Chris Hughes wrote:
> In message <IsoQj.3325$26.
...@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net>
> Peter Naulls <pe
...@chocky.org> wrote:
>> Chris Hughes wrote:
>>> In message <_znQj.3319$26.1...@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net>
>>> Peter Naulls <pe...@chocky.org> wrote:
>>>> At this point, I'd just like ROL to make a commitment one way or
>>>> another, and quit with the bogus "not enough information" line
>>>> or "we're committed to all RISC OS computers" rhetoric.
>>> Just got my select renewal letter and in it, it says "...as we hope to
>>> make some Select features available to Iyonix users during 2008"
>>> Seems something is happening.
>> Unless that post-dates recent statements by David Holden and
>> Aaron, I rather doubt it. I fear it is more of the same
>> rhetoric. Of course, I'd welcome statements from ROL
>> to the contrary.
> Its dated 21st April 2008
Yes, your letter may be, but the Iyonix stuff may be boiler
plate that is older. In any case, the statements from DH
and Aaron are to the contrary.
> Note they said "some" not all. Whereas I think Aaron was on about a
> full Select version (excluding the obvious hardware driver bits I
> assume).
Aaron has asserted that most/all of Select must exist on the Iyonix
for it to make any kind of sense. I've remonstrated that that is
not the case. This makes the statement on your letter all the
more contrary with the current situation, and why I welcome
firm statements from ROL.
>> Well, maybe I can answer that in part. A "full release" is likely
>> some considerable time away, and probably first depends upon full
>> release of the RISC OS 5 sources. At which point I imagine a RiscPC
>> version will shortly follow - this should immediately work on RPCEmu,
>> and then a full free RISC OS + Emulator + ROM distribution can be made.
> Unless it has changed they can't release all the sources, since they
> don't own all the rights to all the OS, and need other peoples
> permission before they can etc.. Steve Revill himself admitted this
> when he visited the club last year, they were working on trying to get
> permission from some parties with mixed success if I remember rightly
Yes, but that was some time ago and things change. Some bits
might have to be redone - exactly what, I don't know, but I don't
believe from what he's mentioned that there is anything substantial.
RISCOS_Lib is one of the obvious pieces that was missing and that is
coming along:
http://www.riscosopen.org/forum/forums/2/topics/125
This is but one reference.
> Seems to me a very good way to kill the rest of the commercial market
> dead. But who cares anymore. :-(
A broad, and not very helpful statement. Work of MW, RComp and
more broadly, myself, will likely be enhanced by the further opening
of RO5 source. If you're talking about ROL specifically, then
they have long since dug themselves a hole (all IMO) and that
isn't going to change unless something radical occurs.
>> In addition, users like myself who only have 5.11 will able to be
>> able to softload (or perhaps flash) 5.13 or so.
> I assuming here you mean non-commercial version supported only by the
> programmers and not by Iyonix Ltd? I say this because Jack when he
> came to see us late last year said he did not expect another Full OS 5
> release to come from them (as commercial quality anyway).
Presumably supported by ROOL or indeed RISC OS developers. I don't
think that question matters much as long as there's some degree of
coordination over versions, etc. I can say that is likely that
some ROOL components will be offered as RiscPkg packages, which
will certainly help this.
> Hopefully I have this wrong, but reading the above implies to me you
> would be happy for a number of companies in the RISC OS market to
> close since you would remove their market with your "FREE" OS
> emulator.
Whether or not I want it, I think, is not really material (and
no, I don't). But such a release is in any case very likely to
occur, since many people do want it (emulator, not company
demise), and it might just lead to a revitalisation of RISC OS.
Many people want to try it, but are barred by the emulation
situation with ROMs and having to purchase something relatively
expensive just for a trial.
I certainly don't believe that the model that ROL/VA have in
place is the only business model - indeed, it is one which
increasingly become old fashioned, nor do I believe that
the market for VA/RO6 is going to vanish over night, but I might
hope it'd be something of a wake up call to a desperately
cloistered market.
