quote:
forgive me for being ignorant but is there a way i can try this out on a pentium 3 based machine?
You can't run AmigaOS 4.0 on x86. You can run AmigaOS3.5/3.9 though, problem being as stated that legally you need an AmigaOS3.9 CD and Kickstart 3.1 ROMs.
For emulators have a look at (Windows based):
WinUAEor for Unix/linux:
UAERichard Drummond has been doing a great job bringing UAE up to scratch, it was lagging behind WinUAE somewhat.
Or you could try
Amiga Forever (Windows) - the good folks at Cloanto sell this reasonably priced Amiga Emulator based around WinUAE with anice suite of tools and environments, the good thing is you get the ROMs too as Cloanto licensed them from Amiga Inc. They provide an OS3.9-look environment although this is running on an AmigaOS3.1 core. If you have it you could set up an AmigaOS3.9 system, their site details how.
The closest presently to a true x86 based AmigaOS is
Amiga Research OS which strives to give an AmigaOS 3.1 compatible OS running natively on x86. This is work in progress.
Lastly there was a stunning x86-AmigaOS solution called "Amithlon" which ran AmigaOS3.x on a tiny linux kernel on x86 which unfortunately has presently stopped distribution due to some <cough cough> "disputes" that seem to plague the Amiga market, as well as *another* similar solution called AmigaOS XL as well - in fact the "disputes" centred around Amithlon and AmigaOS XL and IP. For some info and links see:
Amiga History Guideand for some info re: the "disputes" see:
Amithlon.net closure notice
