amiga-news.de - Eyetech: AmigaOneG3-SE and AmigaOne-XE Earlybird Systems now on sale!

01.Nov.2002
Christoph Gutjahr (ANF)

Eyetech: AmigaOneG3-SE and AmigaOne-XE Earlybird Systems now on sale!
Press release: We're there at last. Since the previous update to the AmigaOne section over 6 months ago the AmigaOne boards have been in the hands of our developers, and as a result of their feedback, the original firmware which we were to have shipped with the board (by Softex) has been replaced by specially adopted PPCBoot code. That, and identifying - and fixing a small problem with the Articia northbridge chip - have resulted in us holding back shipments of the consumer version of the AmigaOneG3-SE. That is until now!

During this period work has also continued with the AmigaOne-XE design (which has replaceable cpu modules). This design is now ready to go into production alongside the AmigaOneG3-SE. And perhaps the best news of all is that the G4 cpu is now available in moderate quantities, on acceptable delivery and price terms such that we are now able to offer a G4-based AmigaOne-XE at the same time as our public launch of the AmigaOneG3-SE.

The upshot is that we are taking orders for both the 600MHz G3-based AmigaOneG3-SE, and the 800MHz G4-based AmigaOne-XE, starting at the WoA-SE show on 2nd November 2002 - for delivery before Christmas (and, yes, for the cynics out there, we really do mean Christmas 2002!). A 700MHz G3 (750FX cpu) version of the AmigaOne-XE will be made available - at reduced cost - early in 2003.

But what about OS4 I hear you say - is that now ready? OS4 is now highly advanced, but no, is not currently ready for shipping, largely because Hyperion have had to divert a considerable amount of their time and effort in sorting out the AmigaOne's PPCBoot firmware. Our best estimate is that OS4 for the AmigaOne will ship early in 2003.

So why order an AmigaOne now? Well over the last six months we have had overwhelming demand from both dealers and individuals to ship the AmigaOne hardware - both boards and pre-built systems - now, together with LinuxPPC and UAE, in advance of OS4 being available. In addition this 'Earlybird' offer this also helps us spread the testing, assembly and despatch operations of the AmigaOne boards and systems over a number of weeks, which in turn helps us keep our own costs in check. So, in return, we are offering all users who wish to take up this 'Earlybird' offer a free, registered, copy of OS4 for the AmigaOne as soon as it becomes available. The Earlybird 'free OS4' offer represents a saving of around 12% on an AmigaOneG3-SE motherboard

This of course will not suit everybody, and if you want a switch-on-and-go AmigaOne system then this Earlybird offer is not for you. In this case we're afraid that you have a few more weeks to wait. However if it does suit you then don't delay - this offer is for boards and systems ordered up to and including 31st December 2002 or when OS4 becomes available, whichever comes first. Thereafter OS4 will become a separately chargeable item

As for prices, these have been revised to reflect currency movements since they were originally announced last March, particularly the weakness of the US dollar. Your local dealer will have the local currency prices for the AmigaOne outside the UK and the Eurozone. However the suggested prices in Europe - in UKP and Euro's - are as follows:

Board	CPU	UKP	Euro
AmigaOneG3-SE	G3 750CXe@600MHz	360.00	580.00
AmigaOne-XE	G3 750FX@700MHz	450.00	725.00
AmigaOne-XE	G4 7451@800MHz	500.00	800.00

These prices exclude local taxes, shipping and (apart from the Earlybird offer) OS4.

As far as complete systems are concerned, your local dealer will be able to provide quotations for standard and custom built configurations. Sample prices and configurations for systems which we ourselves offer in the UK are here.

Below is a table listing the comparative features of the AmigaOneG3-SE and the G3 and G4 versions of the AmigaOne-XE.

Item	AmigaOneG3-SE	AmigaOne-XL (G3)	AmigaOne-XL (G4)
CPU	750CXe	750FX	7451
CPU speed	600MHz	700MHz	800MHz
CPU upgradable	No	Yes	Yes
CPU socket	No	Yes	Yes
Max memory	2GB	2GB	2GB
Memory type	DIMM Registered 133	DIMM Registered 133	DIMM Registered 133
Northbridge	Articia 'S' with fix	Articia 'S' with fix	Articia 'S' with fix
Southbridge	VIA 82C686B	VIA 82C686B	VIA 82C686B
PCI 33MHz	3 Slots	3 Slots	3 Slots
PCI 66MHz	1 Slot	1 Slot	1 Slot
AGP speed	2x	2x	2x
Ethernet chip	3COM 820C	3COM 820C	3COM 820C
USB ports	2 back plate+2headers	2 back plate+2headers	2 back plate+2headers
PS2 ports	Keyboard + mouse	Keyboard + mouse	Keyboard + mouse
Serial ports	2 x 16650 equivalent	2 x 16650 equivalent	2 x 16650 equivalent
Parallel port	1 x EPP/ECP	1 x EPP/ECP	1 x EPP/ECP
IRDA port	On header	On header	On header
Firmware	PPCBoot + OS4 enabler	PPCBoot+OS4 enabler	PPCBoot+OS4 enabler
O/S capability	LinuxPPC + OS4	LinuxPPC + OS4	LinuxPPC + OS4

(ps)

[News message: 01. Nov. 2002, 16:21] [Comments: 2 - 06. Nov. 2002, 11:07]
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