From: awdorn@primenet.com (Alexander W. Dorn) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy Subject: Re: ain't happenin' Date: 29 Jul 1997 09:58:01 -0700 Organization: Primenet Lines: 139 Message-ID: <5rl7ep$i71@nntp02.primenet.com> References: <5rfdfg$cim@nntp02.primenet.com> Reply-To: awdorn@primenet.com X-Posted-By: @207.218.55.44 (awdorn) X-Newsreader: Forte Free Agent 1.0.82 Path: 195.95.96.2!news.unisource.be!News.Amsterdam.UnisourceCS!ubnnews.unisource.ch!news-zh.switch.ch!news-hh.maz.net!news.ivm.net!blackbush.xlink.net!howland.erols.net!www.nntp.primenet.com!globalcenter0!news.primenet.com!news.primenet.com!not-for-mail Jack andrews wrote: | A VRML browser is crucial and it ain't happenin' folks :( | All attempts are either vaporware or stalled pipe dream attempts. | Too bad, could make the Amiga shine. But face the music people, SOFTWARE | DEVELOPEMENT IS NEARLY DEAD...and even the greatest new machine won't cut | it without the software. Unfortrunately, while this does seem so, it is my opinion that software development is not dead, but patiently awaiting which direction to move forward in. Should they continue developing for the 68k Processor? For the PowerUP Board (which are supposed to be on the market by now!?), or for pOS? Or should they wait for a new PPC AmigaOS? As for VRML/etc., well, I've seen Quake on the Amiga, and it is damn slow. It might be usable on an 060 machine, but I don't think most people have 060 machines. If a VRML Browser is would need as much processing power as Amiga Quake, then it simply may not be practicle to develop a 68k version of such. The truth is, the Amiga does need a major horsepower boost in order to do some of this newer stuff, and again, the same old line that we've both been hearing for years is, just wait a little longer. | Even Newtek gave up on us. This has been said in here before, but from what I have heard, this is only because of a post here in the newsgroup. As is my understanding, Newtek has not *Officially* given up on the Amiga, but mearly demands a few new features out of the AmigaOS (Memory Management!) before they will continue development on it. While there are people who have told me of some post in this newsgroup by someone of importance, stating that they had "Given Up" on the Amiga, until I see an official press release to the effect, and, well, let's just say that I've seen some pretty wild statements made in the newsgroups, and am reluctant to believe them all. Someone actually posted that Amiga International had hired two new people to head up their new OS development team - Irving Gould and Medhi Ali. | Gateway ain't doin it either. | All "big plans" no action. Gateway 2000 has had the Amiga for how long now? Two months? Sure, while Escom was able to take the Amiga from an out-of-production platform to Manufacturing new Amigas in six months (!?), Gateway did not even really know what the Amiga was before they bought it. It was a name, a word that they had heard once, and was probably selling for what they considered a very low price. We don't know -- perhaps they do have a plan of action, and are simply waiting to insure that they can initiate such an action. It's not like Petro T. has not had his plans ruined before by circumstances. Remember the Walker? Even back then, Petro T. wanted to push the Amiga into being a PPC Machine, but circumstance, and the Escom Bankruptsy thwarted his efforts. | As I said here long ago.... | "wait and see" (Yeah right, big comeback, just around the corner, yeah, | right) ...ain't happenin' 2 years, 3 years, next month, next summer... | BULLSHIT. ain't happenin' Give it up... Stop torturing yourselves with | FALSE HOPE. As I often put into my Signature: "Hope, it is the Instinct of our Souls, and the Energizer of our minds." Hope is the one force that has kept the Amiga alive through two bankruptsy proceedings, and the seemingly endless chatter from VIScorp, which seems to have done more damage to the Amiga than either bankruptsy (taking Almanthra, and how many others with it!). The fact is, there will be a future for the Amiga. The fact is, if Gateway 2000 doesn't take the leadership position, or allow Petro T./Amiga International to do so, then others will -- perhaps Phase 5 with their A/Box Concept. Perhaps PIOS with their TransAm. I do believe that, Phase 5, by putting their PPC Developer's boards into the hands of many Amiga developers, may be making the winning move, allowing Amiga Software Developers the luxury of a PPC Processor's raw computing power. The fact is, while the Amiga was frozen in suspended animation for the last few years, the PC market has not been the only ones movig forward. The Amiga Community has been moving forward without the Amiga. Many others have stepped forward, claiming the throne of "Amiga Successor," but hope for a new Amiga has kept this throne vacant, and kept the Amiga Community looking forward to a true successor. Should that successor not come from Gateway2000 and/or Amiga International, in a given amount of time, then they shall choose a different successor. BeOS? pOS? Linux? Now, while I, personally, am somewhat uncompfortable, not knowing if they, GW2k/A.Intl, intend to choose the PowerPC Processor as a successor, or really not knowing anything at all of their plans for a next-generation Amiga, the steps they are taking seem good. Through Licenseing, they are expanding the base of 68k Amigas. Sure, they may be low-end, but those low-end machines can serve their purpose in many efficiant and effective ways, if just as kiosks. I, myself, may come up with a use for such machines, which may make me a bit of money on the side, and the one thing that has been holding me back from exploring this idea was not knowing if they would be available. They have *unofficially* announced a new version of the Operating System for release, perhaps, by November of this year. They have hired new staff, and seem to be poising themselves to take some sort of action, like a cat ready to pounce. Now then, if you have projects that you need to get done, and you do not think that you can get them done on your current Amiga platform, then do what you must to get them done, even if this includes going Wintel, but I would suggest that you do not give up on the Amiga--not yet. Gently blow upon those embers of hope, and try to bring them back to a gentle flame. Even if you just shove the Amiga in the closet for a while, and use another platform to get things done, be sure to check back with the Amiga Community every once in a while. You may find, in a few months, there may be good reason to pull that old Amiga back out of the Closet. --- Thank you for your time Alexander W. Dorn --- As long as there is life, there is hope. --- The Doctor