The Good news though is that someone is working on a new piece of Dial-up software.
Apparently it uses the Windows script files to setup your machine.
Can't wait to see it

Oh dear I seem to have come over all negative....

We also need hardware independence so we can use graphics cards and soundcards and basically have all the advantages of the PC world.

Finally we need two emulators or similar:

1. To run older RISC OS apps that don't like the new native 32bit OS
2. To run Windoze apps

Net software needs to be cheaper and up to date (same as IE and Netscape)and we need some high powered authoring tools to rival Claris and Dreamweaver.

Without all this, we'll simply be left behind and it'll become too expensive to actually use the machines.

How do we attract developers to the platform? Well this is tricky as it's proving difficult enough to keep developers who already know the platform. For the few we do have it's a labour of love and I bet a fair number of those are stuck with hardware that they feel or know is inadequate but aren't willing to risk a substantial sum of money on an upgrade (I'm in this category).

Right now I think the major problem is actually one of stability. The market is in a precarious position and is not being helped by continual rumours of the demise of RISC OS Ltd, or the loss of their developers or the continual arguing on the newsgroups over stupid things.

What I need right now is a statement from RISC OS Ltd that says either that the resources to develop RISC OS to a given specification have been found (either via them or Pace), that this work is going to be carried out over the next X months and is guaranteed to happen OR I need them to say it's all over. I don't think this is unreasonable, and neither will the majority of developers. The current uncertainty has me "paralysed". I'm not willing to devote my limited resources to the platform and having used Windows day in and day out for the past two years it becomes a more attractive prospect everyday. (Win2k has some really neat features).

My apologies if this is really negative but I think sometimes you need to be realistic.

1) RISC OS 4 power pack (with pre-emptive wimp 2 multitask and other things up) and some serious desktop enanchements

2) Risc OS Programmer's suite (with all about GCC and BBC Basic, and a lot of libraries and info about ARMs and RISC OS) (also program editors like Vim and Zap and all usefull programming tools and manuals in HTML and StrongHLP format)

3) Finish my CAESAR MEGASTORE Risc os 4 version (an e-commerce suite that use Navaho Server, that let us have a e-commerce server under Risc OS 4) but i need a S.Q.L. Server or database and i didn't find it actualy there is only DatasTORE that is very expansive for me (i have not money!)

4) Risc OS Web programming suite (for let Risc OS come-in to web programming with very low costs and very powerfull instruments)

ALL THIS PACKAGES WITH AN INSTALL PROGRAM that let us make some clicks and nothingelse for install all the software.
Do you think that are good ideas?
Someone are interessed to this or to help me?

What you stated seems quiet interesting. Please contact:

contact@bluebirdy.de

web: http://www.bluebirdy.de

or maybe try riscos@gmx.net

just try http://tcr.kharchi.de

I think, there are enough developers around, who could help you (or better: us) to complete this!!

I believe a variation on open source has been suggested in another thread, so if RISC OS Ltd find that themselves and Pace can't or won't develop the system for the desktop, then they need to arrange such a non-commercial solution and announce it. Fast.

I am currently using a Windoze PC which I hate with a passion and am selling up to get a RiscPC (I do have an A5000 and A4000) but I have been put right of going new due to the complete lack of where the market is heading. Keeping so quiet doesn't help the market. That's a sale they have lost and every sale helps.