Minimig Case

[TheDaddy]

Thanks straycat, it's cost me an arm and a leg but we are finally there!

So much hard work, months, many sleepless nights and lots of money, but we are there people, Minimig will finally have a cool case! :-D

[TheDaddy]

Thanks Rob.

 :-)

[TheDaddy]

@everyone

Quick update on the Minimig case (for those who are interested):

Prototype number 2 is entering the CAD stages. So it's basically ready to go into production.

I have only got a tiny little problem:

I have been told that the case might need to be tested (mechanical and fire tests) by a lab.

I am trying to find out if it's necessary for a case this small and only powered by a +5V (100-200mA).

The lab is going to let me know, mechanical tests are in the region of £650 (780 Euros)!

I haven't been told about price for the fire tests.

This is a bit of a blow to my project but I'll keep you informed.

[TheDaddy]

@wolfchild

Thanks for your words and support.

>>It's true that lab testing costs an arm and a leg, but is it really necessary to do all these tests?

This is what I am trying to understand and find out. Some say yes and some say no, so I am in total confusion! :-?

The Minimig itself (pcb) is CE marked, my case apparently does NOT need CE marking, computer cases don't require the CE marking.

As you are rightly saying I am selling a component not the whole thing so I have no idea why it has to go through mechanical and fire tests.

>>As for fire testing, maybe you could skip those if you can prove that you are injecting with fire retarding plastic (UL-94-V0).

I am in contact with my manufacturer, at the moment they are translating the second prototype into CAD, they say they'll let me know.

Thanks for your advice. :-)

[TheDaddy]

@chiark

>>If you want to sell it as a stand alone component, my understanding is you should be fine. (I am not a lawyer, or product expert, so take that as internet advice  )

That was my understanding as well but British Standards are talking about mechanical and fire retardant tests...still waiting for their answer, maybe they think I have created a new personal computer!

>>Keep stressing that it's a low volume hobbyist thing and include disclaimers when you sell them. And good luck!
PS - more pics!

I am so annoyed because prototype number 2 is ready to go into production and my manufacturer is waiting for the go ahead but until this is clarified I can't do anything.
 :-(

[TheDaddy]

@Fester

>>The limited photos of the case look very promising. I can't wait to see the finished version!

Thanks Fester!

By the way, didn't we play Quake together in the Amiga Quake Clan a few years back? Together with Raef and Seven? :-D

[TheDaddy]

@everyone

Prototype number 2 is nearly finished.

I would like to know what people would prefer on their Minimig case;

1) Completely plain white gloss case

2) White gloss case with Minimig name on it (high quality adhesive vinyl) - slightly more expensive

3) Screen printed Minimig name on white gloss case (same quality as the screen printing used in the industry; laptop and desktops) - more expensive but better looking

Let me know your preferences so I can get an idea for the final product.

Soon more photos! :-)

[TheDaddy]

@everyone

Hi,

I am happy to let you know that a second preview of my case/enclosure for the Minimig (rev 1.1) is available:

www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

I would like to thank all the people who have expressed and registered their interest. Once I have the cost for screen printing the name on it, I will post the enclosure price and starting taking orders.

To all of you who have emailed me about a pre-order/pre-payment scheme I would like to say thank you, this will be available and should help me and speed things up a lot!

Please note there will be an initial limited production run so first come first serve.

Many thanks for your support.

Loriano

 :-)

[TheDaddy]

Hello moto,

Thanks!

The whole enclosure is going to be displayed next week (I have one more thing to sort out).

I can tell you that the shape is square (it hugs the Minimig board) and it has round corners, overall a nice modern look.

This might be ported to the A1200 replacement case I am working on and possibly the Natami.

The manufacturer is checking the feasibility of the typeface and colour for the logo.

Regarding the logo, some of you have emailed me saying if we could have the boing ball (can I say boing ball or am I going to get sued? :-D ) bouncing over the "I" instead of the stylised sphere and the answer, at least for now, is no. I can't even get in contact with Amiga Inc. and the last thing I want is for Amiga Inc. to start another trial! :-D

The typeface and colour are in tone with the Amiga theme and I am happy with that, it stands out from the white, some of you have suggested silver but I will have to evaluate the costs.

Thank you, :-)

[TheDaddy]

@everyone

What a week we've had! :-)

OS4.1 and the enclosure for the Minimig!

A few dancing bananas:

:banana:  :banana:  :banana:

Minimig Enclosure Update:

Screen printing is TOO EXPENSIVE to have at the moment so the case/enclosure will be available in two formats:

Plain glossy white - so you can do whatever you want with it, put your own design/graphics or sticker on it or leave it in pure glossy white. Elegant, modern and sleek! 8-)

or

With the Minimig logo I have designed applied like in the photos, £8 (GBP) or 10Euros extra- there are several colours to choose from: black, yellow, purple, orange, silver, gold, red, maroon, blue, green, grey and a few others. Just tell me your colour choice at the time of pre-ordering. I have applied the logo in silver to the prototype and it looks particularly elegant and professional. ;-)

Please keep registering your interest as once we reach a minimum of 50 we are going into production! :-D

Thank you.

 :-)  

[TheDaddy]

I forgot to add the following colours:

Pink, brown and burgundy. Basically you can have the logo on the enclosure in any colour you like as long as it is one of the listed ones!

 :-D

[TheDaddy]

@AJCopland

>>But what does it look like?

I will release it next week and start taking pre-orders, this means that more detailed photos will be posted, as usual, on my site.

www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

Many thanks :-)

[TheDaddy]

>>It's kinda square'ish
>>It's got holes in it
>>Comes in various colours

Please note that the colour of the enclosure is glossy white, the different choice of colours is for the Minimig name/logo on it.

When ordering please state if you prefer the plain enclosure or with the Minimig logo/name transfer on it, this can be any of the colours mentined above.

Thank you :-)

[TheDaddy]

>>It doesn't matter. I've got a feeling that the final cost is going to make most people run for the hills in terror.

You are right Darrin.

It's definately going to cost more than any other enclosure seen for the minimig, that is for sure.

Consider that it's custom made (it won't fit anything else)and manufactured in a limited run. We are talking small production scale. 50 is the minimum I have to order otherwise I (and others) can kiss good bye to it.

In the pc and mac industry the quantities are in the thousands and thousands, can't compare.

But again this has taken months to design, you get a complete, modern looking, smart enclosure, which has been professionally machined after been put through several CAD drawings, it's gone through three prototypes stages to reduce costs (which are then passed to the customers) and finally it will be manufactured  by a professional company for a mad individual like me.:crazy:

It's made of good quality 4mm thick plastic, not 1mm thin moulded plastic that breaks when you look at it. One of the engineers believes that it's not far off any other product you can buy on the high street. Also a special no-screw assembly system had to be implemented because of the minimig board peculiarity (ever so difficult to solve).

It's made in Europe (U.K.) and I believe that it will be good value for money, I am much happier playing my games on my minimig now that it is in a nice enclosure, I can carry it around to my mates house without worrying that the board would get damaged.

So yes it will be expensive but how much does a mini or nano itx case cost? £50-120 (British Pounds), to that add your time, effort and money for cutting out eleven holes and adding extensions.

You can always use two plexiglass sheets with stand offs, about £24 (GBP), but at the end of the day these one man projects cost and only I know how much.:-o

Of all the people who have registered some have told me quite frankly that they are prepared to pay up to 200 Euros others no more than 80 Euros.

Next week, I am seeing the sales manager at the factory who is going to help me set up a price. But rest assured that the price and final photos will be announced this coming week.

From my point of view I have invested an enormous amount of time, effort, passion, energy (thinking about it night and day) and cash into this, for the following reasons:

Give the brilliant Minimig board a decent home.
Give something to the Amiga/Commodore community which I have been part of for the last 26-27 years.
Start something great, and hopefully develop an A1200 replacement enclosure and one for the Natami.

Again I don't believe people run for the hills in terror when it comes to Amiga stuff, as ebay teaches us, (see the cost of various parts or operating systems we keep purchasing, five years ago I paid £140 for the Power Tower , nowdays the Elbox D-Box is £160) , so hopefully they will also support a small developer like me.

Many thanks

    :-)

[TheDaddy]

Hi weirdami,

This coming week, price and final photos.

The enclosure can be purchased with or without the Minimig name on it, so people are free to put whatever they like.

The name/logo on the enclosure that you can see on my site is a bit extra on the cost of the plain case and you can order it in different colours.

Many thanks.

 :-)

[TheDaddy]

Hi Darrin,

I should have put a smiley at the beginning, my tone wasn't sarcastic, I really do agree with you. :-)

Developing a product is a massive feat, not only from an economic point of view but also emotional. You keep thinking what if it goes wrong, you lose all that time and money that would have been useful somewhere else like buying myself another car and not having to cycle to work in the rain! :-)

But this is the Amiga, 99% of us use, buy, develop for and stick with Amiga following their heart, it might sound a bit sugary but there is no logic in our community.

I agree on everything you say completely and I am probably going to lose out but what can I do at this point in time with the production run ready to start?

Hopefully I manage to recover the costs and make some extra for my next projects or maybe ACube will make another batch of Minimigs...who knows... :-)