Adam Kowalczyk, of ACK Controls, was in IRC briefly, so a few of us tag-teamed him a bit for some status regarding PowerVixxen. Not much info there, but some at least..

There seems to be a holdup on getting some parts for the A1200 version..

Apr 02 18:44:02 adam Unfortunately, I'm waiting on A1200 CPU connectors.......the original source for a bunch of them turned out to be a lot less than I needed.
Apr 02 18:47:08 adam Not until I can round up a bunch of them....has been a big setback.
Apr 02 18:56:34 cgutjahr adam: but developing and testing hardware is done, or are you still working on that?
Apr 02 18:57:31 adam h/w's been finished for a while now from a design/test point of view
Apr 02 18:58:09 wegster adam what about mini-pci cards/standalone?
Apr 02 19:00:44 adam the mini-pci slot works well, standalone aspect needs a bit of polish
Apr 02 18:59:17 cgutjahr adam: okay, great to hear. Is your remark about OpenBIOS related to the PV?
Apr 02 19:01:01 adam Porting OpenBios for a bunch of different boards :)

Apr 02 18:55:15 jahc adam: klester got himself a brand new a1200 last year just to use with a PowerVixen
Apr 02 19:01:25 wegster adam so I take it plan = for a1200s first, then standalone at a later date?
Apr 02 19:03:48 adam It's likely the A3/4K version will be out before the A1200....I CAN get those connectors.

Apr 02 19:04:50 sundown adam: 4000T included?
Apr 02 19:05:26 adam yes
Apr 02 19:05:40 sundown adam:
Apr 02 19:09:52 klesterjr Didn't even know that 3000/4000 versions were on the horizon
Apr 02 19:10:31 klesterjr I'm assuming same processor
Apr 02 19:12:07 adam The A3/4K(T) version is higher end than the 5200
Apr 02 19:12:20 klesterjr Really?
Apr 02 19:12:55 adam yes
Apr 02 19:12:58 klesterjr Probably means a higher price tag then
Apr 02 19:13:10 klesterjr I like the PV's price point ;)
Apr 02 19:13:19 adam It's still reasonable.
Apr 02 19:13:29 klesterjr That's nice to hear

I snipped some channel traffic out of it, but that's about it. Some news = better than none, at least...and possibly good news for A3k/4k owners?

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Are we not done with the same silly arguments and flames yet??!

@wegster

Thanks for the news update. Not much news, but it's better than no news at all.
Now, we have an idea that they're still working on PowerVixxen.

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AmigaClyde

µA1-C 750GX@800 using OS4.1

@wegster

Quote:

Some news = better than none, at least...and possibly good news for A3k/4k owners?

WOOT!

I've got 2 A3's sitting here. I thought that this version was only some time for the future. I'm excited to hear that it may hit before the A1200 version. I may have to go this route while waiting on the others to bring stand alone boards. I hate not being able to join in on the OS4 fun.

Its amazing that we get a thread with some positive news, and there are only 2 comments. Yet, someone posts something negative, and there are hundreds of posts. Go figure!

Why doesn't Adam just ditch the classic host and get the board into production as a standalone board, seeing as that part (from the above conversation) seems to be ready?

@wegster

Thanks for posting the irc questions and answers.

I'm still not getting my hopes up, but it's nice to know that some progress is being made. I hope that eventually a product is released.

Yeah. I still hope my A1200 will get PPC acceleration though.

What about 20 questions Q&A?
Waiting for Mr Adam in IRC is impossible for most users.

IMO the most important question:

1. Is there any official AmigaOS 4 license from Amiga Inc, Eyetech and Hyperion?

2. What is the actual size of the board?

3. What is the power supply requirement, cooling system, power supply connector?
Is it possible to use single voltage PSU (ie +12V) for embedded applications?

4. What is the "higher performance" board specification?
What is the price?

5. Is there any Linux, BSD, QNX support for the board?

@asian

Quote:

What about 20 questions Q&A? Waiting for Mr Adam in IRC is impossible for most users.

This wasn't 20 questions. This was, "Adam happened to be in irc, so we bugged him, and that's what you get. Don't read it if you don't want to."

Quote:

1. Is there any official AmigaOS 4 license from Amiga Inc, Eyetech and Hyperion?

Somewhere after the above, Adam seemed to indicate Hyperion has, or is allowed to license, classic expansions. (Hopefully I didn't misunderstand that part.)

Quote:

4. What is the "higher performance" board specification? What is the price?

No price change was mentioned from the original pricing, except for the 'higher specced' A3k/A4k version, which you have the response above.

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Are we not done with the same silly arguments and flames yet??!

@wegster

Hey looks like the old dusty A4000 might come to some use after all

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@wegster

AT least he is still alive! I hope it come out soon, i "could" buy one for my 1200.

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ikir

Disappointed to hear the A3/4K version will be higher spec'd than the A1200 version. Come on just because originally the 1200 was the budget machine doesn't mean it's that way now.

@createcoms

It isn't? Have you checked the second hand buy price of a A1200 vs a A4000?

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Avatar by HNL_DK!

@wegster

It's good to hear something, even if it's not what some might like to hear.

@lavo
Quote:

Its amazing that we get a thread with some positive news, and there are only 2 comments.

It might depend on your standpoint wether to say that it's "positive" or "negative" news.
For me it certainly is negative news.
I was hoping for a relatively swift release of the A1200-version, simply because thats the computer I own. Hearing that plans have changed again certainly means another setback until the PV is released.

Quote:

Apr 02 18:57:31 adam h/w's been finished for a while now from a design/test point of view

How does this relate to the "in production" statement in December? Are we just being fooled around or do I miss something here?

Quote:

Unfortunately, I'm waiting on A1200 CPU connectors.......the original source for a bunch of them turned out to be a lot less than I needed.

Let's hope he'll find a better source soon. There certainly must be some sources, Elbox is still manufacturing Mediators.
Why not first release a stand-alone version first and plan the A1200 CPU-connector as a add-on? I was thinking of something like this (Mediator pass-through):


Quote:

Apr 02 19:00:44 adam the mini-pci slot works well, standalone aspect needs a bit of polish

That's good to hear. But still, I am curious where to get these odd cards in larger quantities.
It has been said earlier that the PV would work with the Mediator. This would certainly enlarge the possible graphic cards which can be used.

Quote:

adam The A3/4K(T) version is higher end than the 5200

Now I understand what the Frieden's could have meant with "high-end" in the IRC: Possibly anything above 466Mhz.

Last edited by polka. on 03-Apr-2006 at 09:54 AM.

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Great to finaly hear some news :)

But the sad thing is that the 1200 is once more cursed with delays. I hope in 2007 i will be able to see OS4 on my 1200.

@WOSPUPOS4

I'm hoping it will not be that long.

Rude!

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2017 Camaro 2SS

@wegster

Great news. Thanks for the update :o)

@wegster

Quote:

Apr 02 19:03:48 adam It's likely the A3/4K version will be out before the A1200....I CAN get those connectors.

Yeehaaw! Woot woot!
I have an A4kD sitting at home - maybe I'll dust it off and check it out again!

Quote:

Apr 02 18:44:02 adam Unfortunately, I'm waiting on A1200 CPU connectors.......

No worrys - just give a bunch of the boards plus ribbon cable to Rogue - he has offered to get his soldering iron out - we can send him our A1200s!

It's good to get some feedback on these projects. Thanks Wegster!

@Samwel

You misunderstand me. Let me try again.

The A1200 was cheaper than the A4000, as you pointed it this is also the case with the secondhand sales. However, simply because the 1200 is cheaper and Commodore/etc intended it for the budget minded consumer does not mean this targeting should continue.

I would suggest that the A4k's retail secondhand higher in part because of the fact we continue to see (ie with the BPPC vs CSPPC and now the PV) manufacturers following this line of "budget product for the 1200, power product for the A4K". If you buy an A4k you get access to gruntier stuff, and this pushes the price difference.

IMHO this should stop, classic hardware is out "there" and as such any and all upgrades in the form of a CPU should be as uniform as possible (to get them as close as possible as the totally new stuff). If you want budget solution then by all means target new systems as such.

regards

-cc

Oh, I sold my A4000. This could be cool. Luckily I have A1XE & A1200'060+PIV.;)
Any chances for A4000 today or even A3000 must be hard. Sometimes people dump
them, sometimes sell expencive...

@PR

hmmm... We have an A1200 waiting for this.








We also have an A3000 needing a new PSU....










AND WE HAVE AN A4000 READY AND WAITING!


-edit-
Damn typo.

Last edited by Bodie_CI5 on 03-Apr-2006 at 11:21 AM.

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