BCI NET 2/BCI NET 2.iso/archives/programming/amos/amoslist-1294.lzh/AMOSLIST/text0014.txt

Text File | 1995-01-03 | 8.9 KB | 220 lines

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This is a SMALL part of the IRC conf with the Prez of CEI, I merely included a
few of my comments. This only contains a few of the parts that I wanted to
comment on. Watch the next Amiga Report for the complete transcript which
covers many more topics and plans....

------------------------------BEGIN---------------------------------------
IRC log started Tue Nov 29 14:51

<alex_cei> We are overwhelmed by the response from around the world today.
The support has been incredible, our hope is to finalize the deal shortly and
bring back the Amiga!

        Good :)

<Overlord_> Will you [alex] consider using GLint chips for the amiga?

    <LehmanNAV> [Request for clarification: what is GLint?]
    <LehmanNAV> [GLint is a 3D gfx chip from 3DLabs -Thanks EdS]

<alex_cei> No, the Commodore engineering team was working on
<alex_cei> a chip set with superior performance with a lower cost.
<alex_cei> This chip was internally referred as a 3d/risc chip set.
--
        Boy this better be one cool little chip. I would like to know more
about it. IS it a RISC processor or more a RISC GFX chip.
--
<gabe> ok what my question is what do you think about DSP? and also about 040
for a base cpu for the amiga (ie 040 1200, 040 cd32) and WHat about amiga dos
on a risc machine? (no windows nt) one more thing what about tcp/ip in
amiga's? thanks
--------
        Motorola is going to ship a new 040 chip that is created with RISC in
mind, this chip (if I remember all this right from the artical in EE times) is
2x2mm Dye size runs 2.2volt and very cool. I am imagining that it could run at
100Mhz easily as well.. We will see. This chip is going to be ALOT cheaper
than the current 040s and could indeed be the base minimum chip for all the
Machines.
--------
<alex_cei> First and foremost, DSP are good and necessary but, the
co-development of applications is necessary. As the price of the 68040 is
reduced it will make the processor attractive for low end platforms.
The general transition has been to start with the advance processors on the
high end machines and migrate to the low end as price permits.... The OS needs
to migrate to a new processor within the next twelve months.  There is no
reason that the new Amigas can't be multi-os machines.  AmigaDos first and
everything else is just the topping on the cake.

--------
They better still run ALL 68k software or it is lost.
--------

<peman> Will next Amiga have the ZorroIII bus, or what bus will be used in
future Amiga?
<alex_cei> The Zorro bus is as important to the Amiga as AmigaDos.  I believe
the next generation machine should have the Zorro and the PCI bus.  This will
enable developers to add products relatively easilly.

--------
PCI! YES! Gimme! :) This would secure many sales for people.
--------

<Jason-AR> 1.  What is the current status of your bid and the negotiations?
<Jason-AR> 2.  Are you making any deals with the UK?

<alex_cei> CEI is in the final negotiating stages with the trustee.  If all
goes well and there are no legal roadblocks there is a possibility that the
contract can be signed early next week.  The inventory situation remains
murky. Commodore's raw material inventory was moved from the old C= factory to
a warehouse where a number of product were lost or misplaced.  Our goal is
to reintroduce the Amiga as soon as possible so the material issue is
important. There is also an abundance of legal issues which are being
resolved.  If all goes well an announcment will be made upon the signing.
As far as the UK status, CEI is willing to work with whatever party to make
the Amiga succesfull. Our plan calls for opening up a new operation in the UK
and Germany within the next sixty days.  These operations will be staffed by
the most competent individuals possible (either old/new Amiga management) and
new blood .

--------
I hope this doesnt take another 2 months... this is getting real old
--------

<Bewdah> Sorry to interrupt, but what about including a better text editor,
paint program, term program, etc  ala IBM OS's? Ed really stinks.

<alex_cei> ABSOLUTELY....What about a terminal program to communicate with
Internet? The possibilites are boundless.  I fully realize that our look and
feel needs to be more professional and "zappier".

--------
I am beginning to really like this Alex Armor guy.. WB3.2 should ship with all
new EDitors, a nice terminal like Terminus with advancements (they could buy
rights to it), AS225 from Interworks (latest soon to be released version),
Envoy, and Icons like NewIcons and other great PD hacks that really improve
things. These wouldnt add more than 3 disks to the OS.
--------

<alex_cei> When we acquire the assets from Commodore we will be getting 17
engineers.  Plans call to increase that number to 103 by the end of the year.
We will also be working closely with other manufacturers i.e. Ameristar for
networking, etc.

--------
Ameristar? For software or Hardware? interesting.
--------

<Fila> Will you continue to make  and support CD32's

<alex_cei> Yes.  But, I see the future as an Amiga 1200 type machine with a
built in CD.  We  must be realistic that competing with the big boys(Nintendo,
SEGA) will be extremely difficult.  Lets take the advantages of our technology
and move them forward. The CD32 is a great unit for interactive kiosk
applications.  The next machine will utilizing the new technology has a better
chance agaisnt the big boys.  Unfortunately, C= lost too much valuable time
with the CD32 and trying to bring it back will simply cost too much.

--------
Smart Man, All Amigas need to come with CDs and be 99% CD32 compat, this will
drive the market of CD32 games incredibly.
--------

<alex_cei> PS. Most people will not purchase an Amiga because it will run NT
but, some will not buy it because it doesnt. CO-development with Scala is not
out of the question. CEI has an excellent relationship with SCALA. We look
forward to working with them in the future.

--------
Exactually, The Amiga should NOT run NT stock, but if it could run it, it
would be VERY nice and attract alot of people. And it is a good thing they
work With Scala, Scala is a nice company, it would be nice to have a bit of
Scale worked into the OS.
--------

<Axios> Is a CD-ROM unit with CD32 and MPEG support for the A4000 on the list
of immediate releases once things get going?

<alex_cei> YES!

--------
Cool! I would love to see all the new machines come with a Mpeg chip Socket
and ATI/CEI sell the little mpeg cards/chips to fill them later when the user
wants to upgrade.
--------

<Tachy> HI Alex, will future releases of the Amiga-OS support
memory-protection by MMU like OS/2, UNIX and others? As a programmer, I think
we should care about the efficient OS and multitasking of this machine too...
what does CEI think about it?

<alex_cei> Remember, I'm not an engineer or a programmer.  I believe that the
market expects that all Amigas be equipped with MMUs.

--------
Boy, programmers are gonna love this guy. MMUs should be in EVERY amiga from
now on. You cant even run enforcer without one.... not to mention VM.
--------

<alex_cei> CEI
<alex_cei> 5555 West Flagler Street
<alex_cei> Miami, FL 33134
<alex_cei> USA
<alex_cei> Att: Amiga Suggestions
<alex_cei> Once we have accomplished the acquisition we will publish the
E-mail address.

--------
They should have someone answer mail all the time from a [e-mail]
or something like that.
--------

<alex_cei> RTG is the top item on our need list.  It's time has come.

--------
correct
--------

<alex_cei> We have taken a close look at the SGI, Windows, etc.  They look and
feel more professional then our beloved Amiga.

--------
Unfortunately very true, while the Amiga runs it the smoothest, the most
effiecently, and the coolest, it doesnt look real professional.
--------

<alex_cei> I believe there is room for improvement on the basic Amiga 1200.
This does not necessarily mean a redo on the machine but, might mean new
models (A1400, A1600, etc.).The working name is currently Amiga Technologies
International, remember this is subject to change depending on the legal
types.

--------
And 4MB fast Ram, and a CD (he said they all get that), and a 040.. :)
--------

<dracon> The amiga has always been a great sounding machine since the 500
<dracon> What ideas have CEI got for the enhancement of the amigas sound
capabilities? 16bit audio, inbuilt midi support?

<alex_cei> Again, DSP is instrumental (pun intended) to move the Amiga in the
sound theater.

--------
I hope it is basically fully compat with the old Paula so the old nice progs
scan still run things.
--------

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