Amiga OS4, new hardware that can run it (SAM range of machines and the X1000). Also, the Natami is around the corner (atleast, for some years now) to fill in all classic needs.

For OS4 you've got like 3 choices of internetbrowsers, OWB, Netsurf and Timberwolf.

_________________
Back home...

I'd say the Amiga situation is better now than it has been for a long time.

All three platforms are advancing well, with available hardware for all of them. If you want cheap and powerful, go AROS. If you want cheap and less powerful, but not a PC, go MorphOS (2nd hand Macs). If you want expensive and moderately powerful, go AOS (but this way you get funky new hardware which isn't just a PC and doesn't have a rotten fruit emblazoned on the side). It really depends though on which OS you prefer.

Myself, I prefer OS4 - we have new hardware, drivers for RadeonHD cards (if you need them), we have Firefox ported (as "Timberwolf"). It's stable, very fast, and is excellent for the user and for the developer. That's not to put down the other two - I just don't know as much about them.

And of course your Classics still work as well as they ever did.

Everybody wins. :)

Thanks for the warm welcome guys!

@pavlor

Yeh I'd read it all got settled... I guess my original question is about how the lawsuit came about in the first place (sorry I didn't explain very well!) So if Hyperion essentially own AmigaOS... what do Amiga own/do? Licence the name for hardware? And what's going on with AmigaDE / AmigaAnywhere - still in development / use?

You all sound very optimistic indeed - an emotion don't think was being felt 10 years ago! Excellent! I guess on first reflections, the fragmentation of the Amiga community into three "camps" doesn't sound that positive (are there even enough users to sustain 1 development path?!). But on the other hand anyone who is still developing isn't doing it for fame/fortune, but for love of the platform. And I suppose the fragmentation may (has been?) good for innovation.

I must say the AmigaOne X1000 looks exciting, though a bit pricey for me!

@KimmoK

Sorry what is SMP?

@DBSausage

SMP = Symmetric Multi-Processor

The option of 2 or more processors being present to run the applications and games software instead of relying on a single CPU for all of the processing.

This adds a complete extra processor chip for each CPU added, but does not add the same capacity.

Two CPUs sharing memory also need their own ways of dancing together so that everything doesn't end up a mess of two-left-feet being stamped on constantly.

This is generally a good thing

@DBSausage



Quote:

So if Hyperion essentially own AmigaOS...

Hyperion owns OS4 and has exclusive licence to AmigaOS (Amiga OS) and AmigaOne (Amiga One) names and AmigaOS 3.1 source code. That means only Hyperion can use these source codes and names.

Quote:

what do Amiga own/do?

Quote:

Licence the name for hardware?

Yes. There is "Commodore Amiga Mini" from Commodore USA (a little bit expensive x86 PC with Linux from Commodore USA).

Quote:

And what's going on with AmigaDE / AmigaAnywhere - still in development / use?

I fear not.

Quote:

I guess on first reflections, the fragmentation of the Amiga community into three "camps" doesn't sound that positive

It has its negative and also positive points. One can choose between multiple solutions - choice is always good. However, there are sometimes also bitter fights between supporters of different factions, but they are only minority in our broader community. Days of Blue/Red war are over.

Quote:

I must say the AmigaOne X1000 looks exciting, though a bit pricey for me!

Yes, it is my intention to buy such great machine. Of course there are much cheaper solutions like older G4 Macs for MorphOS (realy nice and fast OS compatible with AmigaOS 3) or AROS for x86 PCs. Some are fully satisfied by WinUAE, some need real hardware (eg. minimig or nearly completed Natami).

If you want to try OS4, maybe it will be wise to wait for cheap OS4 netbook that should be released this year.

@pavlor

Quote:

If you want to try OS4, maybe it will be wise to wait for cheap OS4 netbook that should be released this year.

Yes, sounds VERY exciting - I'd buy one now!

So Amiga Inc owns the Amiga brandname for hardware (except for the AmigaOne brandname, which is owned by Hyperion)? Complicated, and rather messy!

@DBSausage

Quote:

Yes, sounds VERY exciting - I'd buy one now!

Mee too.

Quote:

So Amiga Inc owns the Amiga brandname for hardware (except for the AmigaOne brandname, which is owned by Hyperion)?

Amiga.Inc owns both Amiga and AmigaOne names, but it can´t use AmigaOne name (exclusive licence to Hyperion).

Quote:

Complicated, and rather messy!

Maybe. Still much better than before the 2009 settlement agreement.

@DBSausage

Welcome back! I bet you will have more fun now with your cool A1200 than the pc you have currently! Nice a1200 setup btw.


Quote:

Yes, sounds VERY exciting - I'd buy one now!

Nobody has ever even seen this laptop or os4 running on any laptop so for now its a project that will take a while to come out as a commercial product. You are better off looking at a Sam system for os4, or a PPC Mac for Morphos. Actually I think get a Peg2 used and run BOTH os4 and Morphos! (and linux and OSX)

@DBSausage

Welcome back, I have just returned after several years away (not as long as you though!) and got myself a SAM460 running Amiga OS4.1.4 and I am very happy indeed.

I too will purchase an Amiga laptop as soon as it is available

_________________
SAM 460 with 2GB or RAM, 1000GB HD, 4 port SATA, DVDRW drive and Radeon HD 4650 GFX card.

@realize

"Nobody has ever even seen this laptop"

IIRC, it is said to be a existing netbook, so thousands of people must have seen it.

" os4 running on any laptop"

Friedens have said they have the netbook running AOS4 (last year, already).
Do you call them liars?

Last edited by KimmoK on 23-Apr-2012 at 11:15 AM.

_________________
- KimmoK
// For freedom, for honor, for AMIGA
//
// Thing that I should find more time for: CC64 - 64bit Community Computer?

@KimmoK

To be fair to Realize, he's kind of right. True, we may have seen the netbook, but not running OS4 which is the important bit. I think he's just saying that as the Friedens don't release final details until the thing is ready (which is the correct thing to do), there's no point in waiting for it. If you want to get an OS4 machine, you're better off getting one of the existing solutions at the moment - which I agree with.

@DBSausage



Proudly running AmigaOS4.1.4 and Hollywood5.

g0blin

_________________
GDG Entertainment

Cybersphere Page

@Spirantho

I also expect it to take a while before the OS is optimized enough for lowest performance PPC so far. It would not be a good idea to show bugged and superb slow alpha version.

We could put up a bet: what is demonstrated first, the AOS4+netbook or AOS4+SMP.
I bet for the SMP demo.

_________________
- KimmoK
// For freedom, for honor, for AMIGA
//
// Thing that I should find more time for: CC64 - 64bit Community Computer?

@DBSausage

Quote:

DBSausage wrote: (about the OS4 netbook) Yes, sounds VERY exciting - I'd buy one now!

In the meanwhile you can easily (and mooooore cheaply) try either Icaros Desktop or AspireOS (AROS distributions) on any regular x86 netbook, although there are some models which are far better supported than others (Aspire One A150 and its clones are maybe the best supported).

@KimmoK

Quote:

KimmoK wrote: @realize "Nobody has ever even seen this laptop" IIRC, it is said to be a existing netbook, so thousands of people must have seen it. " os4 running on any laptop" Friedens have said they have the netbook running AOS4 (last year, already). Do you call them liars?

According to your posting it is not a Laptop, so nopbody could have seen it, or would you call the Friedens liars ?

_________________
AmigaONE. Haha. Just because you can put label on it does not make it Amiga.

I borrowed this comments from here (#27 & #28):
http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=38873&forum=2&start=20&order=0

@KimmoK

You mean that "SMP" that was promised 2003?

Much more interesting will be when one of the two packages become reality ...

Last edited by OlafS25 on 23-Apr-2012 at 05:08 PM.