| From: | Harold Grovesteen |
| Date: | 2 Aug 2000 at 12:06:08 |
| Subject: | Re: AMIOPEN: Amiwest news / new SDK |
I totally agree! The focus should NOT be on what the hosting platform
is but on the SDK itself. For a lot of us their exist practical reasons
why LINUX hosting is not easily achieved, usually, resources, such as
time or equipment (read finances).
Ami understands that. I keep reminding myself of that when I see some
of these prejudiced postings. Arguing about which hosting platform is
wasted energy.
You must see the vision! Java brings a more level playing field to the
software platform that is used. This is what has made Java so
successful in the web server arena. Ami/Tao brings this same leveling
to the hardware platform. Just as Java made Microsoft nervous, Ami/Tao
can do the same for the other partner in the marriage, Intel. A lot of
work is needed to move towards that vision. The description I read in
the IBM interview of multiple disparate CPU's in the same system sharing
workload dynamically is so amazing! Think what freedom this could bring
to the hardware world.
Harold Grovesteen
Wayne Hunt wrote:
>
> Aaron,
>
> I love ya man, I really do, but you really need to learn how to avoid being
> melodramatic... A lot of people (including developers who already have
> Windows machines) would vastly prefer a Windows version to learning (and
> tolerating) Linux. Like it or not, Windows PC's are the predominant machine
> on the planet, why not use them for good rather than evil? Whether the SDK
> runs on Windows, Linux, MIPS, or 68k makes ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE to the
> finalized Amiga product.
>
> Wayne Hunt
> Site Manager
> Amiga.org
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Aaron Ruscetta" <aaron@pd.org>
> To: <open@amiga.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 10:58 AM
> Subject: Re: AMIOPEN: Amiwest news / new SDK
>
> >
> > My reading of Bill McEwens announcements at AmiWest was a bit
> > of a Zen experience; real Yin/Yang, except without the symetry.
> > Comment seemed both important and pertinent, but if you disagree you
> > can send this (along with all flames) to: <bitbucket@null.com>
> >
> > > The following news tidbits are coming straight from Bill McEwen,
> > > courtesy of UGN's live audio feed from the show:
> >
> > > The SDK is selling better than forecasted. Amiga have been in contact
> with
> > > numerous major consumer electronics and software companies, including
> > > (straight quote) "every major gaming company out there". Many of these
> > > already possess the SDK. Interest from major companies particularly
> picked
> > > up after Bill's two recent TV appearances.
> >
> > Cool, and better than forecasted sales don't surprise me given the
> > nature of the communities that have been enlisted by Amiga Inc. so
> > far.
> >
> > Unfortunately, I find this and all the other upbeat news announced at
> > AmiWest being pulled off balance by a big black hole on the event
> > horizon...
> >
> > > A version of the SDK for Windows will be made available next month.
> >
> > I find this a most untimely and disturbing announcement. As any
> > student of this industry's monopolist physics can demonstrate, it
> > won't take long for the windows vacuum to suck away all the light
> > that's been shared with Amiga so far. Any concession to the monopoly
> > corruptions at this stage of Amiga development seems hugely premature
> > and remains, despite all fronts and assurances, a drain on resources
> > and a serious contradiction to the alternative community commitments
> > that Amiga Inc. has so successfully stated, solicited and exploited to
> > date.
> >
> > The first obvious and unavoidable result of this action will be the
> > destruction of the market for the alternative Developer Systems. It
> > seems in keeping with an Amiga corporate tradition of sepuku that this
> > is announced just as the DevBox systems are actually becoming
> > available. What motivation is there for buying a DevBox now? Why
> > would anyone get off the couch to invest the extra money and energy
> > needed to view the alternatives, when Amiga Inc. is broadcasting that
> > they should just lay back, punch the remote and join all the other
> > potatos on the monopoly shopping channel?
> >
> > Again in the Amiga marketing tradition, the first ones left slashed
> > and bleeding from a premature windows releases will be that tenacious
> > but waivering handful of remaining Amiga dealers; especially the ones
> > who had placed trust in the new AI's stated alternative focus and
> > invested in distributing the Developer Systems.
> >
> > Of course, once you point the sword the wrong direction, you have to
> > start applying bandages, with the common result of adding more gashes
> > in the process. An example may be the sudden announcement, just a
> > couple of weeks prior to AmiWest, that the $1000 "Trailblazer"
> > Developer registration would be included with the Linux DevBox
> > systems. Perhaps an attempt to patch the critical wound from a windows
> > SDK release would exlain why such a nasty cut was delivered to all the
> > committed developers who had already invested in the Linux SDK release
> > and/or compatible systems to run it on. (I guess we caught the
> > bleeding edge literally this time... but the choice seemed a lot more
> > productive than waiting indefinitely for the DevBox offering to
> > arrive.)
> >
> > I think the theme from Mash was way off: suicide is never a painless
> > proposition. ;-)
> >
> > The only thin ray of light that has escaped the black hole so far is
> > Gary Peake's follow up announcement that a Stand Alone SDK is close to
> > release as well. Of course, any windows release within 6 months of
> > this will overshadow that pretty completely. Why the stand alone SDK
> > and OE releases aren't the ONLY focus of AI at present is beyond me.
> >
> > > Red Hat will start selling the SDK next week. Also Sun have started
> using
> > > Amiga software to demo Java stuff.
> >
> > Cool! Very encouraging demonstrations of commitment from the essential
> > partners AI has brought on board! That is, if the light here escapes
> > the gravity well.
> >
> > > There are going to be public beta releases of the OE prior to release.
> >
> > That will be excellent... if...
> >
> > > There is going to be an Amiga IPO.
> >
> > I have to think that these IPO plans are still scheduled for a ways
> > down the road. Besides the huge risks associated with an immature
> > company jumping into the volatile IPO arena, Bill McEwen has
> > indicated that he may need to step down from running the show at that
> > time. He seems to me to be the most positive, reliable and consistent
> > voice in the mix and he needs to keep standing where he is for a good
> > while longer (as who've seen him in action here seem to agree).
> >
> > > Paul Nolan is now doing contract work for Amiga.
> >
> > Cool. Paul is sharp and has stuck it out with Amiga work for a long
> > time. Dedicated people are the only essential ingredient of success.
> >
> > > More on the license issues: No software developers will be forced to pay
> > > royalties. Voluntarily, they can sign up for a certification program,
> which
> > > will give their products an official Amiga "badge" and the chance to
> have
> > > their product marketed by Amiga themselves. This will cost them $1.50
> per
> > > sold item.
> >
> > Reason prevails! (well, at least in the licensing plan:)
> >
> > I find it most encouraging that the licensing process has been so
> > significantly revised. I know more than a few developers were ready to
> > say forget it or were not even considering AmigaNG unless something a
> > whole lot more practical, affordable and realistic came forward. After
> > reading the "fine print" license details that came in the SDK, I was
> > about convinced to pack it up and move on, too.
> >
> > > Amiga will start offering low-cost promotional merchandise to
> > > user groups.
> >
> > Great! The user groups are struggling and need all the help they can
> > get. Of course, low cost beta OE releases and maybe a couple OE
> > systems to demo will be a whole lot better... ;-)
> >
> > > At the show, Amiga were showing off an ARM-based touchscreen unit,
> > > running the new OE. The design is by none other than Mick Tinker,
> > > and it's not being sold commercially yet.
> >
> > > Backwards compatibility to the Classic Amiga from the new OE will
> > > be dealt with by something that "is not an emulator".
> >
> > Still more cool news! Hope all the plans manage to shine though the
> > looming dark anamoly.
> >
> > /* AArexx AAron */
> > /* (comment required) */
> > options RESULTS
> > ADDRESS 'aaron@pd.org'
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > I can see the Burma Shave road signs for AmigaNG now:
> >
> >
> >
> > "--> Keep Going This Way -->"
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "--> so You Can Help Pay -->"
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "--> for All of Black Billy Gate's lawyers!"
> >
> >
> > <wink>
> >
> > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: open-request@amiga.com
> > Amiga FAQ: http://www.amiga.com/faq.html
> >
>
> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: open-request@amiga.com
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