5 ms·

Was privacy your main driving factor for purchasing a Talos?

by stamps 9y ago

classichasclass 9y ago
No, it was a workstation powerful enough to be a reasonable alternative to x86 that wasn't x86. I like Power, it's the architecture I'm most familiar with (other than the 6502 8-), and I think Intel needs a big kick right in the effective monopoly. Sure, I could have bought one of the AmigaOne systems, which would have been somewhat cheaper, but those are basically embedded systems in ATX cases. The 12-year-old Quad G5 I'm typing this on would mop the floor with one of those. This isn't a slam on the Amiga community, who tried hard to bring in systems at not-completely-eyewatering prices, but this ends up producing boutique systems running underwhelming chips in unimaginative designs because of the small numbers and the rigid price points. More to the point, I don't have a strong Amiga history, so the AmigaOS side of those machines would be mostly wasted on me. If there's going to be an architectural alternative in the grunt ballpark with x86, and I don't think ARM has gotten there yet, right now it's going to be Power ISA. And everyone in this thread complains about the cost. Understandable, but if no one steps up and buys one, no one will make any more of them and they will never achieve the necessary economies of scale. Fortunately I'm a PPC bigot^Wzealot with more money than sense. So I'll take the plunge. :) The fact the firmware is auditable, no management engine/PSP crap, I get full schematics, etc., is just a bonus in my view.
- stamps 9y ago
  I purchased one for the openness/privacy and for an alternative to x86. Currently my stack is entirely x86, though I have taken the time to purchase hardware that is freeable/mostly free (ASUS KGPE-D16/8, x200, and librem 13). It seems I have close to no experience with POWER (other than older Macs), so, I am a bit concerned about what I will and won't be able to do on it. When I receive mine I hope to be able to use it for most things, but as a fall back it should be able to be used for some self hosting. Any particular place POWER guys hang out? I haven't been able to find a community that talks about day to day off x86 (albeit I haven't done much looking).

Was privacy your main driving factor for purchasing a Talos?

by stamps 9y ago

Was privacy your main driving factor for purchasing a Talos?

No, it was a workstation powerful enough to be a reasonable alternative to x86 that wasn't x86. I like Power, it's the architecture I'm most familiar with (other than the 6502 8-), and I think Intel needs a big kick right in the effective monopoly. Sure, I could have bought one of the AmigaOne systems, which would have been somewhat cheaper, but those are basically embedded systems in ATX cases. The 12-year-old Quad G5 I'm typing this on would mop the floor with one of those. This isn't a slam on the Amiga community, who tried hard to bring in systems at not-completely-eyewatering prices, but this ends up producing boutique systems running underwhelming chips in unimaginative designs because of the small numbers and the rigid price points. More to the point, I don't have a strong Amiga history, so the AmigaOS side of those machines would be mostly wasted on me. If there's going to be an architectural alternative in the grunt ballpark with x86, and I don't think ARM has gotten there yet, right now it's going to be Power ISA. And everyone in this thread complains about the cost. Understandable, but if no one steps up and buys one, no one will make any more of them and they will never achieve the necessary economies of scale. Fortunately I'm a PPC bigot^Wzealot with more money than sense. So I'll take the plunge. :) The fact the firmware is auditable, no management engine/PSP crap, I get full schematics, etc., is just a bonus in my view.

stamps 9y ago
I purchased one for the openness/privacy and for an alternative to x86. Currently my stack is entirely x86, though I have taken the time to purchase hardware that is freeable/mostly free (ASUS KGPE-D16/8, x200, and librem 13). It seems I have close to no experience with POWER (other than older Macs), so, I am a bit concerned about what I will and won't be able to do on it. When I receive mine I hope to be able to use it for most things, but as a fall back it should be able to be used for some self hosting. Any particular place POWER guys hang out? I haven't been able to find a community that talks about day to day off x86 (albeit I haven't done much looking).