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Maybe you need more beta testers to find more possible bugs, just saying...

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Frank who? A user with only fifty posts here? Naaa, he can't be important at all...

It occured to me that some people might not like the idea of chancing used hardware off ebay (or whatever). So I'm prepared to buy used mini's check them over and run extensive tests on the drives and memory, install Morphos (when available) in a dual boot config with OS X and then supply them at cost. I don't expect existing hardcore MorphOS users would be interested in this service, i'm more thinking of classic Amiga fans who want a "safe" way of trying Morphos.
I was also thinking that some Amiga folk might not be going for Morphos because of the way it looks. Personally I think the default Ferox theme looks very nice (much nicer than the default aos4.1 theme imo) but it looks quite a long way removed from what 3.9 users are used to. So I was thinking that if I did end up supplying macmini's I could offer an alternate theme preinstalled using Ken Lester's icon set (presuming he doesn't mind) and a modified version of his imAZ skin. I know it seems daft that people might make a decision based on how things look but in my experience a lot of decisions are based on how things look or how they appear to be.
This is all with the intention of growing the MorphOS user base not to make any money (to be honest I'd expect to lose money).

What do people think? A good idea or am I mad?

/me likes!

Kind regards,
Andrea

My alternate theme would look some thing like this.
Maybe a bit AOS4 like for some peoples taste (especially with DvPlayer in the Polynet bar - but it does run under os4emu!). But as I typed in my last post it's aimed at people who like os3.9 and to a a certain extent those that "think" they want AOS4 but would actually be better off with macmini+morphos

(This is on one of my PegII's which also has AOS4.1 installed on it).

As i said in previous post - that would be great idea to get few macminis with Mos preinstalled and try to sell them.

MOS default skin looks great and it's very useful. Why do you want to make it look like aos?

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*I* don't want to make it look like AOS! The idea is to show that it *can* look like AOS if that's what you like and to offer a theme in that style as an option. This really shouldn't be needed but sadly some people need something to look familiar before they'll consider it. As I mentioned before this theme is to attempt to sway some of the classic Amiga users to move onto Morphos. You could describe it as kind of like a comfort blanket, something warm and familiar
Or a way of weaning people who are more stuck in the past onto Morphos.
The way I look at it the most likely source of new users is those who are still using their classic stuff or those who remember their classic stuff fondley and might be tempted to try a next gen option.

I knew Amiga before i tried Morphos. I used to use workbench 3.1 and Dopus 5 as a operating system. After 11 years without Amiga i tried Morphos on Pegasos. That was extacly that system what i was looking for.

I think it's about how the system works not how it looks like. Great thing is that you can try MOS. You don't have to pay to try.

@Pampers

You're right it is how it works that is most important that's why even though I have lots of other operating systems installed and ready to use at home I find that Morphos gets most use. However imagine you're a slightly closed minded Amiga nut and you look at a screenshot of the default ferox theme. It doesn't *look* very Amiga-ish does it? For you or I that's not an issue we've heard/read good things about Morphos so get some suitable hardware and try it regardless. The slightly closed minded Amiga nut probably won't get that far because it doesn't look as Amiga-like as Icaros, Amikit or AOS4.1. Despite arguably being the most Amiga like in actual use. But you can't try anything through a screenshot.

Maybe I'm on the wrong track with this and it would be enough to just offer a tested macmini with a vanilla Morphos to attract a few more users. I just thought this extra option (and I did mean it only as an option) might sway one or two more people to go for it. As far as I'm concerned if it got one extra user on board it would be worth it.

Ruud:

If you are going to get few AmigaOS guys on the bright side of life, make MOS to looks like AOS :) Meaby then they will understand why we are such a big fans of Morphos.

Not sure I understand you. You mean make it look like AOS3.1 (as opposed 3.5-4.1)?

Ruud: Sorry mate, i'm quite tired 2day. I ment - do whatever you think will work to get more MOS users.

I think it is a great idea Ruud!

Ok, well three people seem to like my idea.
So I've been thinking about it a bit more. 1.25ghz models seem to be the best price wise to aim for as they seem to fetch a resonable amount less than 1.42ghz models and there is no other advantage than the clock cycles. Even this slowest mini model will blow every other PPC "Amiga" away
I was thinking at first to buy a small number of minis (say 4) and run them through their paces. Then stick up a website with a few details, specs etc.
Of course there may be a little wait until morphos for mini comes out but it'll just give more time to get organised and more familiar with the hardware.

Try to get 1.5Ghz version with 64MB vram - that is gonna be the most popular mac mini, when MOS mini will be released :)

Did you think about some kind of visual 'tuning', like changing a color of mini and for example put some kind of sticker with lovely, blue butterfly? :)

Put me in the group of folks that think this is a great idea.. It should not take any huge effort to make the OS "feel" a bit more Amiga-ish, and let's face it... The Amiga "Feel" is what drives ALL of us in the first place.. Whether we be red or blue...

I think your idea is a very good one and I also like Pampers idea of the butterfly emblem on the outside of the box.. (Not sure how much work you want to put into this, but the butterfly would be a very nice touch for sure..)

I'm going to paint my mini in black color around xmas time (my father has a good tools to do that) and then i will try to get some sticy paper and print a nice emblem. So in a few months time i should be able to show you my MorphMini (hopefully by xmas MosMini will be released ;) )

@Pampers

I'd love to get a few 1.5ghz machines in "stock" but the price is a bit off putting at the moment. If things go well with the initial few machines I'll get some 1.5ghz machines to offer as a higher end solution. It all depends on demand.
As for visual stuff it would be really nice to do but I'm not sure I have the time to organise it but I will look into it. If anyone has any ideas how to achieve a nice result at not too higher cost please let me know
I want to be able to offer reliable machines at a low cost because although morphos is free to trial the person trying it still has to pay out for hardware. So hopefully low cost = more trialists.

The idea is good but at this times most of people have the machine before the os. The "bad" side of morphos is the 150eur registration.

Whats wrong with the 32mb one? if 32mb of gfx memory can move the heavy weight osx imagine with morphos.

[ Edited by kickstart on 2009/9/21 20:14 ]

Kickstart: that's right - it is 150 quid but at least you can try for free comparing to AmigaOS 4.1

I just say "bad" between ""... a free demo is cool of course.

I've bought a couple of non-functioning Mac minis off ebay to have a play with. I might be able to get at least one of them back into working order if not I'll strip them for spares. The cases can always be used for testing out logo customisations.
What do people think is better:
A small butterfly logo that just covers the "apple" or
A large butterfly motif that covers most of the top?

I think a little bigger than existing apple logo would be nice.

Personally i dont want to see the apple logo, a small butterfly or a semi covered top is good.

[ Edited by kickstart on 2009/9/23 16:11 ]

My G4 MacMini's top is a bit yellowed, so I will probably go for some kind of complete cover, or replacement if the plastic can be removed without too much trouble.

Have any of you opened up your Mini yet? What tips do you have for opening the case without any damage or scratches?

Edit: Found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynQKYTaJ_zA

[ Edited by amigadave on 2009/9/23 8:54 ]

[ Edited by amigadave on 2009/9/23 9:10 ]