Letters
Dear CAM,
I am very interested in the new OS 4.0, Will I be able to put it on a "Powerbook"
or some other Apple computer. I have quite a few "classic" Amiga's.
I want to try to put it on a CD32/SX32 pro that I have at home. I have lots
of plans but everything keeps changing. What happened to the OS being written
by the "TAO" group? Lots of questions, I'm sorry!
Thanks for the help,
David
Dear David,
AmigaOS4.0 is designed to run on Amiga certified PPC products. Initially this
covers A3/4000s that are equipped with CyberStorm PPC (CSPPC) accelerator boards
as well as the brand new AmigaOne computers being manufactured by Eyetech Ltd.
We have had a few enquiries concerning other suitably specified hardware products
but nothing has yet been concluded.
As for running on the Apple range of computers, this is something that we will
be looking at once we have AmigaOS4.0 shipping on both the CSPPC and AmigaOne
products. They are legal as well as engineering issues to be considered when
doing any work with another platform.
I take it from question about the Tao-Group that you are talking about the
AmigaDE (DigitalEnvironment). The AmigaDE is a set of technologies built upon
the Tao-Group's Intent system from which we can make products, which provide
what we call a Total Content Solution. The first of these products is Amiga
Anywhere(TM) which has already been released to a limited market on PocketPC
PDA devices and which is soon to be launched properly.
Our original plan was to use the AmigaDE as a replacement for the AmigaOS but
after working with it for a year, we decided to use it instead for a separate
product line and resurrect development of the AmigaOS. In the last few months
the impetus for this has become more important to us and the future of the AmigaOS,
as you can read in this issue of CAM will be a bright one indeed.
Hi,
I would like to give some feedback about the purposed marketing strategy. Being
an Amiga user since 1989, I had the opportunity to live the glory of Amiga and
also see its decay. Unfortunately, marketing, I believe, was one of problems
that made Amiga loss its position. It would be important to learn from the past
in order to no repeat the same mistakes. The focus of the marketing campaign
should be creating demand for the product. The Amiga has the advantage of having
at least a loyal community, where normal unknown products usually have no support
at all. Of course thinking in supply the product just to a narrow community
shouldn't be the target of Amiga Inc. But Amiga Inc could increase Amiga's existence
in the market through this community.
I think an important issue should be considered to bring back those people who
in the past had contributed to the Amiga and had left a mark. I'm talking not
only people dedicated to program software, but those who created Amiga icons
and music as well. This is no an easy task and could be risky, but it is important
to remember that no risk no win.
Probably the idea of being a computer user out of the common, where the user
has the control of what its doing, and not just a 'lemming' following order
from the screen about what to do. The Amiga taught me how computer works and
probably that is the main reason I have experienced frustrating attempts to
shift to different platforms.
I believe there is an opportunity for Amiga to fit in, but is going to be hard.
I wish you guys the best of luck.
Thanks for the opportunity to give this feedback.
Sincerely,
Amiguero
Dear Amiguero,
The Amiga community is indeed a potent marketing and evangelistic resource.
We are already working closely with quite a number of people in the community
- journalists, artists etc., and as we move forward towards the launch of AmigaOS4.0
this will intensify.
There is nothing better for the platform than proud Amigans showing off their
new systems to other computer users, talking about them on internet web sites
and bulletin boards and in general creating a loud and happy noise about the
fact that there is an alternative to Windows.
There is a great deal of love for the Amiga in the computing world. Many who
are now successful within the PC industry fondly remember the Amiga and I often
hear the phrase "We didn't leave the Amiga, it left us". Our job is
not just to get the community turned on to the new hardware and operating system
releases coming up but also to get those who did move away from the Amiga to
come back. From an emotional direction, this won't be that difficult but from
a business direction it will be. Business people are hard headed and want to
see at the very least a sustainable and at best a profitable market which rewards
their efforts in porting to and/or developing for a new platform. This requires
us at a minimum to provide them with an amazing computer platform, and we believe
we will have this with the AmigaOne and AmigaOS4.0. The next issue is to grow
the platform, encouraging more and more users to turn to the Amiga platform.
Thanks for the good wishes. There is definitely a place for a platform like
the Amiga and once we can start selling AmigaOS4.0, the good news will spread.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Wrap up
Well constant Amigans, that's all for this time. See you in May!
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