5 replies to this topic

[roland p]

I did not know where to put this on the forum, but apparently there is an amiga netbook coming!

See this thread: http://www.amigans.n...SC&type=&mode=0

Quote

Thus is all subject to change, so don't complain to me when any or all of the items below do not make it onto the final device:

- It's a netbook. That means it isn't intended to compete with a desktop system. It is using an integrated graphics chip. No RadeonHD. No PA Semi.

- Price point will be the complete system, including AmigaOS 4. Hopefully, it will be around $300, but we cannot say this for sure yet so calculate a price of $300 to $500.

- The prototypes we have (plural, yes) all have 2 USB ports, internal audio with external jack plugs for headsets/microphone, Keyboard and touch-pad mouse.

- The prototypes have built-in Wireless and wired ethernet. Whether both or just one of them will be on the final device I do not know yet.

- Internal mass storage. Don't ask me about the capacity, few gigs AFAIR.

- The prototypes have 512 MB memory -I think-. No idea about the size of the final product.

- AmigaOS *is* running on the device, although in a very early state. There are questions to be answered still, so the tentative release date is somewhere near the middle of 2012.

- It's NOT used Mac hardware

[Hatta]

I saw this when it hit Slashdot. The general consensus from the Amiga nerds was that Hyperion has always made shitty overpriced products and AROS on x86 was a much better alternative.

[wood_jl]

I suppose it's interesting for the die-hard Amiga enthusiast, as a nostalgia piece.

However, I'm going to guess it's a dramatically overpriced/underpowered (for price) unit.

I use a throw-away $200 Acer (Atom-powered) and even use Microsoft Visual C++ and I can't believe it works for that! I couldn't imagine a more expensive/proprietary (particularly with software) system for a multiple of the price. Frankly, I don't see the point. A new Amiga desktop (and I don't mean the PCs that Commodore USA sells) would be much more interesting.

[desiv]

As an Amiga nerd, I'd say it's somewhere in between the "OMG it's overpriced" and "the Amiga is BACK" range.

As for overpriced, it depends...
It's looking to be a sub Ghz CPU netbook for $300-$500. (I'm hearing 300+Mhz to 800Mhz)...
That's way more than you could get an Intel for... True.. And that means NOTHING..
Truly... Nothing... Could care less...

If they had an 80Mhz machine that I could use as a general purpose netbook, then great.. I really don't care about numbers.. Does it work..

Will it? No idea.. I've never used PPC Amiga. I'm generally a 68K Amiga fan..
But, if they can come up with a netbook that runs fairly well.. Lets me browse most of my websites fairly well for that price.. Well.. maybe..
"Maybe? Is that the best you can do? Maybe," you ask..

Yes., I'm still not sure about non-retro Amiga...

Fact is, if they could cover all my websites, I might in a second.. And I don't really game on my laptop, but there's a few problem areas...
Well, one really.. I use my laptop a LOT for Netflix... And I'm betting Netflix won't port their app over to it...

I'm guessing it would handle basic web, including youtube pretty well... And original Amiga apps will probably work pretty well...

I've spent about that on my A1200, so having a portable version is tempting...

I still have that 68k to PPC hurdle tho.. Not sure about that... I don't consider PPC or Intel boxes running Apple stuff "Macintosh" either.

As for a new Amiga desktop? That's less appealing to me...
I have a desktop I never use.. I either use my retro machines or the laptop (or the tablet for web browsing/reading)...

But, speaking as an Amiga user, it's great news...

New High end machines I won't buy.
New netbooks I might, but possibly/probably won't buy..
New accelerators/RAM cards, VGA adapters, etc that I have and probably will buy....

No matter what you want, it's not a bad time to be an Amiga nerd..

desiv

[wood_jl]

I just don't see how Amiga-affiliation serves in a Netbook. A netbook is a TOOL, not a toy. As such, I want it CHEAP, and I want software compatibilty, that's it. I don't require some novel thing (such as Amiga OS) for such a utilitarian device, but I do require low price. That's why an"Amiga" (if it can even still be called that) netbook makes no sense, and flies in the face of conventional wisdom. As such, it is destined to be a high-priced, niche product.

Now sell me a MINT A500 with 1MB so I can have an Amiga in my collection, and I'll stop bitching.

Edited by wood_jl, Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:15 AM.

[desiv]

wood_jl, on Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:14 AM, said:

A netbook is a TOOL, not a toy.

I think every "TOOL" I have is also a TOY... :-)

Many things I bought as "useful tools" haven't worked well in that area, but it hasn't stopped them from being fun toys! :-)

And for a fair amount of people, $300-$500 isn't a huge amount of money for their hobby..
My guess is that this netbook (tool or toy) will sell decently..
I don't mean its going to take on Dell or ASUS..

But I think it could outsell any of the other "new" Amigas fairly easily...

Now for me, that's probably a bit too spendy for a hobby piece...
From time to time, I'll spend over $100 on something.. (A1230/28 for my A1200 was like $140, A1000 was $100+, Kryoflux $140)
Very very infrequently, I'll spend over to $200.. (Cuttle Cart II comes to mind.. I love it, but that was a chunk of change)..

But for $300+, I do agree that it has to have some value beyond just a hobby piece...
Now, this will be fast enough to browse the web fairly well, and I'm sure play vids and youtube, etc..
Which is good, but as I've said, to be "useful" to me, it would have to replace my laptop, and that would mean Netflix.

If it won't run Netflix, I'll still need my laptop, and I don't plan on having multiple devices like this..

So, I'm probably not the target..
But, I KNOW there are people who think $300-$500 is well within their spending for their hobby.

desiv