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[News] AmigaOne Update from Alan RedhouseANN.lu
Posted on 24-Jul-2002 22:17 GMT by Douglas McLaughlin106 comments
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On the AmigaOne mailing list, Alan Redhouse from Eyetech posted the following update:

Many dev board purchasers were clearly motivated by the 10% discount rather than their ability to contribute to the developer process. The initial boards were therefore shipped to those who could make a real contribution to developing drivers etc, and porting Linux/UAE distributions. Their progress has been astounding IMO with no less than 5 different linux distributions (SuSE, Debian, Mandrake, Yellow Dog and TurboLinux) being ported within a couple of weeks. More... Many dev board purchasers were clearly motivated by the 10% discount rather than their ability to contribute to the developer process. The initial boards were therefore shipped to those who could make a real contribution to developing drivers etc, and porting Linux/UAE distributions. Their progress has been astounding IMO with no less than 5 different linux distributions (SuSE, Debian, Mandrake, Yellow Dog and TurboLinux) being ported within a couple of weeks.

However the Softex open firmware we had originally shipped with the dev boards (incidently as seen on the Pegasos video) has several shortcomings (although this has been used to boot the 5 linux distributions and the OS4 kernel) and we are currently developing/extending the alternative PPCBoot open firmware for use on the production AmigaOne boards. This will allow us to build in Amiga- specific boot etc options, a well as a more comprehensive multi-boot environment.

We are not shipping the remainder of the dev boards (or any of the user boards) until this code is complete because of the expense of shipping update ROMs and chip changing tools. This is anticipated to be towards the end of August.

This revision to the boot ROM is being undertaken by Hyperion as part of the work necessary for booting OS4 on the A1.

Meanwhile the Amiga Inc club membership/coupon program results (coupled with our own market extrapolation processes) means that the future of the AmigaOne is in no doubt.

Finally several people have asked us why we are not delivering the A1 board to Linux users in advance of the release of OS4. Well there are two main reasons:

1 - This is a product we are producing for the Amiga market and IMO it is proper that the Amiga community get their hands on it first.

2 - I still cannot see why there would be a significant market for Linux on the A1 given that the main focus of Linux is the x86 platform, which - because of sheer sales volumes - will always be an order of magnitude cheaper than a ppc-based product.

Hope this helps

Alan
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Comment 1Alan M Redhouse24-Jul-2002 20:31 GMT
Comment 2Douglas McLaughlin24-Jul-2002 21:01 GMT
Comment 3LOL-troll24-Jul-2002 21:03 GMT
Comment 4Darrin0131124-Jul-2002 21:06 GMT
Comment 5darklite24-Jul-2002 21:27 GMT
Comment 6Anonymous24-Jul-2002 21:29 GMT
Comment 7TBone24-Jul-2002 21:39 GMT
Comment 8Douglas McLaughlin24-Jul-2002 21:55 GMT
Comment 9Douglas McLaughlin24-Jul-2002 21:58 GMT
Comment 10Timothy De Groote24-Jul-2002 22:05 GMT
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Comment 97Phill29-Jul-2002 08:30 GMT
AmigaOne Update from Alan Redhouse : Comment 98 of 106ANN.lu
Posted by Phill on 29-Jul-2002 08:54 GMT
In reply to Comment 39 (takemehomegrandma):
> So everything works with the old firmware, both Linux and OS4. Hand in hand! > The way everybody wants it!
Please learn to read english, it says there are shortcomings. Obviously that means everything doesn't work with the old firmware. There is a difference between running & working properly.
> What "Amiga specific boot options" could there possibly be, that can't be
> achieved the normal way in the 21:st century, that is through a disc based
> bootloader?
Boot loaders suck, which is why I would only install one operating system on a pc. However I'd only install one operating system on an AmigaOne, they are probably pandering to the Linux crowd.
> Then the power of decisions should be turned over to the users wants and needs.
Surely the difference that the Amiga always had over the PC was the users didn't have to worry. If it were me I'd stop Linux ever running on these boards, it's completely the wrong market.
> Heck, even the old 'Amiga Classic' OS boots nicely without a physical amiga specific ROM.
Can you explain what Kickstart is then?
> This is a severe limitation to OS4/A1. Limitations are NEVER good. Not for
> anyone!
AmigaOne is being built on the back of AOS4, therefore it's reasonable to expect that they will try to tie you into that. If you don't like it don't buy one.
> Oh, how touching! You are a commercial hardware company that REFUSES to sell
> your product to customers willing to pay for it.
A company willing to not sell a product until it is finished is a refreshing change.
> There is nothing Amiga specific about the A1 (at least not until you cripple
> it with your "extensions") and there is no logical reasons whatsoever to
> refuse possible sales in the wait for OS4.
What right have you to force someone into doing something they don't want to?
> Well, there IS a market for PPC Linux.
It's probably about the same size as Linux for the PlayStation 2.
Which for your information is rubbish as the machine isn't anywhere near quick enough or has enough ram.
> Why are YOU supporting PPC when x86 is so much cheaper?
1. Phase5 were moving that way and there is quite a bit of software already ( hopefully reusable ).
2. the only people willing to buy an AmigaOne are Intel/Microsoft haters.
> Perhaps the Amiga migration should have been towards x86 instead, since it is cheaper and still more powerful?
The problem with x86 is it's too easy to install Windows. Most normal people would switch eventually.
> Finally, have a look at http://www.petitiononline.com/amigaos/
> You will see that the amount of signatures to that petition is almost as high
> as the coupon sales. What does that say to you?
People have too much spare time.
Phill
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Comment 99Ketzer29-Jul-2002 12:17 GMT
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Comment 102Solar30-Jul-2002 06:59 GMT
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Comment 104Solar30-Jul-2002 08:51 GMT
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Comment 106Williiam Shatt22-Sep-2002 03:17 GMT
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