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> I find it interesting that there are so many AmigaOS
> projects. Certainly, there is some effort being wasted.

Well AmigaOS has a competitive market. AmigaOS4 and MorphOS are commercial competitors for the desktop market. AmigaOS4 uses Picasso based graphics, MorphOS uses CybergraphiX based graphics, AmigaOS4 uses Reaction as interface manager, MorphOS uses MUI by default, and so on. Many applications will be available as both a MorphOS and AmigaOS4 version, the consumer can then decide for himself which offering he thinks is more compelling.

The AmigaDE is targeted at embedded uses. It can run on top of other operating system or as a standalone operating system. It will be used in later versions of AmigaOS as a compatibility tool for Java and AmigaDE software.

> Like QNX? Like Linux+X11+Blackbox?

Yes the QNX Neutrino kernel was once chosen as a foundation for a new official Amiga branded Amiga-like OS under Gateway. Gateway eventually dropped all Amiga related projects when they received pressure from Micorsoft. In 2000 they sold Amiga to the current owners.

Do not however that AmigaOS offers a far more advanced, powerful and flexible desktop environment than QNX RtP.

http://www.gfxbase.com/wbshots/wbshots.shtml

> This sounds rather cool, but I'd think it would take a
> few seconds for the monitor to adjust to a new color
> depth.

This is instant on classic Amiga hardware. We will need to see what happens for AmigaOS4 running with mainstream graphic cards.

> I'm a big fan of virtual desktops (I have 16 on my
> GNOME2 and KDE3 desktops),

Although virtual desktops (X11, BeOS) are based on the way AmigaOS handles screens, the AmigaOS approach is alot more powerful. It is alot faster, less resource demanding and the upper left gadget allows you to page trough different screens without the use of the keyboard (although that is also possible).

> but I don't really see the point of having virtual
> desktops with different color depths and resolutions.

This advantage is best explained by giving an example. Think about this: In the future you may be using resolutions up to 5120x3840, if so, most of your current applications will either look like tumbnails on your desktop or the lay-out will be severely ruined. With screens with the exact resolution and color depth your application was developer for this problem is solved. (Note you can often choose such settings on AmigaOS manually)

> You can do this with Linux. Especially the part about
> ripping out anything and replacing it with something
> else.

Yes this was one reason why Linux was proposed as a basis for a new AmigaOS as well. But Linux in general is slow and bloated for desktop usage so this was a major reason for AmigaOS users to reject this idea. They have a point though, as else they could use WindowsXP or MacOS X instead.

> Also, I doubt that you can get a desktop that looks
> exactly like QNX in Amiga, without doing any coding.

It can be done to a great extent, but it makes no sense to limit yourself to a level of GUI functionality which QNX RtP provides. Like having no icon system or screens concept. Here is an example QNX-like effort by an AmigaOS user: http://www.trotta.de/club/wbx/016.html

> Can't you do this using Xnest or VNC?

No.

> People still use floppies?

Agreed, but I had to mention this so people don't think they can use Amiga formatted diskettes without buying special hardware for their new AmigaOS4 platform first.

> Cool, but not important for me since I don't make
> movies.

I'm not saying you need to use every feature Amigas provide. Maybe you want to limit yourself to a Command line interface on a PC. That's your *choice* and completely fine with me. I found that feature very useful as I could easily add sub-titles to my home made videos or an animation.