Blu-ray boys, volistas bite back

Subject: Whiners

Dear Inq Letterman,

I've been reading the Inq for a while now... I refuse to be more specific mostly because I can't, though I have enjoyed reading your articles. Mostly because I enjoy the way your authors' sweetly caress my laughter box (I find this tends to be even more true when I'm clueless as to the actual subject of articles herein referred to).

Indeed, the only thing that beats your subtle manipulation of my humour centre is your readers. This was shattered today, however, when I read a letter apparently written by a certain R. Somethingorother, a Canadian. I have one thing to say to Mr R. Somethingorother and it is this: Learn to read! Or rather, research
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vole and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inquirer).

I have to admit though, I have been left wondering how did the Vole thing start? Or is it simply because Mr Gates looks like one?

Yours Rightously,

R.F.

Subject: The Amiga is dead. Long live the Amiga!

Hello Mike,

As promised here is a list of corrections to the article "The Amiga is dead. Long live the Amiga!":

The bad news is rather more serious, though - just a month earlier, the only remaining PowerPC Amiga-compatible went out of production, as Genesi announced that it was ending production of the Pegasos.

Actually the Pegasos was only compatible with classic Amigas and this was when using MorphOS, which is a competing product. It too offers backwards compatibility although it isn't based on the original AmigaOS source code but rather a reverse engineered solution.

But all isn't lost. The first successor to the Pegasos, Efika, a low-end motherboard based on a PowerPC system-on-a-chip intended for the embedded market, is sampling and will be available Real Soon Now(TM). Genesi is also considering a more powerful high-end dual-core machine.

Neither the Efika nor the high-end machine will ever run AmigaOS 4. The Efika has, however, been announced to receive MorphOS support in the next release in spite of the issues between Genesi and the MorphOS team. - the date of next release for MorphOS is not known.

Then again you were clearly mostly aware of this. AmigaOS 4 will run on other hardware than AmigaOne, however. While it is not supported in the current release for AmigaOnes, AmigaOS 4 runs on PowerPC boards from Phase 5/DCE in classic 68k Amigas.

You'll need a seriously-uprated Amiga though: recommended specs are a 68030 and 32MB of RAM. Do they think we're made of money? It's recommended and not required though ;)

Over the years, Amiga Inc. has tried several times to come up with a new product to recapture the Miggy magic.

The first effort was to be based on the Unix-like embedded OS QNX. It's small, fast and highly efficient, but not very Amiga-like. Negotiations broke down, though since then, QNX has boasted a GUI and multimedia support. Then there was a plan based around the Linux kernel.

Both QNX and Linux were during Gateway's ownership under Jim Collas. While McEwen and Fleecy were employed at Gateway it wasn't the same company as today. This is nitpicking, though. After Amino changed its name to Amiga Inc. the only product besides AmigaOS has been AmigaAnywhere and Amiga Inc. have been talking about an OS based on AmigaAnywhere since they started.

QNX was actually remarkably Amiga-like. Both have a micro-kernel, are highly modular and extremely close to real-time. Both have a graphical user interface and a *nix-like shell. QNX was largely POSIX-complaint though, which is something the AmigaOS never was and had to use third party developments to ease ports of *nix software.

Finally, Amiga Inc. came up with an idea to get the fans on board

Actually... no. After they saw the momentum MorphOS was gaining they were in talks with the MorphOS team regarding the possibility of MorphOS becoming AmigaOS. Negotiations repeatedly broke down, however, and Hyperion approached Amiga and took over AmigaOS development from Haage & Partner, who had been in charge of AmigaOS from 3.5 to 3.9, while Amiga International was run by Petro Tyschtschenko (began his career at Commodore in 1982) between ESCOM's bankruptcy and till a while after Amino acquired the Amiga assets. Between ESCOM and Gateway another company, Viscorp, attempted to purchase the AmigaOS for use in set top boxes, but were unable to finalize the deal. Bill Buck from VisCorp went on to Thendic from there.

While Genesi worked on the Pegasos, Amiga made its own deal with MAI and announced a new range of PowerPC-based Amigas.

It was Eyetech who did this.

The original plan was that the new machines would connect to an original Amiga 1200 or 4000 motherboard

This was before Eyetech worked with MAI and a small company called Escena was supposed to develop this board for Eyetech.

Hyperion's "U-Boot" firmware.

Technically U-Boot is not Hyperion's but rather their modified version of the open source U-Boot: http://sourceforge.net/projects/u-boot <<P> The story of the Amiga isn't over. The successor to Pegasos II has been announced: the Efika. As mentioned before this won't run AmigaOS 4 ever, though. After the Thendic-Amiga case Amiga Inc. will never allow this.

Amiga Inc. has also announced a similar product, codenamed "Samantha" Actually this was announced by three Italian companies: Alternative Holding Group Srl., Soft3 and Virtual Works. These companies worked together to create project Samantha and they have hinted that further projects are on their way.

Troika have also announced that they are working on boards for AmigaOS 4. A bare bones machine based on G3s as well as an adapted existing STB board which is code-named Panda. ACK Controls have announced that they are working on both plug-in boards for classic Amigas as well as stand-alone boards for both low-end and high-end. Besides this the press release for AmigaOS 4.0 The Final Update stated: "Availability of PowerPC hardware suitable for operation with Amiga OS 4.0 will be announced by third parties early 2007." The word on the street is that we'll see at least one announcement within a week from now. In other words there are plenty of parties working on bringing hardware to market.

Hyperion still fears the rife piracy of the 1980s, when kids traded duplicated floppies of Amiga software freely

Strictly speaking I think they fear the Internet these days - piracy is far more rampant today ;) That said the worries of Pegasos users freeloading on OS4 is a bigger worry I'm sure. When the market is this small every sale counts.

If you fondly remember your old Miggy but aren't interested in this exotic minority kit I guess Amiga Forever would be more interesting for this group (www.amigaforever.com )

Best regards,
Thomas Würgler

Subject: Blu Ray vs HDDVD.. and the PS3 (not hate mail)

Yes, the PS3 will eventually infiltrate the majority of homes. And to the guy who said PS3 doesn't offer much more than a 360- consider this:

PS3 (including 60GB HD, Wireless Internet, BluRay Drive, card reader)... $650
XBOX 360 (including none of the above).. $400
+ HD-DVD drive.................$600 Wireless
+ Adapter................ $700 card reader/motion sensor + controlers.. priceless (not possible)

anyways, about the ps3 offering 'nothing more' than the 360 for a 'higher price'.. more like PS3 offers more, for a lower price. The comparison is even more grim when it's the 20GB vs. the Core system.

Humph.

NP

Subject: Vole

The new year has just started, and that guy who had some serious problems with your use of the word Vole has just given the funniest letter of the year.

The word vole is simply perfect for the way you use it. Keep on pushing the English language, and then some.

A Canadian who likes your site, and enjoys every moment of deciphering.

chdig

Subject: Post this letter for God's sakes

Blu-ray will undoubtedly win, the only thing holding it back are these hard-headed morons who truly think HD-DVD is the way to go or something.

The hate against Sony will end and so will the media bashing. Microsoft was target for bashing (and still is), but since they have Vista right now and are saving PC gaming's ass, they are looked at with good thoughts. Because of Sony's recent problems, especially with the PS3, they are not liked. The price will come down on the PS3, its still a good deal for those who do want Blu-ray. The movies that are coming out in HD on Blu-ray outnumber HD-DVD 5 to 1 and will greatly outnumber HD-DVD's the following year.

People could end this A LOT more quickly if they simply support the Blu-ray format and end this nonsense. Blu-ray has FAR more backing then HD-DVD and is just not Sony who is backing it. Many, Many more companies will get screwed if Blu-ray loses vs. the few that back HD-DVD.

People need to wise up and support the better format and quit being cheapo's... thats all it is right? People are CHEAP, they want to spend $300 on an inferior set up then $600 on a much, much better set up. People are weak-sauce. Bah

Nevermind that in a few years you'll be able to grab a blu-ray player for $50 like a DVD player. But ok....

R

Subject: Nordreich and Cybernations

As a player in the nation simulation game Cyber Nations, I would like to clarify a few points raised in your article about the spat with Norway.

First, Nordreich is positively NOT a Nazi group. It includes players who are in real life of Jewish, Korean, and Chinese ethnicity.

Second, the suspicions of Nazi sympathies probably stem from a role-played war that was fought in November. At the time, a dispute over an alliance called the International Communist Party escalated into a war, with the leadership declaring "Operation Barbarossa" and "our troops are advancing towards Moscow". A week later, NoR declared unilateral peace and apologized for the Nazi remarks. This was probably what attracted Stormfront members to the game.

Part 9 of this thread explains this in detail:
http://z15.invisionfree.com/Cyber_Nations/index.php?showtopic=15268

However, it was soon discovered by another alliance, that Stormfront members had planned to infiltrate Cyber Nations alliances to abuse foreign aid systems. Nordreich and many other alliances, including my own, were affected, and all of them quickly removed the Stormfront infiltrators from their alliances. Almost all of them disappeared from the game. Nordreich especially took pains to disown their Stormfront members and denied they were at all Nazis. More information can be seen here: http://z15.invisionfree.com/Cyber_Nations/index.php?showtopic=35792&hl=.

Granted, the response by Magnus Nordir was inappropriate given the context, but it remains that Nordreich is not only NOT a Nazi alliance; they have disowned Stormfront members in the past. Please do more thorough research before writing stories in the future.

Jimmy

Subject: Ludite or Vole.

There are times when even a Brit can be funny.

Dilbert

Subject: Ludite or Vole.

Seems at least one other Canadian is really tired of the way you folks bastardize the English language. You are supposed to have originated the language, and now you trash it in such a way that few can understand it. You have a huge international readership. Try not to use East End gutter slang for your international audience, and then you would not continue to receive e-mails like this. This is not the first time I have written you about your lack of language skills. I once thought that maybe I am the only asshole out here that takes umbrage with your clear lack of proficiency in the English language but I have been investigating and I find that there are a huge number of people worldwide that feel the same. You were kind enough to send me a URL that took me to a site that translated British slang. I found that to be sickening. What a hell of a situation when you need a dictionary to translate your slang so normal people can understand your language. The English language is a fine thing at it's base, but when it is savaged in this fashion it becomes grotesque. I have suggested to you, in a previous offering, that if you must use this horrific slang, then do a version for your country and write in an understandable format for the rest of us. We all have slang, mostly originated by our children, but it is not necessary to publish using this incomprehensible gibberish. What is this "Vole" and where the hell did that come from? I think a Vole is similar to a mouse. What that has to do with Microsoft is beyond me. I hate Microsoft too, but Vole, what could you be thinking. Maybe there is truth that England lost the best of it's youth in the two world wars and there is nothing left but the dregs. I am not in a position to judge that, but there is something wrong with a society that deliberately destroys it's language. I hope you will take my comments as reasonable and prudent criticism. I have the highest regard for the land of my forefathers, even if I have trouble feeling the same regard for the people who would destroy our common language.

In awaiting your reply, I remain your humble servant,

Lorne Babcock Sr.

Subject: Predictions of HD DVD's demise are premature

I noticed all the flamethrowers were out when you *dared* predict HDDVD would do a betamax. Sure it's early, and premature, and all that... but face it folks. HDDVD got nothing going for it. It makes nobody excited. BluRay has a cool name and is in ps3. And sure, ps3 is expensive right now, and the games aren't happening. But that will change. A console launch like this isn't a movie launch, nobody is trying to earn the development costs back in the first weekend. Ps3 is a grower, when ps2 came out it cost the same. I remember going to denmark and seeing a display model(not for sale, fresh out) costing DKK 4.500. That is more than 600 US bucks now. It was a hit. The early adopters thought it was worth it. I guess what we're seeing is some kind of mass hysteria were expectations are pumped up to a level so high people use their rent money to buy the console, then they have to sell it on ebay so they can pay the rent.

no matter, to expensive? buy a Wii now and a ps3 next year, or the next. It's gonna be around awhile...

my 2 cents

b

Subject: Sega's Dreamcast WOW

Never in my life have I ever seen a awesome Deal like this one. NEVER NEVER.

Sega's Dreamcast to the MAX with all bell's included.

Link (ebay):
here

Buy this for the kids IMO, how the hell will they know the difference between the new stuff & this? ;)

NT

Subject: America

There is no country called America so how can there be such a thing as 'American Law"?

Spod

Subject: HD format wars end in compromise

"Anyone believing that the world won't be flooded with PS3s within 12 months is either luddite or vole"

The issue isn't availability of the PS3, but availability of movies in both formats. The consumer will sit on the fence until the studios pick one format over the other or do both. For a gamer it isn't even an issue, BD on a PS3 is just the icing on the cake, but to build a home theater around either format right now is to choose which movies to watch: the BD half or the HD-DVD half, with few exceptions. So what if the market gets flooded by PS3s? Its flooded by PSPs now... how many UMD movies do you own?

my dos centavos.

Val.

Subject: ahahaha

That Canadian guy was a riot, do you employ him? He should be on the payroll...

Seriously though, I think 95% of people get the witty "fun-with-words 'cos we're a British web tabloid" thing - just not some of those further west of the UK... Maybe if you added a "Key" for those with the intellect of the three blind mice, you would not suffer from these protestations, however hilarious they are.

Tom Baldwin

P.S. The wikipedians beat you to it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inquirer#Nicknames_and_terminology

Subject: Vole

R.Marchand wrote in his letter:
"Subject: VOLE Can't you write something without using the word VOLE just about everywhere ? do you say VOLE in your sleep ? In the dictionary ,the word Vole doesn't have a meaning that can be used in your writing. Are you talking to yourself, or if you want us to understand what you are saying ? You seem to think that everyone would know what you are talking about when you use those strange words, ( too many of them ) (...cut...) A Canadian who like your site, but dislike having to decipher everything"

I strongly disagree, you, the redaction of INQ, differ from other online publications because of some aspects, some of them are pervert, cynic, weird and lovely point of view. I hate all those publications with corner rounded phrases, authorized by interested sides. You differ. That is OK, even if it is believed that money have changed hands during process of creation of an article. If you stop being as you are, I will stop read you, and switch to any polished canadian newspaper.

A Pole who like your site, but dislike Canadian opinions.

W.Piszczek