Competition

Amiga aktuell international competition

1. Results of the last competition

I cannot believe it - just 15 readers participated at the last competition? I sincerely hope this is only a momentary fall off, it would not be for the first time, would it?

Please this time consider the participation. You know, you may win already with two answers.

But now, to the solutions:

The result:

Several contributors commented on their answers:

Denis Zwornarz does not approve the use of an x86 processor: »I don't see any essential advantage in the use of an x86 CPU (except in winter time if the heating fails). I'd prefer a G3 or G4 in any case. May be it is not the most favourable alternative, but to my opinion the better solution.«

In contrary Steffen Jahn is in favour of the x86: »The development of a new processor or the use of one, that is produced only in small amount is not good. A x86 CPU ought to be used, because firstly this type is produced in huge numbers and secondly the competition between AMD and Intel minimizes the prices. In my opinion an additional reason is the wide spread of such processors and by this to offer the possibility, that the standard PC user may use the abilities of the AmigaOS. If the AmigaOS will run upon an x86 CPU, this may lead to a radical change in the computer branch. All the advantages of the AmigaOS ought to be usable with those processors, and when this will happen, the Amiga will have a new future. But the AmigaOS should run upon other processors as well, e.g. G4, to bring the advantages of this (our) OS to all computer users of the world.«

Dirk Wenk thinks different: »The architecture of the x86 CPU simply is to old-fashioned. The processor just is not good! The only reason, why a CPU of this type still exists, is, that Windows runs on it and it is really cheap by mass production, but nothing else. Ideally the AmigaOS will run on a processor, that directly understands the VP code. You might imagine a CPU like the one of Transmeta, which instead of simulating an x86 architecture simulates a VP CPU!
[Would this really make sense? One of the big advantages of the new AmigaOS is, that it contains the virtual processor and by this may be used on many types of CPUs without loss of speed. Out of my view especially this technology does not need a processor in the AmigaNG computer like the Crusoe of Transmeta, which pursues a similar way - but hardware based; Chief editor's note]

And for the step in between, as a transition, the VP ought to run on a processor 1. permitting further development, 2. is fast and 3. is small and has a minimum power consumption. Here I think of the StrongARM or the PowerPC.

But as well multi processor systems are quite attractive. Here you don't need a fast highly clocked processor, that radiates like an xmas tree in radio range, but many medium processors, which could work more effectivly than a single one. You could imagine as well the integration of phantom processors (see Amiga patent), that means the washing machine helps comput etc. :-) But this will certainly take another five years or more (unfortunately).«

Andreas Guldner does not think much of the x86 as well: »x86 heaters are close to the end of their possibilities, they cannot be developed any further and are just clocked higher and higher without caring a hang! All manufactures of chips certainly already work on successors and out of this reason the multiprocessor-able RISC CPU is the only good choice for an up to date system, the power of which is added up out of the cooperation of all main, graphics and sound processors available in the system. A software solution for users of Windows as stimulus to buy a pure Amiga system certainly is sufficient to convince x86 users to buy an Amiga after their PC has reached its expiration date! Only an extremly small part of computer owners uses those x86es, because she/he wants it and certainly many of them would change their standard system against something better. Therefore a prototype computer for a new OE should consist of modern and upgradable components and not of oldfashioned PC technics, which will reach its limits after one or two years. Why jump on a wagon, which runs to the junkyard for scrapping??
[Please in future send your comments fore the question of opinions on disk or via e-mail, thank you. Editor's note]

For Gernod Schomberg the CPU is of low priority: » I neither am a computer technician nor am I especially experienced in questions about informatics. Therefore I cannot judge, whether really only a processor of the 68k series of Motorola is appropriate to give the intuitive feeling, that we like with our Amiga. I for myself don't believe it! Apparently PPC and UAE users don't care as well! Not only the feeling is important, I understand under "Amiga" as well different things. E.g. the way of hardware extension maintained by Amiga from the very beginning, which was reinvented ten years later by another system as "Plug'n Play"; e.g. the possibility of reading data of other systems; e.g. the datatypes introduced a few years ago. And several more. Because the Next Generation Amiga will anyhow be based upon a Virtual Processor the features we appraise should be installed in the Amiga Foundation Layer/AFL und the Amiverse. The processor/s of the hardware layer must only be fast enough. I do not care a bit, what will be doing the work there.«

Result:

Clear thing - the big majority of the participants does not think anything of an x86 processor in the AmigaONE. Obviously their desire is answered: On the Internet website of the hardware producer MeterNet, who will use the AmigaNG technology in his products, there in a list of frequently placed questions it is said, that Amiga is planning a desktop computer based on RISC - undoubtly they speak about the AmigaONE -, what eliminates the use of an x86 as main processor.

But now to the winners of the last competition:

Congratulations!