Let me help fix this C=USA disaster...but you must help me too!

[TheDaddy]

OK...I know I said I was burnt out and it's taken me years and years (7?)...anyway.

After announcing this:

http://amigaworld.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=35607&forum=33

But I have received many emails of support (let me come up with a number wait.....running my random number generating software on my C64....result = 3000...no actually, 3001.  )

Yes "3001 people" have asked me to carry on as it seems stupid to have spent all that money and time on a project so complex and so dear to me (us?).

Anyway, it's nearly complete, it needs a couple of adjustments here and there but it's ready for production.

Keep your eyes peeled this week end.

A minimum number of orders will be needed of course. Delivery from the end of May/mid June.

Coming as an A500 shape kind of thing or Sinclair PC-200, or whatever. It's really inspired by the computers of the '80s and '90s but to me it's the A500 (as it was my first machine and it's close to my heart).

Specs:

Allows the use of a mini-itx or flex-atx boards, space for a DVD-RW, space for a 3.5" drive (card reader really although a floppy disk drive fits but compromises space for other stuff) space for 2 to 3 SSDs or 2.5" HDDs.

Sorry more I can't offer!

Tested with:

Gigabyte motherboard with 8 and 16GB DDR3 (I had to try it, the force was too strong for "only" 8GB) with USB3 and 2.0, Intel i3 2.5GHz cpu (none of that crappy, slow, AMD and Atom stuff), I have got this feeling an i5/i7 might work too (NOT TESTED though). The board I am using has onboard HD Intel 2000/3000 graphics, HDMI eSATA etc... but me being a pedantic type I have also made space for a low profile graphics card expansion slot.

What does this mean?
Running an ATI Radeon HD 6570 2GB right now.
I am testing it win Win7 running from a 120GB SSD and for storage Western Digital 320GB HDD.

It's now on my desk running along my big tower box.
Keyboard is a nice one, a good compromise and generally available, it's not a cherry as I don't like them and those are expensive, so it makes sense to use "cheaper" stuff.

See it as a blank canvas, you get the kit (the case) and you make it what you want.

You can run AROS, you can fit a NATAMI, a FPGAArcade, put funky stickers on etc...etc...

Also tested with a SAM440ep (the mini), SAM440 and 460 (flex) with OS4.

You can even put a cluster of raspberries in there

What does it look like? You'll see it this week end.

How big? Slightly thinner than the A500 (57.5 mm without rubber feet), same width and slightly shorter.

So a massive thanks to all, see you this week end.

[TheDaddy]

Hi Kesa,

The Commodore plastic was ok I thought (although every time I unscrewed it bits would fall off) but it's all down to cash. Seven years ago I had a tiny little bit of money to use...had I known how much it would have cost I wouldn't have done it or I would have saved enough to go straight into either using aluminium or injection moulding but I am happy with the result. It's good fun to assemble it and build your own retro looking but modern and powerful pc. I have it connected to my 24" gaming monitor and in white it looks good.

There will also be a version in black which is more menacing...

It feels good to use in the sense that I am happy when I look at it and use it (it must be a child thing) from the past, can't explain it or I am just talking b*llocks...

Original keyboards...to be honest I prefer the new ones but it's all down to taste of course.

[TheDaddy]

@Digiman
the hardest part is amiga layouted keyboard. you will have hard time to beat cusa here, for the case himself you can use some sort of automated fabrication, say 3d printer. shouldnt be much of an issue.
@a1260
too much dents..
@daddy
sorry but without amiga keyboard layout and some more design characteristics, and especially if done of bent metal it resembles more just any 8-bit computer replica like many built in eastern block.
check for instance this out:
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritum_I
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritum_II
http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meritum_III

besides wedge computers were not only amigas, there were many other such case designs in the early 80s, many better, like -say- atari_st. why do you advertise your design an amiga replica? it should rather be treated as a wedge computer replica in general and meet the wider audience. although from this angle i still find the following cybernet design, (marketed currently by cusa afair) by lengths more elegant and likely more functional than anything you can build at home.

http://www.cybernetman.com/en/all-in-one-pc/Keyboard-pc/ZPC-GX31

You might want to put your glasses on and read my post again more carefully.
I am not making a replica...surely the words inspired and tribute mean something to you or not?

[TheDaddy]

I will take an Amiga 600 replica case, thank you. Money is no object. Orginal keyboard, joystick ports on the side, room for a 3 1/2" hard drive and mini itx motherboard inside, no floppy drive or DVD-drive

I might add a "proper" keyboard to my design at a later stage once I have recovered some of the costs...

For now it comes with a modern/generic/standard one.

[TheDaddy]

You don't need to make yet another motherboard, just consider the available PPC OS4 motherboards as you go. Make cases able to fit standard motherboard types such as the standards done in Sam, XE, Micro, Pegasos, and/or X1000, and we're good.

But that is exactly what my case does... it's taken me years to make every single board fit....uh..oh apart from the pegasos but I believe that should fit too...

[TheDaddy]

Damn...if I had some money left to make another prototype I would show you the black version...it looks even better than the white one...

I think the black would suit the Natami/AROS really well...argh! Damn money!

[TheDaddy]

So is there a black version? I look forward to you showing us your work and making an announcement this weekend.Also what about trying to get community support to help you with stuff.Financial , technical etc. I may well order one for the natami and keep it on ice till natami sees the light of day.

Hi,

Thanks a lot.

Yes there will be a black version (although slightly more expensive than the white one, this is the reason I made the final prototype in white as I ran out of cash, couldn't afford a black one let alone both).

For an idea of the colour look here:

http://www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

Click on the Minimig cases I made and you'll have an idea of texture and colour.

Shiny white and shiny black with an aluminium core, this can be left "natural" looking or sprayed in black or white depending what the community decide.

I just want to underline one thing: this is a one man project over several years so don't expect Apple design...I bang things together in the garage

[TheDaddy]

Well the case is finished. I need to adjust one or two things but it's completed.

Being dimensionally based on the A500 (although my case is slightly shorter and thinner) it allows things that the A1200 shape doesn't.

I have got two or three more design (a 1200, 600 and 1000) in the works and a possible collaboration with ACube but it all depends on this one selling well first.

Take into account that with this design you can do whatever you like;

Want a retro looking case but powerful hardware running Windows/Linux/AROS? You can.
Want a SAM460/440 with OS4? You can.
Want a FPGAArcade inside? You can.
Want a NATAMI inside? You can.

Mini-itx or flex factor (up to one slot supported).

It's all custom made with a few bits off the shelves to save on costs.