If you know of anything that I missed (hardware, OS, or whatever), please email me! 
Yes, we find ourselves at yet another computer revolution. I figure that the first was 'personalized' computers (as opposed to the mainframes that companies and universities used). Realize that Commodore was a big part of that (during 1978 - 84), with the 4040, 8080, Vic20, and 64. The second revolution I consider to be the introduction of multimedia; whereas your usual silicon-based machine used 2 - 16 colors, the Amiga (introduced in 1985) had 4096. Furthermore, it could actually animate objects, having hardware that took several years to be implemented on 'normal' platforms. And it could generate TV-compatible video signals, so that it could be used for more than just games. Add to this preemptive (i.e. real, like in the big computers) multitasking, and you get a workhorse platform at a fraction of the cost of one of those big computers.
The Amiga OS was designed to operate in 256 KILObytes of RAM - and allow enough room for applications! What can you say about an OS that has endured for more than 15 years (and is still quite useful)? I'd call it a work of art, worthy of a prominent position in a computer museum - at least a virtual museum, being revered in publications. It has had 2 major revisions; even after the company disappeared, it has gotten minor revisions. I'm sure that many people chose the Amiga for the same reason that I did - it was distinctive. It had a stable, resource-efficient OS, was coupled to kick-butt hardware, and it could be customized to the user's liking (much more so than Windows, at least). Futhermore, it had STYLE. Of course this includes user-friendliness, but I think it went further - it had a personality (the user could actually relate to the computer).
I've heard about the desire for that 'killer app' - a program (usually a game) that enthuses users so much that it generates sales to new users. To me, Amiga's Operating System IS that killer app.
And now the third revolution. However, this time, it's not the hardware at all. In fact, the OS was weaned from dedicated silicon to more readily-available products. Now it's all about the operating system, which is being developed to run on various systems, including cell phones, PDAs, et cetera. Granted, Microsoft has their 'CE' version - but I can't fathom how an OS that requires a Gigahertz processor, buku Megabytes of files, and a truckload of RAM can be scaled to run efficiently on something so small.
Because the new system uses off-the-shelf hardware (e.g. video and audio cards), some users will consider it alien. Add to this other technologies new to Amiga users, e.g. USB and IrDA. (Notice 'some users'; I realize that many owners of the first generation of Amigas have experience with 'wintel' and Macintosh.) To be honest, I'm in the league of the inexperienced; I've never owned one of those other systems, so I don't really know about USB, for example. To that end, I've researched the new system, and compiled this information.
Note that Amiga, Inc. neither builds nor sells any hardware - they merely design the OS, declare what hardware is necessary, and validate it. They might also market it (at least the OS). Here is their website: Amiga, Inc. Some of this info comes from the feature set.
Here is the first offering of the new platform - AmigaONE (from Eyetech).
The primary CPU is PowerPC - no doubt because it's the natural upgrade from the 68K family.
I know specifically of only a few chips (because they're mentioned in Amiga's website). Here are PDF files from IBM: 750Cxe, 750FX, and the G4-7451: fact sheet, basic info, and specifications (about 3 Meg!)
For info on AltiVec technology, visit Motorola's AltiVec site (check out the first 2 PDFs).
The memory is "DIMM registered 133 SDRAM" - if this makes no sense, check out the glossary of memory terms
The original Amigas had Copper, Ramsey, and Buster; the new generation has a 'Northbridge' chip, which handles communications between the CPU, RAM, PCI/AGP and the 'Southbridge' (next). The particular Northbridge used is from MAI Logic - it's called the Artica S. Here's a PDF from MAI: Northbridge.
The 'Southbridge' is comparable to the 8520-CIAs, Paula, and the WD SCSI controller in the origianl Amigas; it handles IDE, serial/parallel, USB, audio, and modem/ethernet, etc. The particular Southbridge used is from VIA Technologies, Inc. - it's called the 82C686B. I couldn't find info on that chip specifically - here is VIA's info on the set that includes it (along with their Northbridge) - the KT133A.
From the feature set: "For the time being, both the Permedia 2 and Voodoo 3 graphics cards will be supported, with Radeon support to follow."
ATI Radeon - models: AGP / 7000 / 8500 AGP
Matrox Perhelia AGP and G450 AGP.
The audio is stated as utilizing the EMU10K1 chip, which I've found only in SoundBlaster's Live! card. (NB - this was from searching 2 merchants' websites, namely Best Buy and Circuit City.)
From the feature list: "Currently supported audio hardware: Aura, Clarity, Concierto, Delfina, DraCo Motion, ESS Solo 1, ForteMedia FM801, Maestro Pro, Melody, Paula (standard Amiga), Prelude, Repulse, SoundBlaster 128 & Live!, Sunrize, Terratec 128i PCI & 512i digital, Toccata, VIA AC97, Vivanco, Wavetools."
(AC97 - Sigmatel STAC 9766)
Ethernet - 3COM 820C
From the feature set: "The first installment of OS 4 will include the current V4 of the generic Warp3D low-level driver system."
Hyperion is porting AHI.
Project Petunia (68K emulator)
If you know of anything that I missed (hardware, OS, or whatever), please email me!
I suppose that I don't do a lot of work with my system; I never really needed to use it on a major basis (e.g. work). I've written letters (who hasn't?), kept my finances in order, played a few games (mostly A-10 Tank Killer and Frontier), crunched on keys for the Amiga distributed effort (yes, this beast is on 24/7), and (recently) began researching my genealogy (using Scion). I also used it to help with my college courses (Phyisics major, graduated in '97); I used Pastex, graphing programs (mostly gnuplot), coded some simulations in C (gnu_C) for research courses, and used a compiler for a machine language course.
Hardware consists of a 15'' ViewSonic (WB is 1084 x 768 x 8bit), CyberStorm II (a '60 @ 50 MHz) a Picasso II, a GVP I/O Extender (for the v.90 modem), a 100 Meg ZIP drive, an 8x CD drive (4 disc jukebox), HP 697c, Umax Astra 1220s (scanner), Altec-Lansing speakers (including subwoofer). Also, I have a Kodak DC280 digital camera.
Yahoo's Amiga page Lots of Amiga stuff!
Do you know what the Webopedia says about the Amiga? Find out.
I crunch on blocks for the Amiga group.
