Re: South West Show


Doug Webb wrote:
In message <1140360173.406450.12810@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

I went to the show as well and it seems that the kernel in RISCOS5 is
the sticking point.

I am not completely sure that credible, unless of course ROL built RO
Select 32bit in such a way that it is tightly coupled to their kernel
(doh). If that *is* the case then a Select port for Iyonix would be
difficult. Why can't *they* ROL just change *their* modules (the bits
they *do* have access to and control of) so as to allow these modules
to co-exist with the kernel and native modules of RO5?

ROL state that the pledge proceeds would not cover
everything and hence they need to find more cash to do it. The
positive is that they are looking at offering selected "Select"
features available for Iyonix. I asked a few questions at the ROl
theatre talk and it seems that the share issue is one way they are
looking at funding work over and above that brought in by Select subs.

Given the massively underwhelming response on drobe "would you buy
shares in ROL" poll I don't think that's going to be a runner.

ROL apologised for lack of Select delivery but stated that the work
needed to be done to support the move to 32bit. I did ask ROL if they
were looking at discussing with Castle that they fund some of the
development by purchasing shares and ROL said that they were looking
at all RISCOS users to support ROL.


Translation ROL *didn't* talk to Castle about it. Maybe the politics
won't allow it, or maybe they tried unsuccessfully already, or maybe
ROL fear that by doing so they may be committing to something they
didn't want to - who knows.

Looks like I've got some thinking to do around Wakefield time or
earlier. I really want to support RISCOS development, ideally with one
strand of RISCOS, but it is still not clear and easy to decide what to
do.

From your comments (and others on drobe) I suspect that a single strand
is not likely to happen anytime soon. Best thing to do, IMHO, is
support vendors who *do* support the platform with software or hardware
(e.g., Castle, IconTech,MW, Ad6 etc.,).


It seems that they are nearly there with 32bit RISCOS4 for A9 and they
are looking for Select for the old 26bit enabled machines to be
available around the time of Wakefield. The interesting point was that
the version for the A9 would not be all the Select4 features and A9
users would have to subscribe to Select to get the full Select 4
features.

As far as I can recall ROL did state that before. It means that A9Home
users should factor in the cost of Select into the price of their
machines. That being the case on a cost basis A9Home doesn't quite look
so good against Iyonix (it all boils down to if people favour having
Select on A9 at extra expense or having a more flexible/expandible
machine that doesn't (Iyonix)).

Geminuis looks good with JPEG enhancements. I asked about CINO and it
seems that they have a a memory speed issue to sort out but
interestingly the A9 bandwidth is apparently about 4x that of the
Iyonix! though of course the processor is slower.

That won't matter as the video (off DVD) will only be attached to the
A9 via a very much slower USB1.1 connection as against the much faster
UDMA on the Iyonix. I have heard that some people are working on using
the Application accellerator built into the Iyonix IOP321 to speed
memory accesses up (not that I've noticed a problem in this regard in
use).


Thats my update and as ever its subject to the clause that it's
accurate as far as my memory and recollection are.


Doug thanks for that comprehensive reply.

Doug


Regards

Annraoi

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: South West Show
    ... I went to the show as well and it seems that the kernel in RISCOS5 is ... I am not completely sure that credible, unless of course ROL built RO ... If that *is* the case then a Select port for Iyonix would be ... If the issue is the hardware - *avoid it*, go with the stuff that ROL ...
    (comp.sys.acorn.misc)
  • Re: South West Show
    ... Chris Hughes wrote: ... I went to the show as well and it seems that the kernel in RISCOS5 is ... I am not completely sure that credible, unless of course ROL built RO ... If that *is* the case then a Select port for Iyonix would be ...
    (comp.sys.acorn.misc)
  • Re: South West Show
    ... I am not completely sure that credible, unless of course ROL built RO ... If that *is* the case then a Select port for Iyonix would be ... needed to be done to support the move to 32bit. ... I really want to support RISCOS development, ...
    (comp.sys.acorn.misc)
  • Re: Response to RISC OS Newsletter
    ... numbers expressing interest in Iyonix Select. ... Actually originally ROL were unwilling to confirm or deny that they ... If ROL had *enthusiastically* declared that they'd support Iyonix *at ... more Iyonix sales and *more* potential customers to justify the effort. ...
    (comp.sys.acorn.apps)
  • Copying Select [was keyboard shortcuts in Select 4i4]
    ... ROL are updating RO as Select and are selling copies with regular updates. ... ROL say that they have attempted to port RO to the Iyonix but need help from ... Castle, meanwhile Castle have been reported as saying that wouldn't be in ... Meanwhile some Iyonix users are angry because good development is happening ...
    (comp.sys.acorn.misc)