It's pretty naive to say the Amiga is still just a 68000 box these days. While we may not have a version of the official OS running on non-680X0 hardware, we do have PowerPC software - running on 603 and 604 processors. If you broaden your definition of an Amiga to include Amiga-derived systems such as AROS and p.OS, both of which have source-level compatibility, the hardware field opens up even further. Place Amiga Forever / UAE into the equation, and we really have reached out far beyond the 68k.
The problem is that all these wonderful developments really don't bring us a true Amiga on another CPU. You're either recompiling source code, using the PowerPC as a co-processor, or running an Amiga on another OS (slowly). It's not as seamless as it should be, and certainly not a way of enticing new users to the Amiga. It's a step in the right direction, admittedly, but really not as great as it should be. Plus I get the feeling all these developments are fragmenting the direction of the Amiga - companies are taking their own ideas and playing off against each other. They should be pooling resources, organising, innovating - looking towards the future, not short-term ideas about patching up the Amiga or driving up their own particular niche futures.
The first sign of the trouble which I noticed was Phase 5's rather aggressive stance against Haage & Partner's WarpOS. I'd heard a lot about problems with Phase 5's software solution for PowerUP, and was concerned with their backlash against H&P's alternative. I felt that Phase 5 was trying to do everything at once, which is alright for a major corporation - but can be disastrous for a small company. Be started out as a company offering an OS (BeOS) and hardware system (the dual-PowerPC BeBox). Fine products, but too much for a small company to deal with at the same time. So they ditched the hardware and dedicated themselves to the OS - since that was their unique selling point. As a result, they've done a lot of growing up - and set a good model for how the Amiga should progress.
PIOS have never made claims about software - they are a hardware developer. They're a new company, with limited resources. So they go out and do what they do best, delegating specialist tasks to other companies. PIOS have adopted ProDAD's p.OS, while AmigaOS remains 68k-only, and teamed with Siamese to bring AmigaOS compatibility to the system They aren't writing it themselves - what would be the point? Haage & Partner are offering a PowerPC native software layer for developers which, from reliable sources, seems to offer a superior environment for all - perhaps Phase 5 should bury the hatchet (preferably not in the back of H&P) and forge links. It would ease their workload, so they can concentrate on what they do best - hardware. I wonder how much sooner PowerUP boards, or even the A\BOX, would have been if they had made a few contacts with other companies?
You see, my point is this - every developer wants one thing: a successful Amiga. It makes no difference if you are a software programmer, or a hardware engineer, if you have your own custom vision of the future, or want to supply compatible generic boxes - a successful Amiga platform will be good for your business. Get all the Amiga developers involved in one initial project - a short-term, high-priority focus which can kickstart the Amiga market once again. Once the ball is rolling, companies can then start to make their own paths - cutting their own niche areas and finding their own fortunes.
So what would this short-term, high-priority focus be? Well, it would need to achieve three objectives:
I've just picked three things which seem highly important to me. Nothing specific like "It must have Java", "It must have 3D Graphics Acceleration", "It must have 16-bit Sound", just three simple points - nothing too controversial... I hope. Which brings me to my focus project...
As a software person, you may feel I'm biased, but I feel it is something which the Amiga community can achieve and quickly. The focus is:
There's hardware available, from 680X0 Amigas to CHRP PowerPCs, Alpha Workstations to PowerMacs. All pretty powerful stuff, and available right now. We can concentrate on the hardware aspects of a new Amiga at a later date, rather than making hasty hacks and worrying about long-term "SuperAmiga" projects which get delayed or revised. Get the OS into a portable state and distribute this new version to interested parties. With AmigaOS shipping on generic CHRP systems or Alphas, companies like Phase 5 can make their hardware developments with more room for manoeuvre. I could go out and buy a PIOS transAM with AmigaOS on it, or a HiQ Alpha workstation, or whatever.
Okay, there is a flaw - you need native software to run on your OS port! You can't have the OS, but no software - it wouldn't sell, unless you could have Siamese or an emulator running. Both of these seem awkward (A PowerPC system with native AmigaOS emulating an A1200 just to run applications? Why bother!). The SDE binary system, which produces a portable executable converted to native code at runtime, offers a highly effective method - one binary for use by any system. It could even be retrofitted to older, but still important, versions of AmigaOS. Backwards compatibility, as well as forwards.
Older apps would be a problem - though only existing users would probably worry. You could use emulation or a 680X0 on on a PCI card for these troublesome systems, or just run them on the old hardware. New users aren't really going to worry too much about old games, or applications which have long since passed out of development. The important thing is that developers are given valuable help in revising software for the new era - SDE-capable compilers, powerful development tools and comprehensive information. Where are the 3.1 RKRMs? Where is the official developer support?
We need a focus. We need to set the foundations for the future as soon as possible, before things get totally out of hand. We need to unite the development market and get everyone working towards the same set of goals, at least until the Amiga market picks up speed.
After all, we're all working for the good of the same platform... aren't we?
Why is it so damn expensive to upgrade an A4000 to PowerPC? I've been getting involved in a lot of graphics work which really demands more than a 68030 can churn out. Not all the time, just enough to make me think about something a little bit faster. You can't seem to get hold of 68040 accelerators anymore - not for the A4000 anyway. Okay, a 68060 would be very nice indeed, though it'd feel like overkill for most of my work - and I've heard my Oktagon 2008 SCSI card doesn't like the 68060.
You can get new A4000 accelerators with 68040s, though they come with the PowerPC boards. How odd. Still, it would be nice to have a bog-standard PowerPC chip to play around with. I could have a stab at some PPC assembler or try out the PPC Doom ports. Nothing too flash. Just a simple PowerPC would do. Like a 603. Yep, a 603 would be nice - I've seen 603e PowerMacs which work well enough.
But you can't get bog-standard PowerPCs for the A4000, only the 604. The cheapest 150MHz with 25MHz 68040 option isn't available anywhere, so you have to bump up to a 180. A1200 users, who seem to get all the cheapest deals, have a Blizzard 603e at 160MHz with SCSI and 25 MHz 68040 for a very reasonable price tag. Nothing similar for the A4000. With so many cheap A4000 compatible systems being developed, wouldn't a low-cost 603 option be a good idea?