Have you seen the new Amiga OS?

dhagan4755 · June 1, 2002 9:45PM

<a href="http://os.amiga.com/os4/"; target="_blank">Amiga OS 4</a> showcases the GUI of the forthcoming version of the Amiga operating system. And they think this is going to revolutionize the industry? Boy are they delusional.

buonrotto · June 1, 2002 10:04PM

In the looks department (Ok, so I'm shallow), I'd say it gives Windows 3.1 a run for its money. Eew. Very 1993.

Now refresh my memory of the Workbench metaphor. I've never used an Amiga, so I could be wrong. My understanding was that it was sort of like an OpenDoc system where you had a bunch of files in a fairly non-hierarchical system and you had a bunch of tools that theoretically could be used on any kind of file/object, yes? I notice that the menus are all contextual ones with a status bar at the top. The status bar gives the current status of the drive/disk/system, not the status of an object though. I guess apps are simpler and more numerous, which I think is a nice approach generaly, though the universal application of tools is somewhat limited. It's sort of Services up the wazoo, and like Services and contextual menus, I would expect the system to determine which tools are applicable to any given object.

Any other insights, especially from Amiga vets? How different is it from the older Workbench iterations?

ghost_user_name · June 1, 2002 10:15PM

That's the best god damn looking OS I've ever seen! Yes sir!

mmph... mmph... baaaa hahahaha!! <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />

scott_h_phd · June 1, 2002 10:29PM

WOW :eek: That's great.

matvei · June 2, 2002 7:53AM

Somebody HAS to make an osx theme of this beauty! Aqua, SchmAqua!! This is lickable...

matvei · June 2, 2002 7:57AM

Somebody HAS to make an osx theme of this beauty! Aqua, SchmAqua!! This is lickable...

target practice · June 2, 2002 8:30AM

[quote]Originally posted by BuonRotto:

Now refresh my memory of the Workbench metaphor. I've never used an Amiga, so I could be wrong. My understanding was that it was sort of like an OpenDoc system where you had a bunch of files in a fairly non-hierarchical system and you had a bunch of tools that theoretically could be used on any kind of file/object, yes?<hr></blockquote>

No. Actually, the Amiga was very Mac-like. Workbench was simply Commodore's name for the desktop. It was ahead of it's time with real multitasking and the Video Toaster was the first true desktop video product on the market.

I do like how AmigaOS handles transparent menus, though. The background objects are blurred slightly for a more realistic effect. I wish OS X did this. See below...

satchmo · June 2, 2002 9:18AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Target Practice:

[QB]

I do like how AmigaOS handles transparent menus, though. The background objects are blurred slightly for a more realistic effect. I wish OS X did this. See below...

[QB]

I've used Amigas way back when my college deemed Macs too expensive. So they went out and purchased 30 Amigas. I went out and bought a b&w Mac512K for over $3500 :eek:

Regardless, I never liked the Workbench look. Too pixel heavy and cheap looking. In this new Amiga OS, I think the transparancy is too great. It's beginning to looked too cluttered and busy bordering on not really sure which palette you're looking at.

OSX has less transparancy and is less confusing, visually.

fran441 · June 2, 2002 9:27AM

Wow. Looking at those pictures gives me a feeling of nostalgia.

Will this run on my Apple ][GS?

zo · June 2, 2002 11:22AM

About as lickable as slitting your tongue with razors and having a bottle of hyper-halapeno Tabasco sauce and then using a rusted cheese grater to sooth the burning. Or thereabouts

apple.otaku · June 3, 2002 1:33PM

So why are we getting G5 rumors from these people?

spart · June 3, 2002 1:49PM

[quote]Originally posted by apple.otaku:

So why are we getting G5 rumors from these people?<hr></blockquote>

Because their OS sucks and they have to have SOMETHING to blab endlessly about.

And their hair is blue.

matsu · June 3, 2002 1:59PM

Amiga is so frigging dead, I can't believe the 2 dozen die-hards who still keep their machines alive can spread so much news about a company that will never again sell a desktop computer. They're dead, and they ain't coming back! Who cares how great they were, if a few geeks still really like them, or some old pros keep their machine alive for a simple task or two (if only because it still works, and they can't be bothered to learn something new)

Are you listening Steve? Better do something about that marketshare, 12 users are not enough to support a platform no matter how many user-names they have. <-- just a little sarcasm...

belle · June 3, 2002 2:00PM

Will this revitalization of the Amiga OS bring a return of the heady days of Amiga vs. Atari ST?

I remember being sent countless floppy disks full of demos involving swirling sprites, weird color banding effects, and synth electronica MODs. Most were from Scandinavia, if I remember correctly.

And I remember the game that kicked it all off - The Pawn.

[quote]12 users are not enough to support a platform no matter how many user-names they have. <-- just a little sarcasm...<hr></blockquote>

Or a little truth.

[ 06-03-2002: Message edited by: Belle ]

applecello · June 3, 2002 2:37PM

[quote]Aqua, SchmAqua!! This is lickable...<hr></blockquote>

Ya, just one taste and it would do worse to your tongue than going at a sharpened cheese grater for the better part of an hour.

lemon bon bon · June 3, 2002 3:25PM

"So why are we getting G5 rumors from these people?"

Because we're desperate for G5 rumours?

Lemon Bon Bon <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />

ryanthegreat · June 3, 2002 5:11PM

mmmm... fugly.

scadboy · June 3, 2002 9:29PM

Jesus christ, it looks like windows 3.1 ate NeXTSTEP, drank some Aqua and threw up.

Of course, we shouldn't be surprised by this, look at the website, I bet the same clods that thought the red checkered beach balls looked cool decided to add translucent menus to a windows 3.1 interface with NeXTish icons.

sheesh, but I bet Jeff Raskin thinks its brilliant.

ciao,

michael

[ 06-03-2002: Message edited by: scadboy ]

spart · June 3, 2002 9:44PM

Looks like they need to hire a designer...instead of doing it pixel by pixel in MS Paint.

It's so....counter revolutionary.

thuh freak · June 4, 2002 3:26PM

i think we should look on this with a bit of a more open mind. we do use an OS which runs on like 5pc of the market. i think we should consider how we're looking at the peculiarities of this (disgusting) Amiga OS, and think how (disgusting) windows users may be lookin at Mac OS (9/x/y...). Perhaps we should instead think of ways of exploiting this realization, to this end: killing the entire windows using community.

`a wish sandwich is that kind of a sandwich...where you have 2 slices of bread...and you wish you had some meat` -the chips

falkol · June 6, 2002 3:00PM

[quote]Originally posted by Belle:

And I remember the game that kicked it all off - The Pawn.

[ 06-03-2002: Message edited by: Belle ]<hr></blockquote>

What a classic! And remember the fights about the better parser - Infocom or Magnetic Scrolls. I never needed those pics and preferred the Infocoms. Still have some of those adventures left to play.

Have you seen the new Amiga OS?

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