[openbeos] Re: MIPS32 port for GSoC

First, I'd like to say for the record that I was just making a joke. I
figured it was the general consensus in our community that the focus
shift (ahead of its time or not) was a major contributing factor in Be's
unfortunate demise, and didn't mean to sound like I was making fun of
the ideas for us.

Anyway,

My feeling on this is that strange ports, especially embedded systems,
should be reserved only for hobby users. As I understand it, translating
a full desktop OS to an embedded system like a PDA involves more than
just a straight port of the code. Even Linux, which, by its nature, has
already a small footprint, still requires streamlining, rewriting, and
significant stripping to run on embedded systems.

Don't get me wrong: I would *LOVE* to have an ARM port to adapt for use
as a control system for my modded Dreamcast (how sweet that would be),
but I don't think it should be a project thrust upon the core devs.

If the devs were to explore work on a port after R1, I would much
rather see it turned into a viable OSS alternative for my G3 iBook.
Since we have absolute desktop OS wizards here, I think they should
continue to use that gift instead of everyone learning the ins and outs
of a specific new device, then designing, building, porting, and
balancing a complete embedded port.

With utmost respect of their abilities, our team isn't the one that is
best suited to bring Haiku to your Zaurus or your iPhone or old WinCE
device. Just let them do what they do best.

-- Jonas Buckner


On Tue, 20 Mar 2007 17:22:33 -0400, "Matt white" <mattwhi@xxxxxxxxx>
said:
> this is true. But i think the bigger purpose of this discussion was the
> road
> map of haiku after the R1 release. There are many different platforms out
> there that would turn Haiku into less of a desktop OS and more of a
> hobbyist
> Linux type deal, and don't forget WE are not Linux. Although we can learn
> much from them. My thoughts are that a ps3 port if possible would be able
> to
> fulfill the purpose of BeOS even existing. But it still remains Haiku is
> still in alpha and some wouldn't even call it that and it has some big
> shoes
> to fill. I think once R1 is out, perhaps the main dev core can take some
> time to experiment with other platforms before the move onto R2 begins.
> 
> On 3/20/07, Donovan Schulteis <deej575@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > I also believe that the whole IA game for Be was too early.  Some of the
> > stuff we were working on at Qubit on BeIA was just plain ahead of it's
> > time.  Not only did the hardware cost too much then, but the general
> > idea wasn't sticking too well with the consumer.  But, given we won 2 TechTV
> > best of categories, we were on the right path.  Now, 7 years later, I'm just
> > starting to see the stuff emerge into the market successfully.  I think what
> > killed us was cost of entry ($1500 for a tablet that performed less than a
> > much cheaper laptop), in addition to the fact that Be went out of business
> > and our investors didn't want to pony up money to either buy BeIA source or
> > start over on WinCE.  :P
> >
> > That all said, to bring this back around to topic... MHO is that a 
> > 1.0release on x86 should be the only priority at this time.  Once there, 
> > other
> > platforms can be examined... but the community needs the one complete
> > platform before starting to worry about others, nevermind the lack of an
> > army of devs to keep all platforms moving forward.  Stay focused on a single
> > target for now... ;)
> >
> > Deej
> >
> > On 3/20/07, François Revol <revol@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > > > I'd welcome anything that moved Haiku closer to running on my SGI
> > > > > O2,
> > > > > though...
> > > >
> > > > Yeah, I think we need a focus shift toward HaikuIA. That always works
> > > > out well. :)
> > > >
> > >
> > > Well, at the time Be did it it was too early.
> > > We only start to see real-life handhelds around.
> > > Even though tabletPCs weren't really a success (but maybe because the
> > > OS wasn't suitable), there are many more form factors that are really
> > > used. PDAs sell less, but we see PDA-shaped smartphones instead. ultra-
> > > laptops are more usable. The Nokia n800 is more a niche stuff though.
> > > That changes from the kitchen computer that was bigger than a laptop
> > > and too slow to do video.
> > > Set-top-boxes are gone, but intelligent DSL modems now have a GUI to
> > > show on the TV, even if only to preset records. (bénie soit la Freebox
> > > :)
> > >
> > > So as I said, not it's no more "embedded" stuff, but real mobile
> > > desktop.
> > > Then it's not really a focus shift anymore.
> > >
> > > #include <ForwardLookingStatement.h>
> > >
> > > François.
> > >
> > >
> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> Matthew White, Head of computers for the less fortunate.

-- 
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