Genesi has posted a whole batch of screenshots of the upcoming MorphOS 2.0 release on their weblog. “MorphOS 2.0 brings not only a new OS release, but a host of applications developed by a motivated group of Developers all over the world. These applications have been tested and work with the EFIKA.”
It’s looking pretty good so far. I’m sure somebody’s going to say it, so I might as well do it first: it’s a shame this is only available on such a limited platform. At least the Efika is cheap, to the barrier for entry is at least lower.
It seems that Genesi will finally bring back the Amiga community into one whether somes like it or not. MorphOS is being shown in many community gatherings. The OS4 folks are talking about using the efika with OS4emu. MorphOS could be a full replacement for OS4 given all the legal problems being created by Amiga Inc. This could keep the development community together and it might even help Hyperion. /rasmus
Sure these screenshots arent the best to present MorphOS 2.0. INDEED it smells good, ready for the Impact ? 😉
Edited 2007-07-05 10:07
I thought the efika was pretty uber cool when i first saw it. But it seems the mass production projects resulting in the OLPC creating a new market is squeezing stuff like this. The first that comes to mind is that little $200 asus machine.
The biggest current failings of the efika:
– requires ATX power supply
– doesn’t include video
– needs a proper case.
Sadly the above two result in an efika based machine costing quite a bit more than the above total asus box.
Not to mention morphos being a closed development project.
But regardless I applaud their efforts, the efika itself isn’t really mass produced and there’s always more room for good software, and definitely room for non-x86 solutions out there (i really wish x86 would go away).
consider that your comparing efika (motherboard) to en entire machine (olpc or asus eee machine or whatever its called).
you need to compare the efika openclient vs the others since openclient has all the parts, and then the opencleint is like $400 all up so it still losses.
id wait for the efika followup before plunking down cash to run morphos2.0
Looking forward to getting a Efika when MOS 2.0 comes out. Thanks guys!
…how will be get it?
will be included with efika?
free downolad?
pay download?
cd buy?
Anybody know of any good introductions to the Amiga/Morphos/World?
I’ve looked up wikipedia entries on morphos and amiga, and feel a bit more informed, but…I’m still left wondering “What’s new/different/unique?”
I’m an OS fan. I’ve played with Macs/Nixes/Be/React/Haiku etc etc etc.
Anybody know of a good primer? A begginer’s guide? Heck, a history of Amiga and the attractions behind it?
Thanks!
Hum, I don’t know what you want to know?
I have a couple of links on http://del.icio.us/aliquis/amiga?page=5 but I don’t know how much they will help someone who doesn’t know amiga from the begining.
New? Probably not much today, datatypes maybe?
Different? Single user, no memory protection, screens, very fast on low end hardware (well, not at encoding dvds maybe but on just using the interface and doing os related stuff.)
Unique? It’s the only OS which makes computing fun.
I guess it’s like Be but with more software? ;D
Take a look at:
About Amiga history:
http://www.heartbone.com/comphist/AmigaHistory.htm
http://www.amigau.com/aig/ahistory.html
About the Amiga OS:
http://www.amigaweb.net/index.php?function=amigaos
http://www.basden.demon.co.uk/amiga/amiga.diffnt.html
The Amiga community
http://www.amiga.org/
http://www.amigaworld.net/
http://www.heartbone.com/comphist/AmigaHistory.htm
http://www.amigahistory.co.uk/
http://lowendmac.com/orchard/06/0901.html
http://www.amigau.com/
http://www.unitechelectronics.com/hist.htm
That’s enough for you?
Thanks for the coverage Thom. Those are good numbers (and still counting…).
You can learn more about MorphOS here:
http://www.powerdeveloper.org/morphos-article.php
The OS4 and other Amiga links are good for more Community information. It is our feeling that the best characteristic of this Community is the active user and developer engagement. Amiga, AROS and MorphOS users and developers do many things with their computers. They make things work as they want them to work and they have fun with their “amiga.” This is the spirit that still reigns today in this Community. The OS is part of it, but it is more than that.
We featured exactly this kind of participation today:
http://bbrv.blogspot.com/2007/07/macmigaefika.html
The first case idea started in Germany and has now popped up in Spain, Hungary, Poland and the UK. In total, that is really what “amiga” is all about and why selling a $99 EFIKA works. There is a sharing and exchange of information around a common interest – fun computing.
R&B
As much as I bash people who are willing to fork out their hard-earned on ‘new Amiga’ stuff, this does excite me mildly
Most screenshots have nothing to do with MOS 2.0 and are quite old apps (2005,…) Really nothing new here.
Not to mention the lack of coherency in almost every shots: bad theme,…
This really looks un-professional. At least I wouldn’t promote my OS with such screenshots. And that’s too bad, because there are real good designers working on MorphOS images, themes,… that could be used here.
@leo43
What are you talking about? Of course these application shots have something to do with MorphOS 2.0. Several applications only work on MorphOS 2.0 and the screen/window shots where made to show what applications are there for MorphOS. And most of these programs (beside I think 2 or 3) they all work on Efika.
Of course there are applications which didn’t get an update for quite a while, but they are still good and useful.
Several applications are getting updates frequently, even while making the screen shots. Developers contacted us that there is already a newer version.
MorphOS is backward compatible and even supports old software from A500. Even on Efika.
The most exciting part is that this Software is running on Efika. That MorphOS is running on Efika! It’s not a small linux kernel with an limited desktop, but a full featured desktop system allowing all this.
About your unprofessional issue: We showed applications running on MorphOS and did not want overloaded colorful images. We avoided making screen shots which shows non application related stuff and focus on the important stuff.
The main reason for all these images is to set-up a page where users can find software. And even by only having a few (we have many more) images, we got mails asking for where to get this or that.
So I guess it can’t be as stupid as you claim.
Unprofessional is only the way you deal with it. Instead of contacting and helping us, you try to sabotage the project even before it really gets started by posting unqualified comments.
Geit
Edited 2007-07-06 13:21
If you look on eBay for an Amiga, chances are it will be an Amiga 500, 600, or 1200. Those are the three Amigas that sold the most because they were cheap and could hook up to a TV.
The EFIKA is an attempt to come in at an even lower price point than that, and still have decent features. $200 for a machine that can run older software, newer software, and Linux with decent driver support is what people want.
Heck, this costs 1/3rd the cost of a Classic Amiga accelerator with a video card.
The purpose of this is to:
1. Replace older, failing Amiga hardware with a newer device that does much more, without having to spend a large amount on hardware.
2. Provide a decent hardware platform that can serve both the Amiga and hobby markets at the same time.
Personally, I think it’s a decent little device because it does what the customers want at a good price. Sorry, but $600 for a PPC Accelerator just to run older stuff when I can just run it under UAE or natively on this just doesn’t make sense.
[quote]
What are you talking about?
[/quote]
I’m just saying that I don’t see the relation between this article and MorphOS 2.0.
Most applications shown here are MOS 1.4.x apps. This doesn’t present any MOS 2.0 specific features. This does not give a good image of MOS.
But, well, people seems to be happy with anything these days. Fine
Of course most applications are MOS 1.4 Apps. Because most developers use MorphOS 1.4.x. MorphOS2.0 is only available to some coders.
MorphOS 1.4. supports most common key functions. Most MorphOS 2.0 changes are below the skin and normal programmers won’t even notice.
I still don’t know what you expect? It’s not a completely new OS which brakes compatibly. It’s an OS update that improved massively on it’s build in and included features.
If the OS is that lame as you are telling, why are users seeing it what to buy it right away? Because of the features the system provides out of the box. Network stack, enhanced input and transparency are only three of these features.
Again! It’s about MorphOS and it’s available software! And about MorphOS 2.0 the next MorphOS and not about MorphOS 2.0 only applications.
Geit
http://bbrv.blogspot.com/2007/07/green-doesnt-have-to-make-you-blue…
The Zonbu folks have done a good job, but…
R&B 🙂