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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: CD32Freak on January 10, 2008, 06:36:05 PM

Title: Mini Minimig
Post by: CD32Freak on January 10, 2008, 06:36:05 PM
Look at that, the Minimig is getting even smaller thanks to Illuwatar: Mini Minimig (http://www.illuwatar.se/project_pages/mini-minimig/mini-minimig.htm)
Who said size doesn't matter? :lol: :-D
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: Krusher on January 10, 2008, 06:49:27 PM
Gosh, it's slightly bigger then my HTC Magician (smartphone)
All someone needs to do is add a snug case, a battery, and a touchscreen to get a portable Amiga  :-D
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: motorollin on January 10, 2008, 08:10:29 PM
NanoMig! :-D Put it in an iPhone case :-)

--
moto
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: AJCopland on January 10, 2008, 08:55:08 PM
Holy Cr*p that's tiny! Very impressive :-D

Andy
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: adolescent on January 10, 2008, 09:30:35 PM
Amazing work!  :-o
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: Krusher on January 10, 2008, 10:12:40 PM
I'm wondering how a single person with a single board plan would get a 4 layer board, soldered and populated  :-o
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: alexh on January 11, 2008, 12:45:03 AM
It's still only got 1.5Mbytes of RAM and so is still unsuitable as an Amiga replacement.
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: Tripitaka on January 11, 2008, 12:52:36 AM
 :love:
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: amigadave on January 11, 2008, 01:15:15 AM
Quote

alexh wrote:
It's still only got 1.5Mbytes of RAM and so is still unsuitable as an Amiga replacement.


Depends on which model Amiga you are trying to replace?

I see it as one more step in a positive direction to create the next generation of Amigas, or would you prefer OS5
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: Hans_ on January 11, 2008, 01:31:22 AM
Quote

Krusher wrote:
I'm wondering how a single person with a single board plan would get a 4 layer board, soldered and populated  :-o


Soldering a 4-layer board is just as easy/hard as a single or dual layer board. Paying someone to manufacture the PCB itself is the hardest part. If someone knows a method of manufacturing a 4+ layer board, please tell me how you do it. For a 4-layer prototype board you're looking at $150+, depending on where you get it done.* That's no problem if you're a company, but a bit of a problem if you're a student.

Hans

* It's been a while since I looked at PCB manufacturing prices, so I could be wrong.
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: whiteb on January 11, 2008, 04:24:54 PM
I know a place that can get it done for about US$130 each, or 16.58 (165.80) for 10.
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: tonyyeb on January 11, 2008, 04:58:12 PM
Quote

alexh wrote:
It's still only got 1.5Mbytes of RAM and so is still unsuitable as an Amiga replacement.


Huh, replaces a broken Amiga 500 very well in my books!
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: cecilia on January 11, 2008, 05:05:22 PM
Quote

alexh wrote:
It's still only got 1.5Mbytes of RAM and so is still unsuitable as an Amiga replacement.
well, maybe some clever person can figure out how to connect a MicroSD card????
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: denli on January 11, 2008, 05:12:28 PM
Quote

alexh wrote:
It's still only got 1.5Mbytes of RAM and so is still unsuitable as an Amiga replacement.

What portable Amiga are you refering to that this version can't replace?
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: CD32Freak on January 11, 2008, 06:11:20 PM
@cecilia
Yeah, a MicroSD card inside a MicroMig, that would be impressive! :-D

Geez, look at how small a MicroSD is compared to a normal SD card:
(http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/3227/ultramicrosduu6.th.jpg) :-o
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: Krusher on January 11, 2008, 06:17:03 PM
Quote

denli wrote:
...
What portable Amiga are you refering to that this version can't replace?


(http://www.amigascene.nl/uploads/photos/277.jpg)

This one perhaps  :-D
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: alexh on January 11, 2008, 06:50:39 PM
Quote
amigadave wrote:
Depends on which model Amiga you are trying to replace?

At the moment all MiniMig's are unfortunately over priced and under featured when compared to say an A600. Very interesting, and very cool all the same.

Quote
Huh, replaces a broken Amiga 500 very well in my books!

You'd pay €300 rather than buy another second hand A500 for €10? Nuts.

Quote
amigadave wrote:
I see it as one more step in a positive direction to create the next generation of Amigas

Dunno about next-gen, but it is a positive direction to creating a viable Amiga/retro-gaming FPGA platform.

The formfactor is great.

Hat's off to the developer, but had they been able to build on the original MiniMig design, improve the memory interface, add enough RAM for a configuration of 2Mbyte Chip, 4-8Mbyte fast and 0.5-1Mbyte Kickstart then it would have been a viable replacment for a second hand, upgraded, A500/A600.

AFAIK the MMC/SD card can only be used (at the moment) for storage, floppy disk images and soon hard drive files.
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: tonyyeb on January 11, 2008, 06:56:31 PM
Quote

alexh wrote:
Hat's off to the developer, but had they been able to build on the original MiniMig design, improve the memory interface, add enough RAM for a configuration of 2Mbyte Chip, 4-8Mbyte fast and 0.5-1Mbyte Kickstart then it would have been a viable replacment for a second hand, upgraded, A500/A600.


Talk about missing the point! The developer states quite clearly in the second sentance of the page:

Quote
I'm trying to make it as small as possible as a part of a mobile version


Who said anything about expanding the spec of the original Minimig?!?! He wanted a mobile A500 type replacement... not an upgraded one.
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: Krusher on January 11, 2008, 07:08:13 PM
Quote

alexh wrote:
...
You'd pay €300 rather than buy another second hand A500 for €10? Nuts....


Acube's Minimig is priced from €138, depending on what you need (psu, casing etc.) so that's a steal, considering the potential of it.

This mini minimig is nice, but I'd rather see a mini-itx version.
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: alexh on January 11, 2008, 07:10:26 PM
Quote

tonyyeb wrote:
He wanted a mobile A500 type replacement... not an upgraded one.

I understand. MiniMig's only plus point (over a second hand Amiga) is it's form factor. This change to the PCB design has improved on it, in some ways, I can see the goals and ideas the developer had.

It is just a shame that the memory limitation is still present.

But then as you say, that is what the developer wanted, it's his 10p.
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: alexh on January 11, 2008, 07:12:53 PM
Quote

Krusher wrote:
Acube's Minimig is priced from €138, depending on what you need (psu, casing etc.) so that's a steal, considering the potential of it.

It will be a good price reduction for most interested users, but it's still fictional at the moment.

And even at just over £100 it is still expensive. The markup they have put is amazing.

But then, they are taking all the risk. Probably investing some $5-10k for the first batch which they could get stuck with.
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: denli on January 11, 2008, 07:13:54 PM
Quote

Krusher wrote:
Quote

denli wrote:
...
What portable Amiga are you refering to that this version can't replace?

http://www.amigascene.nl/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=277
This one perhaps  :-D

That is also a Minimig.

@alexh
So what production version from Amiga Inc/Commodore are you refering to that was portable?
Title: Re: Mini Minimig
Post by: Krusher on January 11, 2008, 07:20:06 PM
Quote

alexh wrote:
...
It will be a good price reduction for most interested users, but it's still fictional at the moment....

I have no doubt Acube is going to deliver the goods, it ain't Amiga Inc, for starters  :lol:

Anyway, as soon as I can buy one, I will. If only to give the industry the much needed signal that we Amigans want new hardware and are willing to pay for it.

Quote

denli wrote:
...
That is also a Minimig.


Hence the smiley  :-D