Project: New (colored) case for A1200

[amenophis]

Dear All,

Our New Amiga 1200 cases Kickstarter campaign has started today at 12PM

You can follow it at this address: https://t.co/7J1eDoAuv3

New infos for Keycaps and Keyboards are scheduled for around next week.

Stay tuned

Cheers.

[amenophis]

As soon as we receive it

[amenophis]

Dear all,

Today we just published an update on the KS campaign as well as on the project FB page.

These news are related to the new keycaps and new keyboards we're working on, and why we need to delay again these campaigns, due to the high cost (=small audience)

You can of course comment here on the forum, over the FB page and of course through the KS page.

As said, we need to delay the keycaps and keyboards campaigns, and here's why:
- Amiga keycaps does not posses usual mounts, they're of Mitsumi type.
- So these kind of keycaps have to be manufactured from new key molds!
 
As Mitsumi type are long gone as well. And because we have 5 diff profiles (keys heights) on the Amiga keyboard, this mean 5 diff key molds.
Of course these key molds are way smaller than the case molds you would say, and thats the truth.

But still we're around $11K+ per mold for each profile!
Then we also have 3 diff style of special keys, and the spacebar. Each of them also need a dedicated mold.
Knowing all of that, we also have key printing and extra charges for each country layout.

Where does this currently lead us regarding pricing?
Understanding what we've learned from manufacturing schemes so far.

- A FULL SET of new Amiga Keycaps replacement, compatible with all existing Amiga would be of price: €141 (any color/any layout) for 1000pcs!
a)Less qty of keys full set would mean an higher price per set.
b)Also any campaign goal based on this would be of €141K without shipping!

- A New Internal Amiga 1200 keyboard only, with compatible switches to host existing Amiga keys (but without keys) would be of price: €118 (again for qty:1000)

- A New Internal Amiga 1200 FULL keyboard,with non-compatible switches and including non-compatible keys (with previous Amiga) would be of price: €202 (again for qty:1000)

Conclusion:
As we're not satisfied with the pricing of €141 for a full set of new keycaps, we're still working on finding a better solution including lower manufacturing costs.
Thus, we're delaying the keycaps and keyboards campaign launch until we find a more suitable solution.

We also have other news regarding incoming new Special Edition cases that should hit the KS page next week
And some of these new SE are going to have awesome bonuses

Do not hesitate to comment.

Cheers,
Team A1200.NET

[amenophis]

So Mitsumi couldn't or wouldn't help then?

Not at all.
I've reached by phone personally to one of their tech-sales department manager to open discussions, and we also went through one of their OEM contractor i've been working with some years ago.
They've stopped producing these more than a decade ago, and the sad part is that they've even lost some of their archives over a fire some years ago, or so i was told.

Regarding your solution with an adapter insert, without having searched in that direction it seems that would be of a higher manufacturing cost. And also not really sure of the overall quality and durability of such.

[amenophis]

Hmmm if my calculations are correct for this project to succeed, 1300 Euro / day need to be pledged every day until the last. How is it doing at the moment?

Your math is good.
No crowdfunding campaign have a straigth and regular progression anyway

On the other hand there is also 140+ backers from the first campaign that have not yet moved to the new one.

There is also new SE coming soon, and we guess that some backers are waiting.

The best way to help this campaign progression is to tell all your friends and contacts, and try to convince them that a nice new Amiga 1200 case that includes enhancements and will not get yellowed ever again could be something they'd really like

Thanks for your help Everblue

[amenophis]

@IanP,

You've said it all mate, and you do have a clear view and understanding of what it takes for these new keys to be done. As well as the technical choices to be made.
We're working on that as you all know, and keyboard a bit later.

But one step after another, we still have the current campaign to make it reach the goal.

[amenophis]

@Senex,

Everyone can read the updates. The previous non public updates were due to one validating an update on someone else computer. And we can't undo that on KS.

And yes, we're trying to inform as many news sites as we can. But most of them don't even answer so we're kinda dead in the water, just hoping for them to publish a review.

Thanks for your support Senex.
KS campaigns sadly does not respond well to "waiting to see" what's happening.. and we're trying hard explaining to people and backers to keep momentum.
It is the essence of a campaign.
Hopefully you'll even find a suitable Special Edition to your eyes to make the jump and join us

[amenophis]

HI IanP,

Well Black is Black, and Transparent is ... Tranparent.
Regarding the LUKHASH Transparent, obviously this is the same Transparent as... transparent. And the Black model will be.. well .. black.
Sorry for the jokes haha

These are Lukhash himself choices. The case differences lies with sticker badges, Serial number plates, and the bonuses.
Still, Lukhash is going to sign his master model for the serial plate for his case

Regarding the TITAN Edition, yes the case goes glossy.
We've made this SE for the french audience, as TITAN (Eric Cubizolle) is very well know in France. He's also the write of "La Bible Amiga" book.


@ALL,

- This morning we've added lower tier Rewards, as several people asked us how to get 1 mug only.

- Since yesterday we've made it to 2/3 the goal! Thanks to all of you!
We need everybodys support, so please don't stop sharing this initiative with your networks, and help the campaign as much as you can by spreading to all retro-websites you know

[amenophis]

.../...
I think you should explain to the community what will be of the molds after the production of the first lot. I think many people are simply waiting for a second batch one day that the molds are done and a second production could be more cheap...

Selling/refurbishing the molds is not a viable option to save money. Costs are mainly from manufacturing them, not the material itself.

People have to understand that thinking:
"I'll wait to get cheaper cases after the first run" is not the right choice to make.
To get after this first run, we need to manufacture the cases using the molds.
So not reaching the goal = No new cases for nobody !
This is very basic logic that everybody can understand i guess.

But your point is right, and we'll make an announcement again regarding that.

We still have 28 days and all and every backers should spread the word, share the campaign and try to convince all their contacts who were involved with the Amiga past or present, should support the campaign.

Right now we have 477 backers, and we can't think that there isn't more A1200 owners and users out there that wouldn' love to get a new case!

For instance, 110+ backers from the first campaign are still missing.

We're doing everything we can to spread the word from our end, but if these 477 people do the same, it'll be way more faster

If Amigans want this to happen.. this is the time. Now!

[amenophis]

With 2/3rd completed and four weeks to go, that does sound pretty good considering a big wave of supporters typically come in the last two weeks.  That's when I plan to pledge as I don't really have a need for a A1200 case, I do want to see it this kickstarter completed and rolling.

Thanks for this outstanding support Dammy !
With open minded people like you are, we'll make it

[amenophis]

Hi Guys,

The campaign is about to reach 70%, thanks to all of you!


It still needs a small push, and we need all of you that did not supported the campaign yet.

This campaign, by making new Amiga 1200 cases with all included  benefits, is the first time in 20+ years that new housings are  manufactured for the Amiga 1200.

Hopefully this will also help the Amiga community to stop decaying, and  maybe even by getting long lost Amiga users back to it and start the  user base to grow again (with IC Reloaded motherboards).

As you already probably know, we're currently working on making new  Keycaps and new Keyboards as well. And we have a couple more hardware  projects as well

So if you haven't contributed to the campaign yet on any reward and even if you don't need an Amiga 1200 case, you can always support it by getting the new Official Amiga Mugs !


As Amiga fans, your support is greatly appreciated.


Support the campaign here:
KICKSTARTER - New Amiga 1200 Cases

[amenophis]

@candyman,

All colours are different of course. There is no special edition have the same color of another.

Also, each Special Edition color is "reserved", meaning that these colors are not going to be available for you to choose for a regular case color for instance.

Indeed, all Special Edition cases are based on #RGB color codes our partners gave us.
But it is difficult to tell them appart from the illustrations.

When we'll put the real cases side by side, it'll be way more obvious.

I'm not sure we have the liberty to post the cases color codes without the demogroups & partners aknowledged first for that..

But you can be sure, all Special Edition cases do have their own personality !


@ALL,

Please review the Latest Campaign Update!

Lots of informations in there, plus Vouchers & Coupons code all backers can redeem on http://www.thegamingwarehouse.com and  http://www.amigastore.eu !

New Special Edition:  

- PHENOMENA
- 010101 Music



Guys, the campaign need your support, it reached 73% already!


Cheers!

[amenophis]

I understand but it would be very useful to have the possibility to compare the colours before pledging for a SE. If you know the exact colour we could choose without regrets.

For example I can't understand well if the Phenomena SE is more a dark grey or a very dark purple.

Maybe this can help ?

[amenophis]

Almost perfect (Scoopex missing)

MANY thanks!

Because Scoopex is not available anymore.

Cheers

[amenophis]

Dear all Amigans,


It has been some time since my last post on the forum and this is mainly due to my busy & tight schedule.

Hopefully you'll understand that i thought that posting updates and news from/to the KS update page is far more consistent as these updates are notified to backers directly as well.

Over the last month we've also published a new website far more efficient than the previous one as well as the recent Youtube channel which was created to host all projects videos.

As i'm certain some of you already know, Amiga 1200 molds manufacturing processes started already within our partner plant.

A 1min short video which covers the early tooling & milling is available on YOUTUBE.

We're aware of course that it might have been difficult for some of you to wait until now, but delays in KS campaign is not uncommon.
Therefore when we decided to actually induce delays it really was for the greater good and best quality cases.

For the Amiga 1200 cases to be of up-most quality we needed prototypes.
And first one came flawed.
The extra 4 months delay was necessary to fix these issues and double checking again on each and every technical specifications before handcrafting the second prototype.

When this new proto was available (T2), we went again on cross checking all technical details using T2 as a reference towards project's case general requirements.

Today we're happy to share with you the video showing the long awaited New Amiga 1200 case molds being tooled!


Please note the following:

• When molds are done a short serie of verifications starts to ensure they're at 100% of expected technical requirements.
• After that a small serie of test cases will be manufactured. Again to ensure expected requirements are fulfilled regarding case quality.
• Then all case will be manufactured.
• Once production is done all cases are shipped to Plant1 for packing and shipping. (Packing include the adding of bonuses)

Of course all these steps are to be documented like we already started to with the molds being currently manufactured.

Some more photos & videos are expected.

Let's enjoy this short video.
We do apologize regarding video overall quality. It seems that video isn't  PM's forte
(still we did nicely asked him to try to do better for next videos)


YOUTUBE - Tooling & Milling Blocs



Now about the compatible Amiga keycaps campaign:

Keycaps campaign will start right after manufacturing of the Amiga cases.
Not much informations have been shared with you guys as of now regarding campaign content and this was on purpose

Because keycaps are also linked to new keyboards we had to find solutions regarding these keyboards to be of modern tech (to reduce costs) while keycaps would be universal.
So keycaps will work on all existing Amiga keyboards as well as the new coming keyboards.
Keyboards are not scheduled right after keycaps campaign as R&D is still in process. More on that when we'll be ready.
 

So what next?

Other Amiga related products are scheduled after keycaps campaign.
I'm sure you'll all agree when i say that Amiga came a long way and there's still a long way to go.
But things are changing and on our side the team is very happy working with our partner Amiga Inc which is confident in us since the beginning.


Thanks again to all of you who helped us make this happen!


Stay tuned for the next Update!


Cheers,
Phil