Is AmigaOS a hobby OS or a professional OS?

When does a cult become a Religion?

Size matters!!!

_________________
Leo Nigro, CTO Commodore USA, LLC
Opinions expressed are my own and not those of C= USA.
Commodore/AMIGA "Beautiful, High-Performance, Home Computers for Creativity and Entertainment."

@Kicko

Really, your friends usage is a poor indicator of what distribution state an operating system may be in.
MorphOS / AmigaOS and whatever is a hobby OS aslong as it's not used commercially, And commercially generally doesn't mean that your local organisation uses an Amiga to hold membership archives and so on.

Linux (and other Un*ces), Windows and MacOS X is widely used commercially- AmigaOS may have been- but outside one or two stray TV channels that got stuck in the 90s; There probably not used commercially to any significant degree to qualify as an commerical system anylonger.

But then again does it really matter? Use whatever system you enjoy and be happy with it.

@fryguy

This is wrong, Windows 9x always had memory protection. It didn't have fully preemptive multitasking however, it had a mixture of cooperative and preemptive threading to satisfy back compatibility.

@DiskDoctor

I think we are not totally incapable to do DTP.

Pagestream is good. (it can deliver mainstream compatible results)
Hollywood is good. (it can deliver mainstream compatible results)
We can use google office.
etc...

Amigalike systems can be everyday computer for many people (even for work). But not for everyone (for some it only can be Amigahobby OS).


OFFTOPIC/alömost related: http://www.xkcd.com/676/

Last edited by KimmoK on 21-Dec-2009 at 07:54 AM.
Last edited by KimmoK on 21-Dec-2009 at 07:50 AM.

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

Windows is a hobby OS. How many doesn´t use Windows as a mean to exercise their prime hobby, computer gaming?

That's incredible. I was considering a tag for Icaros Desktop and on of them was "Your hobby, our passion", another "your hobby os. period". There's nothing bad being a "hobby os" and I can't figure out how we could differently define any Amiga dialect.

Professional/Mainstream OSes generally provide:

- robust memory management with protected and virtual memory
- robust and reliable filesystems
- multi-user infrastructure, permissions for different groups and people
- powerful network management, with resource sharing over a local area network
- dozens of productivity AAA applications
- server capabilities

AmigaOS clones provide about nothing among them. Some are partially supported but, anyway, it's really hard to use AmigaOS/MOS/AROS in a production chain, unless you use it for very basic tasks like composing a text, a image or a song with a tracker. If you prefer, we can talk about a "personal OS", which maybe sounds better, but "hobby OS" IMHO is nicer and better describes the fun we have with our little passion.

@Frek

Quote:

Windows 9x always had memory protection. It didn't have fully preemptive multitasking however, it had a mixture of cooperative and preemptive threading to satisfy back compatibility

I don't think so. If I remember correctly, even Windows 95 had fully preemptive multitasking, and any 32 bit application would benefit from it. The "cooperative mixture" happened when you started a 16 bit application written for Windows 3.1. This opened a transparent virtual machine which included all the 16 bit applications, that cooperatively multitasked for their own. Just think about UAE running on AmigaOS: all the applications running inside of it would be seen like a single task.

I would rather call it a 'not fully developed platform'. This means many people will need to have access to another computer with either Windows, Linux or Mac OS to really do the work they need to. If you say you only need an Amiga then OK but then you don't have many widespread uses many others do have.

None of the Amiga alike OS( AmigaOS, MorphOS, Aros) are able to give you a full platform in which you can do everything you want.

So, no, the Amiga is not my main machine. I could use only Linux on a x64 machine but it also has the following limitations:

- not a lot of mainstream and new games; I'd like to play new shooters and RTS games like Modern Warfare 2 and StarCraft 2. And NO I will NEVER EVER buy a console. They suck when it comes to shooters and RTS games. Consoles suck anyway because you pay an arm and a leg for new games.;
- no PowerShell, no up to date implementation of Dot NET; basically I need to be able to do work stuff at home.

My main systems and OS are Windows 7 and Ubuntu 9.10.

The AmigaOS platforms aren't developed enough to consider as fully usable platforms. Browsers aren't a problem anymore though. For AmigaOS 4 to be considered as a full platform for me it needs the following:
- Office tools like Open Office
- much better 3D support
- better developing tools and SDK
- better hardware support( like USB 2)
- affordable hardware

The AmigaOS platforms are still a long way from being fully usable platforms and in all honesty the way it's going now I doubt we will be there in 5 years or so.

_________________
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A4000 PPC
A1200 PPC

@PulsatingQuasar

Well spoken. I use primarily Windows 7 today but I am saving up to a SAM. Then I will use Debian and AmigaOS 4 too. I have a 1200 too but that is definitely a hobby computer.

My workhorse computer/OS is a Sony Vaio laptop with Vista on it. I switch on my SAM when I want to relax, have a good time, play a game, do some C programming that generally leads to nothing substantial... in other words, fun stuff. So it's a hobby computer for me, and I pretty much like it.

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The Rear Window blog

AmigaOne X5000/020 @ 2GHz / 4GB RAM / Radeon RX 560 / ESI Juli@ / AmigaOS 4.1 Final Edition
SAM440ep-flex @ 667MHz / 1GB RAM / Radeon 9250 / AmigaOS 4.1 Final Edition

@paolone Quote:

- robust and reliable filesystems ... AmigaOS clones provide about nothing among them.

(I assume you meant "AmigaOS *and* clones")

I find SFS pretty robust & reliable... About as good as NTFS anyway. Not tried JXFS yet, but given time that should be even better than SFS.

Last edited by ChrisH on 21-Dec-2009 at 10:12 AM.

_________________
Author of the PortablE programming language.
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue...

@DiskDoctor

Quote:

Name something I should be having and ain't got yet. And justify it, giving me the reason

Java
During my work I need to run an application written in Java
Spreadsheet Programm
I need a spreadsheet program, suitable to do calculation and diagrams.
[b ]C-Compiler[/b]
I need a C Compiler for the Texas Instruments DSP processors
IDE
I need a suitable IDE to work with theTI C-Compiler, something like Eclips for example.
Windows API, Borland API, Borland Compiler
Some of the programm I have to use are available in C-Code but there is noc Borland compiler for any of the AmigaNG OSes.
SDL acces to MS SDL
Sometimes I have to do some work with the SDL database, the application is written in Java conecztion to the database ( MS-SQL, Oracle, ) is done via the network.

This are just some minor requirements for my professional work, even OSX seems not to be suitable for my professional work.

And the hobby OS definition has nothuing to do with purpose, just because more than 50% of Windows users, use their Windows-PC as a game or hobby computer for non professional applications doesn 'tt make Windows a hobby OS..

Last edited by Arko on 21-Dec-2009 at 11:03 AM.
Last edited by Arko on 21-Dec-2009 at 10:50 AM.
Last edited by Arko on 21-Dec-2009 at 10:49 AM.

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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

@DiskDoctor


Quote:

Shares have nothing to do with the purposes. They are hobby because they are programmed as a hobby??? Listen for yourself, some guys[

AOS4 sales could hardly pay the Friedens so they doing this as hobby like the other AOS4 developers.
MOS sales could hardly pay the MOS team so they doing this as hobby like the most MOS application developers.

The OSes are programmed by developers in their spare time as a hobby, the OSes are used mainly by hobbyists in their spare time as a hobby and the few application doesnt't c over more than some hobby requirements.

And if both OSes would depend on professional users and professional developers, they would hav ended 1996 when C= get bankrupt.

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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

AmigaOS ia a hobbit OS ! And therefore needs a ring of power to overcome the evil of mount doom to save the whole of middle earth....

Last edited by Metalheart on 21-Dec-2009 at 10:45 AM.

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When its time to meet the maker
Theres a time to live but isnt it strange
That as soon as you're born you're dying

@paolone

>Professional/Mainstream OSes generally provide:
>- robust memory management with protected and virtual memory

Granted. We should also have that option.
Not having memory protection sets some limitations in the use of a computer.
(but not every work task require memoryprotection)

-> robust and reliable filesystems

It seems that AOS has had that a lot longer than the windows world.
( I still get corrupted files on windows, sometimes.)

>- multi-user infrastructure, permissions for different groups and people

For some work use that is a required. But not for all.

(Linux seems to be the only one with fully working multiuser support)

>- powerful network management, with resource sharing over a local area network

IMHO: Using networked resources -capability is a must. But not sharing of Amiga folders. (especially not when we do not have any multiuser support etc...)

>- dozens of productivity AAA applications

We have only a few very good quality apps. That limits what one can professionally use AOS on/in.

>- server capabilities

AOS has never designed to be a server os. And it will never be.
(not even windows is that, even though stupid companies use it as a server OS)

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

@Niolator

Quote:

Windows is a hobby OS. How many doesn´t use Windows as a mean to exercise their prime hobby, computer gaming?

Yes, but 95% of all the pro (non hobby) software runs on it!

_________________
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...administration is for serious people only....

@paolone

IIRC, win95 had also 16bit parts in itself, so it was only a 32 beginner by itself, not only because of the braindead application base.

And in general, even today we strugle with the limitations in windows multitasking.

For example, one is not able to run two instances of telelogic rhapspody without running out of Windows XP default resources.

When running in heavy CPU load, multitasking becomes impossible in WinXP, screens become corrupted, etc etc...

Some things have always been better on AmigaOS, some not (memory protection and resource tracking is one good option to be able to use when multitasking).

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

@eXec

And 99,9% of every professional app runs also on Linux.
And "only" 95% of windows games run on Linux.
...

Anyway. Windows is the (professional?) gamers OS, so it's not a hobby OS...

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

@DiskDoctor

AmigaOS/MorphOS/AROS are *primarily* hobby OSes.

There's no sector where AmigaOS is demonstrably more efficient or capable than another OS. You could make claims for, say, a Mac running Final Cut Pro, or a Linux box running Apache. You can measure productivity savings over a competing OS. Any ease of use on Amiga-like OSes is going to be offset by bugs, slower systems (the only one that runs on the fastest desktop CPUs is AROS, and that only supports one core) and the lack of software or features and compatibility.

It is possible to do day-to-day tasks on an Amiga, and that's great, but it doesn't answer the question of why you chose the Amiga to do that in the first place, given all the sacrifices.

The main answer to that choice is "because it's a hobby"!

Chris

@DiskDoctor

Until they can economically support commercial applications (active, full time coders being paid regular rates), they are hobby OSs. Reason being, the ones generating the code are doing it as a hobby for either a little bit of extra money or for fun.

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Dammy