#Screen swapping
12 messages in this thread
Martin,
Since I couldn't make it to DevCon, I don't really have many details yet,
but I do have some concerns – both as a developer and as a user. My main
concerns relate to issues of compatibility – if a lot of existing software
breaks, then users will be reluctant to upgrade to 1.4 for quite a while. I as
a user will be quite hesitant to abandon a significant investment of software,
some of which (if not a lot) will probably never be upgraded to support the new
OS level, while other packages will eventually be upgraded, but not
particularly in a timely fashion. As a developer, I would want to take
advantage of many of the new features of 1.4, but would possibly be hesitant to
do so, as that would eliminate many of my potential customers. To develop
parallel routines to support multiple OS environments will probably be a _lot_
of extra work, and will most likely cause bloated code. And this market is
just too small as it is to allow it to be fragmented.
Comments?
…BobR
P.S. – To anyone else reading this – remember that the above is _not_ based in
any way on facts that I'm aware of, but is purely conjecture. Please read it
in this light.
Bob,
Supposedly, if you strictly follow the Amiga programming guidelines,
then you'll have no problems writing software that will run under either 1.3 or
1.4.
As to software that breaks under 1.4, well…it will be up to each
individual to decide what to do…but I suspect that the majority will upgrade
to 1.4 within 6 months of it's release.
Those that don't are probably not software buyers anyway, they're happy
with what they have and won't be buying much new stuff no matter what.
I know that's why I'm not moving to the 1.3 ROM, but will be going to
the Fat Agnus…I'll wait till 1.4 for the ROM upgrade, and will put in the new
Denise when available.
Don
I disagree on the fact that most folks will upgrae in 6 months. Consider that a
LOT of people are still running 1.2, and that was only a disk-based update. I'm
not sure that many people will take their Amiga to the dealers, pay $100 for
parts/labor just to get a ROM swap.
I remember back in late fall 1987, a customer that had purchased AMnews called
up the office to ask why it didn't work at all on his system. AFter several
minutes of trying to find the problem, we discovered he was still running 1.1,
nearly a year after 1.2 came out (late november 1986). And again, that was only
a disk-based update (the kickstart disk).
WHy are people still using DOS 2.0 on the PC for example?
Martin,
A lot of folks didn't go to 1.3 because they didn't need, or want any
of the features in it…for WB only users, and those with floppy based
systems…1.3 didn't offer much.
V1.4 will offer much, much more for both CLI and WB users, and will add
new video modes. Because of that…the majority of those that ARE going to
upgrade, will upgrade within 6 months.
The rest of the folks will be like those that still use MS-DOS 2.0 or
WB 1.1 (1.2, etc.)…they'll stay with what they've got and as I said, they
also won't be buying much new software anyway. They're happy with what they
have and see no need to change it.
Because of that, since they won't buy any (or very little) new
software, and they don't have v1.4…then they should be of no concern to
software developers. You develop for future buyers, not future non-buyers.
Don
I am actually an user of both an Amiga 500 and an A2000. I haven't moved to
1.3, because its only major improvement was 'auto-booting', and my HD isn't
compatable with that. But I'll surely upgrade my ROM as soon as 1.4 available.
It seems to be a great improvement! Mario
Mario,
I made just that comment to Martin Taillefer…many who didn't upgrade
to v1.3 didn't because v1.3 didn't offer them much. Many of those same folks
(like you) will upgrade to v1.4 however when it becomes available.
Don
I think so. Kickstart 1.3 wasn't a great improvement. 1.4 is gonna be.. Mario
Kickstart 1.3 was no big deal, but WB was somewhat more important. Much better
and faster priting, better and faster math libs, shell, smarter console, pipe,
aux, speak, RAD:, new fonts, many fixes, new utilities, etc… And yet, even
though it is only disk-based people did not all rush to upgrade which amazes
me. Although I see the logic in what Don is saying about the fact that folks
that don't upgrade OS are not the ones that will buy software. the "active"
user, the one which buys stuff, will be aware and purchase 1.4. But I'm still
unsure about marketing a 1.4 application before at least a year after 1.4 is
available commercially.
I'll probably release some PD stuff which uses 1.4 though. That's probably
gonna be an important point to orient folks towards 1.4 (PD programs that is)
Most software (the vast majority in fact) will work fine in 1.4. The concerns
you expressed about the chicken and egg situation is true and was discussed at
DevCon. The only logical conclusion was that you offer new features in 1.4, and
disable them in your software (ghosted menu items, etc…) when running on a
1.3 machine. That way, folks see this and think that maybe they should upgrade
to 1.4…
..Comments? Buy a MS-DOS machine! <mega-grin> Mario
Bob,
At DevCon, the stated "order of the day" is compatability! CBM claims that
they wish the majority of existing software to operate correctly on the new
version of the OS. If you can, I'd see about having anything that you wrote, be
check out by someone who has a full 1.4 ECS machine. If any problems are found,
then contact CBM with a bug report. They claim to be willing to work with
anyone inorder to make existing SW work.
Now, if all the rules were followed, (some of which were not too clearly
stated), things will be much easier on all concerned.
Another thing that I noticed is that SW written to use many (not all!) of
1.4 features, will work correctly on 1.3 with the advanced features just not
being there. There are a few areas that may need to be changed depending upon
the OS version, but Intuition in particular seems rather benign to 1.3-1.4
differences.
All in all, I'm quite impressed with the overall direction that CBM is
taking the OS. There are some major changes that will change the overall look
of the Amiga, but with few major incompatibilities. The new OS gives
programmers MUCH more control over the system than they now have, and also a
much more consistant view of the hardware upon which the application is being
run. Going with this is a higher level of responsibility to ensure that the
application can run seamlessly on all configurations.
-Dean
Dean,
It sounds like the attitude of CBM is right on the money. As the software
that I write tends to follow the rules and guidelines that I'm aware of, I'm
reasonably confident that I won't get burned badly. (Just one area in one
program that I'm a bit nervous about, as the rules regarding double-buffering
an Intuition display are not very well defined). I am really looking forward
to the enhancements, as most of the ones I've heard about sound very positive.
…BobR