Hi folks,
I’ve written quite a bit AROS lately and the reason is that there is so much happening in relation to that OS these days.
The AROS Research Operating System is a lightweight, efficient and flexible desktop operating system, designed to help you make the most of your computer. It’s an independent, portable and free project, aiming at being compatible with Amiga OS at the API level, while improving on it in many areas.
The hottest news is that a brand new AROS compatible computer has been released. It is called the AresOne 2012 and it looks awesome. Please have a look for yourself:
Looks neat doesn’t it? 🙂
It’s worth mentioning that this computer has been specifically assembled to be used with AROS. According to Vesalia, the hardware components were selected to get the most out of the current version of AROS, as well as making it ready for future improvements. They say that the AresOne 2012 is suitable for Amiga enthusiasts, friends of light HTPC systems and experienced users in general. They point out the fact that AROS is still in development.
Before we take a quick look at the hardware specifications, here’s a video about the AresOne 2012 with the AEROS r3 distribution installed.. have fun!
OK, here’s the specs of the base version:
- µATX AM3+ board w/ 2 memory sockets, Radeon HD3000 graphics and high-definition audio onboard
- AMD Athlon II X2 3.2 GHz
- 2 GB RAM (DDR3 1333)
- 500 GB SATA HDD
- MS-TECH LC-10 case incl. 430W power supply
There is a lot of configuration options available at Vesalia.de, so that you can upgrade certain components. These basic specs will make AROS fly anyway, since it is a very efficient OS.
In addition to AROS, the AresOne comes with a special OEM version of Amiga Forever, the Amiga emulator system. This package is helpful for UAE, as it contains the required Kickstart and Workbench images, as well as 50 games and 50 demos. You’ll also get the AMC software package, which is a powerful media center, Cinnamon Writer and Frying Pan. Vesalia also states that you can get the machine with Debian GNU/Linux and/or Windows pre-installed if you want.
A portion of the price you pay for the computer will go back to fund the future development of AROS. Thumbs up for that!
So, what does this AROS machine cost? One bundle I saw at Vesalia would set you back 309.89 EUR (including German VAT).
Personally I’m still looking to buy a suitable motherboard for my AROS mini-ITX project. That reminds me that I should post a “want to buy” advertisement at AmiBay. 🙂
Have a good weekend everyone and thanks for reading!
Old School Game Blog 
Great level up for AROS!
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Hi there,
I agree. 🙂 AROS is getting better and better these days. It’ll be interesting to follow the development of the OS in the near future. Have you tried AROS or perhaps you are already a user?
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That looks pretty cool. I would like to see more Amiga machines here in the States competing with everyone else. Give everyone some more options and alternatives for a computer, especially those who can’t afford something super expensive.
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Hi mate,
Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Yes, that would have been great. 🙂 With the progress AROS is making, I’m sure we’ll see an increase in the the user-base. It’s a big advantage that the OS is free, as it makes it easier for new people to try it out. That it runs on regular PC hardware should also help. A lot is happening on the Amiga front these days that’s for sure. There is an event coming up in a few months called AmiWest. I think there is going to be a lot of cool stuff to read about there.
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The price is not that bad at all.
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Hi mate,
Thanks for commenting. 🙂
I agree that the price is pretty reasonable. Hope they’ll sell a decent number of machines. It’s a big plus that some of the money from the sales goes back into AROS development.
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The wallpaper is killing me! 🙂 Stunning! Reminds the “better” times with all those 8/16 bit platforms flame wars 🙂
Speaking of AROS, I totally agree this is an awesome OS (awesome!), but I am not quite sure if the system is “ready” in present standards. Remember: a research operating system 🙂
It could be a great time to start with a niche market for players such as Vesalia. Retro is still sexy, and the world (Europe for sure) is full of 30-40 years old Amigers looking for an alternative. Good luck Vesalia.
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Hi mate,
Thanks for your comment. 🙂
I agree with you. I get the same feeling as well. It’s good to see that the developers are making progress with the OS each month. I spent some time building my new system yesterday and it is soon ready for action.
Building an AROS system is not expensive and it is not horribly difficult to set up. To get into the AmigaOS 4.x community, you need a lot of cash for hardware and the OS licence. That stops many people from getting into it I think. It is just not possible for people that are curious about the OS to try it for a little while to see if they like it. With AROS that is possible and I believe this community will grow a lot during the next years because of it. X86 hardware is cheap, easy to get hold of and you can test AROS from a DVD or a memory-stick. If there was a cheap AmigaOS 4.x alternative, for example that netbook that was announced last year, this community could start growing as well.
What is your opinion on the current OS situation on the Amiga?
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Really hard to say. I am not so involved anymore, and I don’t believe I have a good grasp of a big picture. For sure what I see, is a fragmentation and lots of different projects with no end. “Out of chaos comes order”… who knows, maybe. The AmigaOS appeals to me, however the system costs fortune. AROS seems to be a great alternative, like you said, and I’ve already invested some time to familiarize with it and I hope to get involved somehow. Shame I am not twenty anymore 🙂
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¨Shame I am not twenty anymore¨
Remember the time you had back in those days to do stuff? God I miss that. Oddly we still complained we did not have enough free time. If only we knew. 🙂
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You hit the nail on the head my friend. If we only knew.. Guess we’ll have to wait for retirement to get enough time, but then we’re probably too lazy to do anything else than enjoying a life through virtual reality. 😉
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Aye, sir. I miss those loooong coding nights, with no fear the next day I’ll be barely awake to do anything at work. First things first 🙂
Time flies, and there is no much we can do with it. So lets preserve the good memories and enjoy what we have now.
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