The Best Things Come In Small Packages

[Optimus]

... and you stick a GT 430 (a low-end budget card) in it? Seriously? With no way of expanding it because the case is too small for any slots?
 

It's integrated into the Motherboard, they posted they could not even get a half height graphics card to fit in the case.
 
I found it interesting they went with a 95 Watt TPD CPU, which typically draw more power than a 65 Watt TPD CPU.
 
If this is any indication, that 120 Watt Pico-PSU won't hold up under load:
 
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1751/14/
 
This is all comedy anyway, I want to find ONE person who is going to buy this.  I haven't seen anyone, even on their own board that has claimed to have ordered one for $2500.  There won't be any of these in the wild for anyone to complain.
 
I image they will sell some barebones cases, (which are also expensive at $350, but is ONLY marked up $150 because they force you to get the Blu-Ray ) to get the Commodore and Amiga logo.  I hang on to cases for a very long time and upgrade the internals, so if I was in the market for a Mini-ITX case I might think about it.

[Optimus]

But for comparison, the Mac Mini's i7 runs at 2.7 GHz, the Baron's at 3.5 and the Mac Mini's Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 384 MB of DDR3 SDRAM is worse than the Barron's Integrated nVidia Geforce GT 430 Graphics with 1 Gig of DD3 memory. A specced out Mac Mini has a US street price of $1928.
 
It wouldn't be a bad Hackintosh.

 
 
A "Specced out" 2.7Ghz i7 Mac Mini also has an 250GB SSD and 750GB SATA Hard Drive. Subtract the SSD and it's $1,318 from the Apple online store.
 
Replace the HD in the Amiga Mini for a 300GB SSD and it's $2,900.
 
I thought the main point of the Hackintosh was to build one cheaper than Apple? Nevertheless, a closer comparison is a 27" 3.4 GHz i7 iMac with 16GB of Ram and the 1GB Radeon HD 6970M and 1TB Hard Drive. That's $300 more at $2,800 but a 27" monitor is included It also includes a mouse and a keyboard, something the Amiga Mini does not.

[Optimus]

Interesting how all the power calculators I check tell me a system like that would require a 500-600W PSU. How the hell is this going to run on the PSU supplied? I look forward to the reviews from the customers, provided they escape the inevitable house fire of course. As for this being an Amiga, yeah.... . whatever!

This shows 51-202 watts drawn:
 
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1751/14/
 
 
In order to get a review from a customer, you would have to find a sucker that is going to pay $2500 for a (at best) $1300 computer.  
 
If anyone is going to buy one of these, please show yourself somewhere!  You won't be hurt or flamed - I just want to understand who is motivated to buy one of these.  What is the target market?
 
I don't even see anyone on CUSA's forum that claims they are buying one.  The only thing that will catch fire is the single protype that will eventually get made (since apparantly none exist and they need to photoshop everything).

[Optimus]

Actually i think the higher cost can be justified somewhat. If you go through the numbers you will see that even something simple like doing the engraving will see the costs per unit rise considerably. Things like S&D and labor costs add up pretty quickly especially when the cases are made JIT.
 
I would consider spending that much on a bare bones case as i like the Amiga engraving. But not the Commodore tag.

I don't disagree they need to make a profit.  It's not a charity.  And, I think a lot of people will consider and perhaps buy the Barebones, it's worth it to some people to have a nice engraved Amiga case, and it's inexpensive enough most people could buy it.  They can and will charge as much as they can, with the Blu-Ray they are buying it's only $160 more for engraving, whatever licence fees they are paying, misc costs and profit.
 
If you want one, buy it now, the price will go up, plus they have free shipping.  The C64x barebones used to be $250.  They charged like $20 to ship it.
 
But, I don't think the system is justified at $2500 and I don't think there is anyone who will pay it.  They have *at least* $1,000 worth of profit built in.  The list of x86 computers that will blow the doors off of it for less money is very, very, very long.
 
I could be wrong.  I just want to know ONE person who is buying it.  That's all, just one.

[Optimus]

That power draw is still too much for the PSU and I have to say, thanks for the post, you made me laugh.
 

Your welcome.  I'm usually not very funny, but CUSA is a constant supply of entertainment
 
Yes, the power draw is too much for the PSU. They will hopefully figure that out when they finally build the prototype.  If it's not melted too bad I'll bid on it...
 
 That's an excellent calculator, and the one thing I think the link I put up is it didn't take into account for is the Blu-Ray / DVD burner combo.  Those things when your burning a DVD suck power pretty good.  But, your usually not playing Crysis or anything when your burning DVDs so I think it balances out.
 
If I were building that system, Mini-ITX with integrated graphics and that i7, I wouldn't feel to safe with anything less than a 300 watt power supply.  It will be easy to tip over at 120 watts.  I don't think that case can use anything other than a Pico-PSU, which tops out at 160 watts.  You would have to find a killer laptop DC-to-DC PSU to stick in there.
 
And Barry said they learned not to have the first customers beta test it....sure...

[Optimus]

Dropped to $1995 from 2449 or so, in few days of criticism. Soon they might even go realistic, even now it has about $500 (a 40% profit)

Very very interesting.  I did a quick look at their forum, there is no word about this...
 
I wonder if there are any takers at $2,000?

[Optimus]

you just wondering when seeing that pic.. was there possible to fit more commodore amiga logos on the case/keyboards, LOL
 
it dont get more amiga if you have more logos on the case.... it looks crap... Photoshopped.... LOL

Yes to all...
 

it was a friend of mine that posted that. he also said that Barry had taken the posts down almost instantly and sent some rather agressive PM's telling him never to post links to "similar" products again.
 
In any case here is the links.
 
A Weseana E5 case http://www.wesena.co.uk/product.php/7/3/e5 and an Iton keyboard http://www.bluetooth.com/Pages/Product-Listing-Detail.aspx?ProductID=19065
 
Oh and for those that are interested the pic of the box came from here http://www.computercloset.org/CommodoreAmiga1000.htm and leo just slapped their 1000x ontop.

[Optimus]

They have knocked $500 off the price after only a few days. Is this the introductory prices they were meant to sell at?

No, they have been saying it was going to be $2500 for a couple of months now.

[Optimus]

Very very interesting. I did a quick look at their forum, there is no word about this...
 
I wonder if there are any takers at $2,000?

Too fast.  They hadn't changed the web page yet...

[Optimus]

I like the funny part where Barry says he has refunded all the customers that paid full price yesterday.
 
:roflmao:

[Optimus]

All none of them?
 
Barry: How many orders have we taken in last 24 hours?
Leo: Errr... zero.
Barry: Are you sure?
Leo: Yep, I counted them... twice!

Exactly.  Because, if they were selling at all he would have given everyone flaming them on the web the finger, not reduce the price.
 
Still waiting for one person to step forward and claim they bought one :laugh1:

[Optimus]

Pricey, but certainly not low quality.

Let's see what $2000 get's you:
 
1. No keyboard or mouse.
2. A power supply that will blow up once you reach 50% occupancy on the CPU
3. $40 GPU integrated into the motherboard
4. A two month wait to get one (and that's at least 4 months if the timing matches CUSA's previous record.
 
That says quality right there.
 
Plus, there is no pictures of this mythical machine, I don't care if they have the logos on them or not.  They can't find pictures they can photoshop of the motherboard in the case?

[Optimus]

Actually the base model is now a i3 for $1495. I7 with 16GB RAM and 1TB DH is $1995.

Actually, what difference does that make to my post.  I'll amend my statement:
 
What do you get for your $1500-$2000?
 
1. No mouse or keyboard
2. A power supply that will blow up
3. A $40 integrated GPU
4. A two month wait to get one (minimum)
5. A mythical box that doesn't exist except for photoshoped concept pictures.
 
P.S. I saw Barry say he would post a picture of the back with the motherboard installed today.  Leo too busy to Photoshop that for him?

[Optimus]

Middleman: Enthusiasm is just super. If you enjoy their products, honestly - nothing makes me happier. You are obviously an intelligent fellow, so let me break it down to just common sense.
 
Now please explain to me how a 120 watt power supply unit is going to power well over 250 watts of gear in that new machine, min specs? Are you starting to see why people get down the necks of the C-USA Bible Thumpers around here when simple facts are ignored?
 
Simple logic. Use it. The Amiga Mini is not a "start". A 2700k all kitted out won't run off that PSU. Period. I know this well, just having built a new gaming PC with similar specs. I put a 1000 watt PSU in this machine for safe measure. It's not even functional if the PSU specs are correct. Anyone that's ever read a "Computers for Dummies" book will tell you that. I've used cases with the same Pico PSU's. I had my SAM in one. I found it weak for my tastes for my SAM 440, with one hard disk and one optical drive.
 
The CPU uses NINETY FIVE WATTS (+) of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY WATTS offered by the PSU. The hard disks, optical drives, fans, wifi addons, etc do not run on warm feelings and best intentions.

Duce,
 
Please take this the right way, because I agree with you 100%
 
But, 95 Watt TPD is how much heat it produces, not how much electricity.  The i7 2700k actually uses way more than 95 watts at peak, so your point is twice as valid.
 
Middleman-
 
They have been talking about releasing the Amiga Mini in "about a week" for two months now.  All that we got new 2 days ago was slightly retouched photoshopped images.
 
In the last 2 months couldn't they have made one and tried it out?

[Optimus]

I know, Optimus. I'm well aware of the confusions of TDP and what they actually mean, was just citing raw numbers from Intel spec sheets to illustrate some provable data.

I should also note that the case manufacturer recommends a 65 watt TPD CPU, citing the lack of space for a proper heatsink for a 95+ watt CPU.  So, unless they are using a low profile server heatsink that sounds like a jet engine, it's a fail in that area is well.